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By Mary Zielinski Citing personal reasons, Washington County Supervisor Abe Miller (District 3) announced his resignation from the board, effective January 22. Miller, who was half-way through his second term, made the announcement at the end of the regular meeting. While declining to provide further details for the move, Miller expressed regret at leaving his constituents, adding that “it was not an easy decision” and involved “a lot of thought.” Miller said that he hoped the one-month notice will allow sufficient time to find a successor. The issue of what procedure will be, with either an appointment made by the board from interested applicants or a special election requested by voter petition, will be addressed next month. However, it is possible that a new supervisor might not take office until March. ....
Posted By Mary Zielinski With both Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccinations now in Iowa, the Washington County Public Health Department is awaiting vaccine administration approval from the federal government and the Disease Advisory Committee. The department will follow the statewide standing order for COVID-19 vaccination issued in December. The order was reviewed at the monthly board meeting on Thursday, Dec. 17, where it learned health services in the county will receive the Moderna vaccine, which is easier to store than the Pfizer one. The department is also planning to meet the federal priorities starting with front-line health care providers and permanent care facility residents, followed by Phase 1B which is front-line essential workers and persons 75 and older, as recommended by the CDC. ....
Posted By Mary Zielinski The Washington County Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 8 opened with the submission of an approximate 250-signature petition from Washington County nursing facilities asking the board to institute a county mask mandate immediately. Presented during the public comment segment, the package given to the board contained the petitions as well as letters from the facilities’ administrators, including from Kalona’s Pleasantview Home, asking for help to protect the most vulnerable populations in the county. The letters outline all precautions taken that include no outside visitors, keeping residents in their rooms, no communal dining, no group gatherings and no family visitors. Even with all precautions observed, there have been deaths at the facilities, the board was told. ....