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Supervisors hear updates on county roads, flu

Kroona says influenza shot may still help unvaccinated residents

The conditions of the gravel roads in Hamilton County are starting to improve, according to County Engineer Nicole Stinn. She gave an update on the roads Tuesday to the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors.

She said the wet, muddy non-paved roads are under the care of her roads crews and headway is being made.

“Dryer weather has helped us out. We’re out there blading right now, trying to touch up the worst spots first. We’re not doing a lot of wholesale blading as we’re being cautious and potentially still have some winter weather yet to come,” she told the supervisors.

The crews are putting down minimal amounts of rock, she said, and only in the areas where it is really needed.

“We just don’t want to lose the rock if we end up getting some more big snows this year,” she said.

Hamilton County Public Health Administrator Shelby Kroona told the board that the peak of the flu season is here. Kroona said the biggest strain in Iowa is the H3 virus. Flu shots may lessen the symptoms, but even those who have had a vaccine may contract the flu.

“A shot should lessen the amount of time you’re home sick. You might only be down for four or five days,” she said. Some who haven’t had a vaccine are finding themselves home from school or work for as many as 10 days.

Kroona said her department still has vaccine available, but “crunch time is approaching.”

If you get the shot now, you could still come down with influenza. But hopefully the shot will help lessen the symptoms,” she said.

Only about 50 percent of the state is vaccinated this year, she said, which is lower that previous years.

“Part of that maybe due to the fact that there’s no more flu mist which had been given to children. Unfortunately, people just don’t want to have their children vaccinated,” she said. However, to reach herd immunity — when the spread of a disease is contained due to a high percentage of the population being immune — about 80 percent of the population must be vaccinated.

About 25 deaths from influenza have occurred in the state of Iowa this year, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.

New personnel

The hiring of two new jailers was approved by the board.

Nicholas Steuland and Nicole Roth were hired as jailers, with a starting salary of $14.66 per hour. Rick Taylor of Lehigh was hired as secondary roads equipment operator IIC at a rate of $21. 62 per hour.

The board also received the tentative agreement with PPME Local 2003 which represents the secondary roads workers. The new three-year agreement calls for additional funeral leave and increase to the reimbursement for clothing and equipment from $150 to $200 per year. A 2.5 percent wage increase would be in place July 1, 2017, a 2.5 percent increase on July 1, 2018 and a 2.75 percent increase on July 1, 2019.

The board approved the agreement with Supervisor David Young participating via telephone on Tuesday.

A public hearing was set for Feb. 28 at 9 a.m. for a proposed construction permit by Iowa First Inc. The firm plans to expand a facility in Section 15 of Blairsburg Township for a confinement feeding operation. A new 5.75 million gallon earthen waste storage basin is in the plans. The project would also include the conversion of an existing swine confinement building to a fish confinement building. Capacity for the confinement would be 4.8 million fingerling fish, according to Supervisor Doug Bailey.

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