Clarke County to use Union engineer when needed

Until Clarke County finds its own engineer, it will utilize Union County Engineer Christian Boehmer specifically for Iowa Department of Transportation related projects.

Union County Board of Supervisors approved the arrangement Wednesday. Boehmer said a county engineer is needed for Iowa DOT related projects in counties. Clarke County’s engineer resigned last month. Boehmer said Clarke County approached him about the sharing arrangement as they continue to find a permanent engineer.

The agreement Union County approved was for Boehmer to be paid by Clarke $5,000 a month. Boehmer is expecting most of the work for Clarke County be handled over the phone. Should additional time be needed for him in Clarke County he will use his Union County vacation time and his own personal vehicle for transportation.

Boehmer is a former Clarke County engineer until he was hired by Union County in May 2023. He was shared between both counties when Union County was without an engineer.

The agreement was on the Clarke County Board of Supervisors agenda Wednesday.

In other county news...

Union County Veterans Affair Director Gary Gelhaye said he is planning to attend a a training conference in October. He had started the position in April and has attended training courses since. In addition to his training, Gelhaye is waiting for confirmation for him be accredited by other military-based organizations; like the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion.

Gelhaye is hoping that accreditation will give him more access to veterans’ cases. He said he does not know how long that accreditation will take.

He said the VA Virtual Mobile Clinic’s recent stop in Creston was a success. The VMC can do a variety of different appointments - primary care, respiratory, oncology, cardiology, tele-wound, teledermatology, urology, mental health, nutrition, social work, speech therapy, sleep study follow ups, occupational therapy, lab draws and vaccinations. Over time, they hope to be able to expand what is offered to include such things as physical therapy, if the doctor is available that day to travel along.

Through 2025, the VA Virtual Mobile Clinic (VMC) will be making an every-other-month stop in Osceola.

The clinic can provide for some walk-in appointments - checking for tele-health eligibility, blood pressure checks, home telehealth screening or enrollment scheduling, live telehealth scheduling and enrollment in “My HealtheVet.” According to a press release from the VA, the VMC can accommodate up to 15 scheduled appointments and over 20 vaccinations per day.

To schedule an appointment with the mobile clinic call 515-401-5452; appointments are encouraged to make sure the veteran can be seen. While scheduling is not done through Rhoads, she is available to help answer some questions, and will find answers if needed.

Dates for the remainder of 2024 are: Oct. 21, Dec. 16. Dates for 2025 are: Feb. 24, April 21, June 23, Aug. 25, Oct. 22 and Dec. 22; all are Mondays. It is anticipated that the clinic will always be in or near the parking lot for the Clarke County Courthouse in Osceola.