T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY ACCESS Executive Director Tess Cody of Ames makes a presentation to the Marshall County Board of Supervisors at their regular meeting Tuesday. The not-for-profit agency assists domestic and sexual abuse victims in Marshall, Boone, Greene, Tama and Story counties.

One of the best ways to effectively manage a disaster is to be prepared.

The county’s current disaster management of the 2018 tornado demonstrated such.

At their regular board meeting Tuesday the board of supervisors approved an expenditure of $7,488.75 as a local match for funding a Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant of $29,955.

Federal Emergency Management Agency rules require applicants, such the county, to commit 25 percent of the total project cost.

“If we want to be eligible for any disaster mitigation monies we must have this pre-mitigation grant updated every five years,” Marshall County Emergency Management Coordinator Kim Elder told the board.

“Over the years we have used FEMA funds on bridges, roadwork, roads, culverts and so on,” Elder said. “It is not just limited to 2018 tornado-related expenses.”

Supervisor David Thompson said it was necessary to file the grant, but wished other incorporated towns in the county contributed too.

Supervisors Patten and Salesek voted with Thompson to support the expenditure and submit the application.

ACCESS

Executive director Tess Cody reported the Ames-based agency served 355 Marshall County residents in its most recent fiscal year and expended 1,810 hours of staff time to those clients.

ACCESS endeavors to enhance safety and stability of victims of violence in Marshall, Benton, Greene, Tama and Story counties. Victims can call ACCESS all day, every day, to get help for temporary housing, legal proceedings, medical appointments and more.

ACCESS maintains an apartment in Marshall county to help domestic abuse survivors have a safe place to resided.

Agency services are free-of-charge and confidential to clients.

The agency regularly solicits city and county governments in its five-county region for support, Cody said.

Marshall County is the only county in its five-county target area not supporting ACCESS, with a financial allocation Cody said in a letter to the county.

“We are reaching out to you in hopes you will consider an allocation in the coming year,” she said.

Cody did say the county does support ACCESS with services provided by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office and Marshall County Attorney Office.

In other business, the supervisors accepted the Annual Manure Management Plan Update from Clemons Finisher Farm 58020, owner Keno Farms VIII LLC. A plan was placed on file with changes to the MMP:

• Acres added

• Changed crop rotation or optimum yields

• Used manure analysis.

Also, the supervisors approved replacement hires Mariela Tellez and Keaton Dean as jailers for the MCSO at $18.35 per hour.

The next regular meeting of the board of supervisors is 9:05 a.m. Dec. 23 at Great Western Bank, 11 N. First Ave.

All business to be acted on at that session should be submitted to the county auditor and recorder’s office or the board of supervisor’s office by 1 p.m. Dec. 19.

The supervisors’ calendar can be viewed at http://goo.gl/yubHzV.

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Contact Mike Donahey

at 641-753-6611 or

mdonahey@timesrepublican.com