The Mahaska County Board voted Wednesday (5/18) to hire an outside firm to defend the County in the newest lawsuit filed by the Mahaska County EMA Commission.  Belin McCormick from Des Moines was hired to defend the County.  Mahaska County Attorney Andrew Ritland told the Board of Supervisors that in the past, outside counsel has spent 300 hours on such litigation.  Ritland says that’s two months’ worth of work.  The County Board also voted Wednesday to change the health insurance for County employees to Blue Cross Blue Shield Wellmark, following a recommendation from the County’s health insurance committee.