The battle between the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors and the County’s 911 Emergency Management Board has now spilled over into the County Sheriff’s Office.  At Monday’s (5/16) meeting, the Board considered rescinding the authority it had earlier given to the Sheriff to hire a new deputy.  This was after Sheriff Russ VanRenterghem voted with the 911 Emergency Management Board to file a fourth lawsuit against the Board of Supervisors regarding 911 funding.  VanRenterghem asked the County Board to not go after his department.

“You wouldn’t go after Sue’s (County Auditor Sue Brown) budget because of her views or her stances that she may have in a department head meeting.  This would be morally and ethically wrong.  I’m asking you not to punish my budget because of my views and stances on the EMA Commission.”

The Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 to rescind that authority; Supervisors Mark Groenendyk and Chuck Webb voted in favor, Supervisor Steve Wanders voted against.  Then during the public comments portion of the meeting, Mahaska County 911 Emergency Management Supervisor Jamey Robinson addressed the County Board.  Robinson and Supervisor Steve Wanders had this exchange.

Robinson: “That’s who I report to (the 911 Board).”

Wanders: “Even if you’re using an illegal levy.  You’re fine with that?”

Robinson: “But I don’t feel it’s illegal.  Do you know how many other counties do this in the state?  Several.”

Wanders: “I don’t care.  I worry about my county. “

Robinson: “And that’s fine.  But there’s a precedent because there’s so many other counties doing it this way.”

Wanders: “I worry about my county attorney telling me it’s an illegal levy.  I’m worried about the judge telling me it’s illegal–three times.  I worry about lawyers in Des Moines telling us it’s an illegal levy.  I’m trying to protect the taxpayers of Mahaska County because that’s what I have to do.”

Wanders said it would be Mahaska County taxpayers who would lose if they have to continue paying for legal action.