Cerro Gordo County to serve as fiscal agent for three children's-services regions

The Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors approved a one-year agreement for the county to act as fiscal agent for three children's-services regions, a measure officials said is intended to prepare local providers for state-led regional consolidation.

Supervisor Watts, asked to comment by the chair, said she appreciated staff assistance on the proposal. Tom (staff member) explained the plan: the regions will operate as separate boards this coming year while preparing to merge into one region on July 1 of next year, and the county would serve as fiscal agent during the transition.

Officials said Heather was proposed to serve as the fiscal agent; each region will pay $5,000 to the county for fiscal services, for a total of $15,000, and the county will determine how to appropriate those funds for staff time and related costs. Tom said the county would not assume additional legal liability as part of the fiscal-agency arrangement and described the county's role as providing fiscal services while the existing boards remain the governing bodies.

A board member asked whether the agreement included an exit clause. Tom initially described it as a one-year agreement, then corrected that the document "does say either party may terminate this agreement by providing 30 days written notice." Officials also said paperwork needed to be sent to Iowa grant reviewers and back to the county by the end of day Tuesday, which prompted the special-session timing.

With a motion and second on the record, members answered "I" in a voice vote and the motion carried. The board then moved and approved adjournment.

The county did not specify the exact distribution plan for the $15,000 beyond using it for staff time, and the transcript provides no further detail about Heather's employer or contract terms beyond the termination clause and the one-year term. The agreement must be transmitted to state grant reviewers as described by county officials.