Author: Theresa Rose

On February 13, 2021, at approximately 12:39AM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a driving complaint of a vehicle driving all over the roadway on U.S. Highway 218 near Olds, Iowa. After searching for the vehicle, the vehicle was located in a ditch near the 400 Block of Highway 78 in Wayland, Iowa. After an investigation it was found that the driver of the vehicle, Blair Christine Farris (26 years of age) of Washington, Iowa, was operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Blair was subsequently placed under arrest and transported to the Henry County Jail without incident. Blair was charged with Operating While Under the Influence First Offense, a Serious Misdemeanor. She was also given citations for Failing to Maintain Control and Open Container – Driver 21 Years Old & Older.

Wayland City Council Meeting, Wednesday, February 17 at 7:30 pm at the Wayland City Hall.

1. Public Hearing – 7:30 PM – Public Hearing For The Purpose Of Considering The Maximum Tax Dollars From Certain Levies For The City’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Budget”

1. Consent Agenda

Note:  These are routine items and will be enacted by one motion without separate discussion unless a Council member requests an item be removed for separate consideration.

1. Minutes of February 3, 2021
2. Bills for Payment

1. Citizen Forum

The Mayor and City Council welcome comments from the public for items not listed on the agenda.  You are asked to state your name and address for the record and to limit your remarks in order that others may be given the opportunity to speak.  The Order of Business is at the discretion of the Chair.  No action will be taken.

1. Unfinished Business

1. New Business

1. Review Proposals/Award Solid Waste Residential Garbage and Recycling for Service
2. 2021-06 “A Resolution Authorizing the Increase In City Water Rates Charged By The City of Wayland Water Utility”

1. 2021-05 “Resolution Approving The Maximum Tax Dollars From Certain Levies For The City’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Budget”
2. Approve FY 21/22 Budget for Publication & Set Public Hearing For March 17, 2021

7. Building Permits – none

8. Adjournment

Henry County Health Center is excited to offer patients a new two-way communication platform for time based appointment reminders. HCHC recently went live with Relatient, one of the top patient engagement platforms for health systems and provider groups.

Patients will receive time-based reminders for appointment confirmation, rescheduling, and instructions.

“Patients wishing to receive appointment reminders can receive them by email, phone call or text message, or all three with a one click option to confirm, reschedule or cancel. Patients aren’t required to opt in, but we believe our patients will appreciate this way of managing their appointments,” explained Stacy Speidel, Application & Project Analyst with HCHC’s Information Technology Department. “Since going live on the new platform, patients have given positive feedback and appreciate being in control of how and when they receive and review their appointment information.”

HCHC Clinical IT Specialist Sara Rogers explained, “Staff are able to see confirmed appointments and proactively contact patients for rescheduling.  If patients miss an appointment, a reminder can be sent so they have the opportunity to reschedule.  This allows HCHC to standardize the appointment reminder call process across the organization.”

The communication platform integrates with HCHC’s scheduling and registration systems and looks to email, home and cell phone data provided by the patient to send messages. Scheduled messages include an email five days prior to the appointment, a voice message three days prior and a text message two days in advance. Messages include appointment time and general instructions. Once a patient confirms their appointment, additional automated messages will stop. All patients will receive a courtesy text message the day prior or day of the appointment.

“Messages are currently being translated to Spanish.  We are evaluating other features that include a secure two-way messaging chat feature, broadcasting of mass communication such as inclement weather and change in hours.  Future possibilities may include yearly reminder notification and the ability to complete preregistration,” said Speidel.

This additional service complements the already existing Patient Portal. An email is required to receive an invitation to the Patient Portal. In addition to email, patients are encouraged to provide their preferred communication method so they can take advantage of the appointment reminders and any features that will come in the future. Patients can call the hospital and give their information, or provide it at the time of registration.

“It is anticipated that this will result in increased patient satisfaction, improved patient communication, and a reduction in missed appointments. It also helps alleviate some of the challenges associated with COVID-19 by increasing patient and staff safety,” said Rogers.

IUB working with utilities on customer impact to electric, natural gas service due to severe cold

(Des Moines) — Due to the ongoing severe winter weather, the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) is coordinating with all Iowa utilities to ensure customers have electric and natural gas service. The Midwest’s extreme cold, combined with other weather events, especially in the Southern states, where wind turbines and gas wells are freezing and becoming non-operational, has led to an issue where electric generation across large areas of the county was severely reduced. Natural gas and electric demand remains extremely high in several states and capacity for both remains problematic due to supply and transmission issues.

Due to the demand outpacing available supply in certain areas, some utilities are being instructed by their regional transmission operator (RTO) to curtail their electric load.

With the decrease in electric generation coupled with an increased demand for electricity, the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), one of the RTO’s to which Iowa utilities are members, encountered demand that exceeded its capacity to provide to its members. As a result, SPP declared a series of Energy Emergency Alerts. Late Monday and early today, SPP escalated these alerts to the highest level and instructed some of its members to reduce electricity demand by an amount needed to prevent further and uncontrolled power interruptions.

Iowa’s largest utilities (MidAmerican Energy, Alliant Energy, and Black Hills Energy) informed the IUB on Tuesday that their customers have not been affected by the blackouts and those utilities project sufficient supplies to meet the needs of their natural gas customers and ongoing electric and natural gas customer demand.

Alliant Energy initiated a gas interruption event (Saturday, Feb. 13 through Tuesday, Feb. 16) for customers who had voluntarily signed up for the interruptible rate and provided advanced notice to those customers seeking to limit the interruption. Black Hills Energy initiated a gas interruption event for its large- and small-volume customers. MidAmerican Energy coordinated with its largest customers to ensure uninterrupted gas service for residential customers and communicated with customers asking them to reduce their usage.

The impact to increased costs is currently unknown, but is anticipated to be substantial. IUB Board Chair Geri Huser stated at Tuesday’s regular monthly meeting that the IUB is aware of rising costs and will be meeting with the large utilities to discuss the situation before the utilities file a request to recover the cost from ratepayers.

Natural gas markets reopened on Tuesday morning after the Presidents’ Day federal holiday.  The cold weather is forecasted to continue across the central United States.

If customers are experiencing issues with their natural gas or electric service they are encouraged to contact their local utility company.

What customers can do to conserve energy and remain safe
Customers should be sure that vents, meters and air intakes for natural gas appliances are clear of snow and ice. Additional cold weather tips include:

• Lowering the thermostat while sleeping or away from home. Thermostat temperatures should never be reduced to a setting that might impact the health of anyone in the home or cause pipes to freeze
• Inspect, clean and change furnace filters following manufacturers’ recommendations
• When possible, weatherize exterior doors and windows
• Never use portable combustion generators indoors due to potential carbon monoxide poisoning
• Never use stoves, ovens, grills or gas or kerosene heaters indoors for space heating
• Ensure there is adequate venting when using a fireplace or wood-burning stove
• Never leave space heaters or open flames from fireplaces unattended
• Make sure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are connected and functioning properly

The Iowa Utilities Board regulates utilities to ensure that reasonably priced, reliable, environmentally responsible, and safe utility services are available to all Iowans.

Follow the Board on Twitter: https://twitter.com/iub_now

AGENDA
February 18, 2021
Approve Agenda
Approve Minutes
Approve Claims
9:00 Joel Garretson Annual Local Government Report
Historic Preservation
Other County Business as time allows
Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

Extreme and extended cold temperatures are causing many utility companies throughout the region, including Access Energy Cooperative’s generation cooperative system, to continue to exceed all-time high demands for electricity.

We are all urged to be very conservative with energy we use for the rest of this week. These extreme conditions could have the potential to cause intermittent service disruptions. Should this happen in our area, we could experience 30-40 minute increment rolling blackouts within our system. We expect power to come back on for approximately an hour before it is interrupted again. If your power would remain off for more than 45 minutes at a time, please notify our office.

Taking steps to decrease your power usage will help as we navigate this extreme weather event.

What can you do to help?

• Turn down your thermostat a few degrees and use a blanket or warm clothing to stay warm. This also helps relieve your HVAC system and lower your bill.
• Reduce space heater use if possible.
• Limit use of larger appliances such as clothes dryers or dishwashers.
• Use smaller kitchen appliances like toaster ovens, microwaves and slow cookers, rather than the range or oven.
• Keep fireplace dampers closed when not in use.
• Unplug unused electronics and chargers.
• Turn off lights you don’t need.

We appreciate your efforts to help us save energy as we all manage through this historic week. Use all the power you need – but need all you use.