The conversation regarding a proposed 28E agreement between the Dallas County Supervisors and Central Iowa Workforce Development, Region 11 continued at the most recent Board meeting. Though there was still some contention between the Supervisors, this time the agreement was approved.

Dallas has now officially joined the seven other counties of Region 11 – including Boone, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Polk, Story, and Warren – in the oversight of around $1 million annually in federal money to be allocated locally for unemployment and economic development funding. The tipping point for approval proved to be the knowledge that the County cannot opt out of the program without permission from Governor Kim Reynolds, and if they didn’t join the counties in Region 11 they would have to come to an arrangement with a different region.

With their hands metaphorically tied, Supervisors Kim Chapman and Brad Golightly acquiesced to the 28E agreement, though they were still hesitant about specific language in the document related to misspent funds and disallowed costs. Region 11 Workforce Director Heather Garcia attended the recent meeting and attempted to allay their concerns by pointing out that the counties have $1 million in insurance coverage provided at no cost, just in case something should go awry. Dallas County Attorney Chuck Sinnard also gave his approval of the agreement, noting that the bylaws contain several levels of oversight.

Supervisor Mark Hanson, who had been championing the County’s involvement in the program since the beginning of the year, was relieved to get the agreement done, though he still expressed his frustration that Dallas was the last county in Iowa to participate. He emphasized that Dallas County taxpayers were not on the hook for any money put into the workforce region because it’s completely federally funded, so he felt there was little risk in approving the 28E agreement. Hanson also agreed to be the County’s representative on the Region 11 board.