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FORECAST. OKAY. AND WE’LL CHECK BACK IN WITH YOU IN JUST A BIT. WELL, THE POLK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS WORKING TO SOLVE YEARS LONG STAFFING ISSUES AT THE POLK COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE. LEADERS ARE NOW CONSIDERING COMBINING SERVICE WITH THE STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE, BUT NOT EVERYONE IS CONVINCED. ����vlog MARCUS MCINTOSH IS LIVE TO TELL US ABOUT THE PLAN AND THE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. MARCUS. LAUREN JODI, POLK COUNTY SUPERVISOR MATT MCCOY SAYS THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ON A SLOW BURN SINCE ABOUT 2018. BUT WEDNESDAY AT THE POLK COUNTY SUPERVISORS BOARD STAFF MEETING, THEY WERE LOOKING AT HOW TO MAKE THE COLLABORATION WORK. BUT THERE’S A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON WHETHER OR NOT THIS WILL BENEFIT COUNTY RESIDENTS. I’M NOT HOLDING MY BREATH. JOE PHILLIPS LOST HER HUSBAND JANUARY 17TH. SHE TELLS US SHE IS STILL WAITING TO RECEIVE HIS OFFICIAL DEATH CERTIFICATE. THEY SAID IT WOULD BE SIX WEEKS. THAT WAS THE FIRST TIMELINE. THEY GAVE ME. MORE THAN EIGHT WEEKS AFTER HIS DEATH. SHE IS STILL WAITING FOR THAT PIECE OF PAPER, UNLOCKS HER HUSBAND’S LIFE INSURANCE AND 401 K PAPER THAT COULD STILL BE WEEKS AWAY. THIS PAST MONDAY, I GOT TOLD THEY ARE WORKING ON THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY DEATH CERTIFICATES. SHE SAYS SHE HAS BEEN LUCKY, BUT THAT WILL EVENTUALLY WEAR OUT. FORTUNATELY, I’VE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE HOUSE AND STUFF. POLK COUNTY SUPERVISOR MATT MCCOY BELIEVES IF THE COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE AND THE STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE JOINED FORCES, THEY CAN SAVE OTHER FAMILIES FROM LONG, AGONIZING WAITS. FOR THE MOST PART, WITH A TEAM OF FIVE DOCTORS, THEY’RE ABLE TO MEET THE STANDARDS AND AND OPERATE IN A TIMELY FASHION. THE STATE OF IOWA IS ALREADY MOVING FORWARD WITH A NEW, MORE THAN $30 MILLION MEDICAL EXAMINER’S FACILITY. AT A BOARD MEETING WEDNESDAY, MCCOY SAID THE DEVELOPMENT PRESENTS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO COMBINE THE TWO OFFICES, BUT NOT EVERYONE IS ON BOARD. NOT AT ALL. JON JACOBSON HAS BEEN A FUNERAL DIRECTOR IN THE METRO FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. HE WORRIES THAT A COMBINED ME’S OFFICE WON’T BE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE POLK COUNTY RESIDENTS. IT’S NOT GOING TO BE THE BEST FOR YOUR FAMILIES. FOR OUR FAMILIES IN POLK COUNTY. AND I’M SAYING THAT FROM FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE. JACOBSON SAYS DESPITE A LONG LIST OF STAFF CHANGES AT THE POLK COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE, THE OFFICE STILL DOES A GOOD JOB OF GETTING INFORMATION TO FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND FAMILIES. IF YOU’RE LOOKING ABOUT WHAT’S GOING TO GIVE YOU THE BEST SERVICE TO POLK COUNTY DOCTOR DILLON, POLK COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER. LEANNE PHILLIPS SENT ME A MESSAGE THIS AFTERNOON SAYING SHE RECEIVED A LETTER TODAY FROM HER MORTGAGE COMPANY, DENYING HER EFFORTS TO TAKE OVER THE MORTGAGE ON HER HOME. SHE SAYS THE REASON IS SHE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH HER HUSBAND’S DEATH CERTIFICATE. LIVE IN DES MOINE