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The Marion County Board of Supervisors approved moving forward with a plan to join a mental health district consisting of Marion, Jasper, Mahaska, and Poweshiek Counties during their regular meeting yesterday morning. The redistricting comes as a result of a transition taking place where the state will take over all mental health services in three years.

Supervisor Jim Kingery and Central Point of Coordination Betty Moll explained that the four counties are similar in population and services offered. Other options included joining a district of counties to the south. Kingery said that Marion County is quite a bit larger than those counties, making it a tough fit.

The county is required to join a mental health district of at least three counties; if they can’t find a group, the State of Iowa will place them somewhere.