The Washington County Board of Supervisors approved a 28E agreement with the Mental Health Agency of Southeast Iowa at their meeting Tuesday. Supervisor Jack Seward Jr. explains what this means for mental health services in Washington County, “SEIL Region will be gaining a critical access hospital out of Ottumwa, and the Ottumwa region will be gaining some of the assets that we have in the SEIL Region. So it’s good for both. Monroe County feels like it’s the way to go for their future, so they have decided to join too.” The merger will combine thirteen counties in the region. The previous region, including Washington County, contained eight counties. The merger is set to officially start July 1st.