Author: Allison Jacobs

The Henry County Supervisors met in regular session this morning at the Henry County Courthouse. Jake Hotchkiss, the Henry County Engineer gave his weekly update. Hotchkiss began his report with an approval of a resolution concerning the stop signs located on East Jackson Street in Salem. Hotchkiss will apply for a grant to obtain speed feedback signs as well as new signage. The topic of moving the crosswalk to connect to the existing sidewalk in front of Salem Elementary School rather than the parking lot was also brought up with further discussion possible in the future.

Crews over the last 2 weeks completed road rebuilding and shaping for the final 2 miles on Oasis Avenue between 200^th and 220^th streets. Crews will be working on placing rock and coordinating the schedule with Washington County for the Roadhog to incorporate Base one into the road. Work will begin on a rip-rap project for the stream running along side Oasis Avenue while waiting on Washington County. Two crossroad culverts on Henry-Washington County Line East of Wayland have been replaced, and mowing on gravel road sides continues.

Franklin Avenue also known as W-55 is closed from 275^th Street North to 260^th Street. There are a few more days of hauling embankment to fill in the existing closure, then work will begin on a short section under flaggers from Fremont to 260^th. The schedule is fluid as crews navigate weather.

Iowa Bridge & Culvert is looking to start bridge removal of Nebraska Bridge, located on Nebraska Avenue South of 220^th Street, the week of August 26^th and closure will be verified in the next week as the contractor has said they are a little behind now but still plan to start late the week of the 26^th.

Caleb Waters, Director of the Henry County Conservation Department, gave his monthly update to KILJ before heading down the road to the Henry County Courthouse.

Henry County Handbook Policy Timesheet Meal Reimbursements were the next item listed on the agenda. With confusion surrounding the procedure to submit meal reimbursements, the Henry County Supervisors decided to request clarification in the language concerning the process. This opened the door for discussion around the amount of meal reimbursement county employees are allowed. Henry County Auditor Shelley Barber made known rumblings among employees that the current reimbursement rates of $10 for breakfast, $15 for lunch, and $20 for dinner, and $45 per day when traveling overnight are hard to abide by when traveling for work. After discussion the supervisors decided to raise the lunch reimbursement limit to $17.50, dinner to $25, and a new limit of $52.50 per day. Henry County Employees are not reimbursed for meals in Henry County, and only when meals are purchased during times of travel or work. The reimbursement rate does not include gratuity which is reimbursed up to an 18% rate.

Due to budget cuts the Henry County Supervisors voted to not give the Henry County Employees a raise last year. The Henry County Department Heads asked the supervisors to consider giving August 30^th as a floating holiday to the employees in the absence of a raise or bonus. Jefferson County was brought up as a reference after they gave their employees July 5^th off in leu of a raise or bonus. After discussion the supervisors decided against this move stating employees are welcome to use their vacation time to take that day off if they choose.

During Public Comments a resident asked for clarification on the next planning and zoning public hearing concerning the windmill ordinance for Henry County. As of now there is a loose date of September 17^th for this meeting to be held in either the Heatilator Performing Arts Center or the Courtroom in the Henry County Courthouse. Residents requested adequate seating and audio availability as a large number of residents are expected to attend. Joe Buffington, Director of Planning and Zoning, also let residents know there may be a different process to this public hearing than previous hearings. Buffington mentioned there may be a list at the entrance to the meeting where residents will sign-up to give a public testimony.

The last public comment was a resident asking the process to bring Henry County Supervisor Meetings to the internet through audio and video. It was established that the supervisors must decide to add this service where it is then sent to IT.

The Henry County Supervisors will meet next Thursday, August 22^nd at 9 am in the Henry County Courthouse.

MOUNT PLEASANT, IA (August 15, 2024) – In June, the Henry County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution declaring Henry County Emergency Medical Services (HCEMS) as an essential county service. The next step is for county residents to vote at a special election on September 10 to approve a tax levy for EMS programming.

Early voting starts August 21 in the Henry County Courthouse second floor conference room. Courthouse hours are 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. On September 10, voting will occur in the normal polling locations.

HCEMS is currently owned and operated by Henry County Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Memorial Hospital. Due to the current property tax cap for HCEMS under hospital ownership, the hospital cannot continue to offer HCEMS and cover the revenue shortfalls.

The state trend shows that the former model of EMS is no longer viable. As of November 2023, 12 Iowa counties have received voter approval to levy for EMS programming. Nearly a dozen additional counties in Iowa are seeking public support in upcoming elections and/or are working on proposals to do so. 

Several entities in Henry County have supported the Essential Services EMS Tax through resolutions, letters of support or community hearings. The groups passing resolutions include the City Councils of Winfield, Mount Pleasant, Salem, Wayland, New London, and the Henry County Democratic Central Committee. Letters of Support have been received from the Mount Pleasant Area Development Commission and HCHC Inc. Board of Directors. Other groups have EMS on their agendas to cover at upcoming meetings.

HCEMS provides vital emergency medical services for Henry County residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These services include: emergency medical care, critical care transfers, medical transports, education and support to county first responders, public health education, and special event coverage.

“The ultimate goal for Henry County Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Memorial Hospital is to keep EMS in Henry County to continue to meet the emergency medical needs of area residents. EMS is without a doubt an essential service, and to keep the service in Henry County for years to come, we need public support. The proposed EMS tax levy will require 60% voter approval on September 10th,” explained Joel Prottsman, Henry County Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Memorial Hospital Board of Trustee Chair.

A YES vote on September 10 means that EMS will stay in Henry County, continuing to serve the emergency healthcare needs of area residents. If the vote passes, the current $0.27 hospital ambulance levy will go away. A new county ambulance tax levy of $0.75 will instead be implemented, which is a $0.48 increase over the current hospital ambulance levy rate. A NO vote on September 10 means that future sustainability of EMS in Henry County is at risk.

Additional information about EMS as an essential service can be found at this link: https://henrycountyemsia.org/hcems-is-essential. On Friday, September 6, more information will also be available on KILJ Radio (105.5 FM) at 8 a.m.

Thunderstorms are likely late tonight after Midnight into Thursday morning. Some of the storms may be strong to severe with damaging winds are the primary threat.  The storms will also produce heavy rainfall at very high rainfall rates, which could lead to ponding water, localized flash flooding, and rises on area rivers and streams.  There is a Marginal Risk, or level 1 out of 5 threat for severe weather for tonight.  Additional chances for thunderstorms are forecast for Thursday afternoon and evening with all modes of severe weather possible.  Locally heavy rainfall will also be a concern on Thursday.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau is partnering with law enforcement across the state of Iowa to decrease impaired driving.  Starting Friday, August 16^th, through Labor Day, agencies will participate in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER enforcement project.

Law enforcement’s 1^st priority is to keep people safe.  The drive sober/ride sober campaign is an effort to spread the message that impaired driving is illegal, and it takes lives.

Last Year, during the final weeks of summer, there were 54 traffic fatalities in Iowa and 44 percent of those deaths involved impairment.

The Mt. Pleasant City Council will meet in regular session today at 5:30pm at City Hall, 307 E. Monroe Street.  The meeting is on the 2^nd floor and in the meeting room.  New business includes the 1^st reading of an ordinance appealing and replacing sections regarding animal control in the city code of ordinances and parking lot maintenance at East Lake Park and Cottrell Gym.

The Henry County Board of Health is meeting at 12:30pm  this afternoon in the conference room.  New business includes a power outage policy.

The Henry County Board of Supervisors will meet on Thursday, August 15^th at 9am at the Henry County Courthouse.