Spring Street Work Begins

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, March 29th, 2023 at 3:06 pm CDT

Kinney and Sons hope to start on the N. Aldrin Drive street improvement project March 30th. They will start on the replacement of the east intake and won’t be digging across Aldrin. Friday, weather permitting, they will dig across Aldrin on Friday, March 31st. Homeowners will be able to get in their driveways this week. Starting April 3rd Kinney & Sons will start removing the pavement on N. Aldrin Drive, weather permitting. The contractor plans to remove all of N. Aldrin Drive, grade and place the modified sub-base the week of April 3rd through the 7th. Then open the street back up to homeowners for the weekend April 8th & 9th. Homeowners won’t be able to access their driveways during the pavement removal through placing the modified sub-base. Weather permitting Jones Contracting plans to move in once the modified sub-base has all been placed. They will start setting up to trim the grade and then place the new pavement.

 

 

Henry County Board of Supervisors Meeting Agenda

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, March 29th, 2023 at 10:29 am CDT

AGENDA

March 30, 2023

Approve Agenda

Approve Minutes

Approve Claims

9:00 Sarah Berndt Monthly Update

9:30 Sign Proclamation Declaring April Child Abuse Prevention Month

Other County Business as time allows

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

Chamber of Commerce to Host Legislative Roundtable Revised

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, March 29th, 2023 at 9:38 am CDT

MOUNT PLEASANT— The Government Affairs Committee, Mount Pleasant Chamber Alliance, will be hosting a Legislative Roundtable with Iowa State Representatives Taylor Collins and  Jeff Shipley on Friday, March 31st at 8 AM.   Chamber of Commerce members and the public are invited to join the conversation in the City Hall Council Chambers.

The Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance exists to improve the quality of life for Henry County residents through economic growth. The Chamber consists of 370 businesses, organizations and individual members. For more information about the roundtable, please call Rachel Lindeen at 385-3101 or email rachel@mpiowa.org.

 

Iowa Wesleyan Committed to Finishing the Semester

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, March 28th, 2023 at 3:21 pm CDT

During a Tuesday afternoon press briefing Iowa Wesleyan University President Christine Plunkett said the Administration is committed to seeing the year thru.  The Mount Pleasant university’s Board of Trustees voted Tuesday morning to close the 181 institution at the end of May. Plunkett said the students will finish classes, spring sports schedules will be played out and commencement will be held as it always has in the past.

She said the United States Department of Agriculture will become responsible for the campus May 31 and she anticipates a trustee will be appointed to oversee all the operating and business decisions related to the closing. In 2016 IW entered into a USDA consolidation loan in the amount of $26 million making the USDA the primary lender.

In a communication with alumni it was stated that there will be a website to provide initial Q&A information and resources for students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners to outline the path going forward.

Governor’s Response to IW Closure

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, March 28th, 2023 at 3:08 pm CDT

The press release announcing the closure of Iowa Wesleyan University stated the rejection of a proposal for federal covid funding by Governor Kim Reynolds was one of the factors considered in the decision to close.  The University requested 12 million dollars.  The Governor explains in her response to the closure why these funds were not forth coming.  And in a press briefing Tuesday afternoon IW President Christine Plunkett said the University’s financial information stated by the Governor was accurate…..

DES MOINES – Gov. Reynolds released the following statement in response to the announced closure of Iowa Wesleyan University:

“Today, my thoughts are with the students, faculty, and staff who are stunned by this announcement, and the people of Mount Pleasant who have long revered the university as a pillar of their community. The state is committed to supporting them during this time of transition. I have directed the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Workforce Development to reach out to community and business leaders, and work together to keep the local economy strong.

“It wasn’t until February 3, 2023, that my office received a request from the university for $12 million for ongoing operating costs. As I’ve said many times, we endeavor not to spend one-time federal dollars on ongoing expenses. To better understand their request and the financial health of the university, my office engaged an independent, third-party accounting firm to conduct due diligence. The firm reported that Iowa Wesleyan had a $26.1 million loan from the USDA, using their campus as collateral, that could be recalled in full as early as November 2023. Additionally, Iowa Wesleyan’s auditor cited ongoing concerns about the university’s fiscal health, stating “significant operating losses and reduced liquidity raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.” The firm also highlighted that that while enrollment at Iowa Wesleyan has grown over the past three years, their financial health has continued to deteriorate over the same period.

“Based on this and other factors, the independent accounting firm determined that providing one-time, federal funds would not solve the systemic financial issues plaguing the university. If the state would have provided the federal funding as requested and it was used to finance debt or other impermissible uses according to US Treasury guidelines, the state and taxpayers could have been liable for potential repayment to the federal government. Moreover, the state has separately received $122 million in requests from other universities and community colleges across the state.

“With this information, I made the difficult decision to not pursue the university’s funding request.”

 

 
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Richard Bruce Koffend

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, March 28th, 2023 at 2:39 pm CDT

Richard Bruce Koffend, 65, of Morning Sun, passed away on Monday, March 27, 2023 at Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington.  Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Service in Mediapolis.  Celebration of Life Services will be 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 31, 2023 at the funeral home.  Richard’s wishes are to be cremated following the Celebration of Life Services.  A memorial has been established for the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House.    Online condolences can by left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.

Richard Bruce Koffend was born on October 27, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Paul and Marjorie Koffend.  Richard graduated from Lane Tech High School in the Chicago area and studied chemistry as an undergrad.  In 1981, he graduated from The University of Iowa PA Program with a score of 98% on the national board exam.    On December 31, 1987, Richard was united in marriage to Vicki Hahn in Burlington.   Richard practiced medicine in Louisa and Des Moines County for 37 years.  He taught continuing medical education for 25 years and was elected to the Morning Sun school board.  Richard was an ordained elder of the Presbyterian Church, an ordained Pastor doing Jail Ministry for Jesus, member of Calvary Baptist Church in Muscatine and was a volunteer for the hospice house in West Burlington.  He enjoyed practicing medicine, Notre Dame and Iowa football, Blackhawks hockey, reading history, Christmas time and his Christmas tree, playing cards with his family, Bible study and teaching, the Four Seasons, weight lifting and cycling, especially Ragbrai.  He especially loved spending time with his family and watching his kids play sports.

Richard will be deeply missed by his children Justin (Jaime) Yoder of Mount Pleasant, Stacy (Doran) Massner of Mediapolis, Nicholas (Lindsey) Yoder of Mt. Pleasant, Lindsey Koffend of Morning Sun and Kelsey Koffend of North Liberty; grandchildren, Dakota, Levi, Izabell, Layk, Rylie, Owen, Jayden, Kyler, Evee, Sofia, Nora, Easton and Lila and brother, Mick (Mary) Koffend of Austin, Texas.

Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Vicki on September 6, 2018; his parents and two brothers, Pat and Fred Koffend.

MID-AM BUILDING SUPPLY TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON NEW FACILITY IN MOUNT PLEASANT

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, March 28th, 2023 at 2:35 pm CDT

Mid-Am Building Supply recently entered into a long-term lease agreement with Knaebel’s, Inc. to lease a warehouse distribution facility in Mt. Pleasant, IA that is to be newly constructed.  Woodruff Construction of Tiffin, IA is the general contractor that will build the 134,670 square foot facility.  Planning for this project has been ongoing since the site was acquired in October 2021. The expected completion date for this project is July 2024.

The new facility will be constructed in the Crossroads Industrial Park located along Iris Street in Mt. Pleasant and will consist of warehouse space and a door shop within as well as a 5,000 square foot office space. The new facility will include covered loading and unloading in a “drive through” loading/storage area with more than one acre of space designated for outside storage.

Operating in Mount Pleasant since 1984, Mid-Am Building Supply is a “two-step” building material distributor that sells building materials to lumber yards and big box stores. With five warehouses in four states, the company distributes products across the Midwest that include shingles, doors, insulation, siding, windows, decking, door locks, fasteners and other building products.

 

From Henry County Engineer’s office

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, March 28th, 2023 at 1:38 pm CDT

Henry County Engineer’s Office will have a lane closure on 235th Street (Business 34) on Wednesday March 29th. Please use caution as the road will not be closed but expect delays with flaggers.  If you have questions or concerns you can contact the Engineer’s office at 319-385-0762.