During this week’s regular Board of Supervisors meeting, department heads provided a series of updates covering roads, finance, court schedules, and veterans services.
Secondary Roads Update
Engineer Jake Hotchkiss reported on recent activity by the Henry County Road Department. Following recent rainfall, crews have focused on blading roads and addressing overgrowth.
“Our operators have been working on spraying noxious weeds for the second round. We’ve seen an uptick in growth,” Hotchkiss noted. Two mowers are currently assigned to gravel road routes, and the dirt patcher has been out prepping Racine Avenue for a slur-wedge and seal coat project scheduled later this summer.
Hickory Avenue’s culvert replacement was completed last week and seeded on Monday. The department has also been addressing erosion control.
Another highlight was the successful completion of the double-seal coat on Old Highway 34. “That was finished as of yesterday afternoon,” Hotchkiss confirmed. A sand seal will follow, but the road will be open for the upcoming tractor parade. Maps of parade routes were distributed, and Hotchkiss emphasized that normal traffic is expected unless otherwise requested.
Treasurer’s Office
Treasurer Kellie Sloan highlighted the ongoing driver’s license surcharge program, which brings in additional revenue from out-of-county customers. “In May, we had 51 such customers, totaling $510 in added revenue,” Sloan said. Since its implementation in January, the office has collected over $3,400 that would have otherwise gone uncollected.
Sloan also noted that Mount Pleasant is using a 2024 resolution allowing parking ticket fines to place holds on vehicle registrations. Four holds have been placed so far.
Interest collected in May totaled $42,625. The delinquent property tax list was published this week, and online registration for the June 17 tax sale will close at midnight on the 12th. Currently, 54 bidders are registered, down from the usual 250. Sloan speculated the lower figure may be due to only $195,000 in unpaid taxes remaining.
Courts & County Attorney’s Office
A Deputy County Attorney offered an overview of June’s court activity. Judge John Wright will rotate in for eight weeks. Upcoming court dates include June 9, 16, 23, and 30. Arraignments will be on the 4th and 18th. Initial appearances are held each morning at 9 a.m.
Court proceedings are open to the public, including pre-trials for traffic and simple misdemeanors on Thursdays and Fridays.
Additionally, the Attorney Stater will attend depositions on June 19–20 in Des Moines related to a state certification hearing for former deputy Arturo Perez. The County Attorney’s Office clarified they are attending to ensure civil procedure is followed. None of the involved county employees are parties in the case.
Veterans Affairs
Roger Pittsenbarger reported that claims processing times have grown due to increased caseloads transferred from California to the Des Moines VA office. “Claims are taking up to six months now,” he stated.
He attended a regional meeting and Veterans Appreciation Day at the Capitol on May 14, where Governor Reynolds declared May as Veterans Month in Iowa. Roger also highlighted regular monthly breakfasts the third week of each month at the VFW; Praising the growing attendance and guest presentations.
He noted that the 224th Brigade Engineer Battalion deployed on May 29 from Old Threshers in Mount Pleasant. The send-off drew a large turnout, including crowds lining the overpass on Highway 218. According to Pittsenbarger, 1,917 Iowa troops have been activated—a deployment scale not seen in over a decade.
The next Henry County Board of Supervisor Meeting will be Thursday June 12th at 9am.