The Henry County Board of Supervisors met Thursday morning, February 26, approving the agenda and addressing a range of infrastructure projects, funding matters, and upcoming community initiatives. Supervisor Steven Detrick reported on the Assessor’s Conference Board meeting held Tuesday evening, where pay adjustments were approved of up to five percent for the deputy assessor and up to three percent for office staff. The assessor’s office operates under its own levy and is governed by the conference board. County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss presented a RISE grant application to the Iowa Department of Transportation for improvements at the Goodyear Road and Washington Street intersection along Business Highway 34. The project would rework the intersection and add turn lanes to better accommodate heavy truck traffic. Henry County is partnering with the City of Mount Pleasant on the project, and both entities agreed the county would take the lead due to the recent loss of the city administrator and the city’s ongoing hiring process to fill that position. Supervisors approved the application unanimously.
Supervisors approved a contract awarding quarry crushing services to Preston Ready Mix at $7.05 per ton, totaling $775,500, compared to last year’s rate of $6.93 per ton. The secondary roads department reported three utility permits, including one for utilities along Winfield Avenue in preparation for an upcoming City of Mount Pleasant reconstruction project, with bids expected to be let in April, according to the City’s engineer. Two additional permits were presented for Windstream. Culvert replacements on Fremont Street have been completed, and crews are now backfilling and shaping the banks. Contractors are moving equipment into position on Lexington Avenue, while work continues on 235th Street with the removal of the west pier. In personnel news, county mechanic Bruce Breuer has submitted his resignation as he plans to retire.
Paul Katsion appeared before the board on behalf of the America 250 committee to discuss plans to open a time capsule buried on the courthouse lawn in 1976, which was intended to be opened 50 years later in 2026. The committee proposes opening the original capsule during anniversary celebrations and then burying a new time capsule filled with items representing life in 2026, to be opened in 2076. Supervisors made a motion to allow the America 250 committee to uncover the time capsule. Supervisors also set the fiscal year 2027 budget hearing for March 26, with the proposed tax levy hearing to follow the same day. Detrick expressed concern about the timeline and suggested holding the hearing at 6 p.m. to improve public accessibility. The Supervisors will work to accommodate a evening time so that Henry County Residents can attend the hearing.
Tonya Scott of Alcohol and Drug Services spoke about prevention programs offered in Henry County, including GenRx and prescription drug abuse education in local schools, and warned the organization will operate at a deficit if county funding is not secured. She noted opioid settlement funds are used to support ADS services in Lee County and suggested Henry County explore whether similar funding could be applied locally. Supervisors agreed to review the eligibility of those funds and plan to consult with the County Attorney’s Office regarding contract details and work with the Sheriff’s Office to better understand whether opioid settlement dollars could be used to support ADS prevention services in Henry County. County salary discussions are scheduled for March 4 at 10 a.m., after which the meeting adjourned.
The County Auditor, Robin Detrick told supervisors she needs to know the proposed raise rates for county employees so her office can prepare the necessary documentation for the upcoming budget hearing. Supervisors plan to meet March 4 at 10 a.m. to compile pay rates and finalize 2026–2027 wage increases for the Auditor’s Office.