Mount Pleasant, Iowa – The Henry County Board of Supervisors met on September 25, 2025, tackling a wide range of issues including road maintenance updates, courthouse security planning, a rural garbage contract, and funding changes for the county’s drug task force.
Rural Waste Contract Bids Opened
Supervisors then opened bids for Henry County’s rural garbage service contract. Two bids were received. The bids cover a three-year contract and included required bid bonds. After reviewing the submissions, supervisors voted to forward the bids to the county attorney for legal review before making a final decision next week.
Traffic Ordinance Could Keep Fines Local
Supervisors revisited a proposal to adopt portions of Iowa’s traffic code as a county ordinance. Sheriff Rich McNamee said such a move could generate roughly $80,000 in annual revenue by allowing Henry County to retain fines from traffic citations instead of forwarding most of the money to the state. Two neighboring counties, Lee and Wapello, have recently implemented similar ordinances. Supervisors agreed to follow up with the county attorney to draft a potential ordinance.
Drug Task Force Funding Adjustment
Sheriff McNamee also briefed supervisors on a request from the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force to redirect quarterly payments—roughly $9,650 per year—back into the task force’s operating budget instead of distributing the funds to member agencies. Rising costs for technology, undercover operations, and equipment prompted the request. Henry County joined the Burlington-based task force in 2019, which McNamee credited with numerous successful drug trafficking investigations. Supervisors voiced support for the funding adjustment.
Courthouse Security Proposal
Courthouse safety was another major topic. Sheriff McNamee proposed hiring a part-time deputy to provide security during peak court days—Mondays, Fridays, and alternating Wednesdays—when district court sessions draw larger crowds.
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Cost Estimate: About $18,200 annually for a deputy working 20 hours per week at $35 per hour, plus equipment costs.
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Funding Source: Court surcharges collected in Henry County generated $22,279 in the last fiscal year, more than enough to cover the position.
Supervisors agreed the courthouse would benefit from a dedicated security presence and directed the sheriff to begin developing a job description and policies for the new role.
Next Steps
The Board will revisit the rural waste bids after legal review and continue discussions on the traffic ordinance and courthouse security implementation in the coming weeks.