The Henry County Board of Supervisors convened on Thursday, December 11, 2025, addressing routine business items including county engineer updates, a discussion and possible action on seeking outside counsel for the Carlos Lopez reimbursement, and a conversation with local morticians regarding county responsibilities.

County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss Weekly Updates

The board received an update from County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss. He reminded the board and the public that the bridge on 235th is now closed for replacement. He noted ongoing issues with motorists ignoring or missing detour signage and attempting to use 235th to enter or exit town. Hotchkiss said the current signage meets DOT standards, but they are discussing additional barricades to prevent drivers from using the closed route.
He also presented a potential lease agreement that would allow ITC to store equipment at the Rock Quarry, which the board will review before making a decision at the next meeting. Hotchkiss informed the board that Secondary Roads had planned to replace a truck next year, but due to long lead times, the ordering process needs to begin before the next fiscal year. The estimated cost of the truck is approximately $250,000.

Discussion & Possible Action Seeking Outside Counsel for Reimbursement to Carlos Lopez

Chad White opened the discussion by stating he agrees that Carlos Lopez should be reimbursed for his legal fees. However, he believes the supervisors should seek outside counsel for an unbiased legal opinion to confirm the county’s authority to issue the reimbursement. Steve Detrick agreed Lopez should be reimbursed but disagreed on hiring outside counsel, saying he believes the code already makes the county’s authority clear. The board ultimately voted 2 to 1 to seek outside counsel, with Steve Detrick voting against. During public comment, several residents expressed frustration with the decision, urging the board to stop “kicking the can down the road.” The board then adjourned and reconvened at 11 a.m. with local morticians.

Discussion with Local Morticians & County Responsibilities

The supervisors met at 11 a.m. with morticians from Mount Pleasant, Winfield, and New London. The discussion focused on the cost of removals and cremations for low-income individuals who qualify for county assistance. The board requested that morticians submit a breakdown of their service costs. They will then meet with Katie Reuter, Director of Public Health, to discuss how the county may revise eligibility requirements for these services.

KILJ Radio in Mount Pleasant has opened applications for a full time News Director and Morning Show Co-Host. The station, known for its locally focused news coverage since 1970, is looking for someone to lead daily news operations while co-hosting the weekday morning talk show.

The role includes managing the news department, gathering and reporting local news from Monday through Saturday, creating text and audio news reports, and directing part-time staff. Responsibilities also include conducting interviews, covering public meetings, maintaining the community calendar, and assisting with social media and production work. The position will require some night, weekend, and holiday shifts.

KILJ is seeking candidates who demonstrate strong writing and communication skills, sound judgement, attention to detail, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Experience in journalism or broadcasting is preferred.

Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter, resume, and demo by 5 pm on Monday, December 29, 2025. Materials may be emailed to General Manager Kadie Johannson at sales@kilj.com or delivered to KILJ Radio, 2411 Radio Drive, Mount Pleasant.

The Mount Pleasant City Council met in regular session Wednesday night and moved through a series of updates and approvals affecting city operations and future planning.

Council members read for the second time an ordinance to prohibit panhandling in certain areas within city limits, noting concern over professional panhandlers who come from outside the community and intimidate or take advantage of residents. Officials emphasized that the city is not targeting people in genuine need but wants to better address individuals who are harassing citizens.

The council also approved the second reading of updates to the hazardous materials response charge ordinance. Beginning in January, the city will adopt an annual resolution reflecting the fee schedule set by the state board, ensuring consistency in how hazardous materials response costs are handled. Officials noted this ordinance allows the city to bill when the fire department must respond to any call regarding hazardous materials.

The council approved the City’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan with the FAA, a requirement for securing federal funding for airport projects. The Airport Advisory Committee worked alongside the city’s engineering firm to develop the list of proposed improvements.

In personnel matters, the council approved the hiring of Amber Thorne as the new Administrative Assistant in the City Clerk’s office.

Public Works Department received approval to purchase a 2009 dump truck, which will be used to assist with snow removal this winter.

The council approved a resolution to purchase real estate at 405 E Madison Street from the Mount Pleasant Community School District. The move follows the school board’s narrow vote to sell the property to the City, and officials said they expect to close on the property toward the end of January 2026.

The council also moved forward with hiring an engineer to evaluate needed repairs at the property they will obtain from the school district. Mayor Brimhall noted that the City is still discussing the options of how they plan to use the building. Thomas McInerney, the engineer selected, is familiar with the city’s needs, having worked on the Mount Pleasant Park Shop and previously collaborated with the school district on various projects.

The meeting concluded with no public comments during the forum. The City Council will meet again Tuesday, December 23rd at 5:30pm.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Henry County office will be offering three opportunities to attend the Private Pesticide Applicator Continuing Instruction Course (P-CIC), led by Extension Field Agronomist, Virgil Schmidt.

The class is scheduled for Tuesday, December 23rd at 9:30am or 1:00pm at the Henry County Extension office. The course will be offered again on Tuesday, January 13th at 1:00pm at the Henry County Extension office.

Preregistration is required. Walk-ins on the day of the program will only be admitted if room allows. Please preregister online or call Henry County Extension at 319-385-8126 to register.

The course will run for approximately 2 ½ hours including check-in and breaks. The registration fee is $30. The course will fulfill 2025-2026 recertification requirements for private pesticide applicators.

Topics to be covered include:
• Personal protective equipment and safe handling
• Professionalism, Storage of pesticides, including chemical security
• Pests, pest management, and pesticides

To register or to obtain additional information about the P-CIC, contact the Henry County Extension office.

The recent blast of arctic air is growing ice on lakes and ponds, particularly across the northern two-thirds of Iowa. Outdoor ice enthusiasts are ready to get out ice fishing, snowmobiling, ice skating or fat-tire bike riding.

The DNR recommends a minimum of four inches of clear ice for fishing and at least five to seven inches for snowmobiles and ATVs. Larger off-road utility vehicles should wait for seven or more inches of clear ice.

Ice forms at different rates on each body of water depending upon the size and water depth. Once frozen, conditions change constantly and ice thickness can vary across the lake. Rocks, trees, docks or other things that poke through the ice will conduct heat and make the ice around it less stable. Trust your instincts – if the ice does not look right, don’t go out.

A blanket of snow on top of an ice-covered lake insulates the ice, slowing the growth of ice and hiding potential hazards or weak spots. River ice is 15 percent weaker than lake ice. Ice with a bluish color is safer than clear ice. Avoid slushy or honey-combed and stay away from dark spots on the ice. Don’t walk into areas where the snow cover looks discolored.

Safety Tips on the Ice:

• No ice is 100 percent safe.
• New ice is usually stronger than old ice.
• Don’t go out alone – if the worst should happen, someone will be there to call for help or to help rescue.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you will return.
• Check ice thickness as you go out – there could be pockets of thin ice or places where ice recently formed.
• Avoid off-colored snow or ice. It is usually a sign of weakness.
• The insulating effect of snow slows down the freezing process.
• Bring along these basic items to help keep you safe: hand warmers, ice cleats to help prevent falls, ice picks (wear around your neck) to help you crawl out of the water if you fall in, a spud bar, a life jacket, a floating safety rope, a whistle to call for help, a basic first aid kit and extra dry clothes including a pair of gloves.
• Use extreme caution when snowmobiling on ice. Snowmobiles can be difficult to steer and take a long time to stop with limited traction on ice. Slow down and avoid heavy braking.

On Tuesday, 12/9/25,  the Iowa Transportation Commission approved $9,752,043 in total funding for 28 separate projects from Iowa’s Traffic Safety Improvement Program. The program was created in 1987 for the purpose of increasing traffic safety on all of Iowa’s roadways. This funding is available for use on institutional, city, county, or state roads through an annual application process.

Two local cities will receive funding for their projects.

The City of Burlington will receive $500,000 for a roundabout on Division Street and West Burlington Avenue. The total project cost estimated at just over 1.4 million dollars.

The City of Fairfield will also benefit from the DOT Traffic Safety Improvement Program, receiving $212,630 for pedestrian improvements on Main Street and Burlington Avenue. Fairfield’s project is estimated at $373,000 for the full project.

The complete list of projects can be found on the Iowa DOT Traffic Safety Improvement Program web page or by visiting KILJ.com under the news tab.

Authorities say a man found dead near Snake Alley in Burlington on Sunday morning died of natural causes. At around 11:45 a.m., Craig “Doc” Patterson, 65, of Burlington, was found dead on the 600 block of Washington Street, according to the Burlington Police Department.

Emergency personnel and the Burlington Police Department had initially been called to the scene after receiving a report of an unresponsive man at the location. Patterson was pronounced dead at the scene. The preliminary investigation indicates that Patterson’s death was the result of medical event. No foul play is suspected.