The Henry County Democratic Central Committee will be hosting the county’s Democratic Caucuses for all county precincts on January 15, 2024 at 7:00pm at 120 S. Main Street, Suite 103 in Mount Pleasant.

The new Iowa Democratic Caucuses will consist of two parts. One part will be the mail-in expression of Presidential preference. Iowa Democrats will be able to request a presidential preference card through the mail or online.  The last day to request a preference card is February 19, 2024.

The second part will be the in-person precinct caucuses which will be held in-person on January 15, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. The in-person precinct caucuses are when the party conducts traditional party business. Party members elect unbound delegates and alternate delegates to county conventions, elect county central committee members and discuss platform resolutions that can be shared at county conventions. Participants must be in-line or signed-in by 7:00pm to participate.

No Presidential preference will be taken at the in-person precinct caucuses. The results of the mail-in Presidential preference will be released on March 5.

More information, including details about changes to the Iowa caucus process, is available at www.iowademocrats.org/caucus/

The caucus is a great way to get involved in grassroots activities with the Iowa Democratic Party.

All Henry County Democrats are encouraged to attend. Visit www.prohenrycounty.org for more information about the county caucus and other local events.

On the morning of Sunday, January 7th, 2024, Fort Madison officers were dispatched to an address on Florence Drive to a report of criminal mischief. At that time, it was discovered that an unoccupied vehicle had been shot multiple times with a firearm. Evidence was recovered at the scene and interviews were conducted. The owner, also named a suspect, believing it was perpetrated because of an earlier dispute between the two.

With the assistance of Southeastern Community College staff and West Burlington Police Department, Fort Madison detectives executed a search warrant that same day at the Blackhawk Tower Apartments in West Burlington. Subsequently, additional evidence was recovered and Angel Joann Maes, age 19, a resident of the SCC housing, was taken into custody.

Maes has been charged with Going Armed with Intent (D felony); Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon (D felony); 1st degree Harassment (aggravated misd) and Reckless Use of a Firearm (aggravated misd). She was subsequently transported to the Lee County Jail where she awaits arraignment in North Lee County District Court.

The public is advised that this was determined to be an isolated event between involved parties, and not a continued threat to the general community. Also, that charges are merely an accusation of a crime, and the suspect presumed innocent until conviction in a court of law.

A man was arrested in Lee County on Friday for an attempted murder. According to a release, at approximately 7:30 pm on January 5^th, Trent Lee Drollinger was arrested on a Van Buren County arrest warrant charging him with Attempted Murder, a Class B Felony.

Drollinger is currently being held in the Van Buren County Jail on a $500,000 cash only bond.

This investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed.

AGENDA FOR NEW LONDON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING

JANUARY 8^TH, 2024 – MONDAY EVENING – 6:00 P.M.

CITY OFFICE – 112 W. MAIN ST.

1. CALL TO ORDER REGULAR MEETING: Mayor Kirk Miller
2. ROLL CALL: Travis Benz, Brad Helmerson, Dan Berner, Scott Campbell and Dawn Sines
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

4. INVOCATION: Kirk Miller

5. REPORTS:

1. Police Dept.
2. Fire Department
3. Public Works (1)
4. Parks & Recreation
5. Utilities (2-6)
6. Child Care
7. Mayor

6. OPEN FORUM:

7. CONSENT AGENDA:
   1. Approve minutes of previous meetings (7-11)
   2. Accept Clerk’s Financial Reports (12-14)
   3. Approve Payment of Claims (Handout)

8. OLD BUSINESS:
   1. Discuss and take action on a proposal for sanitation services for fiscal years 2024-2025, 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 (15-22)
   2. Discuss the 28E Agreement for Combined Law Enforcement Operations Between the City of New London and Henry County, Iowa (23-27)
   3. Discuss the 28E Agreement for Supplemental Law Enforcement Services (28-30)

9. NEW BUSINESS:
   1. Approve the final pay estimate with retainage #6 for Hickey Contracting Company for the Division St. Paving and Storm Sewer Project (31-32)
   2. Approve the Contract for Legal Services with Lynch Dallas (33-35)
   3. Approve Resolution #417 Reasonable Competitive Bidding procedures for Disposition of Certain Property Located within the South Pine Street Urban Renewal Area; Directing Publication of Related Notices; and Declaring the Intent of the City to Accept the Offer Submitted by Johnson Homes, Inc. in the Event that no Qualified Competing Proposals are Submitted (36-43)
   4. Approve Resolution #418 Clarifying Ownership and Responsibility of the Main Street Streetlight Banners (44)
   5. Approve selling the 1999 Ford F-250 Dump Truck at auction
   6. Discuss and take action on selling the 1994 International 4900 Dump Truck to NLMU

10. MEETINGS:

1. Public Works Committee, As Needed, Shop at WWTP
2. Public Safety Committee, As Needed, City Office
3. Finance Committee, January ______, 2024 at_____________, City Office
4. Finance Committee Fire Townships, January ______, 2024 at_____________, City Office
5. Regular City Council Meeting, February 12^th, 2024 at 6:00 P.M., City Office

11. ADJOURNMENT

Henry County Sheriff Richard McNamee is happy to announce that Henry County Deputy Sheriff Carlos Lopez, who works at the New London School District as a School Resource Office, recently applied for a grant to receive an AED (Defibrillator) for the New London Community School District.  The grant, received from the Bureau of Emergency Medical and Trauma Services, was given for the purchase of the AED.  It was purchased and is now on school grounds in an effort to provide continual safety for students and staff.  This is part of the School Resource Program agreement between New London Consolidated School District and Henry County Sheriff’s Office that began with this school year.

*New Information*

Regarding the fire this past weekend at the Mapleleaf Apartments in Mount Pleasant, 14 apartments have residences displaced. The north side of the third floor was impacted by the fire, and 303 has been confirmed as the unit where the fire started. That particular unit sustained heavy damage and it is considered totaled. The Mapleleaf Apartment Complex said that this fire was caused due to a grease fire. The only fatality was the unit owner’s cat. This resident will be relocated to a vacant apartment within the complex.

A few apartments on the second floor suffered from water damage.  Three apartments on the first floor are unable to house residents at this moment.

The Red Cross paid for three-unit residents to relocate to a motel temporarily. Calvary Baptist housed residents, as did Arbor Court.

Mapleleaf Apartment Complex is very happy with the turnout for help and mentioned how the help arrived very quickly.

*Previous Information*

A fire broke out on the third floor of the Mapleleaf Apartments on Mapleleaf Drive. All residents were evacuated and MPCSD buses were there for possible transportation to other housing temporarily.

On scene were Mt. Pleasant, Salem and New London Fire, HCHC Ambulances, Henry County Emergency Management Director Walt Jackson, Mt. Pleasant Police, Henry County Sheriff Department and Iowa State Patrol. Many residents were taken to nearby Arbor Court Nursing Home and Calvary Baptist Church.

The community has rallied together and helped provide support to individuals impacted by this fire. More details will be know later.

The City of Mount Pleasant is asking drivers to remove their cars from the street in preparation for Monday evening’s storm. This will make it easier for snow plow drivers to clear the roads and makes the process much quicker.

Meeting Agenda
1. Call To Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Citizen Comments
5. Approval of Minutes, Claims and Financial Report
6. Reports
a. Mount Pleasant Trap Program – John Klopfenstein, Sponsor
b. Superintendent’s Report
1. Iowa Wesleyan Property Purchase Update
2. Grade-Alike Elementary Buildings Update
3. Bus/Maintenance/Central Receiving Facility Update
4. FY23 Statewide Special Education Balances
5. Legislative Update
6. Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference FY24
7. January 17 IASB Regional Workshop: Ready, Set, Govern! HS Media Center @ 5pm
8. January 22 Work Session
9. 2024-2025 School Calendar Planning
c. Board Committee Reports
1. Finance
2. Site Committee
3. Policy Commitee
7. Other Board Communication
8. Consent Items
a. Personnel
b. Open Enrollment
9. Unfinished Business
10. New Business
a. Review FY23 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
b. First Reading of School Board Policy Series 500 Student Personnel
1. Board Policy 502.02 Use of Tobacco or Any Controlled Substance (Motion)
c. Consideration to Approve Modified Supplemental Amount for At-Risk-Dropout (Motion)
d. Consideration to Approve French-Renneker Associates for Site Survey at 1515 E. Monroe (Motion)
e. Consideration to Approve GeoTechnics for Soil Survey at 1515 E. Monroe (Motion)
11. Adjournment