The Henry County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, July 25^th to discuss the rezoning of a part of Southeast section 7 center township from agricultural to industrial. There was a public hearing held, and Joe Buffington provided his insight as part of the Planning and Zoning commission.

The rezoning would allow a cement plant to be built in this area. There was plenty of debate between the two sides of residents, with one side arguing that there is not enough industrial infrastructure in the town of Mount Pleasant and that this is progress for the town. The other side believes that this should not even be considered, given that there are residents and homeowners in this same area.

Mitchell Taylor, an attorney representing an “undisclosed resident” believes that the original site plan failed to follow the rules of the county ordinance, as it did not provide dimensions and was different than the site plan proposed at a later date. Darin Stater, the county attorney, agreed with Joe Buffington that the site plan was correctly presented and believes that the board of supervisors could legally move forward.

As the supervisors deliberated, they discussed the potential of going “back to scratch” which entails the original site plan being republished and fixed. While there were three options brought forth, the supervisors ultimately chose to go back to scratch. It is now up to the owner to provide an improved site plan for this to move forward.

It is important to note that this is the first rezoning since moving to an electronic application, and so much of the difficulty stems from that.

While driving around Mt. Pleasant, you may find yourself having to take a detour over certain crossings at the railroad tracks. Broadway, Cherry, and White are all open and you can drive through those crossings as usual. Meanwhile, Adams, Lincoln, and Main are all closed off. We expect this work to be completed Wednesday or Thursday per Public Works.

There was a special Mount Pleasant Community School Board meeting on July 24^th to discuss two important matters.

The first one, which many are aware of, is the decision to purchase property from Iowa Wesleyan and use it for the school district. There are three main properties that were discussed, and it seems at this moment as if two of them are available. The practice field just south of Maple Leaf and the Central Campus, including the parking lot, have had bids from the MPCSD. 1.25 million dollars is the purchase price for the two bids. The Central Campus includes Howe Student Activity Center and Ruble Arena, the Student Union, Old Main, Pioneer Hall, University Chapel, and the P.E.O Memorial Building.

An expert estimated that the gym, walking track, and offices alone would cost upwards of 15 million dollars. The board sees their long-term goal an believes this opportunity is “too good to pass up.”

Discussion was had over the Willis Wrestling Facility, however, a better offer from a different entity was accepted. Members of the school board deliberated on this subject, with one stating that they have no issue with adding a backup offer for the wrestling facility. A different member then chimed in saying “I don’t see it as a deal breaker” as they think the board should be more focused on the other two properties. The board decided to move forward with the practice field and central campus.

The other pressing issue was the discussion over the renewal of the Revenue Purpose Statement. The RPS governs how the one-cent sales tax can be spent by a school district. This is a statewide sales tax that is currently due to expire in 2049. The current MPCSD RPS expires in 2031, and there will now be a vote on September 12^th, 2023, to renew this statement until 2049.

This is not an increase in taxes, rather it just allows the school district to spend this fund, typically around $2,000,000 a year, how they decide is best. The Revenue Purpose Statement will stay in effect until 2031 regardless of the outcome of the vote in the fall.

KILJ will continue to provide updates to this developing story and will keep Southeast Iowa informed.

The Iowa Department of Education, Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services, has finalized its policy for free and reduced price meals for students unable to pay the full price of meals served under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program and the Afterschool Care Snack Program.

State and Local school officials have adopted the following family size and income criteria for determining eligibility:

INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES (Effective 7-1-2023)

Households may be eligible for free or reduced-price meal benefits one of four ways

1. Households whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible for reduced price meals or free meals, if they complete an application for free and reduced price school meals/milk. Households may complete one application listing all children and return it to your student’s school. When completing an application, only the last four digits of the social security number of the household’s primary wage earner or another adult household member is needed.
2. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households, students receiving benefits under the Family Investment Program (FIP) and students in a few specific Medicaid programs are eligible for free or reduced price meals. Most students from SNAP and FIP households will be qualified for free meals automatically. These households will receive a letter from their student’s schools notifying them of their benefits. Households that receive a letter from the school need to do nothing more for their student(s) to receive free or reduced price meals. No further application is necessary. If any students were not listed on the notice of eligibility, the household should contact the school to have free or reduced price meal benefits extended to them. If you feel you would qualify for free meal benefits and received notification qualifying for reduced price benefits, complete an application for free and reduced price meals. Households must contact the school if they choose to decline meal benefits.
3. Some SNAP and FIP households will receive a letter from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) which will qualify the children listed on the letter for free meals. Parents must take this letter to the student’s school to receive free meals.
4. SNAP or FIP households receiving benefits that do not receive a letter from DHHS must complete an application with the abbreviated information as indicated on the application and instructions, for their students to receive free meals. When the application lists an assistance program’s case number for any household member, eligibility for free benefits is extended to all students in a household.

Eligibility from the previous year will continue within the same school for up to 30 operating days into the new school year. When the carryover period ends, unless the household is notified that their students are directly certified or the household submits an application that is approved, the students must pay full price for school meals and the school will not send a reminder or a notice of expired eligibility. An application cannot be approved unless complete eligibility information is submitted. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year. If a family member becomes unemployed the family should contact the school to complete an application. Households notified of their student’s eligibility must contact the school if the household chooses to decline the free meal benefits.

Foster children are eligible for free meal benefits. Some foster students will be qualified for free meals automatically through the state direct certification process. Their host family will receive notification of these benefits. Families that receive this notification from the school need to do nothing more for their foster students to receive free meals. If a family has foster students living with them and does not receive notification and wishes to apply for such meals, instructions for making application for such students are contained on the application form. A foster student may be included as a member of the foster family if the foster family chooses to also apply for benefits for other students. Including students in foster care as household members may help other students in the household qualify for benefits. If the foster family is not eligible for free or reduced price meal benefits, it does not prevent a foster student from receiving benefits. Special Supplement Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants may be eligible for free or reduced price meals based on a completed application.

When known by the school, households will be notified of any child eligible for free meals if the children are enrolled in the Head Start/Even Start program or are considered homeless, migrant or runaway. If any children are not listed on the notice of eligibility, contact the school for assistance in receiving benefits. If households are dissatisfied with the application approval done by the officials, they may make a formal appeal either orally or in writing to the school’s designated hearing official. The policy statement on file at the school contains an outline of the hearing procedure. School officials may verify the information in the application, and that deliberate misrepresentation of information may subject the applicant to prosecution under applicable state and federal criminal statutes. Households should contact their local school for additional information.

There will be no discrimination against individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) in the school meal programs.

Nondiscrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail:
   U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Declaración de no Discriminación del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos

Iowa Nondiscrimination Notice.  “It is the policy of this CNP provider not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or religion in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code section 216.6, 216.7, and 216.9.  If you have questions or grievances related to compliance with this policy by this CNP Provider, please contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office building, 400 E. 14^th St. Des Moines, IA 50319-1004; phone number 515-281-4121, 800-457-4416; website: https://icrc.iowa.gov/.”

There was a single-vehicle crash on Friday, July 21st in the early evening hours. Preliminary reports suggest a motorcycle driver lost control of his bike on Highway 16 on the Lee County/Henry County Line. He was subsequently air-lifted, and we do know that he was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident. KILJ will continue to provide updates to this case as they are published.

The Burlington Police Department is accepting applications from Certified Police Officers until Thursday, August 31, 2023.

Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) certified peace officers are eligible to receive a sign-on bonus up to $8,000.00 and out of state certified peace officers are eligible to receive a sign-on bonus up to $5,500.00 as well as beginning pay up to $64,000 based on training and experience. Current negotiated salary range is $25.50 – $37.36 per hour. Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Certified Officers in good standing may waive taking the POST and Physical Agility Test.

For more information or to apply, visit https://policeapp.com/Certified-Burlington-IA…/2492/