Cemetery officials have three requests for supervisors

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

Paul McPheron, of New London, representing the Burge Cemetery board, presented three requests to the Henry County Board of Supervisors Thursday during the board?s regular meeting.

McPheron claimed the county is not mowing the ditches around the cemetery, which is within the county?s right-of-way. ?We have to hire a farmer to mow the ditches, and I don?t think we should have to pay someone for mowing. The weeds get pretty tall and it doesn?t look good,? he said.

?We would do it if we could, but we can?t with our mower,? McPheron continued. ?We?re just asking the county to do its job because the ditches are in the county?s right-of-way.?

He said a nearby farmer mows twice a year and is paid $25 for each time he mows.

Supervisor Marc Lindeen said the county just mows the shoulders of country roads at least twice yearly and tries to mow all the shoulders adjacent to rural cemeteries prior to Memorial Day.

?I think there are numerous (county) farmers who mow their own ditches,? added Supervisor Greg Moeller.

Secondly, McPheron complained that when the county plows roads after snowfall, a large amount of snow winds up in front of the cemetery, blocking access.

?We?ve had a few complaints about that,? he said. ?We feel the entrance should be unplugged after the roads are plowed. It is difficult to get into the cemetery when the snow is two to three feet deep.?

McPheron?s final request was information on who does dust control and how much it would cost to apply it on 257th Street and Oasis Avenue, which border the cemetery.

Lindeen said two companies have been approved by the county to apply a dust-control substance and directed McPheron to contact the county engineer?s office for more information.

Shelly Barber, county auditor, said the county policy hasn?t changed regarding any of McPheron?s requests. ?We haven?t changed anything that we have done from years past and now this is a problem??

Supervisors took no action on McPheron?s requests and did not indicate when or if they may discuss the matter further.

The only other business item on the agenda saw the supervisors approving the 28E agreement with Southeast Iowa Case Management (SICM). There were no changes in the contract except the date. Henry County has been served by SICM for 20 years. Twelve other southeast Iowa counties have a 28E agreement with the agency, which serves as the payee and manages care and services for the chronically mentally ill.

Henry County supervisors will meet again in regular session Tuesday, May 24, at 9 a.m., in the Henry County Courthouse.