Conservation board bids farewell to two members, discusses upcoming budget

BY BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

Over 20 years of combined experience is now gone from the Henry County Conservation Board with the exit of two board members during Monday night?s meeting.

Lori Muntz and John Klopfenstein both said their goodbyes at last night?s meeting. Muntz announced earlier this year that she would be moving out of the county, which would make her ineligible to act as a board member, while Klopfenstein officially reached his term limits with 13 years on the board.

?I?ve learned so much over the years here,? said Muntz, who admitted she was sad to say farewell to her seat on the board that she?s held for nine years. ?Thinking of saying goodbye has been emotional for me because I am just really proud to have been a part of this group.?

Klopfenstein?s parting comments mirrored much of Muntz?, saying he encourages the board to keep moving forward.

?This has been an education for me. I?ve learned a lot and I am going to miss it, but I know this board will continue to grow and do what?s best for the people of the county,? he said.

Now, before Muntz and Klopfenstein officially stepped down, there was still some board business to attend to, primarily that of a financial nature. With Henry County Conservation Director, John Pullis, laying out next fiscal year?s budget, he made the board aware that expenditures may jump up a bit due to one particular item.

?One thing that we will talk about more next month is that we will probably see a two or three percent jump in expenditures when Trenton enrolls in the (law enforcement) academy,? said Pullis, referring to Trenton Hoekstra, whom the department hired earlier this year as a park ranger/naturalist. ?It?s something that needs to be done and I think it would benefit not only Trenton, but the department as a whole.?

With an increase in expenditures, Pullis will discuss the budget further with the Henry County Board of Supervisors during his next meeting with them.

Also related to budget was the upcoming purchase of a new track loader for the department. During past month?s meeting, the board agreed to start looking into purchasing a new machine, and Pullis announced Monday evening that he is still garnering quotes from dealers.

Pullis informed the board that he is looking for joystick-operated loaders with heat and air conditioning included. He is also factoring in new pallet forks, as the department?s current forks are showing a great deal of wear.

The board has budgeted roughly $27,000 for a new machine. Currently, Pullis has gathered 13-14 quotes for new machines that meet most of the department?s needs.

In other news, Pullis also updated the board on the status of some of its ongoing projects paying particular attention to electric upgrades to South Shore Campground. After experiencing several electrical shortages at South Shore over Labor Day weekend this year, the department is now replacing two electrical disconnects there to allow for more electrical output and to keep them safer from flooding. At this time, the project is still ongoing and Pullis maintained that he will keep the board abreast to its progress.

Also still in the works is a smaller project regarding the demolition of two buildings at Water Works Park. Grandinetti?s Metal Recycling, of Mt. Pleasant, received permission to demolish two abandoned buildings at Water Works and salvage them for scrap metal to the tune of $1,000 during a board meeting in October.

The board also approved the Naturalist report and the annual report before adjourning. The next Henry County Conservation Board meeting is set to take place on Monday, Jan. 11, at 6 p.m., in the Henry County Conservation Office.