Final council seat chosen by luck of the draw

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

It came down to luck of the draw for Randal Wilkerson.

Wilkerson won a four-year term on the Mt. Union City Council by simply having his name drawn out of a cup.

Wilkerson and Kim Fenton each had 20 votes during the Nov. 3 city election for a council seat. However, since Mt. Union does not have provisions for a runoff election in the event of a tie, Iowa Code says that both names must be placed in a hat and the chairman of the board of supervisors is to draw the winning name. Supervisor Chairman Greg Moeller drew Wilkerson?s name from a coffee cup during Tuesday?s meeting of the Henry County Board of Supervisors.

Following the drawing excitement, the supervisors starting looking towards colder, snowier weather.

With winter approaching, the supervisors awarded the snow removal bid for the four county-owned buildings ? courthouse, Department of Human Services, community services and emergency management ? to Ruth Lawncare and Snow Removal, of Mt. Pleasant. However, the bid was awarded only after a motion to award the bid to Mike Prottsman Sanitation, of Mt. Pleasant, failed in a 2-1 vote with Gary See making the motion and casting the lone affirmative vote.

Ruth submitted the low bid on snow removal at $300 for the four lots. Prottsman bid $325 and Braun Construction $455.

Ruth, however, said he would apply sand and salt (at $110 a ton) if needed during removal while Prottsman said he uses ice melt.

?Ice melt will not be tracked in like salt and sand,? noted Shelly Barber, county auditor. ?Ice melt also is not as hard on surfaces.?

?Both (bids) are very close to me,? said Moeller.

?It?s a coin toss,? added See.

The coin landed in Ruth?s favor.

The final agenda matter included Henry County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss? weekly report. Hotchkiss presented construction plans for the replacement of a bridge over Ash Avenue, which was approved by the supervisors. Board members also approved right-of-way contracts for purchase of land for the 265th Street project.

Hotchkiss informed the board that a pre-cast bridge would replace the current bridge on Ash Avenue. The project will be done in the summer and Hotchkiss is hoping for a February 2016 bid letting, but said the letting may be pushed back a month.

The 265th Street work involves adjusting a curve on the road. The engineer said he is hoping to finish the project this year. During the work, 265th Street will be closed from Hickory Avenue to 250th Street.

In the lone remaining report item, Hotchkiss said he would be posting notices for two positions in the secondary roads department. The first is an equipment service technician/operator. The position has been vacant for six months. Secondly, he will be seeking a permanent part-time shop clerk. The current clerk has resigned effective Dec. 31, 2015.

Supervisors meet again in regular session on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 9 a.m., in the Henry County Courthouse.