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Friends of Geode seek county’s help
Supervisors remain on fence, County Health and Conservation vow continued research
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MT. PLEASANT - At its Jan. 8 meeting, the Henry County Board of Supervisors began the year with an appeal for calm.
In an opening statement, Supervisor Chad White, citing Robert’s Rules of Order, a 19th-century parliamentary manual, asked for comments from here on to be limited to three minutes. They were also to be kept relevant to the topics in the agenda.
“None of us claim to be expert parliamentarians, but we’ll strive to run a good meeting that way,” said White.
Further comment was made regarding the public airing of grievances. White asked that complaints be brought to the respective offices and handled there, rather than being announced in public meetings. He stressed that the Henry County Board of Supervisors did not possess total control over all aspects of the county’s elected positions, but had to work within the confines of the law. He appealed to the values of “Iowa Nice,” and a need for decorum and respect.
“We’re all neighbors here,” White said further. “We all need to work together, we need to listen to one another. We don’t always have to agree with one another, that’s obvious, but I think we need to work with one another. Several times in the past few months, I’ve heard our meetings being referred to as examples of The Jerry Springer Show, and I don’t like that.”
In other news, John Fullencamp of the Friends of Geode asked the board for help. The Friends have been working to restore and reopen the concession stand at Geode State Park, which has been closed since 1991. Although quoted at $160,000, the ceaseless work of volunteers has reduced the cost to just $30,000. Even so, the group needs financial assistance to install metal shutters over the doors akin to garage doors, as well as acquire paddleboats and bicycles to rent.
The county supervisors declined this request, with Supervisor Marc Lindeen citing the uncertainty of their budget. Furthermore, there was some concern that the county could not provide funds to a State park. However, Katie Reuter, Director of Henry County Public Health, as well as Caleb Waters, Executive Director of the Henry County Conservation Department, vowed to meet again with the group to discuss options of support.
Call Marilyn Higgins at 319-368-8895 or email her at marilyn.higgins@southeastiowaunion.com
