Henry County Supervisors recap subcommittee reports

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

With no action items on the agenda, the Henry County supervisors reported on their subcommittees at their regular meeting Thursday.

Marc Lindeen, board vice chairman, said the Henry County Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) spent $80,000 in Henry County during January. The largest expenditures were for weatherization and heating assistance.

Lindeen said that $7,000 was spent by HACAP for rent tax rebate assistance, which he compared to a homestead tax abatement for renters. The program is open to senior citizens or disabled residents age 18 and over. The residents have to meet certain program criteria to qualify for the rent tax rebate.

Also attending the monthly meeting of the Southeast Iowa Link (SEIL), the mental-health consortium, of which Henry County is a member, Lindeen said SEIL has entered into a contractual agreement with Optimae Mental Health Services.

The contract will help fund 24/7 emergency mental health services at both Lee County hospitals through the Lee County Crisis Service.

Supervisor Greg Moeller reported on the Feb. 10 meeting of the Regional Utility Service Systems (RUSS). Moeller?s report centered on steps RUSS? is taking in dealing with delinquent fees for sewer service in Mt. Union. There are 62 users in Mt. Union, but only 28 customers paid their sewer bills in January. The current Mt. Union sewer fee is $150 monthly, and not all 28 customers paid the full amount.

Thus far in February, 11 Mt. Union users have paid varying amounts for service (bills are due Feb. 20), Moeller continued.

Moeller said the RUSS board felt it was beyond the point of no return regarding delinquent accounts in Mt. Union. The delinquent accounts collectively total $45,000, he added.

Possible action includes shutting off the service to those with delinquent bills; starting mandamus procedures to force the Mt. Union City Council to honor its resolution to attach a special assessment to property tax rolls for those properties in arrears; or taking people to small claims court who have been in arrears for 60 days.

Supervisors will meet again in regular session on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 9 a.m., in the Henry County Courthouse.