Jackson: Multiple training sessions are planned for upcoming months

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

Henry County Emergency Management Director Walt Jackson can?t be accused of not organizing training exercises for county firefighters and EMTs.

During Thursday?s county department head meeting with county supervisors, Jackson distributed synopses on seven upcoming courses that extend into October.

Jackson?s first training course was a propane training that was held this past Saturday, March 5. The training was held in two sessions, the morning session was held at the county emergency management building and the afternoon session at McMillan Park. The afternoon program will include a live burn at 1 p.m.

Three other programs ? one each month ? are planned through May. A weather spotter class, led by the National Weather Service, is scheduled Wednesday, March 16, from 6-8 p.m., at the emergency management building.

Iowa Task Force One will teach basic search and rescue on Saturday, April 9, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Henry County Conservation Center. Aviation safety will be May?s course, instructed by the staff of the Mt. Pleasant Municipal Airport on Wednesday, May 4, from 6-9 p.m., at the airport.

Jackson said he is also considering having some training programs for courthouse staff. ?We could shut down the courthouse one-half hour, one day, every other month for the training,? he suggested.

Supervisor Chairman Gary See said he did not know if that was possible due to the state-run clerk of court?s office. ?We could make a decision, but it may not match with the clerk of court,? he said. ?It might make a mess with them still being open.?

Later, See suggested including the matter on a future board agenda.

Sarah Berndt, county coordinator of disability services, reported that advertising has begun for a jail transition coordinator. ?We are probably a couple of weeks away from interviewing and hiring,? she added.

Berndt also said that there are two patient advocate positions vacant, which she hopes are filled in April.

Jake Hotchkiss, Henry County Engineer, said that with rain in the forecast for next week, he is worried about gravel roads becoming extremely soft. ?They are a concern, especially if it rains. Right now, they are in pretty good shape.?

Henry County supervisors meet again in regular session on Tuesday, March 8, at 9 a.m., in the Henry County Courthouse.