Sheriff reports several drug busts in last month

By BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

The Henry County Board of Supervisors had a full agenda as the heads of various county departments presented reports on the past month?s events. At the top of the agenda, Henry County Sheriff, Rich McNamee was happy to report his deputies were making great progress in cutting out drug abuse and drug manufacturing in Henry County.

?In the last two months, several drug busts have been made in the county. Two of those busts resulted in nine arrests for manufacturing methamphetamine,? said McNamee. ?We are very proud that we?re getting meth off our streets, and the makers of the drug off the streets and into jail.?

According to McNamee, in 2014, Henry County dispatchers answered 42,150 calls, which led to about 21,914 requests for law enforcement service. On an average day, Henry County dispatchers answer about 115 calls a day.

In terms of county jail population, McNamee says the county is housing a steady population of inmates at all times. He also reiterated the county?s need to consider expanding the size of the jail to accommodate the number of inmates being housed.

McNamee plans to give a presentation to the Henry County Board of Supervisors soon regarding such a project.

In addition to his monthly update, McNamee also reported that he has plans to take strides to add additional officers on the streets this upcoming Father?s Day and Veteran?s Day. Recent state reports have shown that both holidays have now joined Thanksgiving Eve as the deadliest days to be on Iowa?s roadways.

?Our department was granted extra funds for overtime work to provide additional law enforcement on our highways and streets during some of these holidays, so we do have a plan in place to hopefully stop traffic fatalities before they happen.?

Henry County conservation director, John Pullis, also gave an update on the happenings in his department over the past month, and said he is confident that he will soon have applicants to present to the Henry County Conservation board for hiring approval.

?We had a great group of applicants for an open part-time secretary position and a park ranger/naturalist position, and hopefully by Monday night?s board meeting we will have two applicants to present for approval,? said Pullis.

Pullis also reported that the conservation department is looking at changing its dust control application system around the nature center and the roads surrounding the conservation office to a soy oil application.

?Washington County has used this type of dust control in the past, and they have had good luck with it,? said Pullis. ?The soy oil acts like a seal coat once it?s dry, and it should prevent us from having to reapply it as often.?

This new type of application is more expensive than the traditional tree sap application, but Pullis says it should pay for itself due to its resilience. In addition, this type of dust control shouldn?t rust vehicles as much, nor should it kill grass and other foliage if rainfall were to wash it off roadways.

Walt Jackson, of Henry County Emergency Management, is prepping for a possible bird flu strain to hit Henry County.

?So far the bird flu has been confirmed in northwest Iowa, and unfortunately it looks like it could be headed this way,? said Jackson. ?County officials are working together to stay informed about the bird flu, and are actively looking at ways that we can prepare for it should it strike Henry County.?

Jackson attended a meeting held earlier this morning in Wayland to talk about the bird flu. A report on the business of that meeting is planned for release at a later date.

Other business discussed during Thursday?s meeting include:

? Supervisors approved a request from Jake Hotchkiss, county engineer, for a pavement markings project on concrete-paved roads in Henry County.

? Henry County coordinator of disability services, Sarah Berndt, announced that the Henry County drop-in center is now open for business at 211 West Monroe Street, in Mt. Pleasant. An open house for the center is in the works, but an official date has not been set at this time.

The next Henry County Board of Supervisors meeting will be held Tuesday, May 12, at 9 a.m., in the Henry County Courthouse.