Supervisors extend invitation to RUSS to discuss Mt. Union dilemma

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

The dilemma between the Regional Utility Service Systems (RUSS) and Mt. Union has made it?s way to the Henry County Board of Supervisors, who are asking what, if there?s anything they can do.

Greg Moeller, Henry County supervisor and the county representative on the RUSS board, told his fellow supervisors during Thursday?s meeting he has made the invitation to RUSS officials to talk about the situation.

The problem, in a nutshell, is that approximately 14-20 Mt. Union residents refuse to pay their monthly sewer fee of $75.85 to RUSS, claiming that the fee is excessive and much higher than the announced figure when RUSS built and financed the wastewater system.

Consequently, RUSS is in danger of defaulting on its loan with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and should that happen, current and future RUSS projects are in danger of receiving federal funding.

?Might they ask Henry County to pay?? Supervisor Marc Lindeen asked Moeller.

Moeller said he didn?t know but feared setting a dangerous precedent.

?From a legal standpoint can Henry County step in?? questioned Moeller. ?If we do step in, what happens when another county town asks us to bail them out? It?s an extremely frustrating situation. I don?t know what we can and can?t do??

RUSS has not accepted the county?s invitation and won?t do so until Hudson talks over the dilemma with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

It was committee reports that dominated the meeting, as the only business was approving a motion to suspend taxes on a property. The Department of Human Services recommends the suspension of taxes to the board and the supervisors can?t deny it. The suspension generally is for individuals on Medicaid.

When the property is sold, the suspended taxes must be paid to the local taxing bodies.

Lindeen reported on a meeting of the Henry County Community Action board. During the meeting, it was announced that people can file for energy assistance electronically and some 175 people have made their applications electronically.

The board also discussed the Tolson Community Action Christmas plans for needy children, Lindeen said.

Prior to the board?s meeting, Maria Donohoe, an independent living specialist and outreach coordinator for Access 2 Independence, briefed the board on the agency?s services.

Access 2 Independence, based in Iowa City, serves eight southeast Iowa counties, including Henry County. Its purpose is to empower people with disabilities in eastern Iowa through education, advocacy and peer support. Over half of Access? employees are people with disabilities and the agency takes pride in its ability to help all different types of people become as independent as possible.

Services provided by Access include: peer counseling, advocacy, independent living skills information and referral, training and transition services.

Supervisors will meet again in regular session on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 9 a.m., in the courthouse.