Henry County Conservation hunts for funding

MT. PLEASANT — While campgrounds close for the winter, Henry County Conservation’s work to maintain facilities, update facilities, and find a solution for the closed dump station continues.

“For the last two some years, obviously, we have not had a dump station,” Henry County Conservation Executive Director Caleb Waters told the Henry County Board of Supervisors. “ … Not having a dump station for our campers to utilize has really taken a toll on our campers and our revenue.”

Waters has met with many local contractors to gather cost estimates for installing a new dump station and met with the Board of Supervisors to discuss what contribution he could gain from ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act of 2021) funds. With an initial understanding that approximately $400,000 remained in ARPA funds, Waters proposal to the board included a shower house project with the dump station project but acknowledged that his figures came to “well over $400,000.”

Supervisor Chair Greg Moeller explained that the ARPA funds discrepancies came from already obligated funds not being reflected in the total when they initially looked at the number, but “As of the 30th of September, the moneys left in ARPA is $231,071.71.” This total does not include interest money from the month of October.

The board asked Waters to put together a resolution and Memorandum of Understanding and return to the board so they can get the ball rolling on the needed dump station project.

Outside of the hot topic of the dump station, Waters says efforts primarily happen behind the scenes in the colder months for the conservation department. Currently, he says, they are working on getting rid of invasive trees, planning native grass, and finding grants to continue other projects.

One such project Waters hopes to complete is adding a playground to the top of the hill between the campground and the cabins out at Oakland Mills.

“We have a lot of families, a lot of kids in and out of the park at any given time, especially on the weekends,” Waters said. “I feel that it would be a great addition to the park.”

In order to make the playground a reality, however, Waters says they will need to not only use Office Manger Gloria Villanueva’s skills in grant writing, but they also will need to find matches for grants.

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“The conservation department does not have the match,” Waters said. “So, Gloria put out a Facebook post and she sent out just shy of 2000 letters or emails to people that have recreated at the park or made online reservations for campsites and campgrounds and local businesses here throughout the community.”

Villanueva’s plea to those interested in helping make the playground a reality is that every child has a hero and “here’s your opportunity to be a superhero in someone’s story.”

According to Waters, community support to come up with grant matching is crucial for projects like this playground and the campaign to save the Oakland Mills Footbridge.

Other projects Waters hopes to move forward with at the campground include a shelter house at Stephenson Park in Lowell. Funds for this project will come from the funds raised by the Friend’s of Henry County Conservation’s banquet at the end of March.

“We're still trying to work out the details for this project, but they said they would be willing to foot the bill for the building materials,” Waters said. Additionally, the Conservation Department will hopefully work with the building trades program from New London Community School District to bring this project to fruition.

Waters is also working with Kathy and Dave Helman and Joel Garretson with the Preservation Commission to attempt to raise funds to refurbish the 100-year-old Daughters of the American Revolution monument then relocate it near the new shelter house.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com