Henry County reissues uncashed check of over $17,000

MT. PLEASANT — The Henry County Board of Supervisors approved a request to reissue a canceled payment to the Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility in the amount of $17,822.50 last week.

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After initially hearing the request at the Aug. 22 meeting, board members Greg Moeller and Marc Lindeen opted to wait until Chad White returned to further discuss the topic and decide if they would reissue a check which was voided.

According to the board, they issued the check for payment of meal and lawn care services at the Henry County Sheriff’s Office two years ago. After the checking went uncashed for a whole year, they voted to void the check on July 6, 2023.

“We are not legally obligated to reissue this check,” Moeller commented and confirmed with Henry County Assistant Attorney Steven Giebelhausen.

While the county had no legal obligation to reissue this payment, maintaining a good working relationship with the correctional facility and the fact that it did indeed receive the services played a role in the board’s decision to reissue the check. White specifically stated he did not want to jeopardize future services provided by not reissuing the check.

“Our previous vendor for food was about 50% higher on cost for food,” Sheriff Rich McNamee chimed in. “So quite frankly, they requested we seek a different vendor because they could not handle the content, the number of meals any longer. And that's when we reached out to the prison, and we have a good relationship with them. I’d like to try and keep it that way.”

While Marc Lindeen asked about charging the prison for the $30 canceled check fee associated with them not cashing the check the first time it was issued, the board decided not to include that and simply reissue it for the original amount.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com