Supervisors rescind approval of additional Henry County Deputy

MT. PLEASANT — On the heals of receiving a reprimand from the Henry County Attorney for paying outside legal fees for the Henry County Sheriff and a Deputy, Henry County Board of Supervisors reconsidered their approval of a 13th deputy to the Henry County Sheriff’s Department at their meeting last week.

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The topic of hiring a 13th Deputy for the Henry County Sheriff’s Department once again made the agenda for Henry County Board of Supervisors as they reconsidered their previous reconsideration Thursday, June 13 and ultimately decided to rescind their approval.

Supervisor Greg Moeller explained the situation stating that on April 2 the supervisors gave Sheriff Rich McNamee approval to hire another deputy to perform School Resource Officer duties for New London Community School District and Winfield-Mt. Union Community School District. Since the approval of this additional deputy, Moeller explained, the supervisors investigated legislation they feel is pertinent to provided SRO services. This contributed to the reasoning for rescinding the approval along with WMU’s school board choosing to hire a SRO through their city police department instead of the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and New London CSD not signing a renewed contract yet.

“We are aware from the City of Winfield and the school district that they are going to hire a city individual to perform SRO duties,” Moeller informed McNamee and the rest of those attending the meeting. “I believe they are going to hire an individual at $39 an hour versus the proposed $48.79 an hour.”

“The school district is going with the Winfield PD,” Supervisor Chad White stated. “So, that funding would not come back to the county.”

Moeller further explained that hiring an additional deputy would cost the tax payers, and with WMU off the table, and New London Community School District not yet renewing their contract or signing a new contract for a fulltime SRO like Superintendent Chad Wahls indicted they would like to in April, the supervisors no longer felt confident approving the extra expense.

As Moeller further explained their reasonings for rescinding the approval, he read House File 2586 to those in attendance at the meeting. This house file which Gov. Kim Reynolds signed April 19 makes it easier for teachers and staff members at schools to carry weapons after undergoing gun safety training to obtain a permit to carry guns in school. This would protect these individuals from criminal or civil liability for use of reasonable force.

Additionally, HF 2586 requires school districts larger than those in Henry County to provide some type of SRO for each high school unless their school board specifically votes against it.

“I understand it’s still up to the school board members if they wish to have their employees permitted and carry,” Moeller said.

Despite White making the motion to rescind the approval, he stated he would entertain the idea of reconsidering, yet again, if “things ever come around where it could gel together again.”

While McNamee told the board this position would backfill what the county already provides to New London CSD, the school district would reimburse the county dollar for dollar for any time a deputy spent in the school, and his belief that the county needed to get ahead of this legislation, Moeller and White unanimously approved the rescission. Supervisor Marc Lindeen was not present at this meeting.

More information on the initial approval is available in the Southeast Iowa Union Articles Supervisors approve additional deputy and Sheriff wants to provide school resource officers.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com