Mount Pisgah recognized by National Park Service

Union County Board of Supervisors Monday formally approved for the Mount Pisgah historical site to be recognized by the National Park Service.

Earlier this year, Angelica Sanchez-Clark, who works with the trails part of the National Park Service, and local historian Jane Briley informed the county of the proposal to include Mount Pisgah. Briley, member of the Iowa Mormon Trail Association, informed the the program would enhance the area’s publicity and promotion through the National Parks Service.

The site is west of U.S. Highway 169, north of the intersection with U.S. Highway 34 east of Afton.

Joseph Smith, a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, had many of his followers living in Nauvoo, Illinois. But unrest between the Mormons and others in Nauvoo over business and politics influenced the Mormons to leave. On Feb. 4, 1846, the first Mormons left in wagons ferried across the Mississippi River to Iowa. On March 1 that year some 500 Mormon wagons left which was the beginning of the move of thousands of Mormons across southern Iowa eventually to present day Salt Lake City, Utah. What is known as the Mormon Trail, from Illinois to Salt Lake City, is already recognized by the National Park Service.

Knowing supplies would be needed along the way, Mormons built places where those on the trail could restock and rest. One stop was named Mount Pisgah.

During the five years of the trail, Briley said research estimates at least 2,000 people were at Mount Pisgah at a given time and more than 20,000 passed through.

The acknowledgement of Mount Pisgah by National Park Service will not change anything at the site. The service will only promote, sign and work with historical preservation groups about the area.

Briley said the property the Mount Pisgah monument is on is owned by Latter Day Saints Church. About 1.5 acres around the monument is owned by Union County. An adjacent property is owned by the Bob Brown family.

In other county news...

Janell Chenoweth’s resignation as Union Township clerk was approved. Her replacement Beth Herzberg was approved.

Supervisors listened to a presentation from Chelsey Stoll and Jack Reed about managing the county’s human resources. No action was taken. Supervisors have reviewed providers of other county needs. Supervisors agreed there is nothing troubling them about the existing HR manager.

Reed and Stoll work from their respective homes, Ottumwa and the Cedar Rapids area. They manage 11 other Iowa counties’ HR and would be interested in Union County because of the proximity to the others. The two have a combined 40 years of experience.

The two are familiar with typical HR issues from collective bargaining to union contracts. The two charge a $950 monthly fee in a three-year contract. Their arrangement allows for the county to opt out after the first year if not comfortable with the services. Of their 14 years working with counties, none of them opted out after the first year. The two claim to have less fees than competitors. The two reviews of all the county’s policies and HR-related procedures and meetings with all elected officials and department heads.