LEE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

July 27, 2010 ~ 0 Comments

THE LEE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MET TUESDAY MORNING AT

THE SOUTH LEE COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN KEOKUK. ON THE AGENDA THE

BOARD APPROVED THE BID OF 175 DOLLARS A MONTH FROM RAY

BRADLEY AND SONS OF KEOKUK FOR THE SOUTH LEE COUNTY WASTE

HAULING BID. THE BOARD APPROVED FOR PLANS FOR IMPROVEMENT ON

HICKORY HILLS ROAD AND SET A LETTING DATE OF AUGUST 26TH. THE

BOARD ALSO APPROVED THE LETTING DATE OF AUGUST 26TH FOR

MAINTENANCE PAVEMENT MARKING PAINTING FOR THE PAVED

ROADWAYS IN THE COUNTY. ACCORDING TO LEE COUNTY ENGINEER

ERNIE STEFFENSMEIER MOST ROADS ARE MARKED EVERY OTHER YEAR

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DENMARK ROAD WHICH IS EVERY YEAR AND

THE EDGING IS DONE EVERY THIRD YEAR.

A RESIDENT OF THE CROTON AREA TALKED TO THE BOARD OF THE

CONDITION OF BELFAST ROAD IN WHICH HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR THE

LAST SEVERAL DAYS DUE TO WATER OVER THE ROAD.

BELFAST ROAD HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN RECENT YEARS MAINLY DUE TO

THE RAINS AND THE FLOODING THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. THE RESIDENT

SAID THAT RESIDENTS HAVE HAD TROUBLE GETTING OUT. A BOX

CULVERT HAD BEEN PUT INTO THE DITCH A FEW YEARS AGO. SHE SAID

THAT THE ROAD NEEDS TO BE BUILT UP AND LEAST 4 TO 5 INCHES TO

GET OUT ABOVE THE WATER..ACCORDING TO ERNIE STEFFENSMEIER THE

COUNTY HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT THERE BECAUSE OF THE

FLOODING AND THAT THE ROAD HAS BECOME TOO MUDDY. THE

COUNTY NEEDED TO HAVE AT LEAST A FEW WEEKS OF DRY WEATHER

TO WORK ON THE PROJECT AND THE PROJECT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST

A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO WORK ON IT. THE PROJECT WAS PLACED HIGH

ON THE PRIORITY LIST. SUPERVISOR ERNIE SCHILLER MET WITH THE

OWNER OF SHADY ACRES ABOUT GETTING ON RUSS WHICH IS NEAR

POWDERTOWN. SCHILLER WAS ALSO GOING TO FIND OUT IF ANYONE ON

IOWA AVENUE WOULD BE INTERESTED AS WELL.

BRIAN TAPP OFFICIALLY RESIGNED AS DIRECTOR OF SOUTHEAST IOWA

REGIONAL PLANNING. MIKE NORRIS HAS BEEN NAMED INTERIM

DIRECTOR ACCORDING TO SUPERVISOR GARY FOLLUO 22 APPLICANTS

HAVE APPLIED FOR THE DIRECTOR JOB WITH THE COMMITTEE

WHITTLING THE LIST DOWN TO SIX WITH THREE INTERVIEWS LAST WEEK

AND THREE THIS WEEK WITH A DECISION TO BE MADE AFTER A POSSIBLE

SECOND INTERVIEW IF IT GOES TO A FINAL TWO. SUPERVISOR JANET

FIFE-LAFRENZ ANNOUNCED THAT THE PSAP BUDGET IS COMPLETE AND

INTERVIEWS FOR DISPATCHERS WERE FINISHED WITH HIRING TO TAKE

PLACE SHORTLY

THE BOARD APPROVED THE CLASS C LIQUOR LICENSE AND SUNDAY

SALES.FOR THE NO WHERE BAR AND GRILL IN FORT MADISON, THE

AMENDMENT TO THE VACATION AND LEAVE POLICIES AND TWO

STEP INCREASES FOR THE LEE COUNTY AUDITORS OFFICE, APPROVED

TWO CLASSIFACATION AND PAY RATE CHANGES FOR THE LEE COUNTY

SHERIFFS OFFICE AND APPROVED TWO TEMPORARY NEW HIRE PAY RATES

FOR THE LEE COUNTY TREASURERS OFFICE.

 

HAMILTON SCHOOL BOARD MET

July 23, 2010 ~ 0 Comments

THE HAMILTON SCHOOL BOARD MET WEDNESDAY EVENING AT THE

JUNIOR SENIOR LIBRARY. ON THE AGENDA JOE YURKO WAS INTRODUCED

AS THE NEW SUPERENTENDENT OF THE HAMILTON SCHOOL DISTRICT

REPLACING INTERIM SUPERENTENDENT DR STEVE BRECKON WHO HAS

BEEN INTERIM SUPERENTENDENT SINCE TAKING OVER LAST DECEMBER

FOR THE LATE JIM JACKSON WHO DIED IN APRIL. DISTRICT MAINTENANCE

HEAD STEVE SCHLATTER WHO IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE HAMILTON

CITY COUNCIL TOLD THE BOARD THAT THE COUNCIL IS STILL WAITING

ON A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF THE TIF DISTRICT.

YURKO TOLD THE BOARD ABOUT THE ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL

BOARDS CONFERENCES IN CHICAGO IN NOVEMBER. HIGH SCHOOL

PRINCIPAL RON GILBERT SAID THAT THE DISTRICT RECEIVED APPROVAL

FOR REMOVABLE VERIZON WIRELESS SIGNS TO BE SET UP ON BALLFIELDS

DURING GAMES FOR ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO BE USED FOR LIGHTING

ON THE EAST END OF THE FIELD. SCHOOL REGISTRATION WILL BE HELD

AUGUST 5TH AND 6TH IN THE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH LIBRARY. ORIENTATION

WILL BE HELD AUGUST 12TH AT 6PM FOR THE JUNIOR HIGH AND 7PM FOR

FRESHMEN. A PARENT PORTAL WEB ACCESS PRESENTATION WILL BE

HELD THAT EVENING AT 8PM WITH THE EVENTS TAKING PLACE AT

SAFFORD AUDITORIUM.

A SIGN WAS ALSO PRESENTED FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR

CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION THAT WILL BE POSTED ON THE

VOCATIONAL BUILDING WHICH RECONIZES THE DISTRICTS SUCCESS

IN TRAINING STUDENT FOR INDUSTRIAL CAREERS. CONGRATULATED

INCOMING SENIOR JACOB AYERS FOR BEING SELECTED TO WORK IN A

CURE FOR CANCER PROGRAM AT WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

IN MACOMB WHICH IS FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE.

THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT WAS CONGRATULATED ON GETTING

THE CLASSROOMS READY FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR. AND BOTH

GILBERT AND ELEMENTRY PRINCIPAL DAVE SNOWDEN ATTENDED A

ADMINISTRATERS ACADEMY IN JACKSONVILLE.

IN OTHER ITEMS THE BOARD APPROVED THE DISTRICT HANDBOOK

AND SCHOOL FEES FOR THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR, PLACING

THE TENATIVE BUDGET ON DISPLAY BEGINNING AUGUST 11TH,

REPAYING A LOAN FROM WORKING CASH BY THE BOND AND

INTEREST FUND. NAMING FIRST STATE BANK AND MARINE BANK

AND TRUST FOR SCHOOL DEPOSITORIES, NAMED THE CUSTODIANS

OF THE ACTIVITIES FUNDS AND AGENTS FOR THE FREEDOM OF

INFORMATION ACT OFFICERS AND THE ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT

FUND AGENT. PLUS THERE WAS ONE RESIGNATION AND SEVERAL

HIRINGS.

 

KEOKUK CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP

July 23, 2010 ~ 0 Comments

THE KEOKUK CITY COUNCIL HELD A TWO HOUR LONG WORKSHOP

THURSDAY EVENING AT CITY HALL. ON THE AGENDA DAN LAKEMPER

FROM PIONEER RAIL CORP TALKED TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT RAISING

RATES FOR SHIPPING FOR CROSSING THE RAILROAD BRIDGE. RIGHT

NOW THE TOLL IS 21 DOLLARS A CAR. THE CITY IS LOSING MONEY ON

RUNNING THE BRIDGE WITH THREE CITY EMPLOYEES NOW RUNNING THE

BRIDGE. THE CITY HAS DONE UPGRADES WITH THE BIGGER CARS NOW

RUNNING THE BRIDGE. ROQUETTE AMERICA AND GRIFFIN WHEEL NOW

USE THE BRIDGE AND LAKEMPER SAID THAT IF THE RATES ARE RAISED

THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE COMPANIES WOULD FIND OTHER

WAYS TO SHIP. SEVERAL COUNCILMEN SAID THAT THE CITY CANNOT

AFFORD TO KEEP RUNNING THE BRIDGE AT A LOSS AND WOULD LIKE TO

BREAK EVEN ON THE BRIDGE. THE BRIDGE COMMISSION AND PIONEER

WILL WORK TOGETHER ON THE SOLUTION.

THE CITY WILL LOOK INTO THE CONCRETING OF THE HANDICAP SPACES

OF THE RAND PARK PAVILLION WITH MORE TRASH CANS IN AND AROUND

THE PAVILLION BECAUSE OF TRASH ON THE GROUND DURING THE

RECENT FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION WITH THERE BEING NO TRASH

CANS IN THE PAVILLION AREA.

PAM BROOMHALL TALKED ABOUT GOING FOR A 50-50 GRANT FOR A

SMART PLANNING COMPREHENSIVE GRANT.. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR

GERALD MOUGHLER TALKED ABOUT STORM SEWER COLLAPSE IN FOUR

DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND WHICH PROJECTS CAN BE DONE FIRST. THE

COUNCIL DECIEDED TO REJECT THE GRANT FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT

7TH AND 13TH AND MAIN BECAUSE THE CITY COULD NOT AFFORD TO

MATCH THE GRANT. THE COUNCIL IS TALKING ABOUT

HOLDING A SPECIAL MEETING NEXT WEEK ABOUT USING THE CAR BARN

EXPANSION TO PLACE EQUIPMENT THERE THAT WAS BEING STORED AT

THE OLD FERRO-SIL BUILDING IN WHICH THE CITY HAS HAD TO MOVE

EQUIPMENT FROM THERE DUE TO FLOODING IN THE BOTTOMS.

THE CITY IS STILL TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR THE POLICE STATION

PARKING LOT. AND SEVERAL RESIDENTS OF THE FAIRWAY DRIVE AREA

ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR THE CONNECTION

OF THE SEWER LINES IN THE AREA AND THE CITY WILL GO FOR A BID FOR

A I-JOBS GRANT FOR WORK ON MESSENGER ROAD WITH THE DEADLINE

FROM THE END OF JULY TO THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST WITH THE

DEADLINE TO RECEIVE BIDS FOR AUGUST 30TH. GERALD MOUGHLER ALSO

UPDATED THE STREET AND SEWER PROJECTS IN THE CITY.

 

BRANSTAD AND VAUDT IN KEOKUK

July 21, 2010 ~ 0 Comments

FORMER GOVERNOR TERRY BRANSTAD AND AUDITOR DAVID VAUDT

WERE IN KEOKUK WEDNESDAY MORNING AT CITY HALL TO PROMOTE

BRANSTAD’S TRUTH IN BUDGETING TOUR AS BRANSTAD IS RUNNING

AGAINST GOVERNOR CHET CULVER IN THE FALL. MAYOR TOM MARION

AND FORMER MAYOR DAVID GUDGEL LED INTRODUCTIONS. BRANSTAD

WAS GOVERNOR FOR 16 YEARS BEFORE BECOMING PRESIDENT OF DES

MOINES UNIVERSITY AND ALSO STUDIED LAW AT DRAKE UNIVERSITY.

THE STATE OF IOWA IS IN A BUDGET SHORTFALL AT 18.6 PERCENT WITH

IS SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN ILLINOIS AND NEVADA BUT WORSE THAN

CALIFORNIA AND MASSACHUTTES.

BRANSTAD SAID THAT WHEN HE WAS GOVERNOR THAT HE PASSED THE

FISHER COMMISION WHICH THE STATE SPENT 99 PERCENT OF THE

MONIES THAT CAME IN BALANCING THE BUDGET. SINCE HE LEFT OFFICE

BRANSTAD SAID THAT THE LAST TWO GOVERNORS CHET CULVER AND

TOM VILSAC THAT THEY HAVE GONE OVER THE BUDGET. WITH SPENDING

IN 2007 WITH FOR EVERY 50 THOUSAND DOLLARS TAKEN IN TAXES THE

STATE WAS SPENDING 50 THOUSAND 500 DOLLARS AND IN 2010 FOR

EVERY 50 THOUSAND DOLLARS TAKEN IN THE STATE WAS SPENDING 57

THOUSAND DOLLARS.BRANSTAD THAT THE STATE NEEDS TO CONTROL

SPENDING WITH SPENDING LIMITS AND TO HAVE MORE STABILITY IN

SPENDING. BRANSTAD SAID WHEN HE WAS GOVERNOR THAT HE GOT

RID OF THE INHERITENCE TAX. THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HE GAVE FOR

EXAMPLE THE MEDICADE FUND WHICH RECEIVED HELD FROM STIMULAS

FUNDS WITH THE STATE SPENDING ABOUT ONE BILLION DOLLARS AND

WITH THE STIMULAS FUNDING BEING A ONE YEAR DEAL THE STATE

WOULD HAVE TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO GET THE MONEY.

ONE OF THE WAYS THE STATE WAS DOING TO GET THE MONEY WAS TO

SHIFT MONEYS OUT OF CERTAIN ITEMS LIKE TAKING MONEY OUT OF THE

RAINY DAY FUND TO RAID THE REBUILD IOWA FUND, THE I JOBS FUND

WHICH HELPS TO CREATE JOBS, THE STIMULAS MONEYS FROM UNCLE

SAM AND RAIDED OTHER FUNDS SUCH AS THE TOBACCO FUND, THE

SNOWMOBILE FUND AND UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS FUNDS.

WITH THE STATE COULD OFF THE CLIFF ACCORDING TO BRANSTAD IN

2012 WITH THE REVENUES GOING DOWN

SEVERAL IDEAS BRANSTAD HAD WERE TO PLAN A TWO YEAR BUDGET

WITH A REVIEW BEFORE THE SECOND YEAR TO FIND DEFICINCIES.

GO BACK TO REFORMS TO GO BACK TO PHYSICAL RESPONCIBILITIES

AND DEVISE A SERIOUS FINANCIAL PLAN. AND QUIT SHIFTING AND

DIVERTING FUNDING AND ALSO PROMISE WHAT THEY DELIVER FOR

EDUCATION TO LET SCHOOL DISTRICTS KNOW WHAT MONIES THEY WILL

GET SO SCHOOLS CAN PLAN AHEAD AND REWARD GOOD TEACHERS AND

WORK WITH TEACHERS UNIONS.

ALSO WELFARE AND CHILD CARE REFORMS NEED TO HAPPEN. ALSO

PHASE OUT STATE TAXES ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND PENSIONS.

AND CUT GOVERNMENT BY 15 PERCENT IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

BRANSTAD ALSO SAID THAT OPEN MEETINGS AND OPEN RECORDS

LAWS NEED TO BE STRENGTHED. ALSO IMPORTANT IS TO REDUCE

TAXES TO HELP BUSINESSES STAY IN IOWA. BRANSTAD ALSO MENTIONED

THE DNR WHICH HAS HAD PROBLEMS OF LATE. THE DNR RECIEVES THERE

MONIES FROM HUNTING AND FISHING FEES INSTEAD OF TAX MONIES.

RECENT PROBLEMS FROM THE LIQOUR AND FILM COMMISSIONS HAVE

HAD PROBLEMS AS WELL. PEOPLE HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE

PROBLEMS OF THE COMMISSIONS. A QUESTION WAS ASKED ABOUT

FUNDING FOR THE FLOODS. BRANSTAD SAID THAT 80 PERCENT OF THE

MONIES CAME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND 15 PERCENT FROM

THE STATE WITH THE REMAINING 5 PERCENT COMING LOCALLY. SOME

COMMUNITIES COULD NOT COME UP WITH THE MONEY SO THE STATE

PAID FOR THEIR SHARE.

THE STATE NEEDS TO BE MORE REPONCIBLE FOR THE BUDGET.

BRANSTAD GAVE A EXAMPLE FOR THE CITY OF CLARINDA IN

WHICH BRANSTAD RECENTLY VISITED IN WHICH WHEN THE MAYOR

TOOK OFFICE THE CITY WAS IN DEEP FINANCIAL STRAITS WITHIN

TEN YEAR WITH SMART BUDGETING THE CITY TURNED IT AROUND.

GOVERNOR BRANSTAD LATER IN THE DAY TRAVELED TO KEOSAUQUA TO

SPEAK TO VAN BUREN COUNTY RESIDENTS.

 

LEE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

July 20, 2010 ~ 0 Comments

THE LEE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MET IN REGULAR SESSION

TUESDAY MORNING AT THE SOUTH LEE COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN

KEOKUK. ON THE AGENDA PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE HELD FOR A

LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH THE FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY

FOR TWO 2011 FORD CROWN VICTORIA PATROL CARS. IN WHICH

AFTERWARDS THE SUPERVISORS APPROVED. THE SUPERVISORS ALSO

HAD A PUBLIC HEARING ON A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH IOWA

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN WHICH THE SUPERVISORS APPROVED.

THE BOARD ALSO APPROVED THE SPECIAL OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR

HEALTH INSURANCE AND APPROVED LIMITING HEALTH CARE COVERAGE

FOR DEPENDENTS UNDER THE AGE OF 26 THAT LACK EMPLOYERS

SPONSORED COVERAGE OF THEIR OWN. CAROL MARDIS OF THE KEOKUK

AREA UNITED WAY ASKED THE BOARD FOR PERMISSION TO PUT UP A

THERMOMETER SIGN IN ESTES PARK FROM SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER

FOR FUND RAISING WHICH THE BOARD GAVE ITS OK. THE BOARD GAVE

ITS APPROVAL FOR A CLASS C LIQUOR LICENSE FOR THE RIDGEWOOD

LOUNGE II OF FORT MADISON. THE BOARD APPROVED THE CREDIT

CARD LIMITS FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND SECONDARY ROADS

DEPARTMENTS FOR 125 THOUSAND AND 300 THOUSAND DOLLARS

RESPECTIVELY. THE BOARD THEN RECEIVED AND FILED SEVERAL

REPORTS AND A SALARY ADJUSTMENT FOR PSAP DIRECTOR DAVE

MURRAY