DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Senate panel is giving preliminary backing to a bill that would exempt military pensions from the state income tax.  A Senate subcommittee approved the legislation during a brief hearing Wednesday. It is expected to soon receive committee-level approval and move to the full Senate for a vote.

Sen. Herman Quirmbach, a Democrat from Ames, says he is pleased to support legislation that helps veterans and may bring more military retirees to the state. The military pension exemption is a top priority for Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, who has made support for veterans a key part of his budget plan this year.

According to the Branstad administration, the pension exemption would cost the state a projected $10 million in lost annual revenue.

A public hearing will take place on Monday, Jan. 27th in Cass County, with regard to the proposed rules requiring passive radon mitigation in new home and small business construction. The hearing is set to take place at the Cass County Memorial Hospital’s Conference Room 1, beginning at 1-p.m.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors held a session that lasted about 30-minutes this (Wednesday) morning. The brief session was due to a lack of new business. The Board tabled until next week, action on a contract with SWIPCO, because the agreement was not ready. It would provide for services necessary to carry out the formal adoption of a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) for rural Cass County and the eight cities within the County. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon said some questions remain about the date the contract would end, as well as other matters.

Kennon said SWICO’s due date was six-months after the County’s due date to have a current plan put into effect. The previous plan adopted by the Board 5-years ago was sent on to FEMA, and there is a 7-month lag before it becomes effective. Kennon wants the due date to be pushed up from 2017 to late 2015 or 2016 at the latest. Auditor Dale Sunderman said with the time frame facing the County, it would be preferable if the contract went into effect by Sept., 2015.

In other business, the Board set Feb. 12^th as the date for a public hearing on the vacating of three County Roads. The hearing for Golden Lane in Section 5 of Lincoln Township will be held on the 12th, along with 644th Street in Section 14 of Grove Township, and a portion of 700th Street, lying between sections 2 and 3, Grove Township. No one has objected to the vacating of those sections. Sunderman asked the Board to hold a hearing for the five other sections of recently proposed roads to vacate, on Feb. 19^th. They include: a portion 740^th Street lying between Sections 4 and 5 in Lincoln Township; A portion of Liberty Lane in Section 34 of Washington Township; A portion of 765^th Lane in Section 34 of Grant Township; A portion of Quebec Lane in Section 27 of Massena Township, and a portion of 540^th Lane between Section 30 in Cass County and Section 25 in Pottawattamie County.

Engineer Charles Marker reported to the Board he is working on a 28-E agreement between Cass and Adams County for the maintenance and cost-sharing of the maintenance of roads located along the County line. Marker said in the past, there has typically been a “Gentleman’s agreement” as to which county would foot the bill for repairs and maintenance, as needed. However, a 28-E has to be on file with the State in order for the legalities to be covered. The sticking point which Marker says he will work out with the Adams County Engineer, is with regard to “Major Maintenance.” Adams County wants a $500 limit on any kind of maintenance structure – such as culvert installation – before cost sharing kicks-in. Marker says he would like to see that limit increased to somewhere between 2- and 3-thousand dollars.