(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Board of Supervisors met in a regular session Tuesday morning. According to the meeting minutes provided by Auditor/Board Secretary Mark Maxwell, Supervisor Kenkel reported that an injunction has been filed to stop Shelby County from enforcing its pipeline ordinance until next January. Tony Buman, Shelby County Assessor, reported to the Supervisors that assessment notices have been sent out to Commercial and Industrial owners in Shelby County. The median increase was around 23% for commercial and industrial properties. The balance of the notices will be sent out as the process in his office continues.

Todd Valline told of events in his organization, the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry. His office has been notified that the Shelby County Food Pantry is running very low on food and any food donated would be very much appreciated. Brandon Burmeister, Shelby County Engineer, was present to give his report on his department and current and future projects. Spot rock hauling and blading are taking place as conditions allow.

Auditor Maxwell then presented a Transfer Authorization for the Supervisors to discuss and consider for approval. The Resolution calls for the transfer of monies from the General Funds and from the Rural Basic Fund as described. The resolution was passed as presented. The Supervisors then approved setting March 21st at 9-a.m. as the date and time of a public hearing regarding the consideration and possible levy options and cost funding recommendations for an EMS Agency in Shelby County.

The Supervisors were then presented with a maximum tax levy notifications to be published with the hearing to be held on April 4th, 2023, at 9:00 AM in the Supervisors room at the Courthouse. Auditor Maxwell explains the reasons for the maximum levy increase given on the notice are inflation, build reserves over years not all at one time. Reserves for capital improvements Courthouse and other buildings as well as other unforeseen expenses.

Two representatives from the Iowa County IT professionals organization were present to give a brief overview of the recent Audit of Shelby County Conducted by their organization. Two representatives from the organization were present to explain the 24 hour monitoring of the Shelby County IT environment. The Supervisors thanked the representatives for the citizens of Shelby County for being able to conduct the Audit. Taryn Knapp, Shelby County IT Coordinator gave a report of current IT and Support contracts and Shelby County IT Committee recommendations. A motion was made and passed to terminate all contracts with the Counties current vendor on June 30th, 2023.

Knapp also said the IT Committee recommended hiring a full time IT person for Shelby County. The IT audit revealed shortcomings that may be overcome with an employee versus a hired service. The Board approved starting the hiring process. They then entered a closed session with regard to IT Security Discussion, but took no action during that session, and the meeting was adjourned.

(Radio Iowa) – The Sioux City Police Department has received approval from the city council to apply for grant funding from the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department to purchase an armored rescue vehicle for their swat unit. Police chief Rex Mueller says the vehicle would provide protection for officers in dangerous situations. The chief says this would replace a larger military surplus vehicle that was donated to the department and is not built for the way they use it.

Councilman Alex Watters shared his concerns as well as from a citizen that the vehicle was militaristic. Chief Mueller responded that’s why he wants to replace the current vehicle, because it is a military design and not as practical for many police needs.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, today (Wednesday), arrested a man wanted on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Failure to Appear on charges of Obedience to a Peace Officer, and Eluding a Police Officer. Authorities say 18-year-old Logan Patrick Hastings, of Red Oak, was arrested at around12:45-a.m. in the 1100 block of N. 3rd Street. He was transported to the Montgomery/Pottawattamie County line and held in the Pott. County Jail on a $500 cash bond.

(Radio Iowa)- Republicans in the Iowa Senate have approved the governor’s nearly 16-hundred page bill to revamp state government, shrinking the number of agencies from 37 to 16. Senator Jason Schultz of Schleswig asked his fellow Republicans to approve the governor’s original plan without adjustments. “This is an alignment, consistency, efficiency bill,” Schultz said. “We’re going to do it.”

Democrats argue the bill will destroy the independence of key officials who review civil rights complaints, oversee fire safety complaints and manage programs for blind Iowans. Senator Liz Bennett, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says the advocate for consumers when utilities seek rate hikes will be stifled, too. “This bill consolidates power in the hands of the governor and big donors and silences the voice of everyday Iowans,” Bennett said.

Senator Sarah Trone-Garriott, a Democrat from Waukee, says there was no effort by Republican Senators to shape the legislation. “It’s not our job so the govenror can impress out of state bullies, enrich out of state venture capitalists and consolidate her power,” Trone-Garriott said. Schultz says the bill’s needed because Iowa currently spends more, per capita, on state government than five of our six neighboring states.

“It is a positive and this isn’t a gotcha for one party or another,” Schultz said. “This is good going on here.” The governor’s plan now goes to the Republican-led House. A Legislative Services Agency analysis indicates the bill, as written, would save about 12-point-four MILLION dollars next year, mostly due to the elimination of more than 200 full-time positions in state government that are not currently filled.

In January, the governor’s staff indicated the plan would reduce more than 500 full-time positions and save more than 200 million dollars over the next four years. That includes the sale of farmland the state owns.

(Radio Iowa)- Republicans in the Iowa Senate have approved a bill to ban Iowa medical professionals from providing gender transition prescriptions or procedures to minors. Republican Senator Jeff Edler of Sioux Center is the bill’s sponsor. “These experimental procedures push vulnerable children down a one-way street that leads to permanent sterility and a lifetime of medical intervention,” Edler said. Edler says Republicans were surprised to learn these interventions were available in Iowa for minors.

“Every child deserves a natural childhood, one that allows them to experience puberty and other natural changes that shape who they become,” Edler said. Senate Democrats voted against the bill. Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls of Coralville says it would outlaw care that prevents suicides. “I’ve been inundated with emails from parents of transgender kids who are really scared about what this law will do to their kid,” Wahls says. Senator Pam Jochum, a Democrat from Dubuque, says this and other bills Republicans are advancing are motivated by fear of the unknown.

“Nostalgia for a time that never existed and a willingness to trade away other’s freedoms to preserve their own power,” Jochum said. Also last (Tuesday) night, Republicans in the Senate voted to require that K-through-12 students use the bathroom that matches the gender on their birth certificate. Senator Cherielynn Westrich, a Republican from Ottumwa, says the bill applies to locker rooms as well.  “All kids deserve privacy rights and this bill ensures that,” Westrich said.
Senator Liz Bennett, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says this bill will make school scarier for a small group of kids.

“It gives license to a new corps of potty police,” Bennett said. “Instead of minding their own business and just going to the bathroom, kids will use this to bully other kids.” A similar bill is eligible for debate in the Iowa House.

(Area News) – Special Elections and/or Bond Referendums were held in Iowa, Tuesday. In our area, voters in the Nodaway Valley Community School District were asked to renew, for a period of 10-years, a Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) not to exceed $1.34 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, beginning June 30, 2024. Adair County Auditor Mandy Berg reports the unofficial results show the Measure passed by a vote of 167 yes to 91 No. Berg says a majority, 64.7%, or 132 votes were needed for passage of Public Measure AA.

Voters in the Exira-EHK Community School District passed both Measures A (Revenue Purpose Statement), and B (PPEL), by votes of 143-18 and 140-22 respectively. A majority of voters in  the IKM-Manning District approved a $7.9 million bond referendum, with a total of 1,146 YES Votes and 463 NO Votes. The funds will be used for the renovation projects at the Manning campus.

A $19.2-million bond referendum (Public Measure AH) in the Corning CSD to renovate the Corning elementary school and make other improvements, was approved by a vote of 378-to 134. Public Measure AI to pay the principal and interest on the bonds passed by a vote of 363-149.  In addition, Adam Boswell received 464 votes to fill a vacancy on the Corning School Board. He ran unopposed.

And, in Audubon County, a $2.8-million bond referendum for a new Fire Station in Audubon failed by a vote of 372-to 197 (65.38% to 34.62%). The special election also included a run-off between two candidates to fill a City Council seat. The winner was determined to be James Richardson, whose votes tallied 317-to 162 over Chris Hemmingsen.