(Radio Iowa) The Department of Natural Resources is preparing to release the results of a study of the fees charged for using state parks next month. The Chief of the State Parks, Forests and Preserves Bureau, Todd Coffelt, says they did the study at the direction of lawmakers. “The direction was for us to compare prices with other public utilities that provide camping services similar to what we do in state parks,” according to Coffelt. “And we have gone through that and compared each location to a 60-mile radius. We have identified the amenities that a visitor will be able to experience and utilize And we’ve kind of identified some of our lower use areas in order to focus and promote the amenities that visitors can use.”

Coffelt says this comes after a period when parks were shut down by the pandemic and there were concerns about the future. “There were a lot of questions if we are not making money then how are we going to survive. And as we regained our composure and brought it back — people really engaged with the idea of getting out and doing more with their families in the new found time that they had,” Coffelt says.

Coffelt says the comeback included 16-and-a-half million visitors to the state parks. “Camping revenue is higher than it was last year even though we were closed for a month — just to put that into perspective,” Coffelt says, “our revenue for cabins and overnight accommodations has increased.” He says the pandemic has helped them focus on how to best operate the system. “We continue to look at what we can do differently, we continue to experience challenges similar to the states around us of what do we expect in 2021,” Coffelt says. “We are ready for what the future has to offer because we’ve learned a lot of what we can do — we’ve learned a lot of what needs to be done — but those are the things we are working on.”

Coffelt made his comments during the Natural Resources Committee meeting last week.

(Radio Iowa) There are new guidelines for participation in Iowa Senate subcommittee hearings after a brief pornographic incident on Monday. The hearings are being held online this year, so members of the public don’t have to trek to the statehouse during the pandemic to testify for or against bills. Internet trolls tried to disrupt a virtual meeting Senator Amy Sinclair moderated yesterday (Monday). “What is happening is disgusting,” Sinclair said, “and if that’s what you think is a good idea to have included on a subcommittee on educational topics, then you honestly don’t deserve to be part of that conversation.”

The new guidelines require participants to provide some sort of on-screen identification before they’ll be allowed into the virtual forum. Monday’s subcommittee hearing had nearly 300 participants. Sinclair ordered the removal of the few who were laughing and making inappropriate gestures. “I will not tolerate pornography or hidden insults,” Sinclair said.

So called “Zoombombers” began disrupting government meetings and even online classes as use of the platform soared during the pandemic. Zoom recommends against sharing details of meetings on social media and notes there is a way to disable cameras and mute the audio of participants.

(Radio Iowa) – Seventeen Republicans in the Iowa Senate are co-sponsoring a bill that would force every Iowa business to use the federal E-verify system to ensure every person they hire is a citizen or legal U.S. resident. Senator Julian Garrett, a Republican from Indianola, has tried since 2012 to get this bill passed in the Iowa legislature. “We ought to be I would think more concerned about the welfare of our citizens than people who are not citizens and who are not here legally,” Garrett says.

Garrett says the immigration plan President Biden has proposed makes this kind of state-level action more important. “If we do nothing, we’re probably very likely going to see an influx of new people coming in who are not here legally,” Garrett says, “and you know we can be overwhelmed — our institutions, our medical care and education and our welfare system.” Brad Hartkopf, a lobbyist for the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, says identity fraud is an issue in the E-Verify system, so it isn’t a fool proof way for businesses to discover if a potential employee is in the country illegally. “The penalties are very concerning to us, the second being a revocation of all business licenses,” Hartkoff says. “…We believe that’s pretty draconian.”

Dustin Miller, a lobbyist for auto dealers and other business interests, is raising concerns about a portion of the bill calling for state investigation of all citizen complaints that a business has hired an undocumented worker.  “That can really be used as a sword against competitors,” Miller says. Erica Johnson of the American Friends Service Committee says her group just helped a woman who was inaccurately flagged by the E-Verify system as an undocumented immigrant. “Rather than actually working to push federal leaders to reform our immigration system in a way that benefits our economy and treats immigrants and refugee workers with the dignity and respect that they deserve, ” she said, “it’s a divisive, anti-immigrant proposal that will end up harming minority communities in Iowa.”

Senator Jason Schultz, a Republican from Schleswig, says the bill levels the playing field for businesses doing the right thing. “We have folks who are flouting the law and getting away with a competitive advantage they should not have,” Schultz says.  The bill is eligible for debate in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Members of the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will hold an electronic work session 6-p.m. Wed., Jan. 27th, via livestream on You Tube. During their meeting, the Board will discuss:

• A Board interface with District Leadership Teams
• Upcoming Dates, including:
  • IASB Webinars: COVID-19 Remediation for Student Achievement – Feb. 2nd, 2021
  • Mental Health – February 9th, 2021
  • IASB Virtual Lobby Days: (Same topics as above, with dates set for Feb. 4th and 11th respectively)
  • The Board’s Regular Meeting – Feb. 10th, 2021 at 6-p.m.