Cass County Treasurer, Tracey J Marshall, Wednesday, announced that she is seeking re-election. Marshall is currently serving her fourth term as Treasurer.

In a statement, she said “I find it rewarding to serve the residents of Cass County. I want to thank all of you for your support. It is my mission to provide the citizens of Cass County with convenient local services in a professional and courteous manner. I’m asking for your vote in the upcoming June 2018 election and your continued support in the future.”

Tracey J. Marshall

Her campaign said also, Marshall “Continues to streamline operations and improve government services. [Her] pride in Cass County reflects in her service through the Iowa State County Treasurers Association, Iowa State Association of Counties, National Association of Counties, and the National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers, and Finance Officers, where she is currently the President Elect of the association. Tracey believes in being involved to better serve the communities in Cass County. ”

The campaign added, “Technology is ongoing and Tracey makes sure the Treasurer’s office is up to date and continues with ongoing training for the office. We are able to pay our taxes and motor vehicle renewals on-line (www.iowatreasurers.org). We accept credit and debit cards in the office for payments. The Treasurer’s office has implemented a major tax system update and a new DOT system since Tracey has been in office.”

The Treasurer’s Office is currently working on digitizing all of the Motor Vehicle records dating back to 1954.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Red Oak man on a warrant Wednesday. At 11;33am Deputies arrested 37-year-old Kale Garrett Hardman of Red Oak on a Pottawattamie County Warrant for Violation of Probation. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond for Pottawattamie County.

Republicans in the Iowa House have released their proposal for general state aid to K-through-12 public schools for the next academic year. The 32-million dollar increase would not be as robust as the 52-million dollar boost Republican Governor Kim Reynolds proposed earlier this month. Education-related groups are offering varying reactions to the essentially one-percent funding boost House Republicans are advancing. Emily Piper is a lobbyist for the Iowa Association of School Boards. She says if legislators also find more money to address inequities in the school funding formula, it’s a “fairly decent” increase in state support.

“While we continue to have concerns about funding for schools, one percent is certainly far above what we thought we would receive going into the start of this legislative session,” Piper says. Melissa Peterson is a lobbyist for the Iowa State Education Association, the union that represents Iowa teachers. Peterson says a one percent hike in general state aid to schools is disappointing.

“We are in the at least the eighth year of inadequate funding for our public schools,” she says. “We are cutting to the bone in a number of districts and we have significant concerns about what this level of funding will mean the future of our public education.” Brad Hudson is also a lobbyist for the Iowa State Education Association. Hudson says given the way the state’s school finance formula is structured, schools with stable or declining enrollment will be hard pressed to make ends meet.

“We should really be looking at somewhere in the range of $130 million or somewhere north of three to three-and-a-half percent,” Hudson says. “I don’t think we’re telling the kids they’re a priority in this and I think that’s a shame and we’ve done it for a number of years.”

Margaret Buckton represents both the Urban Education Network — the state’s largest schools — and the Rural School Advocates of Iowa. Buckton says a one percent boost would be appreciated, but most school districts “with consistent enrollment” are dealing with an expected three percent budget increase in the next academic year.

“Our parents, our stakeholders should continue to expect to see some tough choices at the local board table,” Buckton says. “We do appreciate continued conversations about transportation formula equity and the state penny.” The one percent statewide sales tax for school infrastructure is scheduled to end in 2029. House Republicans are hoping to schedule a vote next week in the House on their per pupil spending level for next year. Senate Republicans have not yet revealed their preferred level of state taxpayer support for public schools.

(Radio Iowa)

Exira city officials said Wednesday (1/31) that they have issued a drinking water advisory to residents due to a water main issue.  A leaking water main was found and a new line has been installed.  Exira residents are urged to boil water used for consumption or to use bottled water due to the potential for bacterial contamination until further notice.  The advisory was issued Wednesday, January 31 at 1:00 pm.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Police believe the death of a Waterloo woman whose body was found after she was reported missing was a homicide. The Courier reports that police have not released details of how 40-year-old Lakisha Williams died. An autopsy was performed earlier this week, but police say the full results are pending. Williams’ body was found Friday on the ground in a remote area of Garden of Memories cemetery. Her mother reported her missing Jan. 25. She was last seen around 5 p.m. Jan. 20 near her apartment.

Williams’ husband, 27-year-old Fredrick Williams of Waterloo, was found in Minnesota last weekend and arrested on a parole violation. He was returned to Black Hawk County on Tuesday and on Wednesday ordered held without bond pending a parole violation hearing in the coming weeks.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that redirects existing money toward voluntary water quality programs in Iowa. Reynolds signed the bill Wednesday at the state Capitol, marking her first bill signed as governor. The law is expected to redirect $282 million over 12 years from an infrastructure fund and water tax. Research shows it would cost billions of dollars to effectively clean Iowa’s waterways, in large part blamed on farm runoff.

The law doesn’t mandate comprehensive water quality metrics and excludes benchmark improvement goals. Environmental groups argue that lessens the impact. State agriculture officials counter that existing water quality programs rely on extensive research from a voluntary state-backed initiative.

Reynolds says the bill is a first step. It’s unclear if other water-related legislation will advance this session.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Preliminary data on the first three months of a state-funded family planning program in Iowa shows it had a nearly 50 percent drop in enrollment since it switched to a system that excludes abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. The information from the Iowa Department of Human Services also shows a reduction in health care providers participating in the program and less services being accessed. The Associated Press received the report after a records request.

The data shows about 6,800 people enrolled in Iowa’s new family planning program during its first three months, compared to roughly 13,100 the previous year during the same time. State officials caution that the information won’t be complete until any outstanding claims have been submitted and processed.

The report offers a glimpse at the effects of Republican lawmakers’ decision to create the program, which excluded organizations providing abortions.

A reminder to residents of Adair County, that a Special Election will be held March 6^th,with regard to passing an additional bond for the courthouse elevator project. The Special Election will ask voters of Adair County “Shall the Board of Supervisors bond for an amount not to exceed $650,000 for the purpose of installing an elevator?”

Voter registration and absentee voting deadlines for the March 6, 2018 Special Election are as follows:

February 19^th – Worry-Free Postmark Date.

Registrations postmarked on or before this day are considered on time to pre-register, even if they are received after 5 p.m. on February 23, 2018

February 23^rd – Pre-registration deadline

Last day to pre-register to vote. Iowa law now permits Election Day Registration.

February 23^rd – Last day to mail absentee ballots.

Last day to request an absentee ballot be mailed, to allow timely delivery and return. Request must be received by 5:00 p.m.

March 5^th – Absentee ballots postmark.

All absentee ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than March 5, 2018.

March 6^th – Last day to return absentee ballots to Auditor’s Office.

Last day to return absentee ballots to the Auditor’s office before the polls close at 8:00 p.m.

Adair County Auditor Mindy Schaefer told KJAN News back in November, the Board of Supervisors passed a Resolution calling for the Special Election. She said the need for a new elevator to replace one that was installed back in the 1980’s, became clear when officials with the State said the elevator does not meet current standards. The State says it will no longer approve the elevator for inspection. Schaefer said when it was installed in the 1980’s it was never intended for commercial use. Some of the current wheelchairs and motor scooters are difficult to maneuver into the elevator.  A Public Hearing was held last May to go out for a bond sale. $600,000 of that bond was designated for a new elevator. Schaefer said the initial feasibility studies placed the price tag for the project at $550,000. She says the County has a statutory limit of $600,000 that it cannot exceed without a special election.

The County went ahead and bonded for the $600,000. The bids for the project came in shockingly higher than expected. The lowest bid was $749,000. The highest was $1-million, $25,000. There were five bids in between. Mindy said the $600,000 limit was for the entire project, and did not take into account architects, soil surveys and other factors. The Board stripped everything possible to reduce costs, but the final answer was to ask the public for a bond to help pay for the rest.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa bankers have launched an advertising campaign calling for an end to credit unions’ nonprofit status, which they say gives an unfair competitive advantage. The move comes as Iowa’s credit unions increase their market share. The Des Moines Register reports that the Iowa Bankers Association has released digital, radio and television ads pushing for a leveled playing field between for-profit banks and nonprofit credit unions. The association says banks’ 5 percent franchise tax on profits should also be levied on the state’s credit unions.

Credit unions say they should remain exempt from the state’s bank taxes. The Iowa Credit Union League is preparing to oppose any potential tax reform bill in the Legislature. Republican Rep. Guy Vander Linden says he’d rather lower taxes for banks than levy new taxes on credit unions.

Atlantic resident John. P. Hartkopf, a Republican, has announced he intends to run in the June 5^th Primary election for the Cass County Board of Supervisors in District 3. The seat became available when current District 3 Supervisor Mark Wedemeyer announced earlier this month, that he would not be running for re-election. (click on the left side of the audio bar to listen)

He said he will be pro-growth, dedicated to the prosperity of the Cass County and the well being of its citizens. Hartkop’s family includes: His wife Linda, who is on the Atlantic City Council; His oldest daughter Cristina Bateman works for Meyer and Gross Real Estate and is active on many boards and organizations; Middle daughter Jessica works for the Verizon Corporation, and their youngest son Brad, works for the Association of Business and Industry.