(Radio Iowa) – Republicans on a House Committee have approved Governor Kim Reynolds’ bill that would put definitions of man, woman, mother and father in Iowa law and require changes in how the state issues new birth certificates to transgender residents. House Education Committee chairman Skyler Wheeler of Hull says he asked to have the bill assigned to his committee. “The bill is simple. We’re just defining what a woman is because under today’s society I think 95% of Iowans know what it is, but we have some people that try to disorient the issue and we’re just going to get back to the basics,”

Wheeler says “…It’s just definitions. It’s thinks that everybody knows, but we feel like we have to put it into law because of some of the crazier things that are happening out there.” Democrats on the committee voted against the bill. Representative Sue Cahill of Marshalltown says the bill puts transgender Iowans in danger. “To me it seems we are not protecting our transgendered,” Cahill says. “We are not protecting those who view themselves differently.” Representative Sharon Steckman of Marshalltown says the bill feeds on fear.

“I’m appalled that the governor would put this discriminatory piece of legislation forward targeting 0.29% of our population in Iowa,” Steckman said. “Shouldn’t we be working on something more important in education?” A large crowd of opponents rallied and chanted outside the room where a subcommittee hearing on the bill was held at noon yesterday (Tuesday). After the committee vote last (Monday) night, a couple of dozen people booed lawmakers after the bill passed the committee.

Protesters lined a statehouse hallway to boo lawmakers after tonight’s committee vote. (RI photo)

The committee did remove part of the bill that would have required transgender Iowans list their sex at birth on their driver’s license or government-issued I-D.

(Radio Iowa) – The four Republicans who represent Iowa in the U-S House voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, but the impeachment effort fell four votes short. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion released a video statement hours before the vote.

Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull says Mayorkas is unwilling to close the southern border and that’s a dereliction of duty with catastrophic consequences. Congressman Zach Nunn of Bondurant and Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of LeClaire, also voted to impeach Mayorkas, but did not issue statements after the vote.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, Tuesday evening, arrested 36-year-old Bryce Michael McKinnon, of Red Oak. McKinnon was taken into custody at around 6-p.m., on a warrant for Violation of Probation. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail, on a $10,000 bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic, this (Tuesday) evening, discussed and then considered the purchase of 16 Scott Air-Pak Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses for the Atlantic Fire Department. Fire Chief Tom Cappel mentioned their current Airpaks are beyond their certifiable life.

He said he has not yet heard back on a FEMA grant for the bottles. He said the 16 certified Airpaks requested will equip the Departments First-out trucks. The bottles have a 15-year certifiable usefulness.

Atlantic Fire Chief Tom Cappel speaks to the City Council (2-6-24)

The Council agreed to move forward with process of purchasing the devices. The Council then received an update from Jeremy Butler and Ali Pieken, SplashPad Committee members. Pieken also spoke last month, during the City of Atlantic’s Parks Advisory inaugural meeting.

Pieken said Rolling Hills Bank and Trust, in addition to their $10,000 donation, is willing to carry a loan with a 2% interest rate. The committee pitched the idea of a $300-thousand or $400,00 value, but that is only what they used for an amortization rate.

The project is currently estimated to cost $673,000, leaving a gap of $101,185. After some contentious, back-and-forth over allegations that the City told SWIPCO (the grant-writing arm of the City), NOT to write any grants for the Splash Pad project, the Council proceeded to move forward and approve a submission of a Letter Of Support for the Splash Pad Project, as part of an application to Enhance Iowa, for a CAT (Community Attraction and Tourism) grant. A delay caused by miscommunications with regard to the grant writing, means SWIPCO will have to hustle to meet the deadline to apply for the grant, which is February 15th.

Snyder and Associates Engineer Dave Sturm said the plan right now, is to go out for bid on the Splash Pad, at the end of this month, take bids in March, and possibly award a contract that same month, with the contract and bonds approved by the middle of April. The Splash Pad Committee is scrambling to get SWIPCO all the necessary information to get the grant application submitted on-time.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council passed two resolutions. The first was with regard to “Allocating the Alliant Energy Gas Franchise Fee for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025.” On July 5th, 2023, the City Council in Atlantic granted a 25-year franchise to Interstate Power and Light Company (Alliant Energy), which imposes a five-percent franchise fee upon gross revenue generated from the sales of natural gas by the Company, within the City’s corporate limits. In Sept. 2023, the City Council passed a resolution adopting a Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS), outlining the purposes for which the City will use the franchise fee. The Personnel and Finance Committee deemed the fee should be allocated for FY 2024 and 2025, as follows:

• 2% to the Police Department Operating Fund
• 2% to the Fire Equipment Reserve Fund
• 1% to an Ambulance Subsidy Fund.

The other resolution the Council passed tonight (Tuesday night), was to authorize bids for 2024 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation. Dave Sturm explains…

The Resolution states the notice of letting will be published by law for Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, at which time the City Clerk will receive bids for the work until 2-p.m. on that date. The sealed bids will be opened 5:30-p.m. March 5th, for consideration of the adoption of the proposed plans, specifications and proposed form of contract for the improvements.

The Council concluded regular business and adjourned into a Closed Session for the purpose of “Providing for the strategy meetings of Public Employees for Collective Bargaining.”