Gov. Terry E. Branstad today (Friday), announced that he will embark on a 43-city “Working Together for a Better Future” tour that will take him across the state. The tour will launch Monday, June 6th, following the administration’s weekly press conference.

Branstad says quote — “We have offered a budget reconciliation that improves Iowa’s long-term sustainability, and it will take all of us working together in order to ensure Iowa’s future growth. I look forward to traveling the state to discuss the state’s budget and our plans to restore honest budgeting practices. The tour will provide Iowans information regarding my administration’s plan to build a strong fiscal foundation for the future and create jobs in Iowa.”

The events are free and open to the public. In western Iowa, Branstad will hold his “Working together…” tour at the Council Bluffs Airport terminal building (101 McCandless Lane), on Monday, June 6^th, beginning at 11-a.m.

For more information please visit www.governor.iowa.govhttp://www.governor.iowa.gov.

A special meeting will be held on Monday in Atlantic, with regard to fees at the Sunnyside Swimming Pool. The Atlantic Parks and Recreation board says the special session will take place in the Council’s chambers at City Hall, beginning at Noon, Monday.

At Wednesday evening’s City Council meeting, City Administrator Doug Harris tried to dispel rumors the swimming pool fees had doubled. In a memorandum to the Parks and Rec Board Thursday, however, Harris said a miscommunication with former Parks and Rec Director Travis Garrett showed the fees were, in-fact, unintentionally doubled.

The fees for use of the pool have not changed in a while, and are below those of surrounding communities, according to Harris. At the Board’s last meeting, Garrett mistakenly said the 2010 fees were $150 for a seasonal family pass, and $75 for a seasonal single pass. Harris based his statements Wednesday night on those figures, when he said the rates had not doubled.

In fact, the rates adopted by the Parks and Rec Board at their last meeting, did double or nearly double the fees charged. Under the previously approved 2011 schedule, a family pass increased from $75 to $160, the single pass went from $50 to $90, and the daily pass went from two-to four-dollars.

Harris says under a proposed, revised 2011 schedule, the family pass would instead be $105, a single seasonal pass $70, and the daily pass three-dollars. Those are the fees the Parks and Rec Board will discuss during their meeting on Monday.

Doug Harris says “while no one likes to see fees go up, the new fees will only cover about 31% of the total cost of operating the pool, and will be less than the average fees in surrounding communities.”

Fee Schedule comparison:

Family Pass – Atlantic, $105; Avoca $170; Creston $125; Red Oak $100. Average: $125.

Single Pass – Atlantic, $70; Avoca $85; Creston $60; Red Oak $85; Average: $75.

Daily pass – Atlantic, $3; Avoca $5; Corning $4; Creston $3; Red Oak $4. Average: $3.80

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s top prosecutor says the state’s price gouging rule is now in effect for six counties facing flooding from the Missouri River.

Attorney General Tom Miller says Gov. Branstad’s disaster emergency declaration on Thursday trigged the rule in Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Pottawattamie and Woodbury counties.

Price gouging is considered an unfair practice under the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act. It protects people from those who substantially raise prices for needed goods or services without justification. The rule was adopted following the floods of 1993.

It applies during the emergency declaration and a recovery period of up six months.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad says all Iowa counties along the Missouri River will be affected by rising water and residents need to get ready because the worst of the flooding is still upriver.

Branstad at a news conference in Sioux City on Thursday says the state is ready to help, including the possibility of calling out the Iowa National Guard. He says there is a concern about Sioux City’s water treatment plant, which the near the river. But Branstad says he’s confident it will be OK.

Des Moines lost its water treatment plant in the 1993 flood, cutting off water for 12 days.

Branstad has issued emergency disaster proclamations for six counties – Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Pottawattamie and Woodbury. It allows state resources to be used for flood efforts.