The city of Grant was recently named a Best Practices Member by the Iowa Municipalities Workers’ Compensation Association (IMWCA). In order to achieve this honor, Grant has shown commitment from the entire organization to adopt and implement rigorous safety standards that not only help contain workers’ compensation costs but ultimately benefit its overall operations.

The Best Practices program was developed to recognize and reward members for meeting “best practices” in the areas of underwriting, claims and loss control.

“As a risk pool, it’s important that each member does their part to keep workers’ compensation costs affordable for all members,” said Gerald Clausen, city manager for the city of Carroll and IMWCA board member. The city of Grant is unique in the fact that the city has only two part-time employees who represent the traditional workers’ compensation exposures on which IMWCA focuses. But the city also has an active volunteer fire department, which represents one of the largest risk exposures for IMWCA since under Iowa law the volunteers are considered employees “This recognition sets Grant apart as one that goes the extra mile to support the pool in these efforts.”

Before its August 1 council meeting Grant received a monetary award to be used to further enhance safety programs as well as a plaque acknowledging this outstanding achievement.

Most of Grant’s Volunteer Fire Department was present for the presentation, as the recognition especially highlights the safety programs in place with that department.

(IMWCA Press Release)

Police in Red Oak are investigating a reported residential break-in. Officials say someone entered the home of Ronald Lee Johnson Tuesday, and took several tools.

Among the missing items was three air-impact wrenches, a large tool box, several Craftsman wrenches, impact sockets and a pipe wrench.

Anyone with information on the burglary should is asked to contact the Red Oak Police Department at 712-623-6500.

The turnout was very low for a special, Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) election held in Casey and Stuart, Tuesday. A petition to hold a re-vote in those two communities, on a renewal of the penny sales-tax, was presented to the Adair County Board of Supervisors in mid-May, following a County wide-vote held earlier that same month.

None of the 10 possible voters in Casey turned out for the election, and only 75 out 465 possible votes were cast in Stuart, where the measure passed by a vote of 55-to-20. The total voter turnout, including absentees, was just under 16-percent.

If voters in Stuart had failed to renew the tax, the city would have been out about $42,000 in annual revenue, while the City of Casey stood to lose just $650. In Casey, proceeds from the tax would have been directed toward the street repairs and improvements. In Stuart, the monies will be directed to the General Fund.

An extension of the seven-year Local Option tax will go into effect beginning January 2012, in Stuart, Adair, Bridgewater, Fontanelle, Orient, and Greenfield.