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.

Results from the Aug. 2nd. Special Election…..

City of Casey:   Yes         No                      Voted Polls        possible             %

2 NE Casey             0              0                              0                            10               0.00%

Absentee                0              0

Total                         0              0

City of Stuart

2 NE Stuart          55            17                            72                        465              15.48%

Absentee               0                3                             3                                                  4.%

Total                      55            20                            75                         475              15.79%

CRESTON, Iowa – Aug. 2, 2011 – The second phase of a bridge replacement project on Iowa 25 south of Guthrie Center requires reducing the current lane width limit restrictions to 12-feet-6-inches in the open lane beginning Thursday, Aug. 11, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Creston construction office.

Traffic signals will be used to move traffic through the construction work zone. The completion date for this project is early November.

CRESTON, Iowa – Aug. 2, 2011 – Road construction work will reduce Iowa 25 to one lane between U.S. 34 and Union County Road H-24 near Creston beginning Thursday, Aug. 4, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Creston construction office.

A 16-foot lane width restriction will be in place in the open lane. Flaggers and a pilot car will be used to control traffic during the closure. The roadway will return to normal traffic patterns when workers are not present. This project will be completed Aug. 8.

CRESTON, Iowa – Aug. 2, 2011 – Road construction work will reduce U.S. 34 to one lane between Iowa 148 near Corning and Iowa 25 in Creston until early September, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Creston construction office.

A 16-foot lane width restriction will be in place in the open lane. Flaggers and a pilot car will be used to control traffic during the closure. The roadway will return to normal traffic patterns when workers are not present.

MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa – Aug. 2, 2011 – Patching work on a bridge approach requires closing eastbound Interstate 680 between I-29 (exit 71) and Pottawattamie County Road L-34 (exit 21) east of Crescent from 7 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Missouri Valley garage. There is no detour in operation during this project.
 
The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles and wear seat belts.