The Government Oversight Committee in the Iowa House is planning to conduct a review of the state’s civil forfeiture laws after a newspaper investigation raised what one lawmaker calls “significant concerns.” A Des Moines Register investigation found law enforcement in Iowa has used civil forfeiture laws to seize 43 MILLION dollars in the past six years — sometimes without ever arresting the person involved or charging them with a crime. Representative Mary Wolfe, a Democrat from Clinton, says the newspaper’s report has sparked posts on her Facebook page.

“I wasn’t aware of just quite how grievous the situation was in some counties,” Wolfe says. “I know certainly on my Facebook that’s certainly blown up and people are appalled.” The majority of the money seized by police and other law enforcement in Iowa is used to buy new equipment or pay for officer training, but The Register’s investigation found some counties are using the confiscated funds for questionable things, like buying “tropical fish, scented candles, mulch and other items that appear to have little or no direct link to law enforcement activities.” Wolfe, a member of the House Government Oversight Committee, cited the newspaper’s accounts during the committee’s meeting on Thursday.

“It’s something that somebody needs to address,” Wolfe said. “And I would love to see us do it and do it in a very decisive manner and in the relatively near future.” Republican Representative Bobby Kaufmann, of Wilton is chairman of the Oversight Committee agrees the panel should address the issues that have been raised.  “I’ve had a lot of law enforcement contact me and say, ‘Hey, let’s see if we can find a way to narrow this down so that we’re not endangering the 98 percent of law enforcement that do this properly,” Kaufmann says.

And Kaufmann says legislators should find a way to close loopholes that allow civil forfeiture laws to “be abused.” The issue is being raised on the presidential campaign trail in Iowa, too. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who will formally enter the G-O-P race next week, is sponsoring legislation to reign in forfeitures and is bringing up the issue during campaign speeches here.

(Radio Iowa)

The Walnut City Council, Thursday evening, resumed discussion about the possible acquisition of the Walnut Community School Building. City Clerk Terri Abel said no decision was made, but the Council is moving forward with the matter. She says they will conduct a joint facility study with the school, to give an overview of the condition of the building and possible use of the building.

In February, the City was offered the chance by Walnut Superintendent Jesse Ulrich to acquire the building. At that time, a decision was then made to form a committee to decide what they want the facility to become. They also discussed the possibility of hiring a consultant or an architect to conduct a feasibility study and facility study on the building.

The Council, yesterday (Thursday) also heard about improvements being made to Veterans Memorial Park. Abel says Rick Blum was present to discuss ideas about tree planting, signage and other ways to improve the park. Abel says the Walnut City Council also approved the Fire Department’s recommendation of Justen Tooley to serve as Fire Chief for two-years, and they discussed amendments to the FY 2014-15 budgets by $1,000 in the program of Debt Service, and $10,000 in the Program of Culture and Recreation, with a Public Hearing being set for May 7th at 5-p.m. Abel says unanticipated repairs to the Library’s roof took up the majority of the amendments.

And with regard to the State Auditor’s report over concerns about Walnut’s documentation of financial reports, funds, debts so on, Abel says she has some questions about the report. She says the report was just received Thursday, so the Council had not seen it. There were comments on the report she says, that she doesn’t understand, and a call to clarify those statements is in order.

Terri reminds Walnut residents the annual Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by the Walnut Fire Department, takes place 10-a.m. Saturday in the Walnut City Park, for kids pre-school through elementary. The kids will be divided up by age group, so younger kids aren’t competing against older kids for the eggs.

A woman from Union County was arrested Thursday morning in Creston, on charges that include Public Intoxication, and Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. 37-year old Crystal Huddleson, of Kent, was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on $5,000 bond.

And, early this (Friday) morning, Creston Police arrested 43-year old Chad Dryden, of Creston, for OWI/1st offense, Dryden was later released on $1,000 bond.