Council Bluffs, Iowa – Officials in Pottawattamie County, today (Wednesday) unveiled a modern logo system that represents the storied history of residents and communities Pottawattamie County serves. The announcement comes after several logos and images were used to identify county departments and services. From Conservation to Public Health, colors and branding varied greatly. Most departments will now share the same brand image as Pottawattamie County, providing what county leaders say is much needed clarity. County Supervisor Justin Schultz says the “…announcement measures excitement beyond words. Sharing a common operating picture of the future will greatly clarify what we do for our residents. This takes Pottawattamie County to the next level.”

Modern-day Pottawattamie County evolved out of the Pottawattamie Purchase of 1847. It was named after the Native American tribe Potawatomi, that once possessed the Iowa Territory. Potawatomi is a Native American term meaning “Keepers of the Council Fires,” or “Makers of Fire.” Pottawattamie County is paying tribute to its history with the new brand. Along with a large P, the logo features a feather transitioning to a flame with the new county slogan “Find Your Fire.” The tribe has given its official approval of both. County Supervisors Chairman Tim Wichman says “Not only is the new slogan a reference to our great history, but to our bright future as well. We feel ‘Find Your Fire’ can also describe finding your passion. No matter what that is, we’re confident you can find it in Pottawattamie County.”

The transition for Pottawattamie County includes updating brand imaging on the county website, multiple department websites, and county owned social media channels. Signage and county vehicles will also be appropriately marked, though completing those changes will take time. “This is going to be a process, but a fun one,” said Schultz. “Our logo is the work of creativity at its best. It’s an image that instantly speaks to you and draws your attention, leaving you curious for more.”

Digital presentations, letterhead, email signatures and business cards will also reflect Pottawattamie County’s new branding. The official county seal will continue to be used in official county business, but residents should become familiar with the new brand system. “A brand is so much more than a logo, it’s an identity,” said Wichman. “With a shared image across multiple departments, our residents will easily recognize who we are and the services we provide. It’s a big deal.”

Pottawattamie County also announced plans to consolidate its online presence. Along with separate branding, several departments owned independent websites. The process to move content from those websites to the county website pottcounty-ia.gov may take months to complete, but the Board of Supervisors believes that offering a centralized location for residents to find information on all county related services is an important step. “The County is listening, and we believe that finding information about county government and services should not be a complicated process,” said Schultz. “Centralizing our resources and providing a user-friendly website will help simplify the experience and provide more effective routes for us to communicate with our residents.”

The new county slogan was created through a county employee submittal contest. Committees consisting of up to two members of the Board of Supervisors, and several employees, played an active role in deciding appropriate steps in the transition and selecting the final logo design created by Right Idea Media & Creative in Council Bluffs.

For more information on the new logo system visit https://www.pottcounty-ia.gov/find_your_fire/

(Radio Iowa) – A new report finds poll worker pay for the 2020 Primary and General Elections in at least one dozen counties was either not approved by the county’s board of supervisors or was higher than authorized. The review was launched after news reports that Scott County’s auditor had approved paying precinct election workers 15 dollars an hour. That exceeded the 10 dollar an hour rate approved by the Scott County Board of Supervisors. State Auditor Rob Sand’s office reviewed poll worker pay in Scott County and 15 other counties. The report cites seven counties for either paying poll workers more than had been approved by the county’s board of supervisors or providing something like unapproved small bonuses for working during a pandemic. Five of the 16 counties had no documentation of board of supervisors approval of election workers’ pay.

The state auditor’s report also indicates eight counties had discrepancies in calculating the number of hours or mileage reimbursements for poll workers in 2020. There’s a link to the 22 page report at Radio Iowa dot com. Under state law, temporary election workers are technically temporary STATE employees being paid by the counties. The state auditor’s report recommends that the secretary of state’s office develop new procedures to monitor poll worker pay. NONE of the discrepancies from 2020 that are cited in the report are subject to new fines the legislature approved in 2021 for election-related infractions.

Among the Counties in the state auditor’s review, was: Adams, Black Hawk, Boone, Cerro Gordo, Clayton, Des Moines, Dickinson, Harrison, Howard, Linn, Louisa, Polk, Pottawattamie, Poweshiek, Ringgold and Scott.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) -Two men from Florida who were wanted on multiple warrants from Iowa and elsewhere, were arrested this (Wednesday) morning after the vehicle they were in crashed during a pursuit. A man from Shelby County was injured during the incident. Iowa State Patrol Trooper/Public Resource Officer Ryan Devault told KJAN News the incident began at around 7:08-a.m., when a Trooper tried to initiate a traffic stop on a speeding 2022 Ford Explore with Florida license plates on Interstate 80 at mile marker 35.
The SUV accelerated at a high rate of speed, resulting in a pursuit.

The vehicle weaved and out of traffic during the chase. Stop sticks were used twice before the SUV went out of control on I-80 westbound at mile marker 7, and struck a 2013 GMC Terrain, driven by 67-year-old Donald Sorensen, of Portsmouth.

The injured Sorensen was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs for treatment of minor, non life-threatening injuries. The suspects took off on foot. One of the subjects tried to enter a nearby assisted living facility, but the doors were locked. The arrested suspects were identified 26-year-old Victory Ogiste, from Fort Lauderdale, FL. And 28-year-old Xavier Najee, from Plantation, Florida. Both men had outstanding warrants. Ogiste’s warrants were from Black Hawk and Hamilton Counties, in Iowa. Najee had warrants out of North and South Carolina, Tennesse and Virginia. They will face additional charges following the incident in Pottawattamie County.

Traffic was backed-up for at least three-miles following the crash and during the investigation.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Traffic was backed-up for at least miles for a while, following a pursuit that reportedly began near Underwood, and ended with two suspects arrested this (Wednesday) morning. The chase ended on the eastern side of Council Bluffs at the seven mile-marker of Interstate 80 westbound, near Highway 6/Iowa Western Community College. Additional details are currently not available.

Photo from Trooper Ryan DeVault via Twitter

DOT traffic cams of where the pursuit ended (Via CB PD Facebook page)