Des Moines County

Lee, Des Moines Counties Support Test

Jason Parrott — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 03:58:36 +0000

It appears recruiting local government is the next step for a workforce program in Iowa.

Des Moines County to Auction Properties

Jason Parrott — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 22:06:36 +0000

Des Moines County is selling some of the properties it acquired after the Flood of 2008.

Burlington Fee Could Hurt Neighbors

Jason Parrott — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:25:12 +0000

A proposal to help Burlington’s budget could have a negative impact on its neighbors.

Initial Offers to Des Moines County

Jason Parrott — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 22:42:23 +0000

Some Des Moines County employees are looking for significant pay hikes in their next employment contracts.

Voting Underway in Southeast Iowa

Jason Parrott — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:50:19 +0000

Southeast Iowa voters who do not want to wait for Election Day have started casting their ballots. There are no restrictions on who can vote early.

Des Moines County Conservation Turns 50

Jason Parrott — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 11:48:39 +0000

Des Moines County Conservation is honoring its past by looking to the future. The agency is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year.

Director Kim Perlstein says Des Moines County Conservation has eight full-time employees who oversee about 1,500 acres of public property. Two key pieces are Starr’s Cave Nature Center and Big Hollow Recreation Area.

Des Moines County to Maintain Services

Jason Parrott — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 03:50:33 +0000

The decision by the Iowa Legislature to revamp the state’s mental health care system has counties struggling to determine their role in the new landscape.

The state will pay for Medicaid-related services, which means counties will receive less in reimbursements.

In response, Des Moines County established waiting lists for a wide variety of services.

CPC Administrator Ken Hyndman says the idea was to reduce spending in case the county’s budget runs short without certain state reimbursements.

Des Moines County to Help E-911 Board

Jason Parrott — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:24:51 +0000

Des Moines County is being asked to borrow $450,000 on behalf of the county’s E-911 Board.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Tom Broeker says the agency still owes money to a local bank for some computer equipment purchased years ago.

Broeker says a recent state audit revealed that Des Moines County’s E-911 Board should not be carrying any debt. He says that means the agency cannot renew the loan, which must take place within the next few months.

DMC Board Could Help Hospital

Jason Parrott — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:43:34 +0000

The Des Moines County Board of Supervisors appears willing to help one of the county’s largest employers.

Representatives of Great River Medical Center have approached the county about issuing $60-million in bonds on the hospital’s behalf.

The money being borrowed would be split between the construction of a new building and to refinance some of the hospital’s previous debt.

The Klein Center nursing facility will have about 160 bed, which is an increase compared to the current structure.

4% Cut In Des Moines County

Jason Parrott — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:07:52 +0000

Des Moines County’s proposed budget for next year requires another round of cuts.

Chairman Tom Broeker says the Board of Supervisors requested departmental budgets that covered needs but did not include frivolous spending.

He says that is what the panel received, but cuts were still needed.

The Board of Supervisors trimmed the initial departmental requests by more than $500,000.

That includes about $400,000 in the maintenance department and about $110,000 in conservation.