WIUM Local

Fort Madison wants to make it more enticing for rural property owners to join the city.

The city council has signed off on a series of incentives available to those interested in voluntarily annexing into the city.

City Manager Byron Smith says the incentives include the gradual phasing in of the city’s property tax rate and the possibility of offering a specific zoning designation for a property.

They also allow the city to cover certain legal expenses and reduce utility connection fees.     

Governor Terry Branstad (R-Iowa) says he will seek a key provision in future contracts with union employees.

Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds (R-Iowa) say they will start paying 20% of their health insurance premiums next month.

The Governor told a crowd in Fort Madison that Iowa could save $100-million if every state employee followed their lead.

“But I don’t expect a lot of rank-and-file workers will do it immediately,” says Branstad, “but down the road, most people in the private sector are paying more than that so we think in the future that makes sense.”

A quick look at news from around the Tri-State Region 

KEOKUK, IA

Members of United Steelworkers Local 444 have ratified a new contract with Henniges Automotive.

The union represents more than 400 workers at the auto-parts supplier in Keokuk.

Employees had been working under their previous contract after rejecting an earlier offer roughly two weeks ago.

DAVIS COUNTY, IA

A hunting preserve in Davis County is under quarantine after a white-tail deer tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease.

Keokuk is putting more money into tourism efforts as the city council has agreed to boost funding for the Convention and Tourism Bureau by $7,000.

The increase would bring the total for the current fiscal year to $140,000.

Tourism Director Kirk Brandenberger requested the increase based on Keokuk’s last fiscal year being its best ever when it comes to hotel-motel tax revenue.

He says the tax generated $276,000, which is up from the projected total of $260,000.

One member of the Macomb City Council says the panel should have looked at cost-savings over the "long-term" when it selected the bid to resurface the American Legion's parking  lot.

The city and the organization share ownership of the  lot.

The council has accepted the low bid from Laverdiere Construction for a bit less than
$112-thousand to resurface it with asphalt.

Sixth Ward Alderman Tim Lobdell does not like the asphalt option.