Polk County Board of Supervisors

News

Polk County Board of Supervisors Elect Leadership for 2012 (January 3, 2012)
Media Advisory: Board to Approve Advertising/Marketing Agreement (December 19, 2011)
Schmunk named Vice President for National Association of Medical Examiners Group (August 23, 2011)
Polk County Provides Funds for Bridgestone Project (August 16, 2011)
Jones to be named Polk County Administrator (July 26, 2011)
Polk County Adds Another Candidate to Interview (July 19, 2011)
Public Interviews for Final County Administrator Candidates (July 18, 2011)
Meet and Greet Reception for Final County Administrator Candidates (July 18, 2011)
County Administrator Finalists Selected (July 12, 2011)
New Studies Reveal National Average Rents Are Higher Than Supplemental Security Income Payments Received by People with Disabilities (June 17, 2011)
Polk County Board of Supervisors Approve New Lease with Prairie Meadows (June 14, 2011)
Temporary County Redistricting Commission Requests Redistricting Maps Be Submitted by June 2 (May 20, 2011)
As Construction Continues at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Media Welcome to Get an Updated Look Inside (April 30, 2011)
Iowa Veterans Memorial Auditorium Renovation Project Call For Iowa Artists (April 29, 2011)
Polk County Lawn Mower Exchange Program Begins (March 14, 2011)

Polk County Board of Supervisors Elect Leadership for 2012

Click Here to Download Official Press Release

DES MOINES, Iowa – January 3, 2012 — The Polk County Board of Supervisors took action today to elect Angela Connolly, 5th District Supervisor, as its new Chairperson and Tom Hockensmith, 3rd District Supervisor, as Vice-Chairperson for 2012 in the first official public meeting of the new year. Supervisor Connolly elected in 1998, most recently served as the Board’s Chairperson in 2009.

“Local governments have had their share of challenges during these tough economic times, Supervisor Mauro provided exceptional leadership throughout 2011,” stated Supervisor Connolly. “Polk County will continue to find ways to operate efficiently throughout the year ahead and I look forward to serving as the Board of Supervisors Chair in 2012”.

Polk County Supervisors hold regular weekly public meetings every Tuesday and Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. in Room 120 of the Polk County Administration Building, 111 Court Avenue, Des Moines.

Media Advisory: Board to Approve Advertising/Marketing Agreement

Click Here to Download Official Press Release

What:	Veterans Memorial Auditorium Renovation Project marketing/advertising agreement with Community Choice Credit Union
Who:	Polk County Board of Supervisors
When:	9:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Where:	111 Court Avenue, Room 120
	Des Moines, IA 50309
Background:	The Polk County Board of Supervisors will review and approve a marketing/advertising agreement for the convention center space within the Veterans Memorial Auditorium Renovation Project. OPN Architects will provide a presentation outlining the theming concept of Veterans Memorial Hall and the building's exterior signage, representatives from Global Spectrum and Community Choice Credit Union will be available to address questions. The historic Veterans Memorial Auditorium exterior signage will remain in place on the building. Additional convention center signage will be added to the building in three locations to address the convention center space now located within Veterans Memorial.
Contact:	Sue Elliott, Project Manager
	Polk County Board of Supervisors
	(515) 286-3128

Schmunk named Vice President for National Association of Medical Examiners Group

DES MOINES, Iowa – August 22, 2011 — At the annual National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) meeting on August 5, Dr. Gregory Schmunk, Polk County Medical Examiner was elected to be Vice President for NAME for the 2012 year.

The NAME is the national professional organization of physician medical examiners, medical death investigators and death investigation system administrators who perform the official duties of the medicolegal investigation of deaths of public interest in the United States. NAME was founded in 1966 with the dual purposes of fostering the professional growth of physician death investigators and disseminating the professional and technical information vital to the continuing improvement of the medical investigation of violent, suspicious, and unusual deaths. Growing from a small nucleus of concerned physicians, NAME has expanded its scope to include physician medical examiners and coroners, medical death investigators and medicolegal system administrators from throughout the United States and other countries.

“On behalf of the Polk County Board of Supervisors we are very pleased to hear Dr. Schmunk will be Vice President for the National Association of Medical Examiners,” said John F. Mauro Chairperson for Polk County Board of Supervisors. “This recognition is very momentous and much-deserved. This national appointment reflects the high caliber of professionalism achieved within our medical examiner operations as well as the quality of services provided to Polk County citizens.”

Schmunk has been the Medical Examiner for Polk County since August 2004. He has been a member of NAME since 1989 and has served on the Board of Directors since 2002. Schmunk has been Chair of the Education, Program and Publications Committee since 2006 and has been a member of the Executive Committee since 2007. Schmunk was Secretary-Treasurer from 2009-2010. He is a certified NAME inspector and currently sits on the Standards, Inspection and Accreditation Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee.

“My election to the position of Vice President of NAME by my colleagues in the Medical Examiner field is a humbling honor which will allow me to serve not only Polk County, but also the nation as decisions are made which will have enormous impact on the practice of death investigation over the coming years,” Schmunk said.

Polk County Provides Funds for Bridgestone Project

DES MOINES, Iowa – August 16, 2011 — The Polk County Board of Supervisors, at its weekly public meeting, awarded a $50,000 zero interest loan and a $50,000 grant to Bridgestone for its $56.6 million expansion project.

The Polk County Board of Supervisors is providing the local government incentive as part of the economic development package set to be approved by the State of Iowa on August 18th. The project will include purchasing and installing new machinery and equipment into the existing facility and is expected to create 72 jobs. The company’s plan for the new machinery and equipment investment will lead to increased efficiencies and will expand the company’s capabilities in its existing and new products at the agricultural tire plant.

“This is a great project, the Board is happy to support Bridgestone in its $56.6 million dollar improvements. The establishment of 72 new manufacturing jobs is commendable and something that is hard to come by in this community given the current state of the economy”, stated Polk County Board of Supervisor, Tom Hockensmith.

The Agricultural Division of Bridgestone America’s Tire Operation LLC is a leading manufacturer and distributor of tires worldwide. The company’s headquarters is located in unincorporated Polk County.

Jones to be named Polk County Administrator

DES MOINES, Iowa – July 26, 2011 — The Polk County Board of Supervisors plans to take action to appoint David A. Jones as Polk County Administrator on Wednesday, July 27 at 9:30 a.m.

Jones is currently serving as County Administrator in Tazewell County, Illinois.

“On behalf of the Polk County Board of Supervisors we are very pleased to have selected David A. Jones as County Administrator,” said John F. Mauro, Chair of Polk County Board of Supervisors. “We had four very qualified candidates and we felt David was the best fit for Polk County.”

Jones holds a BS from Kennesaw State University in Communications as well as an MPA from the University of Tennessee. Jones has previously held the position of Assistant City Manager for the City of Cleveland, Tennessee and has served as a Public Information Officer.

“I am excited about the opportunity to be Polk County’s next Administrator,” Jones said. “I was extremely impressed with the organization and the community and I look forward to working with the Board of Supervisors, management, staff and the community to build upon what is already a first-class County organization.”

A public reception to meet the candidates was held on July 21. Public interviews were conducted at a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors on July 22. The Board also acted to direct the search firm of Colin Baenziger & Associates and the Polk County Attorney to negotiate an employment agreement with Jones subject to Board approval. Jones replaces Ron Olson who resigned to take a City Manager position in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Polk County Adds Another Candidate to Interview

DES MOINES, Iowa – July 19, 2011 — The Polk County Board of Supervisors has announced that it has invited an additional candidate, Earl Mathers, to interview for the position of County Administrator. Mathers is presently the County Administrator of Gallatin County, Montana. Prior to joining Gallatin County in 2006, Mathers served in a variety of capacities ranging from being the Director of Physical Plant Operation of Northwest College to the County Development Officer for Fremont County, WY and the Executive Director for Campbell County (WY) Economic Development Corporation. He has also worked oversees as an advisor for projects in Egypt, Lithuania and Moldova.

The previously announced candidates are:

Peter Austin, County Administrator, McHenry County, Illinois
Bonnie Hammersley, County Administrator, Muskegon County, Michigan
David Jones, County Administrator, Tazewell County, Illinois
Steven Powers, County Administrator, Marquette County, Michigan

For additional information, please contact Colin of Colin Baenziger & Associates at (561) 707-3537.

Public Interviews for Final County Administrator Candidates

1 p.m., Friday, July 22, 2011

What: Public Interviews for final County Administrator candidates

Who: Polk County Board of Supervisors

When: 1 p.m. Friday, July 22, 2011

Where: Polk County Administration Building – 111 Court Avenue, Des Moines – Room 120

Background: The Polk County Board of Supervisors is holding public interviews for the final County Administrator candidates at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 22 at the Polk County Administration Building in Room 120. The public is invited to attend.

Contact: Ami Anderson, Interim Project Manager
Polk County Board of Supervisors
(515) 286-2226

Meet and Greet Reception for Final County Administrator Candidates

5-7 p.m., Thursday, July 21, 2011

What: Meet and Greet Reception for final County Administrator candidates

Who: Polk County Board of Supervisors

When: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, July 21, 2011

Where: Hy-Vee Hall – 730 Third Street – Rooms 7 & 8

Background: The Polk County Board of Supervisors is hosting a meet and greet reception for the final County Administrator candidates from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, July 21 at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. The public is invited to attend.

Contact: Ami Anderson, Interim Project Manager
Polk County Board of Supervisors
(515) 286-2226

County Administrator Finalists Selected

DES MOINES, Iowa – July 12, 2011 — The Polk County Board of Supervisors will interview four finalists for the position of County Administrator on July 21 and 22.

The candidates are:

Peter Austin, County Administrator, McHenry County, Illinois

Bonnie Hammersley, County Administrator, Muskegon County, Michigan

David Jones, County Administrator, Tazewell County, Illinois

Steven Powers, County Administrator, Marquette County, Michigan

“The Board of Supervisors is very pleased to have four qualified candidates to consider for the position of County Administrator,” said John F. Mauro, Board of Supervisors Chair. “We look forward to meeting and interviewing the candidates next week.”

A public reception to meet the candidates will be held from 5 – 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 21 at Hy-Vee Hall, Rooms 7 & 8, 730 – 3^rd Street.

Public interviews will be conducted at a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 22. The public is encouraged to attend and submit questions to the candidates. The Board will take official action to hire the County Administrator at a special meeting scheduled for 9 a.m. on Monday, July 25. Both meetings will be held in room 120 of the Polk County Administration Building.

New Studies Reveal National Average Rents Are Higher Than Supplemental Security Income Payments Received by People with Disabilities

DES MOINES, Iowa – June 17, 2011 The national average rent for a modestly priced one-bedroom apartment is more than the entire amount of Supplemental Security Income received by people with disabilities, according to a new study released today by the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Housing Task Force and the Technical Assistance Collaborative.

The study, titled Priced Out in 2010, reveals that as a national average, people with disabilities living on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) needed to pay 112 percent of their income to rent a modest one-bedroom unit priced at the fair market rent. Rent for smaller studio/efficiency apartments, were 99 percent of SSI.

SSI is a federal program that provides income to people with significant and long term disabilities who are unable to work and have no other source of income and virtually no assets. According to Priced Out, in 2010, a single person SSI household received an average monthly SSI payment of $703 to cover all their basic needs, including housing.

“This study makes it crystal clear why vulnerable people with disabilities become homeless or are unable to move out of high-cost institutional settings,” said Ann O’Hara of the Technical Assistance Collaborative, who co-authored the study. “As this study shows, a monthly income of only $703 is less than the rent for most apartments, particularly in higher cost housing markets.”

In addition to national data, Priced Out in 2010 also provides information on the housing crisis in Des Moines. In Des Moines a person who received SSI in 2010, would have needed to pay 90percent of their income to rent a one-bedroom unit, and 75 percent for a studio/efficiency apartment.

“Because the federal and state disability payments are so low our clients with mental illness and intellectual disabilities cannot afford housing, Polk County appropriates almost $1 million a year from its mental health budget to help our consumers with rent,” said Angela Connolly, Polk County Board of Supervisor. “That is money that could be providing supportive services to people on our waiting lists.”

According to the study, over 4.4 million non-elderly adults relied on SSI payments in 2010. The study indicates that as many as 1.2 million non-elderly people with disabilities reside in homeless shelters, public institutions, nursing homes, unsafe and overcrowded board and care homes, or segregated group quarters. An estimated 700,000 adults with disabilities are living at home with aging parents who are 65 or older.

People with disabilities often end up living in restrictive settings, such as nursing homes or board and care facilities, in order to avoid becoming homeless according to O’Hara."We have a long history in this country of relying on high-cost institutions and other segregated facilities to provide housing and support services for people with disabilities," O'Hara stated. Numerous studies have shown that it costs less for people to live in the community, but a federal housing subsidy, such as a HUD Housing Choice Voucher, is essential because rents are so expensive."

Today’s study compares the monthly SSI payments received by more than 4.4 million Americans with disabilities to the fair market rental rates for efficiencies and modest one-bedroom apartments in every housing market in the country. The fair market rental rate is determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“While the need is increasing, the number of new supportive housing units available to people with disabilities has been declining. That means thousands of people remain stuck in expensive government-funded institutions,” noted Andrew Sperling from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a Co-Chair of the CCD Housing Task Force.

A 1999 U.S. Supreme Court decision found that states may be in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act if people with disabilities remain unnecessarily in segregated facilities. According to O'Hara, the states of New York, New Jersey, Georgia and Illinois must create more than 20,000 new supportive housing units as the result of settlement agreements negotiated with the U.S. Department of Justice.

The report, which was funded by the Melville Charitable Trust, notes that recent federal legislation to reform HUD's Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program could help to create more housing linked with support services in the community. TAC and CCD estimate that more than 50,000 new supportive housing units could be created over a five-year period if Congress provides full funding in Fiscal Year 2012.

"We understand the current budget environment in Washington, but the Section 811 program actually saves the government money by helping to move people with disabilities out of expensive institutions," concluded Sperling."If people don’t have decent housing they can afford, it costs us all more in the long run."

To obtain a copy of the study and any additional information please visit, http://pricedout.tacinc.org or call 617-266-5657.

Contacts:

Technical Assistance Collaborative Inc.

Ann O’Hara (co-author) or Emily Cooper (co-author): 617-266-5657

CCD Housing Task Force Co-Chair:

Andrew Sperling – National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):703-516-7222

Polk County Board of Supervisors Approve New Lease with Prairie Meadows

DES MOINES, Iowa – June 14, 2011 At today’s meeting the Polk County Board of Supervisors approved the new seven-year and seven-month lease with Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino.

“The Board of Supervisors is proud to bring these negotiations to a positive conclusion,” said John F. Mauro, Board of Supervisors Chair. “We value the partnership we have with Prairie Meadows that continues to provide support to our community that benefits all citizens of Polk County.”

The major terms of the 11 page and 41 paragraph agreement include:

Polk County will receive $15.6 million a year for rent
Additional payments to Polk County will be made at $10.4 million in each of the first three years with the potential for additional revenue in following years
Prairie Meadows will pay property tax in excess of $4.5 million
If legislation increases Polk County’s gaming tax by more than 4 percentage points, Polk County and Prairie Meadows agrees to renegotiate the amount of the additional payment and go to arbitration if the additional payment issue is not resolved
If legislation increases the rate of the horse purses by more than 20 percent, Polk County and Prairie Meadows agree to renegotiate the amount of the additional payment and go to arbitration if the additional payment issue is not resolved

Negotiations began in July 2010 and the terms were agreed upon by both parties at the end of May.

The property of Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino is owned by Polk County and operated by a nonprofit board. The previous lease expired December 31 and Prairie Meadows paid on a monthly basis, using the previous lease’s rates for rent during the interim. The money Polk County receives from Prairie Meadows is used to pay for bonds for the Iowa Events Center and infrastructure projects, economic development grants, community betterment, development grants which provide financial support to non-profit organizations that provide cultural, recreational, educational and human needs services to Polk County’s citizens.

Temporary County Redistricting Commission Requests Redistricting Maps Be Submitted by June 2

DES MOINES, Iowa – May 20, 2011 At yesterday’s meeting the Temporary Polk County Redistricting Commission requested that all alternative redistricting maps created by the public must be submitted by Thursday, June 2. Iowa Code requires the Temporary County Redistricting Commission to allow the public to present alternative plans to the commission. Public submissions will be presented at the June 9 meeting.

“The commission has requested all submissions comply with the 2011 reprecincting and redistricting instructions for counties, all residential and political information must be removed and at least six copies of the alternative plan is submitted,” said Chair of the Temporary Polk County Redistricting Commission Michael Gartner.

For those who are interested in more information regarding submission information and 2010 census information visit www.polkcountyiowa.gov

The Temporary County Redistricting Commission held their first meeting on Friday, April 29. The Temporary County Redistricting Commission, per Iowa Code, shall comply with all open meetings and public records requirements. The commission members will serve for a term to expire twenty days after the county’s supervisor redistricting plan is approved or imposed by the Iowa Secretary of State. The Board of Supervisors requested the Temporary County Redistricting Commission submit its recommendation for Polk County Board of Supervisors action on or before September 1. The redistricting plan must be submitted to the Secretary of State by October 15, 2011.

As Construction Continues at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Media Welcome to Get an Updated Look Inside

WHO:
Project Manager Chad Halupnick, The Weitz Company

General Manager Chris Connolly, Global Spectrum/Iowa Events Center

Associate AIA Emily Kistner, OPN Architects

Supervisor John Mauro, Polk County Board of Supervisors

Supervisor Robert Brownell, Polk County Board of Supervisors

Supervisor Tom Hockensmith, Polk County Board of Supervisors

WHAT:
Updated look at the remodeling of Veterans Memorial Auditorium. Construction continues on the structural steel frame of the interior, which outlines the new space and addition of a third floor.

WHEN:
TOMORROW: Saturday, April 30 – 10:00 AM

WHERE:
Veterans Memorial Auditorium

833 Fifth Avenue

Des Moines, IA 50309

*** all media should enter through the main entrance of Vets Auditorium in the northwest corner ***

RSVP:
Please RSVP with Adam Flack, Director of Marketing at the Iowa Events Center by phone (515) 418-2618 or email aflack@iowaeventscenter.com

DETAILS:
Saturday will provide the media the first opportunity to see how the facility will be laid out once complete, as the formation of meeting rooms and ballroom levels continue to take shape. Following a construction update by Project Manager Chad Halupnick of The Weitz Company and a sales and booking update by Global Spectrum’s Chris Connolly, General Manager of the Iowa Events Center, media will be allowed access to individual interviews and the ability to get video and photos of the construction progress. Photos and video are encouraged.

Construction remains on schedule for the renovated Veterans Auditorium, as crews have been working on placing the structural steel since January 10, 2011 and are on schedule to complete that process up by July 1. The facility, which is being renovated into meeting and ballroom space, is transforming quickly.

Construction began on Veterans Auditorium on October 11, 2010 with demolition of the 7,200 fixed seats and the upper level balcony. Demolition was complete on February 15, 2011, with Structural steel being put in place now that is framing 21 meeting rooms and a tribute to Veterans who have served in our military on the main level, the construction of a third floor that will be a multi-purpose ballroom, and enhanced pre-function spaces. Construction will continue with an anticipated re-opening date of January 2012.

Iowa Veterans Memorial Auditorium Renovation Project Call For Iowa Artists

DES MOINES, Iowa – April 29, 2011 As part of the Veteran Memorial Auditorium (VMA) Renovation Project, eight backlit niches are incorporated into various areas of the new meeting room space. The Polk County Board of Supervisors is asking the public to help fill these spaces with Iowa artist’s photography by participating in the Call For Artists 2011 contest.

The contest, which runs through July 1, asks Iowa artists to submit artwork relating to the Iowa landscape. Images are restricted to color photography that depicts either Iowa landscapes or cityscapes. Composition, color, movement and an interest in graphic quality are encouraged. Selected artists will be notified by email or telephone by September 1, with an official letter to follow.

Iowa artists interested in submission information and the necessary forms should visit www.polkcountyiowa.gov.

“The Polk County Board of Supervisors is pleased to provide this opportunity for Iowa artists to have their photography displayed as part of the new Veterans Convention Center,” said Board of Supervisor Angela Connolly.

Construction on the VMA began in October 2010. The renovation will include approximately 32,875 square feet of meeting room space, 1,210 square feet of board room space and 28,739 square feet of multipurpose ballroom space. This renovation will include the construction of an additional floor to accommodate the ballroom level. A live webcam of the construction site can be accessed from Polk County’s website, www.polkcountyiowa.gov or at https://www.iowaeventscenter.com/webcam.aspx.

Polk County Lawn Mower Exchange Program Begins

DES MOINES, Iowa – March 14, 2011 Beginning on March 15th, Polk County residents will have the opportunity to exchange their highly polluting gasoline powered lawn mower for an environmentally friendly, zero-emission producing, light weight, easy to operate, extremely quiet Neuton® cordless ELECTRIC mower through a special arrangement between the Polk County Public Works Department, Metro Waste Authority (MWA), Midwest Recovery and Neuton Mowers. Residents can save up to $290 off the MSRP on a new Neuton Battery-Powered Lawn Mower! For only $149 (CE5) or $209 (CE6), supplies are limited.

Why exchange your gas mower? The Polk County Public Works Department Air Quality Division (AQD), in conjunction with Metro Waste Authority (MWA), Midwest Recovery and Neuton® are working to reduce the amount of ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter air pollution in our county. We are asking Polk County residents to exchange their gasoline lawn mower for a more efficient cordless electric mower. This effort will help families breathe cleaner air. To view a copy of the Lawn Mower Exchange Program brochure, visit: http://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/airquality/.

How to participate:

Deliver your operational gas‐powered lawn mower to Midwest Recovery, located at 3300 Henry Dr. SW, Suite 2 in Bondurant. Upon exchange, you will receive a receipt and exchange card for your mower.
Bring your receipt, photo ID and exchange card to the Polk County Public Works Department ‐ AQD offices located at 5885 NE 14th Street, on Des Moines’ north side to obtain your Neuton® mower discount voucher.
Once you’ve received your voucher, call Neuton toll‐free at 1‐877‐560‐8907 to schedule delivery of your new mower. After you have placed your order and paid the $149 (CE5) or $209 (CE6) co‐payment via credit card or check, your Neuton® mower will arrive via UPS within 10 business days. Shipping is free. Mowers paid by check will ship once the check has cleared. You may also upgrade with optional equipment for an additional cost.

Get a great discount on a new Neuton Battery-Powered Lawn Mower and do your share to spare the air!

For additional information, call 286-3351.