Van Otterloo Asks Supervisors To Hire Another Deputy
(Le Mars) — During his appearance before the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors this morning, Plymouth County Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo requested the county board give careful consideration to adding another deputy to the
county’s law enforcement. Van Otterloo informed the county supervisors it has been a challenge to cover all shifts as part-time deputies are difficult to schedule due to working other jobs. Reserves are down to one officer. A total of 2316 hours of accumulated vacation, holiday and comp time. 115 hours of
overtime spent in the last calendar year. Van Otterloo pointed out that eight different counties with similar population bases have 13.25 deputies. He indicated Plymouth County is two short of the average. Van Otterloo also gave justification for hiring another deputy due to the increase in major case activity. Van Otterloo told the county supervisors that in order to maintain
current programs such as D.A.R.E., SRT, Drug Task Force, Dive Team, Reserve Program, Accident Investigator, Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau projects, Salvage Title Inspector, Firearms Instructors, Defensive Tactics Instructor,
ILEA certified instructors, K-9 unit, and Honor Guard Unit. Sheriff Van Otterloo says most importantly, there are tremendous safety concerns for the deputies on duty, and the citizens we serve.
Le Mars Educational Association Ask For 3 Percent Raise
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Educational Association presented their initial bargaining position to the Le Mars Board of Education yesterday. In the proposal, the faculty members are seeking a 3.08 percent increase in pay for 2018-2019 school year. The teachers also indicated they would be in favor of a multiple year contract, providing an equitable agreement can be reached in
regards to language, benefits, and salaries. If agreed upon by the school board, the increase in pay would amount to $425,458.52.
Floyd Valley Trustees To Meet This Evening
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Healthcare Board of Trustees are scheduled to convene this evening for their monthly meeting. The hospital trustees will begin the meeting by electing new officers for the next two years. The trustees will
review the annual report of governing board’s by-laws, and appoint committee assignments. Dr. Andrew Geha is scheduled to deliver the medical staff report, and Judy Hawkins will submit the auxiliary report. Director of Nursing, Lorrie Mortensen will review with the board the fiscal year 2017-2018 Quality
Assessment and Performance Improvement Plant, followed by Administrator Mike Donlin offering the board of trustees a general update, along with the approval of capital acquisitions.
April Trial Scheduled For Le Mars Man Accused Of Insurance Fraud
LE MARS, Iowa (AP) – An April trial has been scheduled for a northwest Iowa man charged with forgery and insurance fraud.
Court records say 39-year-old Scott Leininger, of Le Mars, entered a written plea of not guilty Friday in Plymouth County District Court in Le Mars.
His trial starting date is April 17.
Authorities say Leininger submitted false paperwork to back his claim to Homesite Insurance for damage he said his disability equipment sustained during a lightning storm. Court documents say the company discovered that the paperwork was bogus and didn’t pay the claim.
Governor Claims Iowa is Land of Opportunity During Condition of the State Address
(Des Moines) — Governor Kim Reynolds began this year’s “Condition of the State” address by acknowledging she’s the first female among Iowa’s 42 governors to deliver the annual speech.
Reynolds also mentioned the “Me Too” movement, praising women who’ve “found the courage” to report sexual harassment.
Reynolds calls for “all of us in public office” to serve as models for the public and private sector.
Reynolds used her speech to hail Republican initiatives passed in the 2017 legislature, like the changes in Iowa’s collective bargaining law. Then Reynolds sketched out what she described as “unfinished business” in the GOP agenda. Reynolds called on legislators to make passage of a plan providing more state tax dollars for water quality projects their first priority.
Next on the list: tax policy. She’s calling for an end to a controversial state tax deduction for federal taxes. It makes Iowa’s top income tax rate look higher than it actually is when compared to most other states. Most other states do not have the deduction. The governor released a proposed state spending plan for the coming year as well as cuts in the current year’s state budget. Her recommendation is that Iowa’s public K-12 schools get a 1.5 percent boost in general state aid, along with $35 million dollars to use as the schools wish. The $35 million annual allotment had been reserved for efforts to reduce class sizes in the early grades and state law does not call for the allotment to be included in the next state budgeting year.
Here is the conclusion to the governor’s “Condition of the State” address.
