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December 31, 2013
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County
Population Rank
Supervisor Rank
Attorney Rank
Recorder Rank
Auditor Rank
Sheriff Rank
Treasurer Rank
Total Elected Salaries
Overall Rank
Obrien
57
90
74
25
32
32
27
$422,400
37
Wright
59
30
68
35
41
47
37
$391,938
56
Union
61
88
47
78
84
83
80
$352,272
79
Shelby
65
61
88
72
76
64
75
$342,880
84
CNA graphic by JAKE WADDINGHAM
The 2014 compensation board based some of their recommendations on the comparison of Union County’s population rank to the salary ranking of each elected official. The board also considered the heavy caseload in Union County and compared similar taxing entities within the county.
County supervisors begin review of compensation board recommendation By JAKE WADDINGHAM CNA staff reporter
jwaddingham@crestonnews.com
The Union County Board of Supervisors is reviewing the unanimous recommendation by the 2014 compensation board and plans to make a decision early in the budget-making process. “I think that reflects the idea that we have and I think the board does now that this ought to be a priority item,” said Union County Attorney Tim Ken- Kenyon yon. “Whether it has been the case or not in the past, there’s been some appearance that — and probably just the appearance — the salaries and the employees around here
are one of the last things considered. I think the folks that work here really do put in a tremendous effort.” The compensation board proposed a 3.5 percent wage adjustment for Kenyon and Sheriff Rick Piel and 3 percent wage adjustment for Auditor Sandy Hysell, Recorder Paula White, Treasurer Kelly Busch and Union County Board of Supervisors. The board also suggested an additional 2 percent cost-ofliving increase for all elected courthouse officials. “You do your homework and you do a very thorough job,” Supervisor Dennis Brown said. “I want to see how it affects the whole budget and go through the whole process like we always have.” While determining the final compensation, supervisors can reduce the amount proposed by
the compensation board, but it must be reduced an equal percentage for each elected county official. The board of supervisors can Brown consider the cost-of-living increase and wage adjustment separately. “We looked at the last 10 years of wage approvals for just our specific county,” said Katie Turner, chairperson of the compensation board. “There was a lot of weight in regard to what they have had in increases in the past 10 years. Some of them were very few and far between.” The compensation board — composed of Turner, Vice Chairman Tom Hartsock, Linda Marley, Dorothy McNaught, Jim Norman, Marlin Neisemier and John Tapken — is limited
by Iowa Code 331.907. It can review the compensation of the elected courthouse officials by comparing officers in other counties of the state or similar taxing entities such as high schools, colleges, a local hospital or city government. The board cannot take into consideration outside factors like health-care benefits and county-tax rankings. Turner explained how the high caseload in Union County contributed to the board’s recommendation of a higher wage increase for the attorney and sheriff. The board reviewed Union County’s population ranking and the salary ranking of each elected official. Turner said the goal is to try to keep the two rankings as close as possible. Union County ranks 61st in population. The table above
shows where the county officials rank and compare to Obrien, Shelby and Wright counties. Hysell added each department can spend every penny out of the budget, but each elected official’s department was able to return unused money Monday in their budget to the county’s general fund. “Since we have turned this entire courthouse around, and all these departments went to bat to help us and have saved money and have returned money every single, solitary year that this has happened,” said Supervisor Lois Monday. Hysell estimated the total impact of the recommendation would be around $36,000.
2013 ends with lowest traffic death count in 70 years (MCT) — Iowa is on track to post its fifth straight year of traffic fatalities below 400 and the lowest highway death toll since 1943. With less than two days left in the calendar year, the number of people killed on Iowa highways in 2013 stood at 316, said Mark Lowe, director of the state Department of Transportation’s motor-vehicle division. That was well under the death counts of 365 in 2012 and 360 in 2011.
“We’re on track to have one of the lowest years ever,” said Lowe, who attributed Iowa’s improving safety record to better engineered roadway designs, improved safety features on vehicles, improved driving skills and Iowa’s 93-percent seat belt usage rate compared to the national average of 86 percent. “There’s been a continuous downward trend from where we were,” Lowe said. “In the ‘70s,
they were much, much higher numbers. Now we’re coming consistently under 400 and driving that down closer to 300, which is a good thing.” The last time Iowa’s yearly highway traffic fatalities were above 400 was in 2008 when the count stood at 412 deaths. By contrast, the yearly record for traffic-related deaths on roadways in Iowa was 912 in 1970, while a death toll of 304 fatalities
Christmas Basket Fund reaches $19,000 goal The 2013 Union County Christmas Basket Fund has come to a close. Donations totaling $22,181.31 have been received to date. This year’s fund goal was $19,000. Last year, 219 baskets serving 854 people and nursing home baskets were distributed. Residents of care centers in Creston and Afton received fruit and Kleenex. Baskets include meat, canned goods donated through efforts of Boy Scouts and school and community projects and certificates redeemable at local supermarkets for perishable foods. Each child 18 and younger will also receive a gift certificate for clothing items. The Christmas Basket Fund board is assisted in packing and distributing baskets by local service club volunteers, Boy Scouts and FFA students from Creston Schools. Present board officers are: Bob
Jungst, president; Ellen Gerharz, vice president; Steve Crittenden, treasurer, and Rose Henry, secretary. Additional board members are: Dean and Twila Brant, Todd Nielson, Rich Paulsen, Brad Baker, Chuck Spindler, Don Damewood, Margaret Wilkins and Troy Peterson. Organizers said even though the Christmas Fund has closed, contributions may still be sent to: Christmas Basket Fund, P.O. Box 126, Creston, IA 50801; or dropped off at the Creston News Advertiser, 503 W. Adams St. Those contributions are appreciated and will help with next year’s campaign. This week’s contributions: M & M Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep $500 In Memory of Gerald Wallace and Velma Lauffer $30 Anonymous $100 Total today: $630 Grand total for the year: $22,181.31
was recorded in 1943. There have only been eight years since then that fewer than 400 people have died on Iowa roadways ( http:// www.iowadot.gov/mvd/ods/stats/ crashhistory.pdf ) Gov. Terry Branstad and his administration’s traffic safety bureau, Iowa transportation and law enforcement officials are working to change the safety culture on Iowa roadways with a goal of no traffic-related deaths. The effort is
an attempt to counter an attitude where Americans apparently have come to accept that tens of thousands of motorists die on roadways each year, state officials say. ——— ©2013 The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) Visit The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) at thegazette.com Distributed by MCT Information Services
Major health care law changes begin in 2014 WASHINGTON (MCT) — After more than three years of piecemeal implementation, the Affordable Care Act reaches an important new phase in 2014, when most of the law’s major provisions finally kick in. For consumer advocates who have championed health care reform, the wait is over. “Wednesday is not only the start of the New Year, it also ushers in a long-awaited era of affordable health coverage and care for families across America,” said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, a consumer health advocacy or-
ganization. “At long last, muchneeded help is on the way.” Many of the biggest changes, like the health insurance marketplaces and subsidies to help consumers purchase coverage, debuted in 2013. But marketplace insurance policies don’t take effect until January, and the federal government won’t make subsidy payments to insurers until mid-January. In addition to those new provisions, here are some of the major changes the health care Please see HEALTH, Page 2
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Volume 130 No. 142 Copyright 2013
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Contents
Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Deaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Heloise Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
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