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DAILY NEWS WEDNESDAY, DEC. 6, 2017 • WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW
State, local officials prepare for new voter ID law
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Supervisors spar over future of annex building
By David Dolmage Newton Daily News More than 123,000 Iowans will be receiving new voter identification cards that were mailed out this week, the Secretary of State’s office announced on Monday. The cards, intended for Iowans who do not have a valid photo ID, are part of the state’s efforts to enforce a new votParrott er ID law passed this year by the Iowa legislature. Dennis Parrott, Jasper County’s auditor, said it wasn’t clear how many residents in Jasper County would receive the cards, although Pate he said he believes the percentage is small. Statewide, the 123,000 cards, created at a cost of $79,000 represent only 6 percent of registered voters in the state. In a statement released on Monday Secretary of State Paul Pate said, “It should be easy to vote, but hard to cheat, and that’s what this new law ensures.” While voter fraud is a concern, Parrott said he hasn’t seen any indication voter fraud is a problem in Jasper County. VOTER ID | 8A
Iowa’s New ID Requirements • When do voters start showing ID at the polls? During 2018, registered voters will be asked to show their ID before voting at the polls. Anyone who does not have their ID will be asked to sign an oath verifying their identity and will be allowed to cast a regular ballot. Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, Iowa voters will be required to show a driver’s license, non-operator’s ID, passport, military ID, veterans ID, or voter ID card at the polls before they vote. Voters without an ID may cast a provisional ballot or have another registered voter attest to their identification.
What about voters who don’t have an ID? Registered voters who do not have an Iowa driver’s license or a non-operator’s ID will be issued a voter ID card for free, automatically. Voter ID cards must be signed before going to the polls. Voter ID cards will start being mailed in December of 2017.
Is ID required for absentee ballots? Yes. Beginning Jan. 1, voters requesting absentee ballots will be required to include their driver’s license/non-operator’s ID number or their voter ID card’s PIN number on the absentee ballot request form.
Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News The Jasper County Board of Supervisors continue discussions on the future of the annex building during its regular meeting on Tuesday. The board approved two action items for the building including a request for quotes to purchase air scrubbers for the building.
Board takes some action, tables other efforts By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News After months of discussions on the future of the Jasper County Annex building, the board of supervisors approved two action items on Tuesday. The board is seeking a new contract with Shive-Hattery Engineering Firm for potential future work and requested county maintenance director Adam Sparks research quotes for air scrubbers to be used in the building. The lease agreement for the property at 114 W. Fourth St. S., a potential temporary location for the Jasper County Health Department, was tabled to next Tuesday’s meeting. Discussions started hot as supervisor Joe Brock continued to champion his efforts to get the board to work together on projects and ideas. “I asked a week ago that we start working more as a board and maybe originate our ideas in here of what we want to work towards and what we want to do. I don’t think we’ve decided that on this particular building,” Brock said. “What bothers me about this is to obtain a lease agreement without this board acting on that … it makes me wonder where this lease came from, how it originated.” Brock said he would like to work on a location for the JCHD as a board, go and look at the location and then talk about a lease agreement. Supervisor Doug Cupples said he asked Brock for the past two weeks to look at the building, even going so far as to leave him a note, send him a text and send him an email. He said he didn’t receive a response from Brock. Brock said he did not like being told that he had to look at a building and that he
didn’t want to get in a hurry to make any decisions. Brock also asked Cupples if the board of health has been contacted about the space. Cupples said he has not gone over it with the board, only JCHD Director Becky Pryor. “That originates with the board, too. I think we ought to be dealing with, Becky has a board she reports to,” Brock said. “We can make the decision on it but I think that is how I would like to proceed with it. I would suggest that we bring in the board to the discussion.” Cupples asked Pryor if she had discussed the location with the board of health, to which she answered Margot Voshell, board chair, is aware but she and the rest of the board would like to see the building. Brock continued to talk about working together as a board with ideas originating at board meetings when supervisor Denny Carpenter commented that Brock needs to set up the procedure the board is to go through to get it done. “I would ask you to set it up and we’ll work with you. You take the lead on it Joe and we’ll work with you,” Carpenter said. The supervisors moved to a discussion on the annex building and its future as a county building. Brock brought up several times the substantial amount of money he believes it will take to complete repairs and renovations to the building, including work to waterproof the basement and mechanical updates that will be needed in the near future. “Once we start on this, we are down a road on this building, I know you estimated they can do it for half as much, but that $600,000 was just for
A Jasper County Supervisor accused the board chair of intimidation and combative behavior during a 10-minute prepared statement on Tuesday. Read aloud during the board Read Doug Cupples MORE full state online at of supervisors ONLINE newtondailynews.com regular meeting, county supervisor Doug Cupples made the accusations against chair Joe Brock, who has served as a county supervisor for seven years. The remarks came following two meetings where the board members were at odds and had often heated discussions about the Jasper County Annex building. The statement started with Cupples referencing a discussion at the previous meeting on his plans for the annex building and Brock’s response. “Repeatedly we have heard Joe try to discredit my plans and stall forward progress and then finish with ‘We need to get the people out of the basement,’” Cupples said. “This always leaves me and anyone listening confused. Because that is exactly what I am attempting to do today, get the people out of the basement, away from the potential health hazard.” Cupples went on to talk about an incident in January involving maintenance director Adam Sparks. He said Brock had told him about something him and Sparks had done and he was interested in it, so
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Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News Jasper County Supervisor Doug Cupples reads a prepared statement during the board meeting on Tuesday. In the statement, Cupples calls out fellow supervisor Joe Brock for combative behavior and intimidation during Cupples’ first year on the board.
By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News
FEATURE
WHERE IT’S AT Astrograph......................5B Calendar..........................5A Classifieds......................4B
Supervisor board chair accused of intimidation
Comics & Puzzles...........6A Dear Abby........................6A Local Sports......................1B
Obituaries.......................5A Opinion............................4A State News......................7A
Holiday celebration at DMACC
Local campus hosts 2nd annual event / 9A
Volume No. 116 No. 142 2 sections 18 pages
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