tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88825381503563438902024-02-20T17:23:24.671-08:00Iowans For Accountability | Scott County IFAWelcome to better government in Scott County, Iowa.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-14173831441254174372020-07-25T13:27:00.003-07:002020-07-25T13:29:19.733-07:002020 Scott County Iowa Grand Jury Contact Information<h2>
<span class="attachment__attribute attachment__name" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: "graphik" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "apple color emoji" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;">Scott County grand jury 2020.pdf </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: "graphik" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "apple color emoji" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"></span><span class="attachment__attribute attachment__size hide-on-print" data-attr="size" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: "graphik" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "apple color emoji" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;">94.5 KB </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: "graphik" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "apple color emoji" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"></span><span class="attachment__attribute attachment__attribute--download hide-on-print" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: "graphik" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "apple color emoji" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><a class="decorated--matched" href="https://storage.3.basecamp.com/3775862/blobs/cf91dc58-ceb3-11ea-993c-a0369f740fe3/download/Scott%20County%20grand%20jury%202020.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1b6ac9;" target="_blank">View full-size</a> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: "graphik" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "apple color emoji" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"></span><span class="attachment__attribute attachment__attribute--download hide-on-print" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: "graphik" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "apple color emoji" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><a class="decorated--matched" href="https://storage.3.basecamp.com/3775862/blobs/cf91dc58-ceb3-11ea-993c-a0369f740fe3/download/Scott%20County%20grand%20jury%202020.pdf?attachment=true" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1b6ac9;" target="_blank">Download</a></span></h2>
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While the print out provided by the Scott County Clerk of the Court states "Confidential Information" in the bottom left corner, the identity of the grand jurors is not confidential nor exempt from disclosure.<br />
<br />
This is evidenced by Scott County Attorney <a href="http://www.thirdrailblog.com/files/MikeWaltonScottCountyGrandJuryLetter.June14.2011.b.pdf">Mike Walton's June 14, 2011 letter to grand jurors</a>.<br />
<br />
It is well understood that should this grand jury convene, <b>their proceedings are secret or confidential.</b>.. but <u><b><i>who the grand jury is each year, and how to contact them is public information</i></b></u>.<br />
<br />
The more citizenry that knows how to access the grand jury in the rare instance where oath taking government officials violate said oath, the better.<br />
<br />
The grand jury is by law <a href="https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ACO/CourtRulesChapter/02-28-2019.2.pdf">obligated to investigate allegations of wrong doing by publicly sworn officers and employees</a>.<br />
<br />
Excerpt from <a href="https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ACO/CourtRulesChapter/02-28-2019.2.pdf">Jan 2017 Iowa Rules of Criminal Procedure</a> for the Courts, below.<br />
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Despite what the county attorney and presiding judge over the annual empanelment procedure may assert, this body can self-elect to convene and have the full resources of the court available to conduct investigations, call witnesses and discover evidence, including the assistance of the county sheriff to enforce subpoenas.<br />
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT-Identity-H; font-size: 11pt;">j. Duty of grand jury. </span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; font-size: 11pt;">The grand jury shall inquire into all indictable offenses brought before it which may be tried within the county, and present them to the court by indictment. The grand jury shall meet at times specified by order of a district judge. In addition to those times,<b> the grand jury shall meet </b>at the request of the county attorney or <b>upon the request of a majority of the grand jurors.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; font-size: 11pt;">It is made the special duty of the grand jury to inquire into:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; font-size: 11pt;">(1) The case of every person imprisoned in the detention facilities of the county on a criminal charge and not indicted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; font-size: 11pt;">(2) The condition and management of the public prisons, county institutions and places of detention within the county.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; font-size: 11pt;"><b>(3) The unlawful misconduct in office in the county of public officers and employees.</b></span></div>
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Adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16696822010578935540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-11273076911082295632019-04-20T19:15:00.000-07:002019-04-20T20:07:40.568-07:002019 Grand Jury Members NOTE: Kathleen Shiltz was sworn in as the Scott County Iowa Grand Jury Foreperson on February 25, 2019.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMvd6dm3ZfnOMM6WNjzzmTi6HcTzWFu0dHoYH3QUXdZ35uq3T2VWUJvWfTLdKY6gU3Yt4ftyD7aRjRBIn8ColITbLTuvOK9Atcdcpm9I90o615_geDKOAASYQNcCLom45E_OhLBQR8JHt/s1600/Scott-County-Iowa-2019-Grand-Jury-Contacts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="955" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMvd6dm3ZfnOMM6WNjzzmTi6HcTzWFu0dHoYH3QUXdZ35uq3T2VWUJvWfTLdKY6gU3Yt4ftyD7aRjRBIn8ColITbLTuvOK9Atcdcpm9I90o615_geDKOAASYQNcCLom45E_OhLBQR8JHt/s640/Scott-County-Iowa-2019-Grand-Jury-Contacts.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
While the print out provided by the Scott County Clerk of the Court states "Confidential Information" in the bottom left corner, the identity of the grand jurors is not confidential nor exempt from disclosure. <br />
<br />
This is evidenced by Scott County Attorney <a href="http://www.thirdrailblog.com/files/MikeWaltonScottCountyGrandJuryLetter.June14.2011.b.pdf">Mike Walton's June 14, 2011 letter to grand jurors</a>.<br />
<br />
It is well understood that should this grand jury convene, <b>their proceedings are secret or confidential.</b>.. but <u><b><i>who the grand jury is each year, and how to contact them is public information</i></b></u>.<br />
<br />
The more citizenry that knows how to access the grand jury in the rare instance where oath taking government officials violate said oath, the better. <br />
<br />
The grand jury is by law <a href="https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ACO/CourtRulesChapter/02-28-2019.2.pdf">obligated to investigate allegations of wrong doing by publicly sworn officers and employees</a>.<br />
<br />
Excerpt from <a href="https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ACO/CourtRulesChapter/02-28-2019.2.pdf">Jan 2017 Iowa Rules of Criminal Procedure</a> for the Courts, below.<br />
<br />
Despite what the county attorney and presiding judge over the annual empanelment procedure may assert, this body can self-elect to convene and have the full resources of the court available to conduct investigations, call witnesses and discover evidence, including the assistance of the county sheriff to enforce subpoenas.<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT-Identity-H; font-size: 11pt;">j. Duty of grand jury. </span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; font-size: 11pt;">The grand jury shall inquire into all indictable offenses brought before it which may be tried within the county, and present them to the court by indictment. The grand jury shall meet at times specified by order of a district judge. In addition to those times,<b> the grand jury shall meet </b>at the request of the county attorney or <b>upon the request of a majority of the grand jurors.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; font-size: 11pt;">It is made the special duty of the grand jury to inquire into:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; font-size: 11pt;">(1) The case of every person imprisoned in the detention facilities of the county on a criminal charge and not indicted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; font-size: 11pt;">(2) The condition and management of the public prisons, county institutions and places of detention within the county.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT-Identity-H; font-size: 11pt;"><b>(3) The unlawful misconduct in office in the county of public officers and employees.</b></span></div>
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<br />Adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16696822010578935540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-56436034282698284072016-03-12T07:14:00.001-08:002016-03-12T07:14:38.110-08:002016 Scott County Iowa Grand Jury Contact List<br />
NOTE: Stacy Marie Clark was sworn in as the Scott County Iowa Grand Jury Foreperson on February 16, 2016.<br />
<img alt="Scott County Iowa 2016 Grand Jury Contact List" border="0" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAaCrWZh9jgKLT-XvPYx6WkD5s4tVPHexLaqifDkip6qLMtV43NTUO57Im8FcjOCx_f5DhnohBb0M1zda5Ykw-6iB_VW7SFfEYqguvuuDQjOpamPmvNyAQxJffUDACuLrjh_ifvTvPWUU/s640/2016.ScottCounty.GrandJuryContactList.png" title="" width="640" /><br />
<br />Adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16696822010578935540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-32326550319124513962015-03-12T19:56:00.002-07:002015-03-12T19:56:38.500-07:002015 Scott County Grand Jury Contact List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7Y_tJ1x3dziwttne1VToDsxQUFRr3gc7nuwGAcZgBtiegvWyu9jXNEZNzknPOFLHzSXtCwS2IBc1DqgMeJEEsp0o3soVg3zptr0Xn88X0GmfZKNk7l8oWV1CqtN7MZwlZjxfoHMcZCEE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-03-12+at+9.55.44+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7Y_tJ1x3dziwttne1VToDsxQUFRr3gc7nuwGAcZgBtiegvWyu9jXNEZNzknPOFLHzSXtCwS2IBc1DqgMeJEEsp0o3soVg3zptr0Xn88X0GmfZKNk7l8oWV1CqtN7MZwlZjxfoHMcZCEE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-03-12+at+9.55.44+PM.png" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-72474410763551844062014-03-23T13:05:00.003-07:002014-03-23T13:05:16.018-07:00Scott County, Iowa's 2010-2015 Strategic Plan<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/214021215/2010-2025-Scott-County-Iowa-s-Strategic-Plan">http://www.scribd.com/doc/214021215/2010-2025-Scott-County-Iowa-s-Strategic-Plan</a>
<p style=" margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block;"> <a title="View 2010 - 2025 Scott County Iowa&#x27;s Strategic Plan on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/214021215/2010-2025-Scott-County-Iowa-s-Strategic-Plan" style="text-decoration: underline;" >2010 - 2025 Scott County Iowa&#x27;s Strategic Plan</a></p><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/214021215/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&show_recommendations=true" data-auto-height="false" data-aspect-ratio="undefined" scrolling="no" id="doc_69498" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe>IFA Adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10855549512123634660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-44959618798310881882011-09-21T22:48:00.000-07:002011-09-22T00:45:55.760-07:00"This isn't just a plan to say how do I get money from FEMA."<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Public Hearing For Review of the Draft Scott County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan</b></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">September 19, 2011 - 6:oo p.m. </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Scott County Library, 200 North Sixth Street, Eldridge Iowa</span></b><br />
Videos<br />
Part 1 -- 0:00-43:10 - <a href="http://youtu.be/_3rpVX8_duc">http://youtu.be/_3rpVX8_duc</a> (43 mins)<br />
Part 2 -- 44:10 - 57:43 - <a href="http://youtu.be/_3rpVX8_duc">http://youtu.be/7baqocvKZRc </a>(13 mins, below)<br />
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AGENDA<br />
(<a href="http://youtu.be/_3rpVX8_duc">Video Part 1</a>)<br />
I. Introductions<br />
II. Power Point presentation - Bi-State Staff<br />
What is Hazard Mitigation?<br />
What does the Hazard Mitigation Plan Include?<br />
III. Open Forum for Review of the Draft Plan<br />
(<a href="http://youtu.be/7baqocvKZRc">Video Part 2</a>)<br />
IV. Questions and Answers<br />
Public Comments must be received no later than October 7, 2011.<br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Upon leaving meeting, Michael Angelos, Iowans For Accountability Treasurer and Scott County for Ron Paul co-chair, stated, "Eminent domain issues will be coming up due to this plan." </span></div>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<i><b style="background-color: #93c47d;">Note: County staff stated that this deadline also included POSTMARKED by October 7, 2011 and can also be emailed to<a href="mailto:thuey@scottcountyiowa.com"> thuey@scottcountyiowa.com</a>, the lead planner working with Bi-State Regional Commission to complete this documentation. </b></i><br />
<i><b style="background-color: #93c47d;"><br />
</b></i><br />
<b><u>Excerpts from the Q&A</u></b><br />
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<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=_3rpVX8_duc#t=2213s">http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=_3rpVX8_duc#t=2213s</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaKCm5-1wcnjgc0ZCus_8T_xrXBRiceA0fVb7KcUlJisgypwgkQ76VXvBz7Flfgeyl7Y3INM259ZMQv5gwP0D204RY3FvCakivWFL7CcDfbPexJBE6RDoe1YoP33QEyRg_XaBJc3aA7J7/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-09-22+at+2.29.11+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaKCm5-1wcnjgc0ZCus_8T_xrXBRiceA0fVb7KcUlJisgypwgkQ76VXvBz7Flfgeyl7Y3INM259ZMQv5gwP0D204RY3FvCakivWFL7CcDfbPexJBE6RDoe1YoP33QEyRg_XaBJc3aA7J7/s400/Screen+shot+2011-09-22+at+2.29.11+AM.png" width="400" /></a></b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b>Public</b>: </b>It says the way land and buildings are developed. </div><br />
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Is that government land buildings or is that privately held land and buildings? </div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><b>City of Davenport:</b> </b>That would be both. </div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1631146270">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7baqocvKZRc&feature=player_profilepage#t=74s</a></b></div><div style="display: inline !important;"><div><div style="display: inline !important; font-weight: bold;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><br />
</b></div></div><div style="font-weight: bold;"></div></div></div><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>City of Davenport: </b>In a sense if this were adopted as part of a comprehensive plan, then it gives it a little more impetus, I guess would be one way to say it, to say, Okay, here's another thing that says you should be doing this. And it's for the betterment for basically the health and safety of the people that live in Davenport, or in this case Scott County. </div></div></b><b><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><br />
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<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Scott County</b>: By the very nature [these plans] sometimes have competing or contradictory aspects to them. And that's up to the political process to make a determination.<br />
<a name='more'></a>There is a cost benefit analysis associated with it and what we're trying to do with this plan is to identify, to a certain extent, the low hanging fruit. The aspects of hazard mitigation that can be done easily, the least expensively, and with the least intrusion into people's lives and the use of their property. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">But then as, measures get, uh, more complicated, then you get into those difficult decisions of okay, do we spend a million dollars and do we really believe it's going to save us $5 million dollars over the next five years? You know, some people say yes, some people say no, it's a good use of funds other people say no it's not. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">It's, you know, you're cooking those numbers. So, those are the types of things that this plan will assist in identifying. But, as the term you used, locked in, I don't feel any jurisdiction will be locked into it. It's made to assist us. It's made to help us. If it helps us we'll use it. If it doesn't, I'll be advocating changing it</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Public: </b>If the plan is in writing and it's there to assist the leaders and the politicians and the P&Z and the staff, is there a downside to not moving it forward to Iowa Homeland Security, so they can approve it and they move it to FEMA? What if just have it on the books and you don't submit it up the ladder, and people can still consult it?</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Scott County</b>: Then you don't qualify for a funding source. They control it. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Bi-Sate Regional Commission</b>: They specifically ask, they just actually released notice that there's federal funding available for mitigation, and I looked at the notice of intent, this is what you have to submit in order to get an application. And they specifically ask, do you have the hazard mitigation plan and where does this proposal that you're sending us fit in there. What mitigation action is this fulfilling? </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Or they won't even move on past that. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>City of Davenport:</b> Basically in that scenario, FEMA is wanting the jurisdictions, if you're going to be applying for funding and this taxpayer money is basically what it is, they want to make sure that you have looked at what you are doing, your planning your actions within a whole realm of other things so that you're basically getting the biggest bang for the dollar that's being spent. That's what they're looking for.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Scott County: </b>And other jurisdictions also. They want to make sure that as states and counties across the nation, that they do that. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Bi-Sate Regional Commission: </b>And I want to say that not every action in this plan is something that is funded by FEMA. Some of these are things that are already in place. They could be just a change in documentation of what they're doing. There's things…there's a lot of public education involved with this plan. Just so people have a better understanding of what is out there. This isn't just a plan saying how do I get money from FEMA. There is more to it than that. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Scott County:</b> And I think too that is evidenced by folks that are hearing asking questions about it and it's raising awareness that there are methods that you can use to mitigate hazards and whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is up to the democratic political process to determine. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Public: </b>What I think the concern citizens have regarding is ceding authority, because they dangle the carrot out about the funding, for some.. whatever it might be… you've looked up the Notice of Intent. Oh there's funding over here, and so forth… and through that process that we, sometimes inadvertently, cede authority to somebody outside of our jurisdiction. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Scott County</b>: Then, I would submit those comments in writing. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-53460421740256346592011-09-19T10:24:00.000-07:002011-09-21T22:31:36.835-07:00Liberty Pamphlet During Constitution Week<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><u>For Immediate Release</u></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>September 19</b><sup style="font-weight: bold;">th</sup><b>, 2011</b> </span><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white;">News from the front lines of the local liberty movement </span></b><b><span style="background-color: white;">brought to you by Iowans For Accountability NPPO</span></b><br />
<div style="border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-width: 9pt; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; padding-bottom: 0.03in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">Contact: Michael D. Elliott </span></b><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Phone: </b><a href="tel:%28563%29570-5395" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank" value="+15635705395">(563)570-5395</a><b> </b> </span><b><span style="background-color: white;">Email: <a href="mailto:webmaster@superliberty.com" target="_blank">webmaster@superliberty.com</a></span></b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><b>Constitution Week</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;">As we work through this week, let us remember that this week is Constitution week as so declared by all the governments across America by law. And in that spirit, Michael D. Elliott, the chairman of Iowans for Accountability and SuperLiberty has his own Liberty Pamphlet to share with everyone. “It is my hope that people will take a moment this week to reflect on what principles made this nation great in the past, and I offer my own explanation of those principles with this Liberty Pamphlet.”</span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span> </div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Liberty Pamphlet</b></span></span> </div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">By Michael D. Elliott, September 2011</span></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span> </div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Man-made law must base its authority on natural law to allow true peace. The </span></span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">first law of nature is self-preservation, defined by three branches of an individual’s </span></span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">natural rights: Life, Liberty, and Property. When man-made laws defend against </span></span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">violations of these rights, peace and justice can prevail.</span></span> </span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"> On the other hand, when laws place collective force at the disposal of those who would use it to exploit others, injustice prevails and there will be unrest in society. It does not matter if the exploitation applies to health, labor, education, safety, or religion. The law becomes legalized plunder, blurs society's understanding of justice and injustice, and disguises anarchy as order. Since people naturally rebel against injustice, unrest ensues. </span></span> </span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">True peace can be achieved only when man-made law obeys natural law, when justice is blind, and individual natural rights are protected.</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none none double; border-width: medium medium 9pt; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in 0in 0.03in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;">Iowans For Accountability (IFA) is fighting to hold politicians accountable to we the people, and make sure government works for all of us, not just wealthy special interests and the well-connected. IFA is a Non-Party Political Organization (NPPO) that actively supports or opposes ballot issues or candidates, regardless of party affiliation and when necessary, IFA runs its own candidates. Michael D. Elliott is the IFA Chairman. Website: <a href="http://www.ScottcountyIFA.com/" target="_blank">www.ScottcountyIFA.com</a></span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-48798852408830140172011-08-27T06:52:00.000-07:002011-08-28T07:46:50.186-07:00IFA Open Letter to Scott County Grand Jurors<span style="font-size: x-small;">[Note: Hard copies of this letter below, along with the enclosures listed below, were mailed via USPS certified mail to the names listed below on Thursday August 25, 2011. <a href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/scott-county-grand-jury-contact-list.html">Contact information for these grand jurors can be found here.</a>]</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">August 25, 2011</span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">TO: <i>Scott County Iowa Grand Jurors:</i> </span> </div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rosemary Hasenmiller (Forewoman)</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mark Burgmeier</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tochcia Butler</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ellen Frey</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Andrew Nanspreybroeck</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cheryl Shuppy</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Angela Ubel<br />
</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Alternates, Scott County, Iowa Grand Jurors:</i> </span> </div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Daniel Armstrong</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Eric Baker</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yvonne Hamilton</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kristine Royster-Teitle</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bradley Simmons</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kevin Tague</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nanette Trudell</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">FROM: Scott County Iowans For Accountability (IFA) </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">PO Box 514, Bluegrass, Iowa 52726<br />
</span><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>RE: Grand Jury Toolkit</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dear Scott County Iowa Grand Jurors:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you for serving and protecting the people of Scott County. Please note the attached copy of Scott County Attorney <a href="http://www.thirdrailblog.com/files/MikeWaltonScottCountyGrandJuryLetter.June14.2011.b.pdf">Mike Walton's June 14<sup>th</sup> letter</a> notifying you that you may be contacted. </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Iowans For Accountability (IFA) was formed in August 2010 as a Non Party Political Organization, under <a href="http://law.justia.com/codes/iowa/2009/title-2/subtitle-1/chapter-44/44-1/">Iowa Code Title II, Chapter 44.1</a>. IFA has been <a href="http://www.youtube.com/scottifatv">scrutinizing government activity</a> in Scott County such as the <a href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/video-ifa-questions-secc911-progress.html">consolidated dispatching center</a> (aka SECC911), Scott County Board <a href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/05/scott-county-iowa-supervisors-vote-3-2.html">meetings and staff communications</a>, and Scott County <a href="http://nosecretcourts.blogspot.com/">Courthouse procedures</a> and proceedings. IFA seeks to increase government accountability and transparency. To that end, when the citizens of Scott County have access to a fully informed and active Grand Jury, the people can be protected from government overreach and injustice. <br />
<br />
The body of both Mr. Walton's letter and this letter (without your names) will be published in the next issue of IFA’s newsletter<i> The Concerned Citizen. </i>Your names and contact information (<a href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/scott-county-grand-jury-contact-list.html">attached</a>) will be available at the IFA website for concerned citizens who wish to contact you. <br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">We have compiled this open letter to augment your grand jury training and to generate more awareness of the full scope and importance of the Grand Jury's duties and responsibilities. <a name='more'></a></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Our founding documents - our U.S. and State Constitutions - define the duties and role the Grand Jury:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Constitution of the United States (17 Sep 1787), Amendment V:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">“<span style="font-size: small;"><b>No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury</b>…”<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html#fn1" name="sdfootnote1anc"><sup>1</sup></a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Constitution of the State of Iowa (1857), Bill of Rights, Article I, Section 11,<b> “</b>When indictment necessary - grand jury</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in; text-indent: -0.01in;">…<span style="font-size: small;"><b>in which the maximum permissible imprisonment...exceed[s] thirty days…no person shall be held to answer for any higher criminal offense, unless on presentment or indictment by a grand jury…” <a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html#fn2" name="sdfootnote2anc"><sup>2</sup></a></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Iowa Court Rules<a href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html#fn3"><sup>3</sup></a> reveal the Grand Jury has broad authority to investigate wrongdoings, regardless of the source of information. </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This includes:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-size: small;">(A) Ensuring no Scott County citizens are imprisoned on criminal charges without Grand Jury indictments<br />
(B) Investigating the condition and management of Scott County's prisons, institutions and places of detentions<br />
(C) Investigating unlawful misconduct in office of Scott County public officers and employees</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Constitutions (U.S. and Iowa) are the supreme documents and supersede and overrule any subsequent laws/statutes/ordinances/rules that are repugnant to them.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This is evidenced by the Supreme Court's ruling, <i>Marbury v Madison</i>: “The Constitution of these United States is the supreme law of the land. Any law that is repugnant to the Constitution is null and void of law.” <a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html#fn4" name="sdfootnote4anc"><sup>4</sup></a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Further, the Constitution of the State of Iowa, Article 12, Section 1 states: “This Constitution shall be the supreme law of the state, and any law inconsistent therewith shall be void.”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meanwhile, Iowa Court Rules, Chapter 2 - Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 2.5, paragraph 2.5(1) unconstitutionally<b> </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">undermines the Grand Jury’s authority by stating: “All indictable offenses may be prosecuted by a trial information.</span> An information charging a person with an indictable offense may be filed…, whether or not the grand jury is in session<b>.”<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html#fn5" name="sdfootnote5anc"><sup>5</sup></a></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Without the Grand Jury's participation or knowledge, trial information is being used to generate indictments for criminal offenses with maximum permissible imprisonment that exceed thirty days. </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Since this practice contradicts both the U.S. Constitution and the Iowa Constitution, prosecution based soley on a trial information is invalid and thus “null and void of law.” This practice is also in conflict with Iowa’s own Court Rules: “The grand jury shall inquire into all indictable offenses.”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">By relying on “a trial information,” the grand jury's duties are being undermined and as a result, the rights of the people of Scott County are being violated by denying the due process protected by the Constitution of the State of Iowa, Article 1, Section 9.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html#fn6" name="sdfootnote6anc"><sup>6</sup></a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Fortunately, the Grand Jury was established to protect against such violations.</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>As a Scott County Grand Jury member, please remember these important facts and observations:</b> </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. You are the 4<sup>th</sup> branch of government. The Grand Jury is an independent body, whose functions include not only the investigation of crime, and the initiation of criminal prosecution, but also the protection of the citizenry from unfounded criminal charges.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html#fn7" name="sdfootnote7anc"><sup>7</sup></a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. The Grand Jury acts as a check on the prosecutorial power of the state.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html#fn8" name="sdfootnote8anc"><sup>8</sup></a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. The District [County] attorney has no power over the Grand Jury but rather serves as a facilitator for the Grand Jury.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html#fn9" name="sdfootnote9anc"><sup>9</sup></a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. The Scott County Grand Jury is required to ensure that “<span style="font-weight: normal;">no person...held to answer for any higher criminal offense, unless on presentment or indictment by a grand jury.”</span><b> </b>(The Constitution of the State of Iowa, Article I, Sec 11)</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">5. “Judicial Expediency” or “Judicial Economy” is NOT an excuse to replace the duties and authorities of the Scott County grand jury.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">6. There are two documents endorsed by the grand jury - A True Bill of Indictment, where the indictment originates with the District [County] attorney; and A True Bill of Presentment which originates with the grand jury, for which the District [County] attorney must then frame an indictment.<br />
<br />
A Presentment is an accusation of an offense, made by a grand jury on its own, upon its own observation and knowledge, or upon evidence presented to it by injured parties, concerned citizens or public officers, and without any Bill of Indictment laid before it by the government.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html#fn10" name="sdfootnote10anc"><sup>10</sup></a> <a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html#fn11" name="sdfootnote11anc"><sup>11</sup></a><br />
<br />
The grand jury collects and evaluates evidence to establish whether A True Bill or No Bill of Presentment is issued. No Bill means that there is not enough evidence to warrant an Indictment and because the Grand Jury proceedings remain secret, the honor of the accused is protected.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html#fn12" name="sdfootnote12anc"><sup>12</sup></a><br />
<br />
<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">While the Iowa Court Rules contain the county attorney's General Indictment Form (Rule 2.37 - Form 5), it contains no form for a Grand Jury Presentment. Meanwhile, the Grand Jury oath, found in the same Rules, twice mentions “presentments” as the Grand Jury's responsibility.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html#fn13" name="sdfootnote13anc"><sup>13</sup></a> Regardless, the Grand Jury should be creating its own Presentments, when necessary. </span></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">7. The grand jury has the right, duty and authority to initiate its own investigations at any time. It does not require approval from the county attorney/prosecutor or any judge. It can invite witnesses to testify and issue its own findings as well as a Presentment. Federal grand jurors have independent power to investigate and demand on their own.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html#fn14" name="sdfootnote14anc"><sup>14</sup></a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">8. It is your duty to examine all prosecutions against the limited powers of the Iowa and U.S. constitutions.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">9. It is your duty and right to judge the law as well as the facts of the case.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html#fn15" name="sdfootnote15anc"><sup>15</sup></a> <a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html#fn16" name="sdfootnote16anc"><sup>16</sup></a> <a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html#fn17" name="sdfootnote17anc"><sup>17</sup></a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">10. The grand jury may issue indictments to any person, not just public prosecutors, authorizing them to prosecute.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">11. The grand jury must determine if the court has jurisdiction of the case, not just if there is sufficient evidence to indict.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">12. A grand jury's proceedings are to remain secret (Iowa Court Rule 2.3(4)d. <i>Secrecy of proceedings</i>), unless otherwise required by rules of Discovery (Iowa Court Rule 2.14) and no one other than the grand jury may be present when the grand jury is voting upon the finding of an indictment. </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">13. No government agency has the right to interfere with body ownership, self-defense, or any other natural rights.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html#fn18" name="sdfootnote18anc"><sup>18</sup></a></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">14. In matters where the State is the plaintiff and claims itself as the injured party, the presiding judge, as an employee of the state, has a clear conflict of interest. The Grand Jury is one of the the people's most important remedies for holding government accountable. </span></span></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
15. You are the people’s representatives - our guardians - in protecting us and yourselves from corrupt government servants. We hope this letter, and support material, inspires you to re-read your Oath and make yourselves accessible to concerned citizens. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(See footnote #13 on previous page.)</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">We will be contacting you to ensure you received this information. We will assist you and answer any questions - contact us at the numbers listed below. We’ll be happy to meet with you to discuss this information and explore next steps in becoming a more active Grand Jury.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sincerely,</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Iowans For Accountability (IFA)</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>2010 Central Committee Members</u>:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Michael D. Elliott, Chairman 563-570-5395</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Michael C. Angelos, Secretary 563-324-4716</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jesse J. Anderson 309-235-5813</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Diane L. Holst 563-285-9758</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">M. Todd McGreevy 563-650-0120</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">John P. Riley 563-514-3388</span><br />
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<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><u><b>Footnotes:</b></u> </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div id="sdfootnote1"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><a href="" id="fn1" name="fn1">1</a><br />
The Constitution of the United States (17 Sep 1787), Amendment V</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; <i>(Copy enclosed)</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div></div><div id="sdfootnote2"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><a href="" id="f2" name="fn2">2</a> The Constitution of the State of Iowa (1857), Bill of Rights, Article I, Section 11, When indictment necessary - grand jury</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">All offenses less than felony and in which the maximum permissible imprisonment does not exceed thirty days, shall be tried summarily before an officer authorized by law, on information under oath, without indictment, or the intervention of a grand jury, saving to the defendant the right of appeal; and no person shall be held to answer for any higher criminal offense, unless on presentment or indictment by a grand jury, except on cases arising in the army, navy or in the militia, when in actual service, in time of war or public danger. The grand jury may consist of any number of members, not less than five, nor more than fifteen, as the General Assembly may by law provide, or the General Assembly may provide for holding persons to answer for any criminal offense without intervention of a grand jury. <i>(Copy enclosed)</i></span></div></div><div id="sdfootnote3"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="" id="fn3" name="fn3">3</a><b> Iowa Court Rules, Chapter 2, Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 2.3 </b>The grand jury, paragraph 2.3(4)j states: Duty of grand jury. The grand jury shall inquire into all indictable offenses brought before it which may be tried within the county, and present them to the court by indictment. The grand jury shall meet at times specified by the order of a district judge. In addition to those times, the grand jury shall meet at the request of the county attorney or upon the request of a majority [4 of 7] of the grand jurors.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">It is made the special duty of the grand jury to inquire into:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.71in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(1) The case of every person imprisoned in the detention facilities of the county on a criminal charge and not indicted.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.71in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(2) The condition and management of the public prisons, county institutions and places of detention within the county.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.71in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(3) The unlawful misconduct in office in the county of public officers and employees.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.legis.state.ia.us/DOCS/ACO/CR/LINC/02-02-2011.chapter.2.pdf">http://www.legis.state.ia.us/DOCS/ACO/CR/LINC/02-02-2011.chapter.2.pdf</a> </span></span> </div></div><div id="sdfootnote4"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="" id="fn4" name="fn4">4</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> Marbury v. Madison</b></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">, 5 U.S. 137 (1803) <a href="http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0005_0137_ZO.html">http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0005_0137_ZO.html</a> </span> </div></div><div id="sdfootnote5"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="" id="fn5" name="fn5">5</a><b> Iowa Court Rules, Chapter 2, Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 2.5 </b>Information, paragraph 2.5(1) states: Prosecution on information. All indictable offenses may be prosecuted by a trial information. An information charging a person with an indictable offense may be filed with the clerk of the district court at any time, whether or not the grand jury is in session. The county attorney shall have the authority to file such trial information except as herein provided or unless that authority is specifically granted to other prosecuting attorneys by statute.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The attorney general, unless otherwise authorized by law, shall have the authority to file such a trial information upon the request of the county attorney and the determination of the attorney general that a criminal prosecution is warranted.</span></div></div><div id="sdfootnote6"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="" id="fn6" name="fn6">6</a><b> Constitution of the State of Iowa, Article 1, Section 9, Right of trial by jury</b> - due process of law. The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate; but the general assembly may authorize trial by a jury of a less number than twelve men in inferior courts; <b>but no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. </b><i><b> </b></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">(Copy enclosed)</span></i></span></div></div><div id="sdfootnote7"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="" id="fn7" name="fn7">7</a><i><b> U.S. Attorney’s Manual (USAM),</b></i> Section 9-11.010</span></div></div><div id="sdfootnote8"><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="" id="fn8" name="fn8">8</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> U.S. Legal Definitions </b></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://definitions.uslegal.com/g/grand-jury/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://definitions.uslegal.com/g/grand-jury/</span></a></u></span></span></div></div><div id="sdfootnote9"><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="" id="fn9" name="fn9">9</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> U.S. v. Williams, 504 U.S. 36 at 47 (1992),</b></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> “the grand jury is not part of the three branches of government set forth in the Constitution… [it] is an institution separate from the courts, over whose functioning the courts do not preside.” <a href="http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/90-1972.ZS.html">http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/90-1972.ZS.html</a> </span> </div></div><div id="sdfootnote10"><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="" id="fn10" name="fn10">10</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> Black’s Law Dictionary: </b></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">“Presentment - Criminal Procedure. A formal written accusation returned by a grand jury on its own initiative, without a prosecutor’s previous indictment request.</span></div><div class="sdfootnote"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A grand jury has only two functions, either to indict or to return a ‘no bill.’ The Constitution speaks also of a ‘presentment,’ but this is a term with a distinct historical meaning not now well understood. Historically presentment was the process by which a grand jury initiated an independent investigation and asked that a charge be drawn to cover the facts should they constitute a crime.”</span></div></div><div id="sdfootnote11"><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="" id="fn11" name="fn11">11</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>BURNS, John. </b></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><b>Criminal Procedure.</b></i></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The United States Constitution requires that all “capital, or otherwise infamous” crimes be commenced through ”a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury.” …while grand jury indictments are generally reserved for politically sensitive cases, cases that are factually questionable and cases in which the county attorney is subject to a potential conflict of interest in pursuing the case. As a result, cases initiated by indictment in Iowa are often among the most controversial from both factual and legal standpoints. </span> </div></div><div id="sdfootnote12"><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="" id="fn12" name="fn12">12</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> American Juror, Vol. 23, Issue 2</b></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">, </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Corruption Charge at the Fulton County District Attorney and Grand Jury (Copy enclosed)</i></span></div></div><div id="sdfootnote13"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="" id="fn13" name="fn13">13</a><b> Iowa Court Rules, Chapter 2, Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 2.3 The grand jury, paragraph 2.3(4)c Oaths administered to grand jury, clerk, bailiff, and court attendant: </b>"Do each of you, as the grand jury, solemnly swear or affirm that you will diligently inquire and <b>true presentment</b> make of all public offenses against the people of this state, triable on indictment within this county, of which you have or can obtain legal evidence; you shall present no person through malice, hatred, or ill will, nor leave any unpresented through fear, favor, or affection, or for any reward or the promise or hope thereof, but in all your <b>presentments</b> that you shall present the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, according to the best of your skill and understanding?"</span></div></div><div id="sdfootnote14"><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="" id="fn14" name="fn14">14</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> Hale v. Henkel</b></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">, 201 U.S 43 (1906), “…</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>an information of the district attorney, which is of no legal value in prosecutions for felony</b></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">;…“If the grand jury, of their own knowledge, or the knowledge of any of them, or from the examination of witnesses, know of any offense committed in the county, for which no indictment is preferred to them, it is their duty either to inform the officer who prosecutes for the state, of the nature of the offense, and desire that an indictment for it be laid before them, or, if they do not, or, if no such indictment be given them, it is their duty to give such information of it to the court; stating, without any particular form, the facts and circumstances which constitute the offense. This is called a presentment.” <a href="http://supreme.justia.com/us/201/43/case.html">http://supreme.justia.com/us/201/43/case.html</a> </span> </div></div><div id="sdfootnote15"><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="" id="fn15" name="fn15">15</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><b> A Primer for Prospective Jurors</b></i></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>,</b></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA) </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>(Copy enclosed)</i></span></div></div><div id="sdfootnote16"><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="" id="fn16" name="fn16">16</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> U.S. v. Dougherty,</b></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> 473 F.2d 1113 (1972), “… the jury has a well-recognized prerogative to disregard the instructions of the court even as to matters of law, and that they accordingly have the legal right that the jury be informed of its power.” <a href="http://openjurist.org/473/f2d/1113">http://openjurist.org/473/f2d/1113</a> </span> </div></div><div id="sdfootnote17"><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="" id="fn17" name="fn17">17</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><b> Citizens Rule Book</b></i></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>, Handbook for Jurors </b></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA) </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>(Copy enclosed)</i></span></div></div><div id="sdfootnote18"><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="sdfootnote" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="" id="fn18" name="fn18">18</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><b> Who Owns Your Body?</b></i></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA) </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>(Copy enclosed)</i></span></div></div> <br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><b>Enclosures: </b></u></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><ul><li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Constitution for the United States</span></div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Constitution of the State of Iowa</span></div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">General Indictment Form (Rule 2.37- Form 5)</span></div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Citizens Rulebook</span></div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Who Owns Your Body?</i> (FIJA)</span></div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>On the Grand Jury</i> (FIJA)</span></div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Concerned Citizen, May-June 2011</span></div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">American Juror, Vol. 16, Issue 3, <i>What Happened to the Grand (Old) Jury?</i></span></div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">American Juror, Vol. 21, Issue 3/4, <i>First-Hand Grand Jury Account</i></span></div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">American Juror, Vol. 23, Issue 1, <i>Grand Jury Remedies: Questions & Answers</i></span></div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">American Juror, Vol. 23, Issue 2, <i>Guerrilla Jurors: Sticking it to Leviathan</i></span></div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">American Juror, Vol. 23, Issue 2, <i>Corruption Charge at the Fulton County District Attorney and Grand Jury</i></span></div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>A Primer for Prospective Jurors</i> (FIJA)</span></div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Letter from Michael J. Walton, Scott County Attorney to Scott County Grand Jurors; Subject: SuperLiberty/Fully Informed Jury Assoc., June 14, 2011</span></div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Iowa Court Rules Sections 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5</span></div></li>
</ul><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>Suggested Additional Readings:</b></u></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">BASTIAT, Frederick</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>, The Law, </i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">1850. <a href="http://mises.org/books/thelaw.pdf">http://mises.org/books/thelaw.pdf</a> </span></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">SPOONER, Lysander,</span><i> Trial by Jury, </i><span style="font-style: normal;">1852. <a href="http://www.lysanderspooner.org/tbj.pdf">http://www.lysanderspooner.org/tbj.pdf</a> </span></span> </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">EDWARDS,</span><i> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">George J. </span><i>The Grand Jury</i><span style="font-style: normal;">, 1906. </span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://constitution.org/gje/gj_00.htm"><span style="font-style: normal;">http://constitution.org/gje/gj_00.htm</span></a></u></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">ROLAND, Jon. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Let’s Revive Private Criminal Prosecutions, </i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">1996. </span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://constitution.org/uslaw/privpros.htm"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://constitution.org/uslaw/privpros.htm</span></a></u></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">U.S. Attorney’s Manual (USAM), Section 9-11.000, Grand Jury, 1997. </span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.justice.gov/usao/eousa/foia_reading_room/usam/title9/11mcrm.htm"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.justice.gov/usao/eousa/foia_reading_room/usam/title9/11mcrm.htm</span></a></u></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Handbook for Federal Grand Jurors </span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/jury/docs/federalgrand.pdf"><span style="font-size: x-small;">www.mdd.uscourts.gov/jury/docs/federalgrand.pdf</span></a></u></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Creighton Law Review, Vol. 33, No.4 1999-2000, 821</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>, If It’s Not A Runaway, It’s Not a Real Grand Jury, </i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Roger Root <a href="http://www.constitution.org/lrev/roots/runaway.htm">http://www.constitution.org/lrev/roots/runaway.htm</a> </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">MAYBURY,</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Richard J.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> Whatever Happened to Justice? </i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Placerville, CA: Bluestocking Press, 2004. <a href="http://www.bluestockingpress.com/whatever-happened-to-justice.htm">http://www.bluestockingpress.com/whatever-happened-to-justice.htm</a> </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Articles of Freedom, Article 7 - </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Juries and the Seventh Amendment, </i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">2010. </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://articlesoffreedom.us/TOC/Article7Juries.aspx"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://articlesoffreedom.us/TOC/Article7Juries.aspx</span></a></u></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Grand Juries Gone Wrong, </i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">2010.</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1771994"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1771994</span></a></u></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Iowa Court Rules, Chapter 2, Rules of Criminal Procedure, 2010.<br />
<a href="http://www.legis.state.ia.us/DOCS/ACO/CR/LINC/02-02-2011.chapter.2.pdf">http://www.legis.state.ia.us/DOCS/ACO/CR/LINC/02-02-2011.chapter.2.pdf</a> </span> </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Full PDF of entire Toolkit, with hyperlinks herein, available at the Scott County Iowans For Accountability website: <a href="http://www.scottcountyifa.com/">www.ScottCountyIFA.com</a></b></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-35632984403836618172011-08-27T06:44:00.000-07:002011-08-28T21:46:19.336-07:00Scott County Grand Jury Contact List<span style="font-size: small;">These Grand Jurors are in service through February 2012. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Click <a href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/08/ifa-open-letter-to-scott-county-grand.html">here to read the IFA Open Letter to Scott County Grand Jury</a>. <br />
Note: 1-7 are seated grand jurors; 8-14 are alternates</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The contact information was provided by Julie Carlin, the Clerk of the Court</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">(563) 326-8607 <a href="http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/contactus.php">julie.carlin@iowacourts.gov <a name='more'></a></a></span><br />
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<tr> <td align="LEFT" height="18" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" width="24"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" width="128"><b><u><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Last Name</span></u></b></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" width="89"><b><u><span style="font-family: Courier New;">First</span></u></b></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" width="118"><b><u><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Phone</span></u></b></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" width="116"><b><u><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Phone (Cell)</span></u></b></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" width="107"><b><u><span style="font-family: Courier New;">City</span></u></b></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" width="51"><b><u><span style="font-family: Courier New;">State</span></u></b></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" width="187"><b><u><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Address</span></u></b></td> <td align="CENTER" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" width="68"><b><u><span style="font-family: Courier New;">ZIP</span></u></b></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="18" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">1</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">BURGMEIER</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Mark</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br />
</td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">563-225-2072</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Princeton</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">IA</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">27445 20th Ave.</span></td> <td align="CENTER" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">52768</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="18" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">2</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">BUTLER</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Tochchia</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Davenport</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">IA</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">1815 69th St.</span></td> <td align="CENTER" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">52804</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="18" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">3</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">FREY</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Ellen</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Bettendorf</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">IA</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">4060 Prairie Ln.</span></td> <td align="CENTER" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">52722</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="18" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">4</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">HASENMILLER</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Rosemary</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">563-359-4559</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Bettendorf</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">IA</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">3625 Deer Springs Dr.</span></td> <td align="CENTER" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">52722</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="18" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">5</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">SHUPPY</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Cheryl</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">563-370-4621</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Eldridge</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">IA</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">2710 Daniels Ct.</span></td> <td align="CENTER" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">52748</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="18" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">6</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">UBEL</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Angela</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">563-650-1412</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Long Grove</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">IA</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">18880 315th St.</span></td> <td align="CENTER" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">52756</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="18" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">7</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">VANSPEYBROECK</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Andrew</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">563-940-0336</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Bettendorf</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">IA</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">3035 Westmar Dr.</span></td> <td align="CENTER" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">52722</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="LEFT" height="11" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="CENTER" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="18" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">8</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">ARMSTRONG</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Daniel</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">563-514-6790</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">309-314-6930</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Davenport</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">IA</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">7171 W. 60th St. #52</span></td> <td align="CENTER" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">52804</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="18" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">9</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">BAKER</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Eric</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Bettendorf</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">IA</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">5619 Joshua St.</span></td> <td align="CENTER" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">52722</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="18" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">10</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">HAMILTON</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Yvonne</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">563-322-1171</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Davenport</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">IA</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">2204 N. Division St.</span></td> <td align="CENTER" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">52804</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="18" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">11</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">ROYSTER-TEITLE</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Kristine</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">563-355-6107</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Bettendorf</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">IA</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">6913 Nottngham Ln.</span></td> <td align="CENTER" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">52722</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="18" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">12</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">SIMMONS</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Bradley</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">563-209-7789</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Davenport</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">IA</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">2435 W. 57th St.</span></td> <td align="CENTER" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">52806</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="18" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">13</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">TAGUE</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Kevin</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: red; font-family: Courier New;">563-322-8361</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Davenport</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">IA</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">322 S. Elmwood Ave.</span></td> <td align="CENTER" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">52802</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="RIGHT" height="18" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">14</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">TRUDELL</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Nanette</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">563-355-2772</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br />
</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Bettendorf</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">IA</span></td> <td align="LEFT" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">2605 Central Ave.</span></td> <td align="CENTER" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">52722</span></td> </tr>
</tbody> </table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-47556998881087482802011-08-24T21:51:00.000-07:002011-08-27T08:55:04.748-07:00Video: IFA Questions SECC911 Progress ReportThursday, August 18, 2011 | DAVENPORT, IOWA - Scott County Emergency Communications Center, aka SECC911 <a class="yt-uix-redirect-link" dir="ltr" href="http://www.secc911.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="http://www.secc911.com">http://www.secc911.com</a> - Monthly board meeting of the <a href="http://www.secc911.org/secc/secc_board.php">unelected board members</a> who over see the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBGoOhnT_7M&feature=related">consolidated dispatching</a> of Bettendorf, Davenport and Scott County. Brian Hitchcock is the SECC911 Director who reports to (l to r) Tom Sunderbruch (Scott County Supervisor), Bill Gluba (Davenport Mayor) and Marty O'Boyle (Eldridge Mayor) and off camera to the left Dr. Frank Claudy (Medic EMS Board President) and not present Mike Freemire (Bettendorf Mayor).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/SOfsuIgWWFU">http://youtu.be/SOfsuIgWWFU</a><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SOfsuIgWWFU" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
At the 6 min mark <a class="yt-uix-redirect-link" dir="ltr" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOfsuIgWWFU&feature=player_detailpage#t=368s" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOfsuIgWWFU&feature=player_detailpage#t=368s">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOfsuIgWWFU&feature=player_detailpage#t=368s</a> SECC911 board member Dr. Frank Claudy president of Medic EMS board, is reassured that the reason the 911 dispatcher can't switch the call to Medic is a "compatibility issue." <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
At the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOfsuIgWWFU#">6:30</a> mark ( <a class="yt-uix-redirect-link" dir="ltr" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOfsuIgWWFU&feature=player_detailpage#t=392s" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOfsuIgWWFU&feature=player_detailpage#t=392s">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOfsuIgWWFU&feature=player_detailpage#t=392s</a> ) Mayor Gluba states he gets a briefing every Tuesday from the chief of police and fire chief and chair of Public Safety committee on the city Council Bill Boom related to the progress of the consolidated dispatch. He seeks reassurance from Hitchcock that SECC911 is working with his staff and that "no one has come forward" and said the problems discussed are "insurmountable." <br />
<br />
At the 7:30 mark ( <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOfsuIgWWFU&feature=player_detailpage#t=449s">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOfsuIgWWFU&feature=player_detailpage#t=449s</a> ) questions submitted in writing to the board by concerned citizen Diane Holst, are brought up by mayor Gluba for a response from Hitchcock.<br />
<br />
<b>August 18, 2011</b><br />
<b>Question for SECC Board:</b><br />
<br />
Why do the radios on walkie not work in Buffalo? We were told in April that the Buffalo issue would be resolved by RACOM. What steps are you taking, and when do you expect this to be fixed?<br />
<br />
Has the $14K BDA been installed at Hillendale, and has it resolved the problem?<br />
<br />
Where are the areas around the County that you're relying on NPSPAC?<br />
<br />
Has there been a "due date" set with the Vendor, New World Systems, for the CADS/RMS system to be working correctly?<br />
<br />
Why is there a delay of up to 3 minutes for dispatch to find out if someone is wanted?<br />
<br />
Why do I hear the Dispatchers say, "they lost their screen".<br />
<br />
Is the County receiving a P.01 access level at this time? And if not, are we being compensated?<br />
<br />
Has the EDACS/RACOM system been accepted?<br />
<br />
<br />
Diane HolstUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-73561725599152063222011-08-14T19:40:00.000-07:002011-08-15T09:49:09.375-07:00They Decide 2012: Obama, Romney, Paul, Perry, BachmannA very informative chart being shared at the Iowa GOP Straw Poll in Ames, Iowa on Saturday August 13th, 2011. One person's view on the day in Ames and <a href="http://thirdrailblog.com/ron-paul-2011-iowa-straw-poll-postmortem">what it means to IFA members, is also available here</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thirdrailblog.com/files/pictures/HowTheyVote.AmesStrawPollSign2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thirdrailblog.com/files/pictures/HowTheyVote.AmesStrawPollSign2011.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by<a href="http://www.slavenot.com/"> Jesse Anderson</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-45036588956651107542011-07-27T06:33:00.000-07:002011-07-27T06:35:52.084-07:00IFA Flyers the Bachmann Event Sunday July 24thMichael Elliott and Michael Angelos, founders of Iowans For Accountability (IFA), attended the public event hosted by the Michelle Bachmann campaign on Sunday July 24, 2011 at the Hotel Blackhawk in downtown Davenport, Iowa. The two handed out copies of <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/54185285/The-Concerned-Citizen-Vol-1-Issue-1">The Concerned Citizen publication </a>along with a flyer comparing the constitutional records of the only two members of the US Congress vying for the GOP nomination, Bachmann and Ron Paul. <br />
<br />
Here is a copy of the flyer.<br />
<a class="yt-uix-redirect-link" dir="ltr" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/61048895/Bachmann-vs-Paul-Voting-Record-One-Page-Flyer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="http://www.scribd.com/doc/61048895/Bachmann-vs-Paul-Voting-Record-One-Page-Flyer">http://www.scribd.com/doc/61048895/Bachmann-vs-Paul-Voting-Record-One-Page-Flyer</a><br />
<a class="yt-uix-redirect-link" dir="ltr" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/61048895/Bachmann-vs-Paul-Voting-Record-One-Page-Flyer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="http://www.scribd.com/doc/61048895/Bachmann-vs-Paul-Voting-Record-One-Page-Flyer"></a>and a <a href="http://www.thirdrailblog.com/files/BachmannVPaulVotingRecordFlyer.July2011.pdf">PDF available HERE.</a><br />
<br />
Michael Angelos was escorted out of the meeting by a Bachmann security person. Approximately 90 flyers and papers were distributed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/O9jX9vPZNs8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/O9jX9vPZNs8">http://youtu.be/O9jX9vPZNs8</a><br />
<br />
Michael Elliott was interviewed by a reporter from KWQC TV-6 News after Bachmann's speech. <a href="http://www.kwqc.com/Global/story.asp?S=15138638">His comments made it to the 10pm news that evening</a>.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">"She talked about how everybody has the right of pursuit of happiness and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">keep the fruits of your labor. I thought it was pretty ironic because she</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">worked for the IRS as an attorney taking away the fruits of that labor,"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">said Michael Elliott of Davenport.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-84359920557311963212011-05-15T10:33:00.001-07:002011-05-15T13:12:49.005-07:00Scott County Iowa Supervisors Vote 3-2 to Adopt Sustainability Plan, aka United Nations' Agenda 21 as the "New Normal"NOTE: Audio file enhanced with more gain is available here -- <a href="http://www.thirdrailblog.com/audio/ScottCountySustainabilityPlanVote.May12.2011.mp3"> Audio file only of May 12th Scott County Board Meeting</a><br /><br />On May 12, 2011 the Scott County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to adopt the Scott County Sustainability Plan in order to influence fiscal policy to achieve behavior change in Scott County.<br /><br />The Resolution voted upon was not posted until hours before the Board meeting on May 12th.<br />Resolution posted May 12th:<a href="http://www2.scottcountyiowa.com/board/pub/enclosures/2011/20110512_Board%20Meeting/07_Sustainability_Plan.pdf"> http://www2.scottcountyiowa.com/board/pub/enclosures/2011/20110512_Board%20Meeting/07_Sustainability_Plan.pdf</a><br /><br />Public comments by:<br /><ul><li>Robin Priestly - Definitions of ROI not in Plan, will be costly to taxpayers without them</li><li>Todd McGeevy - Central planning failures, violation of Oath, False premises for need & purposes, Conflict of interest for Treasurer of Bi-State to vote on the budget increase to pay for Plan</li><li>Jesse Anderson - Standards being adopted would preclude his new home from being built in LeClarie and the homes of Supervisors would not meet the very standards they are voting in, one supervisor has 5000sf home, on 3.5 acres, with in-ground pool, outbuilding</li><li>Diane Holst - Citizen participation was less than 25 people in a pop of 166,000 or .015% participation, Plan being voted on is Agenda 21 driven by the very definitions in the Plan, Sustainability Council that this Plan will go to is made up of countries we would never allow to influence us otherwise</li><li>Larry Bell -Three strikes with increased budget, SECC911 and now Plan -- voting yes to this will mean a lost election in the future</li><li>Michael Elliott - Sustainable Development grants privileges and does not protect individual rights and civil violations are turned into criminal acts<br /></li><li>Roger Mahl - Cautions that vagueness of Plan will provide opportunity for abuse by future supervisors and staff, please table for more review</li><li>David Hartsuch - Sustainability is a term not a policy that means different things to different people. Plan would put extensive restrictions on private property development.<br /></li><li>Joe Venhorst - Shame on this board for adopting a United Nations Agenda 21 driven Plan<br /></li></ul>Motion to Table by Cusack, Seconded by Earnhardt - Motion to Table Votes:<br />Hancock, Minard, Sunderbruch - NO<br />Cusack, Earnhardt - YES<br /><br />Motion to Approve Resolution by Minard, Seconded by _______ . Votes:<br />Hancock, Minard, Sunderbruch - YES<br />Cusack, Earnhardt - NO<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">[Note: A split vote on this board is highly unusual. No member of the mainstream media was present, including the typically present reporter from the Quad City Times.]</span><br /><br />Video: <a href="http://youtu.be/Hg1AEdfb2AA">http://youtu.be/Hg1AEdfb2AA</a><br /><br /><object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Hg1AEdfb2AA?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Hg1AEdfb2AA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="349"></embed></object><br /><br />The board allowed public comment prior to the vote -- which they rarely do as a Resolution does not require a public hearing -- and nine people addressed the board. There were approximately 30 people from the private sector, citizens in the county, also in attendance.<br /><br />For more info, on the challenges with the County adopting this Plan, visit this page at the <a href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/04/april-11-2011-dear-scott-county-board.html">Scott County IFA Website </a>IFA Adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10855549512123634660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-81872873561502468052011-05-11T06:17:00.000-07:002011-05-11T10:26:23.824-07:00IFA Action Alert! Thursday May 12th 5:30 p.m. Public HearingIFA ACTION ALERT! <br />
Please attend the Thursday May 12th 5:30 p.m. Scott County Board of Supervisors Meeting & Budget Public Hearing <br />
<br />
On the Agenda: <br />
1. Standing Up To the UN Agenda 21 (aka Sustainability) in Scott County<br />
2. $878,887 Budget Amendment <br />
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The Board will be voting to approve a Sustainability Plan without having made the Resolution public, and without having made the final draft of the plan available to the public. <br />
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(Watch this short 3 minute video of the Q&A at the Committee of the Whole from Tuesday: h<a href="ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGPepo4lVyw">ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGPepo4lVyw</a> )<br />
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<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZGPepo4lVyw?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZGPepo4lVyw?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
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The $878,887 budget increase, includes approximately $523,000 of offsetting grant revenues, however it also includes a $300,000 "Judgement paid for prof liability claim." <br />
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County staff wants the board to decree that "Sustainability" is the "New Normal" for the citizens of Scott County. This is Agenda 21 being implemented in Scott County, folks. This is how it starts. <br />
<a name='more'></a>Of course we all want clean air and water for all.<br />
Of course we want to leave our lands in better condition than we found them, for our children. <br />
Of course we want equal protection for all.<br />
Who doesn't?!<br />
<br />
But you should not have to have your personal property rights violated, nor cede more authority or influence governing the county's fiscal policies to unelected central planners, nor direct the county to engage in more grant writing to pursue indoctrination and education programming to further efforts to "change behavior" for Scott County citizens. <br />
<br />
["Technology and the availability of solutions to some sustainability issues also can affect the speed at which behaviors are changed."; "Our behavior must change for sustainability to become the “New Normal.” Page 4;]<br />
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Do not let the sheen of "smart growth" and "sustainability" lull you into not showing up when your county supervisors, adopt without a referendum or a public hearing the global to local Agenda 21 plan to control your property and the world's population, one county at a time<br />
<br />
We need your help in speaking before the county board of supervisors tomorrow evening -- to bear witness to their rubber stamping and ceding authority - once again - via the Sustainability Plan. <br />
<br />
Please come and participate, either as a speaker, observer and at least as a peaceful show of force. You can help during the Public Hearing process by yielding your time at the microphone to those of us who are more knowledgeable on these topics. <br />
<br />
If you are not up to speed on Agenda 21, then it is time you get up to speed. And tomorrow's public hearing at 5:30 p.m. at the Scott County board of supervisors meeting will be the perfect opportunity to inform yourself and prove you are willing to be an Iowan For Accountability. <br />
<br />
RESOURCES: <br />
Agenda 21 in One Easy Lesson<br />
<a href="http://americanpolicy.org/sustainable-development/agenda-21-in-one-easy-lesson.html/">http://americanpolicy.org/sustainable-development/agenda-21-in-one-easy-lesson.html/</a><br />
<br />
Understanding Agenda 21 <br />
<a href="http://www.freedomadvocates.org/option,com_docman/task,doc_download/gid,127/Itemid,81/">http://www.freedomadvocates.org/option,com_docman/task,doc_download/gid,127/Itemid,81/</a><br />
<br />
April 11, 2011 - Letter to the Scott County Board of Supervisors<br />
<a href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/04/april-11-2011-dear-scott-county-board.html#more">http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/04/april-11-2011-dear-scott-county-board.html#more</a><br />
<br />
Edmond, OK Public Forum Video<br />
<br />
Please watch the video below for examples!<br />
If you have not yet watched this, please watch what the public in Edmond, OK did to inform their local politicians about the dangers of Agenda 21. It is over an hour long, but a must see.... please pass this to everyone you know who lives in the QCA!! This is what IFA is fighting against on the local county and city levels. <br />
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<a href="http://edmondok.swagit.com/play/03082011-330/0/">http://edmondok.swagit.com/play/03082011-330/0/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-60989816499311223772011-04-28T22:27:00.001-07:002011-08-15T09:44:38.566-07:00IFA Publishes First Edition of The Concerned Citizen<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/54185285/The-Concerned-Citizen-Vol-1-Issue-1" style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto; text-decoration: underline;" title="View The Concerned Citizen Vol 1 Issue 1 on Scribd">The Concerned Citizen Vol 1 Issue 1</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.9" data-auto-height="true" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_96697" scrolling="no" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/54185285/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-p54zd8tmjpvh1c0byj4" width="100%"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">
(function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "http://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })();
</script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-69936370903787080102011-04-24T10:42:00.000-07:002011-09-01T05:22:48.983-07:00Video: SECC911 April 14th Board Meeting<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">SECC911 Board Amplifies Racoms Signal Before Coverage Area is Fully Tested</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And Calls for Amplifying Its Demand to be Recognized by Mediacom as a new Governmental Body for Special Cable Pricing </span><br />
<br />
DAVENPORT, IOWA | On April 7th the SECC911 Board had a regularly scheduled monthly board meeting. Only Sunderbruch and O'Boyle showed up - Freemire, Claudy and Gluba were not in attendance. <a href="http://www.secc911.org/secc/secc_board.php">http://www.secc911.org/secc/secc_board.php</a><br />
<br />
Members of IFA presented the questions below to the two board members, SECC911 Director Brian Johnson and Scott County Administrator Dee Bruemmer. Since they had no quorum there was no meeting. <br />
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Here is the link to the agenda and board packet for the April 7th meeting.<br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><a href="http://www.secc911.org/secc/pub/meetings/2011/20110407/20110407_SECC_Agenda.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">April 07, 2011 SECC Agenda (70.9 KB)</span></a></div><div style="color: #ff2315; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.secc911.org/secc/pub/meetings/2011/20110407/20110407_SECC_Packet.pdf">April 07, 2011 SECC Packet (527.5 KB)</a></span></div>The primary item on the agenda (and outlined in the Packet) was a "dead spot" in a portion of Davenport known as Hillendale on the new proprietary radio system implemented by Racom for the public safety departments of Davenport, Bettendorf and Scott County. <br />
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Due to the high volume of public safety calls in Hillendale this dead spot in the system needs fixed right away, explains the memo from Brian Johnson to the board seeking $17K in expenses approved. <br />
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There were approximately eight tax payers in attendance on April 7th hoping to get answers to questions like these below. The meeting was re-scheduled for a week later, April 14th at 12pm noon and announced the Monday prior.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.secc911.org/secc/pub/meetings/2011/20110414/20110414_SECC_Packet.pdf" style="color: #000066; text-decoration: underline;">April 14, 2011 SECC Packet (464.8 KB)</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.secc911.org/secc/pub/meetings/2011/20110414/20110414_SECC_Packet.pdf" style="color: #000066; text-decoration: underline;"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.secc911.org/secc/pub/meetings/2011/20110414/20110414_SECC_Minutes.pdf" style="color: #000066; text-decoration: underline;">April 14, 2011 SECC Minutes (94.6 KB)</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.secc911.org/secc/pub/meetings/2011/20110414/20110414_SECC_Minutes.pdf" style="color: #000066; text-decoration: underline;"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.secc911.org/secc/pub/meetings/2011/20110414/20110414_SECC_Agenda.pdf" style="color: #000066; text-decoration: underline;">April 14, 2011 SECC Agenda (10.1 KB)</a></span><br />
Below is the 20 min video of the meeting where Frank Claudy (from MEDIC), Mike Freemire (Bettendorf Mayor), Tom Sunderbruch (County Supervisor), Bill Gluba (Davenport Mayor) were in attendance and Martin O'Boyle (Eldridge Mayor) was absent. Brian Hitchcock (SECC911 Director) is in the foreground, Dee Breummer along with Bettendorf Administrator are heard off camera to the right.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Watch the April 14th Video at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/scottifatv">Scott County IFA TV on YouTube</a>:<br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/ZoXUvkPHDKk">http://youtu.be/ZoXUvkPHDKk</a><br />
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Prior to the start of this meeting (not shown in this clip) Diane Holst provided a series of new questions to the board. There was some discussion of her questions after the meeting, but not filmed. <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(These questions will be posted later at this blog.)</span></i><br />
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AFTER the $17K allocation for the Bi-Directional Radio Amplifier (with no bids) is unanimously approved, the board hears out Johnson's report that includes an attempt to answer some of the questions submitted at the April 7th meeting. Those questions are below. Finally the board discusses with staff their mutual frustration of Mediacom not recognizing the SECC911 as a government entity.<br />
<blockquote><b>Questions for the SECC911 Board</b></blockquote><blockquote>(provided in writing at:)</blockquote><blockquote>April 7, 2011 - Board Meeting (that had no quorum and did not convene)</blockquote><blockquote>1. What does "95% of the County" exactly mean, with regards to Racom's obligation for communication coverage?</blockquote><blockquote>Does this mean 95% of the time that a radio is keyed or used to call or rec a message, anywhere in Scott County, it is operable?</blockquote><blockquote>OR</blockquote><blockquote>Does this mean that 95% of the geographic area of Scott County has 100% communication coverage?</blockquote><blockquote>2. With regards to the Bi-Directional Radio Amplifier Equipment Summary Memo (not dates), what does "Since this is a small area with coverage issues, this would be a SECC responsibility to resolve" mean?</blockquote><blockquote>What size of area without coverage would make it a Racom responsibility to resolve?</blockquote><blockquote>3. Who determined that Bi-Directional Amp (BDA) needs to be installed in that area to increase radio coverage? When and how was this determined?</blockquote><blockquote>4. Why was there no bidding to pursue the BDA?</blockquote><blockquote>5. Is this capital improvement able to be used for other purposes other than amplifying the Racom system?</blockquote><blockquote>6. Are taxpayers being asked to foot the bill for an improvement to a system leased from Racom?</blockquote><blockquote>7. Was there a testing of signal strength in/out in the Hillendale area prior to accepting the Racom system? What was the outcome of that test?</blockquote>At the April 14th meeting (video above), SECC911 Director Brian Johnson explains that the dead spot for radio transmission/reception in Davenport is an area that is in a ravine and additionally has metal buildings - trailer homes - that make it very difficult for the radios to work. "800 (mhz) signals can go through 10-20 feet of concrete but steel sometimes presents a problem." <br />
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He also explains that part of the problem with the signal for Davenport police is that they carry and use their radios on their hips, adjacent to their other equipment like tazers and that is interfering with the signal. <br />
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Johnson explains that getting this system ($6M of equipment & services) operable is "like buying a new car" there will always be things you find out about it that need fixed. He goes on to explain that in his experience in other systems (and Scott County is the smallest) he has worked in, "No matter how much money you sink into them you're going to have some problematic areas that have to be dealt with just like this." <br />
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Johnson also states that Racom has recently received their equipment to mount to a van and conduct a grid test of the Scott County area and determine if their coverage is indeed 95% as dictated in the contract. <br />
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And, Johnson goes on to explain that if the area they just approved a $17K expenditure to boost the signal in (Hillendale) falls within the 95% coverage area, Racom will provide a rebate.<br />
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[NOTE: Taxpayers just footed the bill for $17K to fix a system that they previously invested $6M in and the provider of the system has not even determined whether the coverage provided is within the specifications agreed upon in the contract. And now the provider, Racom, is going to perform a self-test to determine if they are in compliance -- after the fact.]<br />
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Johnson explains there is a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. May 19th at the SECC911 building. <br />
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At the fifteen minute mark Johnson explains that Mediacom has "been resistant to everything we've tried to do and wants to charge us $10K to get into the system and $850 per month there after." He explains that the SECC911 building needs cable hookup in order to be able to watch the news and weather in the Emergency Operations Center. <br />
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It is explained that Mediacom does not recognize the dispatch center as a governmental unit and wants to treat SECC911 as a business and thus it has provided market rate pricing for services. To which Frank Claudy, the representative of the private sector MEDIC ambulance service, states that this is unacceptable and that the communities served "would not consider them (Mediacom) a community partner" and that this needs to be "amplified" to the highest corporate levels "for this florid disregard for an improvement to the system." <br />
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Davenport mayor Gluba explains how the city no longer has any negotiating authority with Mediacom due to a new state franchising law. <br />
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[NOTE: Davenport's franchise agreement was being negotiated and was tabled by the city council during Mayor Brook's term and when the state franchise law kicked in for cable providers, the city was out of contract with Mediacom. Had they moved forward with the independent franchise agreement prior the legislation being signed, they would not be subject to the state law during the length of that new agreement.]<br />
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Claudy goes on to say that he "does not speak for the mayors," in this matter but he "does speak for the medical centers."<br />
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The only thing Bettendorf mayor Freemire says in the whole meeting is a comment on the Mediacom negotiations, "The unfortunate part is, we are not surprised." To which Johnson asks, "Do you want me to order up a DEA for that?" No one responds to Johnson and Bruemmer explains she will take the board's concerns and disapproval of Mediacom's lack of recognition to Mediacom in their future negotiations. Sunderbruch states, "It seems to me that it should be a front page story." <br />
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[NOTE: One does have to wonder how a $28M "improvement to the system" that has been in the works for five years somehow missed building into the infrastructure the service that allows the staffers to watch cable news and weather channel? Why is this supposed critical resource for the Emergency Operations Center just now being negotiated?]<br />
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<a href="http://www.secc911.org/secc/secc_minutes.php?folder=meetings/2011">The next SECC911 board meeting is May 5th at 5:30 p.m. and is held at the County Building in downtown Davenport.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-73108963562734786182011-04-16T10:31:00.001-07:002011-04-16T10:52:41.623-07:00Problems with Sustainability Plan DRAFT - Please Pause on Rubber Stamping<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">April 11, 2011</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dear Scott County Board of Supervisors: </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Please find below, instances where the term "require" is used in the <a href="http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/administration/pub/sustainability/plan/Scott_County_Sustainability_Plan_Document_%28Draft%29.pdf" style="color: #0000cc;" target="_blank">Sustainability Plan DRAFT</a>, the plan proposed by the county staff to be adopted by this Board by the end of April:</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Page 3</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For others, the awareness and understanding, as well as the <u>actions that may be required to embrace sustainability</u>, may occur much slower.</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Page 34</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Action: </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">Review Iowa Department of Natural Resources lake and beach monitoring</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">programs ....for <u>program requirements and opportunities for funding.</u></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Page 36</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Incorporate<u> low-emission requirements </u>into bid specifications, both purchasing and contracting.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Page 37</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Action: </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">Review building codes for impediments and/or <u>requirements supporting</u></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>energy conservation</u> and update accordingly.</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Page 38</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Action: </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">Review building codes for impediments and/or <u>requirements supporting</u></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>universal design </u>and update accordingly.</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Page 41 </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Other tasks and requirements may be required of the County</u> in addition to those listed.</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Page 41</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yet<u> other activities will require significant time and funding investment </u>from public and private interests. </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Page 92 </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Smart growth requires a collaboration of perspectives, disciplines, and stakeholders.</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I ask you… <u>isn't everything that is required already being enforced? If there is something new to be required, under whose authority, sanction and determination shall it be required and approved as meeting such a requirement? </u></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">By allowing this language into a Plan that this body adopts, you are winding up a toy for unelected unaccountable employees and organizations to influence and in some instances, dictate land use, commerce and county fiscal policy, via a vague unlawful authority. </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This documentation and critique of the usage of "require" is just a portion of the debate that should be occurring on your watch.</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Consider that staff took a year to develop this plan. </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They are asking the public and the board to rubber stamp it in less than a month <a href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/04/video-bi-states-sustainability-plan.html" style="color: #0000cc;" target="_blank">since its public announcement, on March 29</a>. </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Your county staff had the resources of <a href="http://bistateonline.com/" style="color: #0000cc;" target="_blank">Bi-State Regional Commission</a> at their disposal for a year to generate this 100+ page Plan .... the<a href="http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/administration/sustainability.php" style="color: #0000cc;" target="_blank"> public has a comment box at the web page</a> for a few weeks. </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If it is worth doing, it is worth doing well -- and within the parameters and restrictions that your oath of office dictates. </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This document, with so much promise for so much motivation for behavior change in Scott County </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">("Technology and the availability of solutions to some sustainability issues also can affect the speed at which behaviors are changed."; "Our behavior must change for sustainability to become the “New Normal.” Page 4; "Create toolbox or catalog of sustainable </span><span style="font-size: medium;">practices that uses benefits to consumers to value sustainable practices and lifestyles and change behaviors. page 10; Changing consumption behaviors, page 60;</span> )</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">....<span style="font-size: medium;">surely warrants a longer public discussion than less than four weeks, does it not?</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 9px;"></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Who is going to enforce the <u>actions required to embrace </u>the definition of sustainability, as the plan calls for on page 3? </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I leave you this evening with this additional quote from page 3: </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>"Education and funding resources are founding elements for creating sustainable practices." </u></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Is educating the county the role of this body? </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Is creating practices the role of this body? </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Is directing staff to seek <b><u>unsustainable</u></b> funding resources (without more coercive taxation) in order to pursue this education and creation of these practices, the constitutionally authorized role of this body? </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Why cannot sustainable practices be borne out in the private sector on their own, in the manner that is best suited to the residents of Scott County, determined by themselves? </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The county can lead all it wants with its own staff behavior change, internal policies for fiscal practices that embrace their definition of sustainability, and so forth. <u>But imposing those practices and behavior change upon the people of Scott County is NOT the role of this government. </u></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This Plan if adopted as is, will be an unwieldily beast of proportions for future generations you cannot imagine yet. </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">By adptoing this top down tax payer funded approach to education, influence and fiscal policy decision making, by unelected organizations, you are ceding authority the voters of Scott County did not bestow upon you. </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Please take caution as you consider rubber stamping what the staff and Bi-State has so assiduously laid before you. <u>What is clear with Sustainability practices,<a href="http://www.freedomadvocates.org/option,com_docman/task,doc_download/gid,127/Itemid,81/" style="color: #0000cc;" target="_blank">which as the materials I have provided you previously prove</a>, is that the <b>only thing not sustainable with plans such as these, is the rights of the individual.</b> </u>The very rights your oath of office dictate you must protect. </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For a perspective of someone who has walked in your shoes, please review this video:</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/superlibertytv#p/a/u/0/NjqgdWcKLlk" style="color: #0000cc;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/<wbr></wbr>superlibertytv#p/a/u/0/<wbr></wbr>NjqgdWcKLlk</a> </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thanks for taking the time to consider these concerns. </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am hopeful you will take a much longer approach to working through the nuances and underlying intent of the dictates within this Plan prior to any final decisions on adoption, or not, being made by this body. </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sincerely, </span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Todd McGreevy</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Gill Sans'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">p.s. When did this elected body determine that Scott County requires a "New Normal" and what the make up of that new normal should be? You are setting a pathway and direction for your staff that supersedes any previous goal setting, comprehensive plans or measurements previously established -by adopting this Plan.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-39805056537660812712011-04-05T23:00:00.000-07:002011-04-10T09:13:05.188-07:00Video: Bi-State's Sustainability Plan Presentation to Scott County Board<div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><u>Scott County Board Does Not Understand It Can Take Action When and How It Wishes </u></b></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><u>Rubber Stamping Averted - For Now</u></b><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;"><b>[APRIL 8 UPDATE: On April 5th County Administrator Dee Bruemmer provided a written response to the series of questions IFA delivered to the Board at the March 29 meeting. Those questions & staff's answers are at the end of this blog posting below. <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/47385875/Scott-County-Board-of-Supervisors-Contact-List"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Contact phone & email info for Scott County Board of Supervisors available HERE.</span></a>]</b></span></span></i></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">DAVENPORT, IOWA - March 29, 2011 | It is painful to watch the slow creep of another layer of top down unelected policy decision making -- another layer of unaccountable government - being born right before your very eyes. </div><br />
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[ <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAOaobwQ9IE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAOaobwQ9IE</a> ]</span><br />
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At the Committee of the Whole meeting of the Scott County Board of Supervisors meeting, <a href="http://www.bistateonline.org/">Bi-State Regional Commission</a>'s Gena McCollough makes the first public presentation to the Board of the proposed <span style="color: #232323;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2134051490">Sustainability</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2134051490"> </a></span><span style="color: #232323;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2134051490">Plan</a></span></span><a href="http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/administration/pub/sustainability/plan/Scott_County_Sustainability_Plan_Document_(Draft).pdf"> for Scott County</a>. County staff was authorized to contract the development of this plan with Bi-State (known to some on the county board as "our regional council of governments") a year ago. It was funded by a $50,000 federal department of energy grant.<br />
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Some of the advisory committee meetings from last fall were attended by IFA members and<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npQmwxXWhM8"> videos from those meetings are available here</a>. The presentation in the first ten minutes covers the makeup and membership of that advisory committee and what it contributed. </div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">What is at risk if this plan is adopted, is the slow creep of another top down bureaucracy, laden with draconian land and personal property management/control enforcement by fiat - aka policy or regulation -- in other words "soft law." </div><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="368" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8iJRndqTyu0" title="YouTube video player" width="450"></iframe><br />
[<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAOaobwQ9IE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAOaobwQ9IE</a>]</span><br />
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The four 10 min videos, recording the presentation and subsequent refreshingly atypical Q&A between the board, McCollough and county staff, are now on the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/ScottIFATV">IFA youtube channel</a> and embedded below.</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">There had been no public announcement of the availability of the DRAFT Sustainability Plan until this March 29, 2011 meeting. <a href="http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/administration/sustainability.php">It had been online for about two weeks prior to this meeting.</a> Staff recommends to the board that 4 weeks of publicly available commenting online is sufficient before a board action to officially adopt this Plan is voted on. There is no discussion as to whether that public comment will be taken into consideration, if so, how and when. (Note: the county has posted 3 responses at this pdf as of this April 5 blog posting: <a href="http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/administration/pub/sustainability/plan/Received_Comments.pdf">Received Comments (22.7 KB)</a><br />
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</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">The makeup and purpose of the Plan's proposed Sustainable Solutions Committee is discussed. It is agreed upon between staff and the board that the board themselves will get to have influence on naming this committee. Details of that process, nor the stated purpose of this committee, as defined in the plan on page 33, are discussed. The board is left to believe that the sole purpose of this committee is to help propose content for a website or "toolbox" for the community about sustainability. This is the new fiefdom being created folks. The SSC... from page 33:<br />
<blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px 'Gill Sans'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Wingdings;">␣ </span><b>Incorporate Sustainability into Fiscal Policy and Decision-Making (Page 11) </b><i>Create a checklist to evaluate decisions supporting sustainability.</i></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Gill Sans'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="color: #9d723f; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><b>Timeline: </b>Year 1 <span style="color: #9d723f; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;">•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><b>Action: </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">Utilize Sustainable Solutions Committee to develop check list as evaluation</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Gill Sans'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">tool.</span> Refer to sample from <i>New Community Design to the Rescue – Fulfilling Another American Dream</i>, National Governors Association, 2001, and explore others.</div></blockquote></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">The memo to the board for this topic at this meeting, included the following statement: </div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;">"</span>There is no action for the Board to take at this time. The plan is simply presented for review, comment and consideration. After a public review period, I plan to ask that the Board consider adoption of the plan at one of their regular Board meetings during the month of April."</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">What is potentially lost on this board of supervisors is that despite the instructions from staff, this board CAN take ACTION if they wish, at any meeting. It does not have to be on the staff supplied agenda to make a motion and second it and discuss and vote on a course of action.</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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[<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAOaobwQ9IE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAOaobwQ9IE</a>]</span><br />
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<div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">To wit, Jim Hancock asks Administrator Dee Breummer if the board is going to have any input or say in the make up of the primary action step in the Plan -- establishing a Solutions Committee to recommend best practices on fiscal policy that impacts the sustainability plan's goals. </div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Nothing is stopping this board from establishing the Sustainability Solutions Committee right there on the spot. It is painful to watch the slow creep of another layer of top down unelected policy decision making <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"> -- that is here, via staff directing the board, rather than the other way around. But it is encouraging that these board members are sensing that this is something big coming their way. They do ask about increased cost in time and money on staff resources. </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">What is most especially frustrating is to hear the county administrator state that a benefit of this Plan will be that as "government's have less and less money, they are going to have to make tough decisions." This coming from a staff that shepherded through the approval of a $2.6M budget increase -- the largest budget in the history of the county. What do you mean less and less money for governments? </div></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">If you understand <a href="http://www.freedomadvocates.org/"><span style="color: #0658b5; text-decoration: underline;">Ag<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">enda 21</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> and the "global to local" threats its long term </span><span style="color: #232323;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">plan</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> poses to our liberties (</span><a href="http://www.rcreader.com/commentary/rubber-stamping-agenda-21/"><span style="color: #d12e2e; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; text-decoration: underline;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Rubber-Stamping Agenda 21 Starts in Scott County</span></b></span></a><span style="color: #d12e2e; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">)</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">, you can skip the first 10 minutes and get to the 2nd and 3rd videos where staff and board are going back and forth. There are some key comments made by staff. </span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Here is the </span><span style="color: #232323;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Sustainability</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="color: #232323;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Plan</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> Agenda packet one sheet that was before the board today</span></div><div style="color: #0658b5; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www2.scottcountyiowa.com/board/pub/enclosures/2011/20110329_Committee_of_the_Whole/02_Draft_Community_Sustainability_Plan.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">http://www2.scottcountyiowa.com/board/pub/enclosures/2011/20110329_Committee_of_the_Whole/02_Draft_Community_Sustainability_Plan.pdf</span></a></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">with a link in it to the actual </span><span style="color: #232323;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">plan</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> and public commenting box at the website</span></div><div style="color: #0658b5; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/administration/sustainability.php">http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/administration/</a></span><span style="color: #232323;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/administration/sustainability.php">sustainability</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/administration/sustainability.php">.php</a></span></span></div><div style="color: #0658b5; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="368" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/S-S1UX869dk" title="YouTube video player" width="450"></iframe><br />
[<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAOaobwQ9IE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAOaobwQ9IE</a>]</span><br />
<blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">April 5, 2011</span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">TO: Board of Supervisors</span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"> FROM: Dee F. Bruemmer, County Administrator</span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">SUBJECT: Responses to Todd McGreevy's Sustainability Plan Review Questions</span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">To: Scott County Board of Supervisors </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">From: Todd McGreevy </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Re: Sustainability Plan Review </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Dear Supervisors, </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Please answer or request answers to the following questions during your March 29, 2011 committee of the whole review of the Sustainability Plan presentation. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">1. The March 23 Memo from Dave Donovan states:</div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;">"</span>Those (electronic public) comments will be forwarded to me for compilation and presentation at a later date." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">a) Will staff provide all of the comments submitted by the public via the website, unfiltered and unedited, to the board and those who request a copy? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"> </span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Submitted comments will be provided to the Board unedited and unfiltered and available on the website for review.</span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">b) How many days prior to a request to vote for adoption will these comments be provided to the board and public? </div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Comments are available on the webpage and updated frequently. All comments will be reviewed by the Board.</span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">c) What is the purpose and function of accepting public comment? </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Will this board be willing to make edits/changes to Plan based on any of the public comment?</div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Additional input from residents is always welcomed. The Board will review the plan and consider comments from the public and fellow board members.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">2. The March 23rd Memo from Dave Donovan states: </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;">"</span>There is no action for the Board to take at this time. The plan is simply presented for review, comment and consideration. After a public review period, I plan to ask that the Board consider adoption of the plan at one of their regular Board meetings during the month of April." </div><div style="font: 11.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">a) Will this request for adoption be in the form of a Resolution or an Ordinance, or other form? </div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">The Board has several options regarding the acceptance of the plan. However, it will not be an ordinance because it will not become law. The Board can accept the document by resolution or motion.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">b) Based on what form of request to Adopt this plan, what is the lawful requirement for public hearings and/or "readings" at county meetings? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"> </span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">There are no public hearing requirements for the review.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">c) How will the board direct staff to make any changes to this Plan, if necessary?</div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">The Board will suggest changes and the staff will make them to the document. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">3. On page 33 the Plan calls for creation of a Sustainable Solutions Committee. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">a) Will the membership of the "Sustainable Solutions" committee be limited to "Partnering Organizations" named in this Plan? </div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">The solution committee envisioned in the plan would be individuals who have resource documents available for inclusion and contacts with other organizations and governments who have Best Practices.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">b) Will the SS committee require a budget to operate? Has it been budgeted?</div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">No operating budget will be provided. The work will be in-kind staff time to develop links and work with the web pages. County staff will continue to work as a green team for events and programs that the county sponsors or takes an active role.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">c) Will the SS committee meetings be publicized with sufficient notice to the public? Will their meetings be open to the public and will minutes be published?</div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Staff meetings are not required to be open to the public. At this time, there is no anticipation of minutes being recorded for public review. Results of the staff work will be available on the web page.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">4) The over goals of the Plan include: </div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">"Identify new ways of becoming more sustainable to reduce waste, save resources, improve the environment, educate residents, motivate change and focus action." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">a) What does staff consider to be the top 5 "changes" that this plan hopes to "motivate"?</div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">The information is intended to be a resource for anyone who visits the web page or reviews the document. Staff can not anticipate how individuals or organizations will benefit from the variety of reference materials. Nor can we gauge the benefits of sharing examples of programs and agencies working in the various subject matters.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">5) What is the worst case scenario if this Board of Supervisors declines to adopt the Plan? What ramifications will that have on the tax payers of Scott County? </div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">If the Board declines to accept the plan; the reference material will remain available as a public comment.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Thank you,</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Todd McGreevy </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">563-650-0120 </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">todd.mcgreevy@gmail.com </div><div><br />
</div></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-66243458848882270702011-04-04T17:03:00.000-07:002011-04-04T17:03:52.797-07:00SECC911 Dead Spot in High Crime Area Costs Taxpayers $17K More to NoBid RacomDespite millions being invested in our consolidated dispatching equipment and a new uncapped taxing authority... it looks like the coverage of Racom's communication equipment is lacking and we have a dead spot that happens to be in a high crime area in Davenport, Iowa. <div><br />
</div><div>So what's the remedy? Spend more tax payer money of course. <a name='more'></a><div>Racom, who got the no-bid contract for the $7M+ equipment for SECC911, just gets another check to plug this hole. Heaven forbid the SECC911 board and staff would press Racom to fix this problem that should have been anticipated. What other dead spots are there in the coverage area that we taxpayers fund with $500K per year of recurring coverage fees? </div><div><br />
The memo below states that "As the Hillandale area is a high crime rate area it is best that we do not delay in obtaining the equipment." But that is preceded with, "Racom has a responsibility to provide communications coverage to 95% of the County. Since this is a small area with coverage issues, this would be a SECC responsibility to resolve."<br />
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So, what circumstances will mean Racom actually fixes something the taxpayers purchased? Who is really running SECC911? Racom?<br />
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There's a SECC911 board meeting this Thursday April 7th at 5:30p.m.<br />
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Details of the dead spot and Racom's bid to fix it are excerpted from the board agenda packet/memo, below:<br />
<blockquote><b><u>Purchase of Bi-Directional Radio Amplifier Equipment Summary</u></b> </blockquote><blockquote>It has recently come to the attention of SECC that there is a communications dead spot in the City of Davenport at 72nd Street and Hillandale Avenue. The City of Davenport reports that this is a high call volume area. On several occasions since joining on the Racom radio network public safety has been called to the Hillandale area and have had issues communicating both in and out of that location. </blockquote><blockquote>Racom has a responsibility to provide communications coverage to 95% of the County. Since this is a small area with coverage issues, this would be a SECC responsibility to resolve. It has been determined that a Bi-Directional Amplifier (BDA) needs to be installed in that area to increase the radio coverage. </blockquote><blockquote>A quote from Racom has been received to obtain and install the necessary equipment. The total amount for equipment and install is in the amount of $17, 843.40. At this time SECC is working with the City of Davenport at securing a tower to locate the BDA equipment on. As the Hillandale area is a high crime rate area it is best that we do not delay in obtaining the equipment. The time to receive the equipment is 30 days once it is ordered. I am recommending that the SECC Board approve the purchase for the above stated equipment to assist in reducing the time to facilitate a resolution. </blockquote>From: <a href="http://www.secc911.org/secc/secc_minutes.php?folder=meetings/2011/20110407">http://www.secc911.org/secc/secc_minutes.php?folder=meetings/2011/20110407</a> >>> <a href="http://www.secc911.org/secc/pub/meetings/2011/20110407/20110407_SECC_Packet.pdf">http://www.secc911.org/secc/pub/meetings/2011/20110407/20110407_SECC_Packet.pdf</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-73422855737603754452011-04-04T17:01:00.000-07:002011-04-04T17:52:35.051-07:00Video: IFA Tours the SECC911 Open HouseMarch 20, 2011 - Davenport, Iowa | Members of the Iowans For Accountability were joined by other Scott County taxpayers at the open house for the $28M, 28,000+ square foot Consolidated Dispatching Center, aka SECC911 building. Below is the copy from the handbill that was handed out to dozens of attendees. The video of the tour is also embedded below for review. <br />
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From the flyer handed out and embedded/linked below.<br />
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/52288433/Did-You-Know-These-SECC911-Facts" style="display: block; font: 14px Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; margin: 12px auto 6px; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Did You Know These SECC911 Facts? on Scribd">Did You Know These SECC911 Facts?</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="1.29411764705882" data-auto-height="true" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_13316" scrolling="no" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/52288433/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-207agmscl30to7jwxpbe" width="100%"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">
(function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "http://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })();
</script><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Unelected SECC Board with Unlimited Taxing Authority</span></b><br />
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The question is NOT if it was a good idea to consolidate the 3 dispatch services for cost and safety reasons. We were told it would save taxpayers $4.6 million over 20 years. That figure came from a $103,000 Consolidation Study that outlined how that savings could be achieved through a 6,000 square foot building, costing $2.3 million, and $2.1 million to equip the building.<br />
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Instead, SECC911 is now a $26 million project carrying $28 million of debt for 20 years, and is the 2nd largest expenditure of the County budget at $8 million dollars a year.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VBGoOhnT_7M?fs=1" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<b> How did an expenditure of this magnitude never come before the people as a referendum? <a name='more'></a></b><br />
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1. Create an independent authority through a joint powers agreement, (the intergovernmental agreement for SECC). The board of directors put in place then has the power to enter into contracts, acquire property, and the authority to approve the purchases.<br />
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2. The County board of supervisors has the ability to create a “local emergency management Fund” and fund this authority through a special levy. That levy is not subject to any of the caps on taxes.” <br />
3. “The City of Davenport is classified as a “Charter City and has the ability to finance capital improvements through the sale of bonds authorized by the City Council”. With a vote by the Davenport City Council, the taxpayer now has a $14 million, 20 year building debt.<br />
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4. The Board of Supervisors then used its bonding powers for the purchase of the emergency communication systems. The SECC budget will authorize the repayment each year for the County’s debt service. So while we all snoozed, we took on a second 20 year, $14 million debt for equipment.<br />
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And that’s how a project that would carry a $28 million debt never came before the people as a referendum.<br />
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Yes, it’s done. We’re standing here looking at a 28,450 square foot building. What we can do now, however, is diligently watch over its $8 million a year price tag. The levy is uncapped.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>There will be immediate pressure to increase taxes.</b></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/27ZP5df7tTs?fs=1" width="480"></iframe><br />
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1. The service contracts that were placed in long term debt will expire and grow the operating budget, <br />
2. Equipment will become obsolete before we’ve paid that 20 year debt, and we’ll be paying for replacement and the original debt.<br />
3. The payroll expense ($4.4M) now sits at where it was projected to be in 2017 and grows each year.<br />
4. The intergovernmental agreement states that 30 months after consolidation, if mutually agreed by the SECC Board and Medic, the 9 Medic dispatchers will become Scott County employees. This could impact the SECC budget by another $650K in salary and benefits<br />
5. SECC is required to build a $1.2 million fund balance reserve.<br />
6. The residential tax rollback is expected to increase by 4% for the next 7 years. Will these additional tax dollars be used to lower the levy rate or grow the agency?<br />
7. Taxation to pay for SECC goes beyond the new tax levy for the long term debt. We have a 911 fee on our cell phone bills, and Scott county could implement a new wireline 911 surcharge. More taxes, more fees, more money.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CheLRs5xsmE?fs=1" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<u><b>Now We Know, Never Again</b></u><br />
In the end, however, the most important lesson is to make sure this doesn’t happen again. Understand how intergovernmental agreements are formed—now we know what can and did happen when a board has the power to contract, purchase, and approve their own purchases and have a uncapped levy at their disposal to pay for it. Will you now engage, attend meetings, watch the board actions and get involved?<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LBiAKb6cONg?fs=1" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-25989098831462807022011-02-27T09:37:00.000-08:002011-02-27T10:31:55.890-08:00Video: Rep. Thede States Removing Collective Bargaining Could Cost Taxpayers More<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">DAVENPORT, IOWA - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">- Friday February 25, 2011</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"></span>Phyllis Thede Iowa District 81 State Representative, discusses what the worst case scenarios could be if Collective Bargaining is removed from the public sector worker's employment. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Thede, who has "been a union steward for a long time," is interviewed after the Quad City Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">During the Legislative Luncheon, Thede had stood up and addressed the fifty to sixty people in attendance and asked them to have a dialog regarding the happenings in Wisconsin and specifically the "middle ground" regarding Collective Bargaining. ( See this video clip for her statements to the chamber luncheon attendees: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2lP5QF2a3s">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2lP5QF2a3s</a> ) <br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lK_6BWV3Cw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lK_6BWV3Cw</a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="330" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6lK_6BWV3Cw" title="YouTube video player" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">When asked what the worst case scenario is for a public worker without collective bargaining, Thede responded: Where will public workers go to have "that conversation, who do they talk to?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Q: How does it hurt the public worker if they have to go the same remedies that the private sector has to go to with regards to resolving a problem? </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">A: It's not so much hurting, it's the cost, the potential cost. If had no other recourse, as a public worker, I will now seek an attorney. I will go to an attorney thereby costing the place of my employment high dollars of money to solve a case that I could probably solve in a short amount of time. Doe that make sense? </div><a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Q: So you're saying that if collective bargaining is removed that the cost is imparted back on the state for that worker to defend themselves? </span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">A: Well, I think it would be, I think it could be. It could be. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">If we eliminate this, pretty soon we will start eliminating other things too. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Thede explained that in her view, without collective bargaining, "People who are not strong, what they are going to do is give up and quit. I don't want people doing that. What I want people doing is to be able to have a process. And that's what this is. This is a process so that they're able to talk to someone. It may be that such a thing that maybe they did not look at this correctly and we may be able to point them in a right direction. It's not that they're always right. Cause that's not always the case. It could be that they could have a different view and we need to help them get along with this." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">When asked if she would support a measure to have the 84% of the Iowa state public sector workers who now pay 0% of their health care premiums, pay something more than 0%, Thede stated: </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">"I don't know that, it's hard to know that. You don't know what that bill looks like. I don't know what that bills going to look like. You can throw me numbers but they are not going to be realistic. I don't mind (paying) because I know the cost of health care goes up. So if you're asking me to pay something, if it's reasonable, then I totally understand." </div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-75561793148957102482011-02-27T09:26:00.000-08:002011-02-27T09:33:44.398-08:00Video: Regional Leadership Cited as Impetus for County Checkbook Going Online<a href="http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/auditor/checkbook.php">http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/auditor/checkbook.php</a><br />
Beginning Feb 1st, 2011 the expenses of Scott County will be published approximately every two weeks online in searchable PDF format, sorted by Vendor and by Department.<br />
After the news conference (video and news release below), Auditor Moritz stated that having an aggregate report in the future, documenting quarterly, bi-annual and annual expenses by Vendor and Department, was something they had not thought of, but she would work on making that happen.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="293" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ThC-GfcFi3c" title="YouTube video player" width="350"></iframe><br />
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News Release Submitted to the Media:<br />
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<b>Scott County to Post "County Checkbook" On-Line<br />
Cites Regional Leadership Goal as Impetus for Transparency </b><br />
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Tuesday, February 22, 2011<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThC-GfcFi3c#">10:00</a> a.m.<br />
Scott County Administrative Center - 600 West 4th Street<br />
Davenport, Iowa - First Floor Board Room<br />
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Contact: Roxanna Moritz, Scott County Auditor 326-8631 (office) 370-3915 (cell)<br />
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Scott County Auditor Roxanna Moritz will announce the posting of the "County Checkbook" on-line at a news conference scheduled for Tuesday, February 22, 2011, at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThC-GfcFi3c#">10:00</a> a.m. at the Scott County Administrative Center, 600 West 4th Street, Davenport, Iowa. She and other county officials will demonstrate how to access this new function from the county website.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
"I am very pleased to announce this latest innovation in providing information to the public on how county government spends the taxpayers' dollars," Moritz said. "My office staff began the discussion on how to implement this improvement in late 2009. We experimented with some different options last year, finally settling on the product we are releasing today, she said.<br />
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The public will have access to the accounts payable reports prepared for the Board of Supervisors which shows spending by county department and separate government agencies for which the county provides accounts payable services. Also included will be Board reports for county spending by purchase cards. The separate government agencies include Scott County Assessor, Scott County Library, Scott Emergency Communications Center, Davenport City Assessor and some payments for the Iowa Department of Human Services based in Scott County.<br />
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The reports will be displayed in a searchable PDF format. They will include an alphabetic listing of vendors as well as a departmental report.<br />
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Scott County will be the first major county in Iowa to provide its "checkbook" on-line for the general public to see. "We are joining a growing number of counties and cities in the nation in providing better transparency for local government," Moritz said. "Providing this information to the public will help Scott County to meet a Board goal of regional leadership," she added.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-17471965124716346032011-02-06T22:14:00.000-08:002011-02-09T06:58:38.031-08:00Video: The Councils of Governments Amongst Us – Scott County Adopts Ten Smart Planning Principles Resolution, 5-0<style type="text/css">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">It needs to be noted that in individual conversations with board members, the primary reason given for adopting <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/48307812/Scott-County-Iowa-Smart-Planning-Resolution-Feb-3-2011">this non-binding measure</a> was to ensure that Scott County was eligible for future potential state and federal grants, related to Sustainable Development and Smart Planning incentives. <br />
While the financial impetus for rubber stamping this measure was <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ScottIFATV#p/u/0/_kw0JmZmp8g">brought up by staff in public on January 20th</a>, on February 3rd, Supervisors Cusak and Minard, in their public remarks, did not include grant eligibility as a reason they were voting yes on the staff recommended measure. <br />
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Rather, the reasoning leaned towards whether an additional layer of government was needed in the county so cities and counties could "accommodate themselves" in determining the "quality of life we think they should have."<br />
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Supervisor Bill Cusack felt assured from staff that these were only guidelines, while supervisor Larry Minard extolled the virtues of layers of regional councils of governments such as <a href="http://www.bistateonline.com/index_ns.shtml">Bi-State Regional Commission</a>. Further, Minard asserts that not only is Scott County powerless to refuse any new taxes to support such a new entities that may emerge as a result of adopting these Smart Planning Principles, but Scott County would be an active participant. <br />
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William Cusack on Subjecting County to Outside Pressures:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b>“I just want to say I’ve done a lot of checking on this, and thinking, and based upon staff’s assurance that this is a guide and will not subject us to any outside pressures or influence, I plan to vote for it.”<br />
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</b></i><br />
Larry Minard on Regional Councils of Governments: </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b>“I don’t think there’s ever been a time in the Bi-State Regional Commission where we haven’t held one of the four major offices. I mean it’s just the way things work. I think this layering is necessary. <br />
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The state government, has allowed these structures to develop, they’re not perfect, but they’ve allowed them to develop to meet all those needs, and if such an organization does develop that relates to planning and other issues that might come before it, Smart Planning Principles, the state will decide that and they will decide whether it’s a taxable organization or it doesn’t tax. <br />
</b></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b>They will decide what’s going to happen, we won’t. But I can guarantee you that if we have that organization that Scott County will be a participant and play an active role.</b></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b>And we always have and we will continue to do that and we will do what best reflects well of the citizens of Scott County and allows our people to have that quality of life that we think they should have.” </b></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Full transcript of the Supervisors' comments are found below.<br />
Video here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ScottIFATV#p/u/1/-XPKxo4lg4w">http://www.youtube.com/user/ScottIFATV#p/u/1/-XPKxo4lg4w</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><object style="height: 300px; width: 500px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-XPKxo4lg4w?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-XPKxo4lg4w?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="500" height="300"></object><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>February 3, 2011 | Davenport, Iowa – The Scott County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to adopt the state's Smart Planning Principles for the County Comprehensive Plan. </b><br />
This resolution, first proffered by staff via the Planning and Zoning division of the county structure for a recommendation, came before the supervisors for a single public hearing as required, two weeks prior. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
(Note: It was previously incorrectly reported on this blog that there would be a second public hearing for this matter. Resolutions require only a single reading or public hearing, and are NOT cited as “one of one readings” when posted. Ordinances require two to three readings/public hearings prior to a vote by the Board and are cited “one of two” or “one of three readings” in the Agendas and Minutes.) <br />
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Concerns about additional layers of regional governance, future unaccountable taxing bodies and threats to personal and individual liberties and freedoms espoused by Agenda 21 and now being echoed in the state's statutory Smart Planning Principles were shared at the January 20<sup>th</sup> public hearing. <br />
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In addition, each board member was provided a copy of the document published by FreedomAdvocates.org entitled “Understanding Sustainable Development - Agenda 21.”<br />
<a href="http://www.freedomadvocates.org/page,shop.product_details/flypage,flypage.tpl/product_id,2/category_id,4/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,54/">http://www.freedomadvocates.org/page,shop.product_details/flypage,flypage.tpl/product_id,2/category_id,4/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,54/</a><br />
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More details and video from Jan 20<sup>th</sup> public hearing are available here: <a href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/01/regional-governance-more-taxes-being.html">http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/01/regional-governance-more-taxes-being.html</a><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The first copy of the resolution being voted on Feb 3<sup>rd </sup> was made available for the Committee of Whole on Feb 1<sup>st</sup> (<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/48307812/Scott-County-Iowa-Smart-Planning-Resolution-Feb-3-2011">http://www.scribd.com/doc/48307812/Scott-County-Iowa-Smart-Planning-Resolution-Feb-3-2011</a>) <br />
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At the Feb 1<sup>st</sup> Committee of the Whole meeting, I proposed to the board to add a section to the Resolution to be voted on this Thursday that precludes this body from ceding any authority to a multi-jurisdictional council of governments and that precludes any new taxes to be levied to pay for such a council of governments.<br />
<a href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/02/mcgreevy-addresses-scott-county-board.html">http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/02/mcgreevy-addresses-scott-county-board.html</a><br />
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The board did not reply on Feb 1<sup>st</sup> to this, but on Feb 3<sup>rd</sup> two of the five member board did offer their thoughts on why they were supporting this Resolution to amend the county's comprehensive plan document. </div>It needs to be noted that in individual conversations with board members, the primary reason given for adopting this non-binding measure was to ensure that Scott County was eligible for future potential state and federal grants, related to Sustainable Development and Smart Planning incentives. <br />
While the financial impetus for rubber stamping this measure was <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ScottIFATV#p/u/0/_kw0JmZmp8g">brought up by staff in public on January 20th</a>, on February 3rd, Supervisors Cusak and Minard chose not to include grant eligibility as a reason they were voting yes on the staff recommended measure.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><u><b>Transcripts:</b></u><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
(Thank you Diane Holst for transcribing.)</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>William Cusack</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I just want to say I’ve done a lot of checking on this, and thinking, and based upon staff’s assurance that this is a guide and will not subject us to any outside pressures or influence, I plan to vote for it.”</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Larry Minard</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“I would like to address the issues that I think that they are, or at as I see them anyway. I think the Smart Planning Principles do align with our comprehensive plan that was recently revised, and therefore have no problem with them. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Scott County has an average of 350 people per sq mile. The Ten Principles I think when you have that level of density of population in the county are necessary really and provide framework for people to have their interests met and their needs in organized open and flexible way in a way that will in fact probably change with the times and it might be that in 2040 there will be an 11th Smart Planning Principle and maybe even before that. The list doesn’t necessarily imply that it is locked together, with everything else forever. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The second issue that ‘s here, is one which Supervisor Cusack alluded to, that a new Council of Government or Regional Council with whatever authority the State might give it would be another layer of government and take away some of the independence you might say or authority that Scott County might have at this time. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">My comments are this. Iowa counties are small, Scott County - I looked this up today- is 450 sq miles. By any standard, that’s a fairly small area, and our county was created in 1837 in a design that was appropriate for that time and place, 175 years ago, and obviously those years have past and with it a whole host of new issues and technologies have arisen which, um, place us in a situation where what might have been adequate at one time may not serve the needs of Scott County residents in this new century. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So we have all kinds of ways that governments can work together, for instance, 28E agreements. They allow cities and counties, or cities and cities, or counties and counties to work together. There are literally thousands of 28E agreements throughout Iowa that enable us to function and meet the needs of people as they are now. We have community college districts, that (unintelligible) our case a certain set of counties, and they can tax, but that was created in the 1960’s to meet the needs of Iowans at that particular time and they continue to be true today. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We have judicial districts that we’re in that are another set of counties, 5 counties. Now we don’t tax in the judicial districts, the state provides funding for judicial districts, but, uh, we do have a 28E agreement with staff in helping accommodate some of the issues that arise with the prisoners in these 5 counties, and it saves us money, cause 5 counties can be more efficient than one, especially some of these very small ones. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We have Bi-State (Bi-State Regional Commission) that we work with, five counties, three in Illinois, two in Iowa, that provides a variety of services for us and serve the needs of all the citizens in this County. <br />
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And, I’ll mention one, which I know that there’s controversy about, the Scott Emergency Communication’s commission (sic: Scott County Emergency Communication Center, or SECC911), is an organization of with the County and the largest communities and a private organization, Medic, all participating together to provide services. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I think this layering is necessary. You’ve got an 1837 government structure and you’re living in the 21st century, and so the state, over time, has created these very layers of government to meet the needs of people as they have arisen. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We sit at the table of all of those organizations. Supervisor Sunderbruch is the chair of SECC. I’ve been chair of the 7th judicial district for the past few years. Carol Earhardt is now treasurer of the Bi-State Regional Commission, much to her surprise. Chris Gallin was before that. I don’t think there’s ever been a time in the Bi-State Regional Commission where we haven’t held one of the four major offices. I mean it’s just the way things work. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Iowa has, the state government, has allowed these structures to develop, they’re not perfect, but they’ve allowed them to develop to meet all those needs, and if such an organization does develop that relates to planning and other issues that might come before it, Smart Planning Principles, the state will decide that and they will decide whether it’s a taxable organization or it doesn’t tax. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">They will decide what’s going to happen, we won’t. But I can guarantee you that if we have that organization that Scott County will be a participant and play an active role.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And we always have and we will continue to do that and we will do what best reflects well of the citizens of Scott County and allows our people to have that quality of life that we think they should have. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So, I don’t see this as anything negative. It’s a way states and counties and cities accommodate themselves to an ever changing citizenry and ever changing technology, and, and the things that have to be done in a smooth way. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And so, we will, if such a things comes about with the state of iowa, we will be a part of it and we will exercise those obligations in making sure it works well for all of us. So, I’m going to vote yes on this, and do not have a problem.”</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Note: The 7<sup>th</sup> Judicial District entity Minard refers to is the “Court Services Board.” <br />
Check pages 74-75 of the 2010 Appointments list: <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/48305754/Scott-County-Iowa-2010-Boards-and-Commission-Appointments">http://www.scribd.com/doc/48305754/Scott-County-Iowa-2010-Boards-and-Commission-Appointments</a><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-68214761679457186782011-02-01T23:39:00.000-08:002011-02-02T19:22:35.395-08:00Video: Holst Goes on Record at the EMA Hearing - SECC Misleading the Public<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Nothing that has happened so far gives me faith that you are watching over our tax dollars. When you have a uncapped levy, nothing will control it. There will always be enough money. You'll never be afraid to pass the budget, because there will always be the money. What's happened to date, makes me realize, the taxpayers have to watch over this. And that's why I am here today."</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> - Diane Holst, Eldridge, Iowa</span><br />
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<b>Davenport, Iowa - Feb 1, 2011 | Scott County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Board Meeting and Public Hearing</b><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdSk2fDQETM"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Scott County Iowa EMA Board Meeting and Public Hearing 1 of 3</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> (11 mins)</span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COsn9lTQZS0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Scott County Iowa EMA Board Meeting and Public Hearing 2 of 3</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> (11 mins)</span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV_zDc3P70Y"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Scott County Iowa EMA Board Meeting and Public Hearing 3 of 3</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> (3 mins)</span><br />
Only two tax payers were present for nearly an $8M budget approval public hearing.<br />
The man on the right, <a href="http://iascema.com/contactus.aspx">Ross Bergen, is the single employee of the Emergency Management Agency</a>, and it is within and underneath this agency functionary that the <a href="http://www.secc911.org/secc/">SECC911</a> operational budget must finally and formally be approved today.<br />
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Ross' one man show operational budget is $126,500 and he has been around for 18 years and is a liaison with the nuclear plants and maintains a 40' mobil command unit purchased with a federal grant (and is driven by two volunteers, one a former fire chief and the other a OTR driver).<br />
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Ross has been operating in loaned space in Bettendorf for four years and is now moving into the new SECC911 building as well.<br />
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/48059714/Scott-County-EMA-Agenda-Feb-1-2011">Today's proceedings,</a> chaired by Bettendorf Fire Chief Gerald Voelliger, included a presentation, public hearing on a $8.85M FY 11 budget amendment for SECC operations.<br />
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In addition to this "re-do" that cost tax payers an additional $1M , today's proceedings also included presentation and public hearing on the <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/48059714/Scott-County-EMA-Agenda-Feb-1-2011">FY 12 EMA Budget</a>. This EMA budget, typically $125K, is now nearly $8M, because of the requirement that SECC fall under EMA on paper, even though SECC911 is really operating under the purview and control of the County Administration.<br />
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This meeting is clearly treated as a formality of little consequence, as the SECC911 Board has already met and approved its $7M annual operating budget. It just NOW needs to ALSO be approved at the EMA's board process, with a public hearing as well.<br />
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Since February 2010, Diane Holst has been following the SECC911 saga very closely.<br />
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In addition to attending multiple meetings, investigating budget details and contracts, she compiled the 5 page history of the SECC911 project as reported in the Quad City Times (an official County newspaper of record) from May 2004 to June 2010.<br />
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/40287442/history-of-secc911-2004-10-via-qctimes">http://www.scribd.com/doc/40287442/history-of-secc911-2004-10-via-qctimes</a><br />
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Diane told me that despite the blizzard conditions brewing outside this February 1st, she was going to be present at this public hearing. To her, this was a rare opportunity to be on the public record regarding the SECC911 project.<br />
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Recall that in 2007, when there was an unprecedented joint session of the Scott County Board, Davenport and Bettendorf City Councils to create this multi-jurisdictional new taxing entity, scrutiny and questioning of the project was highly discouraged. <a href="http://qctimes.com/news/local/article_d62a6342-99c0-58c2-8f39-e854d28b1441.html">According to the Quad City Times</a>, Davenport Alderman Keith Meyers "tried to engage members of the Bettendorf council on the issue but was called out of order by county board chairman Jim Hancock. Davenport Mayer Ed Winborn agreed and called for the vote."<br />
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</div><div>Bettendorf narrowly approved it 4-3. <b>Strange to consider that one vote on the Bettendorf City Council could have altered this rubber stamp that was being ushered through.</b> Maybe that's what Meyer was trying to do? Make an argument to the ones voting yes on the Bettendorf Council?<br />
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</div><div>According to the same Times article, "Bettendorf Alderman Debe LaMar, 3rd Ward, voted against the measure because it was short on specifics. LaMar was the only member of the Bettendorf council to speak against the measure during the meeting. After the meeting, she said she was concerned that the agreement doesn’t offer specifics on how calls will be handled, is worried that dispatchers will lose the relationships they share with police and fire departments by being employed in the same building and that the costs of the communication center are more than what has been estimated."</div><div><br />
Since that vote in December 2007, the public has had two opportunities to be heard -- at the bonding hearings for the equipment and building. The record shows no one from the public was present at the public hearings. Back then, no concerned citizens had done the homework that Holst has done now.<br />
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<b>And why would the public pay close attention?</b> Consolidating the dispatching operations of three jurisdictions in a county made good sense and would increase safety and save money. Alderman LaMar was obviously wrong with her concerns, and Alderman Meyer was ruled out of order for trying to engage Bettendorf council people in the matter.<br />
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Fast forward two years, and when people started getting their property taxes and found out the increase was 90 cents, not 53 cents as it was sold to us… and what was sold as a 6000 sf facility was now a 27,000 sf fortress… that's when groups like <a href="http://www.scottcountyifa.com/">Iowans For Accountability</a> organized, and people like Diane Holst started leading by example and holding our public servants accountable.<br />
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In video 2 of 3 Diane Holst, from Eldridge, Iowa, addresses the non-elected EMA board and, citing newspaper accounts and quotes, and she asserts that this body and staff have been understating the true cost to the taxpayers... referring to smaller component amounts, with and without federal grant funds included, and never truly stating that all told the cost to taxpayers is $32M (nearly 8X more than what this supposed to save taxpayers when it was sold to them), over the same 20 years.<br />
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SECC911 director, Brian Hitchcock, when asked budgeting and reporting questions during the public hearing, by Diane Holst, has to defer to the county administrator, who is not at this meeting, for each question.<br />
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Diane Holst: Why is the equipment bond payment for the year, the $750,000 isn't in the actual budget number? It includes the building but not the equipment."</div><div>Brian Hitchcock, SECC Director: "I believe that Dee would probably be a better answer to that. She would know how to answer that more than better than I am. For some reason they had Scott County pay back that loan. I am not sure how."</div><div>"So it's really closer to $8M when you add the $750,000," Holst states.<br />
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"I'm more the technical and operational aspect of it," says Brian.<br />
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Hitchcock was left to hang out there on his own, no board member, including Jim Hancock, Chairman of the Scott County board when SECC was formed in 2007, refuted Holst's assertion that the true costs of SECC were being misstated.<br />
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"As I hear some of these statements thrown around, I get concerned about the facts. We hear about 1400 radios getting purchased 'with a grant'. That's not quite true. Yes, $2.7 M were, but $4.4 were not and that came out of us. And little statements like that concern me and I think they are misleading to the public.<br />
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And when you make a statement that to build and equip the building is $7.3 M, well that's not really correct. $7.3M was the building. To equip it was another $3.38M."<br />
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Hitchcock takes issue with that assertion, that the $3.8 was "not in the original cost of the building". He eventually states, "I think that were talking maybe furniture or something like that."<br />
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Holst states her concerns about going into debt for equipment over a 20 year period for equipment that has a life span, in various reports, from 3 to 10 years, and service contracts are in the bonds that will expire within the 20 year bonding period that will have to be renewed and incur further debt. When this equipment's done we're gonna be refinancing equipment."<br />
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"Choose your words wisely when you tell the public when this grand opening happens, what it really costs, and that is $26 million.<br />
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Once the discussions about how the 29C was going to be put into place (to create this) the discussions about how much this was going to save us, were gone. Never heard it again. All the events being discussed were how much was going to be bonded to pay for it.<br />
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Why am I here? Nothing that has happened so far gives me faith that you are watching over our tax dollars. When you have a uncapped levy, nothing will control it. There will always be enough money. You'll never be afraid to pass the budget, because there will always be the money. What's happened to date, makes me realize, the taxpayers have to watch over this. And that's why I am here today."<br />
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<i><b>Additional Commentary & Analysis from River Cities' Reader:</b></i><br />
<a class="contentpagetitle" href="http://rcreader.com/commentary/secc-means-emergency-for-taxpayers/"><i><b>New SECC Means Emergency for Scott County Taxpayers </b></i></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8882538150356343890.post-58779440545879900582011-02-01T08:24:00.000-08:002011-02-06T20:30:19.653-08:00Video: McGreevy Addresses Scott County Board Feb 1, 2011<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vaQFybNYsK8" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="425"></iframe><br />
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At the Tuesday, <a href="http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/board/enclosures.php?folder=enclosures/2011/20110201%20Board%20Meeting">February 1, 2011 Scott County Board of Supervisors Committee of the Whole (COW</a>), Bettendorf resident Todd McGreevy addresses the board and shares with them a <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/47975715/Searchable-Documenation-Concerned-Citizen-Petition-for-Board-Action">proposed resolution to update the county's website policy</a> to make documents generated and posted by staff searchable and more transparent.<br />
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In addition, the concerns of ceding authority to a Council of Governments via the Smart Planning Principles outlined in the state code 18B Land Use language,<a href="http://www2.scottcountyiowa.com/board/pub/enclosures/2011/20110201%20Board%20Meeting/FE-4.pdf"> that is being proposed to be adopted this Thursday by the County into its Comprehensive Plan</a>, is presented. <br />
<a name='more'></a>In the video, McGreevy cites an example that Supervisor Minard mentioned before the meeting, of good regional collaboration, that McGreevy agrees with, but also points out that<b> this body did not need to create a new multi-jurisdictional taxing authority to pursue such regional collaborations and that by adopting these Smart Planning Principles, the board is "opening a door to project creep" that will eventually cede authority to a regional council of governments that will levy additional taxes in order to fund itself.</b> (See earlier posting for more details: <a href="http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/01/regional-governance-more-taxes-being.html">http://scottcountyifa.blogspot.com/2011/01/regional-governance-more-taxes-being.html</a>)<br />
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McGreevy proposes to the board to add a section to the Resolution to be voted on this Thursday that precludes this body from ceding any authority to a multi-jurisdictional council of governments and that precludes any new taxes to be levied to pay for such a council of governments.<br />
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The board did not reply. The final public hearing for the Smart Planning Principles adoption is Thursday Feb 3, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. at the County Building in downtown Davenport, Iowa.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b>(Note: It was incorrectly reported here above that there would be a second public hearing for this matter. Resolutions require only a single reading or public hearing, and are NOT cited as “one of one readings” when posted. Ordinances require two to three readings/public hearings prior to a vote by the Board and are cited “one of two” or “one of three readings” in the Agendas and Minutes.) </b></i> </div><br />
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<a href="http://search.legis.state.ia.us/nxt/gateway.dll?f=xhitlist$xhitlist_x=Advanced$xhitlist_vpc=first$xhitlist_xsl=querylink.xsl$xhitlist_sel=title;path;content-type;home-title;item-bookmark$xhitlist_d=%7BIowaCode%7D$xhitlist_q=[field%20folio-destination-name:%2718B.1%27]$xhitlist_md=target-id=0-0-0-22531">Iowa Code 18B.1</a> pasted in below for easy access: <br />
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18B.1 Iowa smart planning principles.<br />
State agencies, local governments, and other public entities shall consider and may apply the following principles during deliberation of all appropriate planning, zoning, development, and resource management decisions, except that nothing in this section shall be construed to expand the eminent domain authority of a state agency, local government, or other public entity beyond that which is authorized under chapter 6A or 6B:<br />
1. Collaboration. Governmental, community, and individual stakeholders, including those outside the jurisdiction of the entity, are encouraged to be involved and provide comment during deliberation of planning, zoning, development, and resource management decisions and during implementation of such decisions. The state agency, local government, or other public entity is encouraged to develop and implement a strategy to facilitate such participation.<br />
2. Efficiency, transparency, and consistency. Planning, zoning, development, and resource management should be undertaken to provide efficient, transparent, and consistent outcomes. Individuals, communities, regions, and governmental entities should share in the responsibility to promote the equitable distribution of development benefits and costs.<br />
3. Clean, renewable, and efficient energy. Planning, zoning, development, and resource management should be undertaken to promote clean and renewable energy use and increased energy efficiency.<br />
4. Occupational diversity. Planning, zoning, development, and resource management should promote increased diversity of employment and business opportunities, promote access to education and training, expand entrepreneurial opportunities, and promote the establishment of businesses in locations near existing housing, infrastructure, and transportation.<br />
5. Revitalization. Planning, zoning, development, and resource management should facilitate the revitalization of established town centers and neighborhoods by promoting development that conserves land, protects historic resources, promotes pedestrian accessibility, and integrates different uses of property. Remediation and reuse of existing sites, structures, and infrastructure is preferred over new construction in undeveloped areas.<br />
6. Housing diversity. Planning, zoning, development, and resource management should encourage diversity in the types of available housing, support the rehabilitation of existing housing, and promote the location of housing near public transportation and employment centers.<br />
7. Community character. Planning, zoning, development, and resource management should promote activities and development that are consistent with the character and architectural style of the community and should respond to local values regarding the physical character of the community.<br />
8. Natural resources and agricultural protection. Planning, zoning, development, and resource management should emphasize protection, preservation, and restoration of natural resources, agricultural land, and cultural and historic landscapes, and should increase the availability of open spaces and recreational facilities.<br />
9. Sustainable design. Planning, zoning, development, and resource management should promote developments, buildings, and infrastructure that utilize sustainable design and construction standards and conserve natural resources by reducing waste and pollution through efficient use of land, energy, water, air, and materials.<br />
10. Transportation diversity. Planning, zoning, development, and resource management should promote expanded transportation options for residents of the community. Consideration should be given to transportation options that maximize mobility, reduce congestion, conserve fuel, and improve air quality.<br />
2010 Acts, ch 1184, §17<br />
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