Grassley to Hold Town Meeting  Des Moines County

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, April 6th, 2022 at 8:58 pm CDT

 

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) will hold town meetings next week in Allamakee County on Monday, April 11, Clinton County on Tuesday, April 12 and Des Moines County on Wednesday, April 13 as part of his annual 99 county meetings.

“You can’t have representative government without dialogue between elected officials and the people we represent,” Grassley said. “I appreciate the opportunity to hold town meetings, answer questions and take comments. My annual 99 county meetings are one way I regularly keep in touch with Iowans to better represent them at the policymaking tables in Washington.”

 This is Grassley’s 42nd year of holding meetings in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties. Grassley has held at least one meeting in every county, every year since he was first elected to serve in the U.S. Senate. He takes and answers questions on any subject raised. Iowans set the agenda.

Wednesday, April 13

Des Moines County Town Meeting

8 – 9 a.m.

Burlington Public Library

210 Court St.

Burlington

*Grassley will be available for 15 minutes after the meeting to answer questions from local reporters.

 

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Henry County Supervisors Meeting Agenda

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, April 6th, 2022 at 6:32 pm CDT

 Chad White, Vice-Chairman             Marc Lindeen, Member        Greg Moeller, Chairman    

           319-385-0759                                 319-385-0760                            319-385-0761________                       

 

 AGENDA

 

April 7, 2022

 

Approve Agenda

 

Approve Minutes

 

9:00 Monthly Department Head Meeting

 

10:00 Public Health Shelley Van Dorin to Discuss Part Time PRN

 

Other County Business as time allows

 

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

 

Hwy 78 Bridge Closure

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, April 6th, 2022 at 4:17 pm CDT

Replacement of the Iowa 78 bridge over the Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern Railroad, about 2.5 miles west of Richland, in Keokuk County, will require closing the Iowa 78 bridge over the railroad beginning on Monday, April 11, until late fall 2022, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Fairfield construction office.

During this project, through traffic on Iowa 78 will be detoured using Keokuk/Jefferson County Road V-63 (270th Avenue), Jefferson County Road H-17 (120th Street), and Iowa 1. Local traffic will have access to Iowa 78 except for the lanes crossing the bridge over the railroad at Iowa 78 mile marker 8.8 (see map).

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

Daily Jail Count

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, April 6th, 2022 at 3:40 pm CDT

Henry County Jail

In the interest of keeping Henry County residents informed, the Henry County Sheriff’s office has requested KILJ post the daily jail count. During the jail referendum campaign it was publicized that the jail would be able to house additional inmates from surrounding counties and this would generate revenue for Henry County.

 

Date:   ____4-6-2022_____

 

  24    Henry County Inmates

 

 43_    Out of County Contract Inmates              

 

 67  Total

National Safe Digging Month recognizes importance of One Call law

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, April 6th, 2022 at 2:53 pm CDT

IUB reminds Iowans to Call 811 or contact Iowa One Call before beginning to dig

 
(Des Moines) – April brings warmer temperatures and outdoor projects that often involve digging. The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) joins the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, Iowa One Call, and Common Ground Iowa to remind Iowans during National Safe Digging Month to always schedule a utility location request through Iowa One Call or by calling 811 prior to beginning any digging work. Calling 811 is free ― and it’s the law.

Whether you are a resident, contractor, or professional excavator, a call to 811 or submitting information online to IowaOneCall.com notifies operators with underground utility facilities of your intent to dig. Iowa law requires that any resident or professional excavator contact 811 or Iowa One Call a minimum of two business days before digging to prevent serious injuries, utility service disruptions, and possible costly repairs that could occur when buried gas, electric, communications, water, or sewer lines are damaged.

Once a locate request is submitted, utility companies visit the site, typically within two business days, to mark the underground utilities with color-coded flags and paint that indicate where utility lines are buried. The Attorney General’s (AG) office enforces the One Call law and the IUB assists the AG by investigating One Call complaints. The IUB recommends following these steps before starting any digging project:

  • Plan ahead and always call 811 at least 48 hours before digging anywhere.
  • Consider relocating any digging project that is near utility line markings.
  • Confirm that any contractor you have hired has called 811. Don’t allow digging if utility lines aren’t marked.

Iowa’s 811 call center is available to receive locate requests and assist with damage prevention needs. Learn more by visiting the Iowa One Call or Call 811 websites. Safe digging information is also available on the IUB website.

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The Iowa Utilities Board regulates utilities to ensure that reasonably priced, reliable, environmentally responsible, and safe utility services are available to all Iowans.

Follow the Board on Twitter: https://twitter.com/iub_now

SITE COMMITTEE MEETING

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, April 6th, 2022 at 2:25 pm CDT

Mt. Pleasant CSD – Central Office

1010 East Washington Street – Suite 102

Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641

 The Mount Pleasant Board of Education SITE COMMITTEE will meet at 4:00 PM on Thursday, April 7, 2022, to review/discuss:

  1. 2022-2023 Buildings and Grounds Projects Update
  2. Traffic Study Update
  3. HVAC Retro-Commissioning Work Update

 The meeting is open to the public and patrons are welcome.

Congressional Art Competition Details

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, April 6th, 2022 at 2:15 pm CDT

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02) announces the launch of the 2022 Congressional Art Competition. This annual competition is conducted by the U.S. House of Representatives to showcase the talent of high school students from across.

“I am thrilled to announce the launch of this year’s Congressional Art Competition. Last year I was pleased to see so many incredible pieces of art from across the Second District,” said Miller-Meeks. “I would encourage any student or art teacher with questions or interest in submitting for this year to contact my office. I look forward to seeing the creativity and artistic talent of the Second District on full display!”

Background:

This year’s winner will receive two round-trip tickets to Washington, D.C. to attend a Congressional reception honoring the winner from each Congressional district and will have their work displayed in the halls of the U.S. Capitol for one calendar year. Runners-up will have the opportunity to have their art put on display in Miller-Meeks’ offices in Ottumwa and Davenport.

The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students (9th – 12th grade) who reside or attend school in the Second Congressional District. The submission period for the Spring 2022 Congressional Art Competition is now open through Friday, April 22nd at 5pm.

 Artwork Entry Criteria:

  • Rules for the Congressional Art Competition are available HERE
  • Must be two-dimensional and no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide, 4 inches in depth
  • Must not weigh more than 15 pounds
  • Art pieces are NOT required to be framed for judging; however, if your artwork is selected as the winning piece, it must measure no larger than the maximum dimensions and weight when framed
  • Medium types include painting, photography, drawing, mixed media, and others (i.e., computer-generated art, collages, etc.)
  • Only one entry per student will be accepted
  • Must be original in concept, design, and execution, and may not violate U.S. copyright laws

 Submission Deadline and Instructions:

  • Please submit two high-quality photos in JPG format to William.Ahlquist@mail.house.gov by Friday, April 22nd at 5pm
  • Make sure to include a copy of the 2022 Student Release Form in PDF format
  • In the subject line of the email, please include the following information:
    • “Your name – Name of the piece – Medium”

Custom Rate Survey Shows Average Costs of Common Farming Practices

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, April 6th, 2022 at 2:01 pm CDT
Practices include tillage, planting, harvesting and more

AMES, Iowa – Many Iowa farmers hire some custom machine work in their farm business or perform custom work for others. Others rent machinery or perform other services.

In order to help producers and custom operators examine the market, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publishes the Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey.

This year’s survey, published in March, includes 122 responses and nearly 3,400 custom rates for tasks related to tillage, planting and seeding, spraying, harvesting, farm labor and more.

Most custom rates saw an increase of 3-10%, according to Alejandro Plastina, associate professor in economics and extension economist at Iowa State, and one of the authors of the report.

The cost for labor increased almost 14%, reflecting the challenges of a tight labor market nationwide.

Vertical tillage averages $19.30 per acre, with a range of $12 to $31 per acre. Tandem disking costs an average of $16.20 an acre and heavy or offset disking costs an average of $18.60 per acre.

Custom planting ranges from $11 to $40 per acre, depending on the type of planter and setup. Combining corn shows an average of $36.75 per acre and combining soybeans averages $36.05 per acre.

Plastina said some costs have already trended higher, due to increases in diesel and fuel prices since the survey was issued. The survey assumed diesel prices would be $3.33 a gallon in 2022, based on forecasts from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

“The survey may lag increases in diesel prices and other inputs in some areas,” said Plastina. “This means that for custom farming practices that involve these inputs, the cost may be even higher.”

Plastina said the information in the survey is meant to be a starting point for farmers and agribusiness to engage in conversations and negotiations.

“The survey is not meant to set the rate for a particular practice or operator,” he said. “This is an opinion survey and represents the responses of participants.”

Plastina said he appreciates the information that participants provide, although he noted there are fewer responses each year. In the future, if responses fall below five per cost item, that item will be removed.

This survey is only possible with the participation of Iowa farmers, custom operators and farm managers. To join the survey list for 2023, email the survey authors.

For more information, Plastina can be reached at 515-294-6160 or plastina@iastate.edu, and Ann Johanns can be reached at 515-337-2766 or aholste@iastate.edu.

Shareable photo: Planter in action.

 

 

 

 

For more information about this release, contact:

 

Alejandro Plastina

Extension Economist
515-294-6160
plastina@iastate.edu

Ann Johanns

Department of Economics
515-337-2766
aholste@iastate.edu

 

 

 

Find this news release online: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/custom-rate-survey-shows-average-costs-common-farming-practices

 

Additional news releases: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/