Economic impact study reveals new data on jobs, wages and economic output, beating pre-pandemic levels

 [WEST DES MOINES, Iowa]—March 21, 2023— In Iowa, more than 325,800 jobs totaling $13.9 billion in wages are directly attributed to agriculture, according to the seventh annual Feeding the Economy report released by 25 food and agriculture groups.

The agricultural industry is also responsible for $96.5 billion of direct economic output in the state. When factoring in “induced impact” of linked food and agriculture industries and the spending power of those employed by them, Iowa agriculture’s economic impact more than doubles to $221.8 billion.

            “These numbers say what we already know—progress in agriculture starts with people,” says Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson. “As new technology and markets are developed to increase agricultural sustainability and offer more choices to the consumer, it will be these people with boots-on-the-ground who continue to make Iowa agriculture even stronger than it is today.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, between 1948 and 2019, land use for agriculture decreased by 28% while land productivity grew nearly four times and labor productivity grew more than 10 times. In fact, agriculture’s total factor productivity growth rate is among the highest of U.S. sectors.

Nationwide, the report shows the U.S. food and agriculture sector directly supports nearly 23 million jobs, provides $927 billion in wages and contributes over $8.6 trillion to the U.S. economy, a 22% increase since the 2019 report. The 2023 report also reveals nearly one-fifth of total manufacturing jobs in the U.S. are related to the production of agricultural products.

The full report and list of sponsoring groups can be found at www.FeedingTheEconomy.com.                     

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ANAMOSA– Due to the ongoing investigation, Anamosa State Penitentiary has been placed on restricted movement for the foreseeable future. This will limit inmate movement throughout the facility and give DOC staff the ability to conduct a large-scale search of the prison for illicit contraband. Visitation will not occur during the restricted movement period.

Two other inmates were found unresponsive in their cells and were administered Narcan on Sunday, March 19. Neither inmate required outside medical attention and both tested negative for illegal substances. Responding staff did not become ill following their encounters with these inmates. DOC has determined these cases are unrelated to the original incident that occurred on Saturday, March 18.

The original incident remains under investigation and DOC will continue to work in conjunction with the DPS Narcotics Division.

The Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office has released an update regarding the deceased body of a man found on the Mediapolis School grounds.

On March 13th, the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a deceased adult male who was located on the outlying grounds of the Mediapolis Community School property.

The incident remains under investigation, but the death does not appear to be suspicious.

The name of the deceased will be released along with the State Medical Examiner’s autopsy report.

Burlington Fire Department responds to structure fires over weekend
At 5:34 PM Saturday March 18, 2023 Burlington and West Burlington Fire Departments
responded to 412 S. Marshall Street in Burlington for a reported house fire. Firefighters arrived
at 5:38 PM to find heavy smoke coming from the back of the two-story house. A box alarm was
struck calling in off duty Burlington firefighters, as well as bringing Danville and Mediapolis
firefighters closer to Burlington.
Firefighters located and extinguished a fire in the kitchen. The surrounding rooms suffered heat
and water damage, with smoke damage throughout the house. The house is owned and occupied
by John Harris and is insured. Damage is estimated at $70,000 to the house and contents. There
were no working smoke detectors. The Red Cross has been called for victim assistance.
The cause of the fire is considered accidental and was due to combustible items stored too close
to the stove top. It is believed that a pet jumped onto the stove and inadvertently turned on a
burner.
Firefighters were assisted at the scene by Burlington Police, Alliant Energy, and Burlington
Waterworks. Firefighters cleared the scene at 8:22 PM. There were no firefighter injuries.
At 1:53 AM Sunday March 19, 2023 Burlington and West Burlington Fire Departments
responded to a report of a structure fire at the Lincolnville Motel, 1605 Mt. Pleasant Street in
Burlington. Firefighters arrived at 1:58 AM to find flames and smoke showing from a room on
the east side. Police officers were in the process of evacuating occupants from other nearby
rooms. A box alarm was struck calling in off duty Burlington firefighters, as well as having
Danville and Mediapolis firefighters closer to Burlington. Firefighters were able to contain the fire damage to one motel room and the attic area directly above, but other rooms sustained smoke and water damage. The property is owned by Dilip
Gandhi and is insured. The cause of the fire remains under investigation and is not suspicious.
Firefighters were assisted at the scene by officers from Burlington Police and Des Moines
County Sheriff, as well as Alliant Energy. One firefighter sustained a minor injury and was
treated at the scene. Firefighters cleared the scene at 3:43 AM.
At 7:03 PM Sunday March 19, 2023 the Burlington and West Burlington Fire Departments
responded to a reported structure fire at 727 Wightman Street in Burlington. Burlington Police
officers arrived first and assisted with locating and evacuating the occupant. Firefighters arrived
at 7:08 PM to find a single-family home and travel trailer fully engulfed in flames. A box alarm
was struck calling in off duty Burlington firefighters, as well as bringing Danville and
Mediapolis firefighters closer to Burlington. Firefighters had the fire extinguished by 8:24 PM.
The property is owned and occupied by Joseph Zipp and is insured. Damage estimates are still
being assessed, but both the travel trailer and house are a total loss. The Red Cross was called
for victim assistance. One pet escaped the house and was later recovered without injury. The
fire damaged one automobile, as well as the house at 723 Wightman Street sustained heat
damage to two windows.
The cause of the fire was due to open burning outside the residence. The fire spread to the travel
trailer and then to the house. Mr. Zipp was issued a citation for violating the city’s open burning
ordinance.
Firefighters were assisted at the scene by Burlington Police, Superior Ambulance, Alliant
Energy, and Burlington Waterworks. There were no injuries. Firefighters cleared the scene at
9:55 PM.

The Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities Board of Trustees meet March 21, 2023 at 1 pm in the Mount Pleasant City Council Chambers, 307 E. Monroe Street.                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                        AGENDA

1. CALL TO ORDER.
2. Roll call.
3. Approval of Agenda.

1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
2. Regular Board Meeting February 23rd, 2023 – Approval.                                                                                                                          

1. Approval of Warrants.
2. Treasurer’s Report – Jody Fuller.
3. Electric Rates – Update and Review
4. LEGAL COUNSEL.                                                                        
5. Attorney – Timothy J. Whipple (Ahlers & Cooney P.C.).
7. Cedar Lane Well #7 and Water Distribution System Project – Update
8. Board review of the associated Bid Package #1 (Well Drilling) work.
9. Board review of the associated Bid Package #2 (Well Equipping) work.
10. Henry Street Water Main Replacement Project – Update.
11. a) Board review of the associated water main / service replacement work.
12. Adams Street Substation 15 kV Sheltered Aisle Switchgear Replacement Project – No Update.
13. Board review of the associated Adams Street Substation 15 kV Sheltered Aisle Switchgear Replacement Project work.
14. Transmission System Power Supply Project – Update.
15. Status update of the associated 69 kV transmission system power supply work.
16. Monthly Activities.
17. 2. Employees.

1. OTHER BUSINESS.
2. Other Business, Unscheduled for Consideration by Board of Trustees.
   1. Executive Session – Personnel & Legal.
   2. a) (Executive Session pursuant to Section 21.5(1)(c) of the Code of Iowa for

        legal purposes).

 

 

 

 

Next Regular Board Meeting: 1:00 p.m. Tuesday April 18th, 2023

Monday, March 20, 2023

Order of business, regular session

Danville City Council, Danville City Hall

NOTE:  The regular session may be conducted electronically

as allowed by Iowa Code 21.8

Citizen comments:  Comments must be directed to the subject under consideration.  The presiding officer shall rule on the relevance of the citizen comments.  Citizens making personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks may be barred by the presiding officer from further comment before the Council during the meeting.

1. Call to order, 5:30 p.m.. (Note the starting time)

 

2. Accept or amend the agenda. PLEASE NOTE:  Depending on the length of the regular session, the city council may have to recess before the start of the joint meeting with the Trustees, which is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m..  Council will then, at the end of the Trustees joint meeting, motion to go back into regular session to finish the agenda if needed.

 

3. Open forum: A time set aside to receive comments from the public regarding city business.  The Mayor and City Council welcome comments from the public on any subject pertaining to City business, including items on this agenda.  You are asked to state your name and address for the record and to limit your remarks to five minutes in order that others may be given the opportunity to speak.  The Order of Business is at the discretion of the Chair.  No action will be taken.

 

4. Discussion and action on the DMC Sheriff’s February 2023 report.

 

5. Matt Walker, City Engineer.
6. Update on the Wastewater Treatment plant project.  Action by council if needed.

 

6. Update on the proposed 2023/2024 budget.
7. Review of the upcoming proposed budget as prepared by the Council.
8. Review of the budget requirement by presenting the Notice of Public Hearing – Proposed Max Property Tax Levy form.
9. Action by council to set the required public hearing date for the Max Property Tax Levy.
10. Action by council to publish the Max Property Tax Levy notification.

 

7. Fire Chief/Building Inspector report.
8. Building permits approval.
9. Action on the verbal/written report as presented.

 

8. City electrician’s report
9. Action by council if needed.

 

9. Public Works written report.
10. Approval of the written report as presented.

Page 1 of 3

Agenda

March 20, 2023

 

 

 

10. Approval of consent agenda.
11. Council minutes of March 6, 2023.
12. Beer and Liquor permits belonging to Old 34 Gas & Grill.
13. Payment of bills.

 

11. Council reports and correspondence.
12. Acknowledgement of receiving Waters Park from Des Moines County.

 

12. Closed session with Ryan Gerling, City Attorney.
13. Action to go into closed session per Iowa Code 21.5(1)( j) to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the governmental body would have to pay for that property or reduce the price the governmental body would receive for that property.
14. Action to come out of closed session.
15. Statement by City Attorney if needed.
16. Action by Council if anything from the closed session is needed.

 

13. Adjournment of the regular city council meeting. Council will be meeting with the Danville and Pleasant Grove Township Trustees, starting at 6:30 p.m., Danville City Hall.  The next regular session of the Danville City Council is scheduled for Monday, April 3, 2023, Danville City Hall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 2 of 3

Agenda

March 20, 2023

 

 

 

 

AGENDA

Monday, March 20, 2023

Order of business, regular joint meeting

Danville City Council and Danville & Pleasant Grove Township Trustees

 to be held at Danville City Hall

 

1. Call to order, 6:30 p.m..

 

2. Accept or amend the agenda.

 

3. Open forum: A time set aside to receive comments from the public regarding fire department business.  The Council and Trustees welcome comments from the public on any subject pertaining to fire department business, including items on this agenda.  You are asked to state your name and address for the record and to limit your remarks to five minutes in order that others may be given the opportunity to speak.  The Order of Business is at the discretion of the Chair.  No action will be taken.

 

4. Fire Chief’s report.
5. Discussion and action on the 2022 Year End report.
6. Discussion and action on the first quarter 2023 report.

 

5. Review of the budget information for the upcoming 2023/2024 year. Action if needed.

 

6. Approval of the December 5, 2022 minutes.

 

7. Discussion and action regarding the bills as presented.

 

8. Discussion and action on adding and/or removing members from the Fire Department.

 

9. Setting of next joint meeting.

 

10. Adjournment.