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Home   >   News   >   Local News   >   IA Secretary of State’s Office Contradicts Burlington City Attorney; Says Residents Can’t Petition for Franchise Fee Election, On-Line or Otherwise

IA Secretary of State’s Office Contradicts Burlington City Attorney; Says Residents Can’t Petition for Franchise Fee Election, On-Line or Otherwise

By on March 22, 2013
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CONTRARY TO WHAT BURLINGTON CITY ATTORNEY SCOTT POWER TOLD US YESTERDAY(THUR), THE IOWA SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE SAYS STATE CODE DOES NOT CONTAIN A PROVISION FOR CITIZENS TO PETITION FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION IF A CITY IS AMENDING ITS FRANCHISE ORDINANCE…AND IOWA HAS NO PROVISION FOR ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES FOR ANYTHING PERTAINING TO ELECTIONS. 

DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE MARY MOSIMAN SAYS IN ORDER FOR A SIGNATURE TO BE VALID, IT MUST BE AN ORIGINAL, AND ON-LINE PETITIONS ARE NOT CONSIDERED VALID, AGAIN CONTRADICTING WHAT CITY ATTORNEY SCOTT POWER TOLD US ON THURSDAY.  

 

TO DATE, MORE THAN 300 ON-LINE SIGNATURES HAVE BEEN ATTACHED TO THE “i-PETITIONS.COM” WEBSITE, OPPOSING THE PROPOSED THREE PERCENT FRANCHISE FEE…OR UTILITY TAX…ON ELECTRIC AND GAS USEAGE…AND CALLING FOR A PUBLIC VOTE ON THE MATTER.

 

THE CITY COUNCIL THIS PAST WEEK GAVE FIRST READING TO AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD ESTABLISH THE NEW LEVY AND TWO MORE READINGS & VOTES ARE REQUIRED BEFORE THE FEE BECOMES LAW.