THE DES MOINES COUNTY BOARD HAS TABLED…TIL NEXT WEEK…A DECISION ON WHETHER TO ABATE “HOPE HAVEN’S” PROPERTY TAXES, ON AN OFFICE BUILDING IT BOUGHT A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AGO ON NORTH 7TH STREET.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BOB BARTLES SAYS THEY’RE NOT-FOR-PROFIT, SO THEY SHOULDN’T HAVE TO PAY PROPERTY TAX…AND A PROCEDURE THE COUNTY USES TO DETERMINE WHO’S EXEMPT IS A CATCH-22. ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY AMY BEAVERS WILL CHECK THE STATE CODE AND THE SUPERVISORS WILL TAKE UP THE ISSUE AGAIN WHEN ASSESSOR MATT WARNER IS BACK IN TOWN. ON ANOTHER FRONT, COUNTY ENGINEER BRIAN CARTER ANNOUNCED THAT HE’S REPLACING “YIELD” SIGNS WITH “STOP” SIGNS AT FIVE RURAL INTERSECTIONS: 250TH STREET & 180TH AVENUE…260TH STREET & 78TH AVENUE…170TH STREET & 85TH AVENUE…HUNT & ROCK SPRING ROADS…AND 135TH STREET & 190TH AVENUE.
DES MOINES COUNTY’S UNION MAINTENANCE WORKERS AND THE COUNTY HAVE REACHED A COMPROMISE ON THE OUTSOURCING OF SOME JANITORIAL DUTIES. AND COUNTY BOARD CHAIRMAN TOM BROEKER WILL SPEND SOME TIME TALKING TO U-S BANK OFFICIALS ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY OF RENTING UPSTAIRS OFFICE SPACE IN THE DOWNTOWN BRANCH FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
