The Iowa County 1 July 2010 2 The Iowa County July 2010 ISAC OFFICERS The Iowa County PRESIDENT Chuck Rieken - Cass County Supervisor July 2010 * Volume 39, Number 7 1ST VICE PRESIDENT Marjorie Pitts - Clay County Auditor The Iowa County: The official magazine of the 2ND VICE PRESIDENT Iowa State Association of Counties Wayne Walter - Winneshiek County Treasurer 501 SW 7th St., Ste. Q Des Moines, IA 50309 (515) 244-7181 FAX (515) 244-6397 3RD VICE PRESIDENT www.iowacounties.org Darin Raymond - Plymouth County Attorney Rachel E. Bicego, EDITOR ISAC DIRECTORS Feature Tim McGee - Lucas County Assessor Tribute to a Trustee - Rachel Bicego 4-5 Lori Elam - Scott County Community Services Excellence in Action 11-12 Dan Cohen - Buchanan County Conservation Director Lori Morrissey - Story County Emergency Mgmt. Legal Briefs 6-7 Mike McClain - Jones County Engineer Nate Bonnett Jon McNamee - Black Hawk County Environmental Health Wayne Chizek - Marshall County IT/GIS Capitol Comments 8 Terri Henkels - Polk County Public Health Linda Hinton Nancy Parrott - Jasper County Recorder Mike Balmer - Jasper County Sheriff Technology Center 9 Harlan Hansen - Humboldt County Supervisor Robin Harlow Melvyn Houser - Pottawattamie County Supervisor Anna O’Shea - Dubuque County Zoning Case Management 13 Gary Anderson - Appanoose County Sheriff (Past Pres.) Cindy Chappelle Grant Veeder - Black Hawk County Auditor (NACo Rep.) ISAC Meetings 14 ISAC STAFF Stacy Horner William R. Peterson - Executive Director Lauren Adams - Financial Administrative Assistant Miscellaneous 16-18 Rachel E. Bicego - Marketing/Comm. Coordinator Nathan Bonnett - Legal Counsel Associate Member Highlight 19 Cindy Chappelle - Case Management Specialist Hanna De Groot - Public Policy Specialist Calendar of events 22 Deb Eckerman Slack - Case Management Services Mgr. Robin Harlow - Technology Project Manager About the Cover 7 Linda Hinton - Government Relations Manager Brad Holtan - Accounting Manager Stacy Horner - Meeting/Event Administrator Linda Kemp - Case Management Specialist Jenna Kunstle - Receptionist/Administrative Assistant Mary Beth Mellick - Fiscal/Public Policy Specialist Tammy Norman - Office Manager Jackie Olson Leech - Case Management Specialist Chelsea Walden - Program Support Specialist Sam Watson - Information Technology Specialist ISAC members are elected and appointed county officials from all 99 counties. The Iowa County (ISSN 0892-3795, USPS 0002-150) is published monthly by the Iowa State Associa- ISAC’s Mission: tion of Counties 501 SW 7th St., Ste. Q, Des Moines, IA 50309- To promote effective and responsible county 4540. Periodicals postage paid at Des Moines, IA 50318. government for the people of Iowa. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Iowa County, 501 SW 7th St., Ste. Q, Des Moines, IA 50309-4540. Subscrip- tions: $25 per year. ISAC’s Vision: To be the principal, authoritative source of representation, information and services for and about county government in Iowa. The Iowa County 3 July 2010 feature Tribute to a Trustee By: Rachel E. Bicego ISAC Marketing/Communication Coordinator ISAC staff receives a large number of email and phone call of the township include fire, cemetery, and inquiries. We try our best to answer all of them, but many are fence services. For the history of the duties, obscure and at times an answer simply doesn’t exist. This was please see Nate Bonnett’s legal briefs article the case in attempting to find the answer to an intriguing email on pages 6-7. that was received on the evening of December 17, 2009, ask- ing whether ISAC kept records on the longevity of the elected Bill and I were welcomed into Mr. Kann’s home for an amaz- officials throughout the state of Iowa, and more specifically ing conversation. He is a warm, thoughtful individual, who whether we had records about one township trustee. places a high value on his family, public service and the value of education. The pride that he has for his family was made Mr. Owen Edward Kann has served as a Jefferson Township clear through a number of great stories that we were honored Trustee in Clayton County for more than 46 years and is cur- to have shared with us. Now 81, he has eight children and a rently serving in his 24th consecutive term of office. Although multitude of grandchildren and great grandchildren. All of his we are not certain that this is a record, we feel that anyone children are very successful and have taken their own paths in who has served this life with the foundations laid by their father and his belief in long deserves rec- being a good neighbor to everyone. ognition. We found this as a perfect op- Mr. Kann led us through a complete history of Jefferson Town- portunity to do so ship and his family’s role. A local historical group compiled a by highlighting a history of Jefferson Township which included pictures of many little know facet of of the families and residents. Mr. Kann was particularly proud local government - that his mother had been a teacher at one of the Jefferson Town- the township ship schools. The historical compilation also included copies trustee, and specifi- of several of Mr. Kann’s report cards. He attended Jefferson cally Mr. Kann’s Township School #6 and was a good student. A combination service. of World War II and his family’s need for him to work on the farm prevented him from going beyond the eighth grade. Mr. In preparation for Kann describes himself as an avid reader; it was in Township this article Bill School #6’s library where he found a small book about gov- Peterson, ISAC Ex- ernment and a citizen’s responsibility for public service that ecutive Director, triggered his interest and passion for public service. and I traveled to Clayton County As the discussion continued, we found it difficult, if not im- (and many counties possible, to get any details on any of the situations that Kann in-between) to talk has faced while performing his duties as a trustee. This may to Kann about his experiences as Township Trustee and to get have been due to the fact that we were two strangers from Des a better understanding of the duties that he performs and has Moines, but I believe the true reason is because of his im- performed during his long tenure as a trustee. mense respect for his constituents. In no way did he want to dishonor the trust that he has been given by his neighbors. His Serving for one of the largest townships in Iowa with an annual honesty as a person was shown throughout our discussion as budget of $68,000, Kann would say that his most important duty he carefully crafted his answers and thoughts. and the reason he got involved is making sure that the taxpayers money is protected and goes to the right place. Although he had Still living on his family farm, Kann has seen a lot of farm many more services to cover, including elections, when he started consolidation which makes for a lot of fence disputes. During as a trustee in 1964, trustees still have authority to levy taxes to these disputes, all three trustees go to the site of the fence to provide for several township functions. There are well over 1,500 make a decision. Again, we could not get any juicy stories or townships in Iowa each of which is governed by a three-member details out of our interviewee regarding any specific disputes. elected board of trustees and an elected clerk. The current duties Continues on next page. 4 The Iowa County July 2010 feature Kann simply uttered, “Well, I didn’t get killed yet.” Many of other stops to visit members. The Treasurer’s affiliate was hold- the disputes get very heated and regard a lot of money, espe- ing their annual conference in Clear Lake. Thanks to Lori Hesse cially because of the hilly terrain and great number of rivers and the Treasurers for the lunch and allowing us to sit in on a and streams in Clayton County. number of very educational presentations. They had a great turnout but were still Township trustees work able to squeeze us in. We closely with county au- were then able to speak ditors. During our trip, briefly with Auditor Dennis Freitag, Clayton Lowell Tesch at the County Auditor, also Mitchell County Court- met with us to discuss house. township trustees and his work with Kann. As Meeting Mr. Kann and an aside, Dennis is also sharing a few hours with a very long serving him was a great joy for elected official. Running both Bill and me. Learn- for office directly after ing about the history of graduating from Luther Jefferson Township di- College, he was elected rectly through his stories for the first time in 1976 and historical docu- and has been elected ments was a wonderful nine times since. experience. We would like to thank Mr. Kann Dennis said that he is and his family for allow- lucky to have such a hard ing us this opportunity working township trustee and for sending that in- who has served for this triguing email that got number of years. He men- this all started seven tioned that trustees can be months ago. hard to find, but are defi- nitely necessary saying, This trip allowed us to “If their duties got passed meet with many of our on to the counties it would members that we nor- be scary.” mally wouldn’t get to see and every one of them re- We were also given a minds us that the people wonderful tour of the are the reason that, in Clayton County Court- Owen Kann’s words, house during our visit. It “Iow-aye is the best place was great to be able to to live.” So, Mr.