Des Moines’ city manager says he’s waiting for a detailed list of concerns from the city’s fire fighters’ union to see what can be done to ease tension in the department over leadership. 86 percent of the union’s members voted no confidence in the chief this summer. They’ve been making their complaints via social media.
The state treasurer has turned down a proposal by the governor to do a lease-purchase agreement for a 68-million dollar communications system for emergency responders. He says the deal with Motorola Solutions could add roughly 9 million dollars in interest payments during the 13-year agreement, and the payments would be tax-free income for Motorola.
The Riverfront YMCA building will be blown up on Sunday. You should be able to see the 8-story structure collapse from the east bank of the Des Moines River at daybreak. Hubbell Realty wants to turn the site into a five-story apartment complex, but several developers expressed concerns about not being able to afford to convert the block-style building as it currently stands.
Three county drainage districts want an Iowa federal court to eliminate nuisance, negligence and other claims from a Des Moines Water Works suit against them. The districts claim they are not considered legal entities for the sake of the suit. Water Works is accusing the districts of causing nitrate pollution in the Raccoon River without a permit.
A Des Moines man killed a motorcyclist and injured three others who were escorting a vet’s body home to Nebraska over the weekend. Donald Kirby crashed into the group of honor guard riders when he changed lanes to avoid a trailer. The honor guard was part of a procession for Bill Henry, founder of the Missing in America Project, who was killed providing an escort for six West Coast vets in August.
The second Plan DSM public meeting is set for tomorrow night at Polk County River Place. City leaders want residents’ input on the city’s comprehensive plan for the next 25 years. The meeting is informal, with experts on hand to explain specific segments of the plan.
A special summit is lined up for the Hilton in Johnston tomorrow with the aim of bringing employment to people with disabilities. Governor Branstad will be among the keynote speakers, along with Iowa Medicaid Enterprise Administrator Mikki Stier.
Early meetings with eventual UI presidential choice Bruce Harreld did not bias board members when they considered other candidates…that’s what several members of the Board of Regents say. Four members met Harreld in Ames back in July, when the president of ISU invited him to a dinner at his residence.
Blake Shelton will be the first headliner for the first-ever concert at Kinnick Stadium on August 27th next year. The concert on the U-I campus will benefit the nonprofit Native Fund, which aids Iowans after natural disasters, and assists Iowa youth and veterans.
Ballet Des Moines stages its annual Ballet at the Barn event this Saturday at The Bluffs Barn in Van Meter. The fundraiser starts at 6 PM.
