Newton Independent

Reporter's Notebook: What are they thinking?

By PETER HUSSMANN

You know, sometimes you just have to wonder what people were thinking; especially when you can make no rational sense for their actions.

Such was the case in regard to a letter I received from Skiff Medical Center on Thursday indicating I would now have to pay to get a copy of the informational packet that is handed out to trustees in advance of the monthly public meetings.

Dear Pete,

I am writing to inform you that Iowa law permits public entities to charge a reasonable fee for copies of public records and to collect the fee for the copies in advance. In this economy, Skiff Medical is taking extra care to limit its expenses. As Interim Chief Executive Officer I am requiring the Hospital to collect a fee for copying public record information. We have not charged for copies of public record in the past, however, we will be charging for this service, and are no longer going to be offering this service for free.

If you want to continue to receive the packet of information for the board meeting, please contact ... to request the packet. (She) will inform you of the cost of copying the information and when the information would be available for you to pick up.

Thank you for your continued support of Skiff Medical Center.

Francie Jahn, BSN, MSHSA
Interim Chief Executive Officer

What was curiously absent from the letter was information pertaining to what I might be required to pay. So I called. The hospital will charge me a flat $10 for each 15 minutes it takes to copy the packet, plus 5 cents a page for black and white and 20 cents a page for color. So a 50-page packet would cost me $12.50.

The primacy of perception is an important component of a public institution's work. The hospital wants to look good in the community. To that end they spend a lot of money helping various groups - like the $1,000 for the upcoming Relay for Life and the $2,500 to the Newton Development Corporation. And with the ills that have befallen the hospital at this point, one would just assume public goodwill would be an important component of efforts to resurrect itself.

But perception is a tricky thing. What I dare say is that some might consider this more an effort to stymie the free flow of public information than truly a cost saving measure.

Let me know your thoughts by commenting to this post. I'll e-mail them along because Ms. Jahn can't read them herself. Remember this site has been blocked at Skiff.

Newspaper collusion?

Newton Independent

Top executives of the nation's leading newspapers gathered secretly on Thursday in Rosemont, Ill., to purportedly discuss charging for online content.

The Atlantic broke the story first in a piece on Thursday and since that time the National Newspaper Association has acknowledged the gathering in a carefully worded press release. As can be expected, several other writers have now chimed in, some suggesting the executives need be careful if they don't want to draw the attention of Justice lawyers for possible anti-trust violations. You can read more here and here but rest assured that won't be the end of it.  

Alliant lays off 60 in Iowa

Newton Independent

Maybe Alliant Energy's request for a rate hike in Iowa has more to do with its loss of electric sales than it does with the need to make infrastructure improvements in its system. At least that's the take one might get from a Milwaukee newspaper article noting the company recently laid off 120 employees, half coming in Iowa. You can read it here.

Huggins has parole revoked

Newton Independent

Rachel Huggins, who plead guilty to shooting Lambs Grove man Peter Sciarrotta, has had her parole revoked after allegedly lying that she was not given mental health treatment options while in prison, KCCI-TV8 is reporting tonight.

Huggins plead guilty to shooting Sciarrotta at point blank range with a shotgun at his home on New Year's Day 2006 after claiming he allegedly had had inappropriate contact with her and the shooting was an effort to dissuade him from hurting other girls. Sciarrotta has never been charged.

Huggins was sentenced to 10 years in prison but was granted parole pending an outcome of further review.

Here's the DM Register story.

It's Your Money

Newton Independent

The City of Newton's April operational disbursements were presented to council members last week but unlike previous months were not totalled. Let's just say it's five pages of single-spaced entries with more than 40 to a page. Here's a look.

A-1 Lock - Library - Service Call - $42.50

Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. - Administration - Professional Services - $3,034.18

Alliant Energy - All Departments - Electric - $42,761.90

Animal Rescue League - Police Department - March Pick Up - $3,139.29

Black Hills Energy - All Departments - Natural Gas - $8,9332.58

Brookwood Inc. - Fire - Water Heater Repair - $704

Chamber of Commerce - Administration - Chamber Bucks - $140

Clapsaddle-Garber - Airport - Apron Expansion/Facility Evaluation - $3,780

FBG Service Corp. - Library - Cleaning - $3,204.63

Forbes Office Solutions - All Departments - Supplies - $2,988.48

Fox Engineering - Water Pollution Control/Landfill - Service - $8,561.14

Hamilton Glass - Landfill/Public Works - Windshields - $403.83

Home Plastics Inc. - Landfill - Leaf Bags - $2,815.78

Hotsy Cleaning Systems - Public Works - Fleet Wash - $814

Iowa Telecom - All Departments - Telephone - $3,790.40

Jacob North Companies - Landfill - Trash Tag Printing - $2,072.81

Jim's Johns - Golf/Parks - Lease - $200

Michael Jones - Community Development - Inspections - $225

Language Line - Police Department - Interpretation - $224.25

Manatts - Landfill/Maytag Plant 2 TIF - Special Backfill/E. 8th St. Relocation - $16,901.74

New World Systems - Administration - Software Maintenance -$5,606

Sign Pro - Landfill/Parks - Remove Lettering/Bowl Plans - $85

Space Builders - Maytag Plant 2 TIF - Right of Way Acquisition - $30,000

Terracon - Maytag Plant 2 TIF - E. 8th St. N. Wetland Mitigation - $900

Titleist - Golf - Resale - $7,185.78

Treasury Management Services - Golf/Water Pollution Control/Landfill - Bank Fees - $2,596.67

Education pays in Iowa

Newton Independent

IOWA CITY (Iowa Policy Project) - Iowa could boost its economy and budget, help low-income workers and better prepare for the future if the state were to invest more in workforce education.

"Whether the indicator is unemployment rates, wages, or poverty, it is undeniable that education pays for Iowans," said Lily French, research associate for the nonpartisan Iowa Policy Project (IPP) and co-author of a new report on the state's return on investment from workforce education.

"You give people access to higher education and there are a myriad of benefits that happen at the individual and state levels," French said.

Governor lowers state ownership requirements for sales tax rebate at Iowa Speedway

By PETER HUSSMANN

Iowa Speedway will continue to be able to receive a rebate on state sales taxes collected at the track even if its Iowa ownership involvement falls to 25 percent.

Changes in the state sales tax rebate provisions Iowa lawmakers previously granted to the speedway were signed into law by Gov. Chet Culver Tuesday night as part of the wide-ranging "standings bill."

In 2006, Iowa lawmakers approved a measure where the speedway would be able to claim a rebate on sales taxes at the facility for a 10-year period or up to $12.5 million. In granting that incentive, lawmakers included provisions that required that at least 60 percent of the ownership of the facility rest with Iowa residents, an Iowa corporation or a combination of both. The sales tax rebate would cease should "change of control" of the Newton racetrack fall below those percentage levels prior to its ending date.

The measure signed by the governor lowers the Iowa ownership requirements to 25 percent. The Iowa track owners now become ineligible for the sales tax rebate if their ownership interests fall below that threshold.

The change in the ownership requirements signed into law by the governor is likely an outgrowth the speedway's board of director's decision to substantially increase the availability of ownership shares in the racetrack.

In a filing with the Iowa Secretary of State in late October 2008, the U.S. MotorSport Corporation, parent company of Iowa Speedway, amended its articles of incorporation to increase the number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue.

The amended article states that "the aggregate number of shares of stock which the corporation is authorized to issue is 100,000,000 (100 million) shares of common stock, no par value. The common stock shall have unlimited voting rights and shall be entitled to receive the net assets of the Corporation upon dissolution."

Previously, the corporation was authorized to issue 20 million shares.

The Iowa Speedway has attracted several high-caliber races this season. In addition to the return of the Indy Car Series, the Newton raceway will also host a NASCAR Nationwide race and a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event, the number two and number three NASCAR series. Speedway officials have said they will bring in temporary seating to accommodate the expected large crowds. The track currently has permanent seating for 25,000 but officials have said they will look to expand that capacity.

Knopf sentencing set

By PETER HUSSMANN

Sentencing has been set next week for a former Newton attorney who plead guilty to failing to file state income tax returns.

R. Eugene Knopf has now been scheduled to be sentenced on two counts of fraudulent practices in the second degree at 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 5, in Polk County District Court. Knopf, who plead guilty to the state felony charges on Feb. 19, was originally scheduled to be sentenced on April 23. That sentencing hearing was initially pushed back one week and then postponed indefinitely.

The June 5 date had originally been scheduled as a court furlough day. It wasn't known until Gov. Chet Culver signed a bill late Tuesday granting an emergency appropriation to the court system that eliminates the June court closure days whether Knopf's sentencing would again be delayed.

Four counts of fraudulent practices in the second degree were filed against Knopf in April 2008. The state alleged that Knopf failed to file state income tax returns for four consecutive years between 2002 and 2005. Court records further allege that Knopf did not file tax returns with the state between 1993 and 2000, though no charges were brought concerning those time frames.

Infusion of cash will keep clerk of court offices open

By PETER HUSSMANN

The Iowa Judicial Branch was provided an infusion of funds in a bill signed by Iowa Gov. Chet Culver last night that will allow the court system to forgo the remaining two furlough days scheduled for June.

In signing the state standings bill, Senate File 478, the Iowa court system was provided a $760,000 supplemental appropriation that will allow clerk of courts offices across the state to remain open throughout the month of June. Later this week, the Iowa Supreme Court will issue an order canceling the June 5 and June 19 previously scheduled court closure days.

In addition, the bill signed by the governor last night improves the Iowa court system's financial outlook for the coming fiscal year. Previously, the Legislature had allocated $149 to the judicial branch for fiscal year 2010 operations. The standings bill increased that amount to $160.1 million. With the additional money, the court system's expected budget shortfall for next year fell from $15.4 million to $4.2 million. The judicial branch is in the process of studying expense reduction measures, including a switch from court reporters to digital recording devices, to deal with the budget shortfall.

Also included in the bill was a move to increase a number of court fees. The increases can be viewed here. While the new fees will be deposited into the state's general fund, the new revenue will help offset the higher appropriations to the judicial branch. The new fee schedule went into effect today.

The measure signed by Culver also voids the State Court Administrator's 2009 apportionment of magistrates issued in April and retains the current distribution.

Wadding lauded as Dubuque police chief

Newton Independent

Former Newton Chief of Police Kim Wadding got a last big thank you on the editorial pages of the Dubuque Telegraph Herald today.

Wadding, who started his law enforcement career in Newton eventually rising to the department's top post, was named the Dubuque Chief of Police in 2000. The newspaper lauded his long career as a top-notch law enforcement officer. You can read the editorial here.

X-Treme Scooters of Newton gets TV air time

Newton Independent

X-Treme Scooters of Newton is getting some TV time today in a report on WHO-TV about Iowa State University staff members using the company's electric bicycles as part of "green" initiative on the campus.

The Newton company, which also makes electric scooters, loaned university staff members 100 bicycles to test over the week-long program.

Earlier this month, X-Treme Scooters loaned employees at Skiff Medical Center as part of the Ride Your Bike to Work Week May 11-16.

You can see the WHO-TV report here.

Central Iowa Energy shareholders receive update on asset purchase plan

By PETER HUSSMANN

Shareholders of Central Iowa Energy were mailed letters on Tuesday explaining the asset purchase agreement proposed between the Newton biodiesel company and Renewable Energy Group that would combine each company's operations under a new holding company.

The agreement provides for the sale of all of Central Iowa Energy's assets to Renewable Energy Group, currently the Newton biodiesel plant's management firm, in exchange for shares of stock in the new consolidated company. In addition, "certain liabilities" of Central Iowa Energy will be assumed by the new holding company.

Completion of the agreement, which also contemplates the consolidation of a Danville, Ill., and Wall Lake, Iowa biodiesel operations, is expected to be completed by late summer or early fall, according to the information provided to investors. The asset purchase agreement is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, as well as "numerous other conditions," including the assent of Central Iowa Energy's senior lender, F&M Bank.

The letter to shareholders, signed by Jim Johnston as chairman of Central Iowa Energy, says plans to consolidate the operations of each of the four companies under a common ownership structure "is the best option for CIE in the current challenging environment."

Jasper County unemployment rate falls

By PETER HUSSMANN

Jasper County's unemployment rate dropped more than a percentage point in April, but it still remains well above the statewide average.

Iowa Workforce Development posted a map today indicating Jasper County's jobless rate in April fell to 7 percent, down from 8.1 percent the month before. January and February rates were both 8.3 percent. Employment numerical statistics for the county had yet to be released at this time.

Jasper County's unemployment rate, while down from previous periods, is still nearly two points above the statewide average of 5.1 percent. Nationwide the unemployment rate stands at 8.9 percent. 

Reporter's Notebook: The rest of the Jasper County Care Facility story

By PETER HUSSMANN

A couple of weeks ago, the local paper wrote a story about how Bill and May May Ng have opened an international business trade incubator facility in West Des Moines, a dream they had previously envisioned for the former Jasper County Care Facility.

The Des Moines Business Record recently provided an expanded account of the Ng's plans for the venture, noting the current list of clients ready to conduct international trade from its doors and plans for future expansion. The piece goes on to note that the Waukee couple had planned to buy the former Jasper County Care Facility but the deal fell through in late 2006 "after the Jasper County Board of Supervisors decided it would be too expenseive to make the requested repairs to the building."

That statement caught my eye - and jogged my memory of the circumstances involving the sale - as it seemed to contradict what the local paper said - that contract had never been signed.

So, a quick Google search this morning located the following public document that show the Jasper County Board of Supervisors had indeed approved the sale of the land to May May Ng. I quote from the board minutes of Sept. 26, 2006:

Journalism is a public good worth supporting

Newton Independent

To close out the week ahead of the long Memorial Day weekend, I bring you a good news story on the newspaper industry.

Gene Hall, who sold the Charles City, Iowa Press 21 years ago and spent more than a decade with the big boys of the industry, recently repurchased the 2,800 circulation daily due to his concern that the public was being dealt a disservice by media owners focused solely on the bottom line.

Why he did it appeared as an article in this week's Iowa Newspaper Association's newsletter. It's restored this journalist's faith that journalism is a public good worth supporting. Enjoy it here.

Pace of Iowa job losses slows

By PETER HUSSMANN

Iowa workforce officials are being cautious about reading too much into data that shows Iowa unemployment rate fell in April, although it may be an indicator of the economy having hit bottom.

Iowa's job losses eased in April, falling to 5.1 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point from the month before. In April 2008, Iowa's unemployment rate stood at 4 percent. Nationally, the jobless rate climbed to 8.9 percent in April, up from 8.5 percent the month before. A year ago, the national rate stood at 5 percent.

"The pace of job losses slowed in April, suggesting that the Iowa economy may be in the early stages of a turn," said Elisabeth Buck, director of Iowa Workforce Development. "However, the labor market is still very weak, and any recovery is expected to be modest and prolonged.

The total number of working Iowan increased by 2,700 in April to 1.59 million. That figure, however, is still 18,500 below the level a year ago. The number of unemployed feel to 85,400 in April, down from 87,500 in March. In April 2008, the number of unemployed stood at 66,900.

Statewide nonfarm employment in April dropped to 1,491,800, 1,600 less than the March figure. The April count was the lowest since December 2005 and continues a three-month decline. However, the April loss of 1,600 jobs was significantly lower than the previous two months' average loss of 9,300.

Trade and transportation added 2,000 jobs in April, boosted by a gain 1,000 jobs in the retail trade sector and another 800 jobs in wholesale trade. Government jobs increased by 1,700 in April, primarily due to the hiring of seasonal workers. Manufacturing posted a gain of 100 jobs, the first increase in this sector since August 2008. Leisure and hospitality lost 1,700 jobs and finance reduced positions by 1,000.

Compared to last year, total nonfarm employment has shed 32,800 jobs. Manufacturing has lost 20,900, more than 60 percent of the annual loss. Professional and business services had the second largest drop, down 10,200 jobs. Trade and transportation has jumped by 4,900 compared to last year while education and health have posted gains of 4,400.

Data for Jasper County will be released next week.

Jasper County high school graduation rates above state average

By PETER HUSSMANN

Graduation rates for the five high schools in Jasper County continue to stand above statewide averages, according to information released by the Iowa Department of Education.

Statewide, the graduation rate for 2008 stood at 88.7 percent. That figure, however, is lower than the previous year's rate of 90.5 percent.

The Lynnville-Sully school district lead the way in Jasper County the last two years graduating 100 percent of its senior classes in both 2007 and 2008.

Baxter's graduation rate in 2008 stood at 97.06 percent, down from 100 percent the year before.

Colfax-Mingo's graduation rates the last two years stood relatively steady at 95.65 percent in 2008 and 95 percent the year before.

Newton's graduation rate fell to 88.85 percent in 2008, according to the state data, down from 92.5 percent in 2007.

PCM reported a graduation rate of 91.89 percent in 2008 compared to 94.7 percent the year before.

State education officials say the declines may be attributed to new tracking measures. The 2008 graduating class was the first group of students statewide to have an identification tracking number for all four years of high school. The system allowed the state to track students even if they moved to a new district during their high school years.

More information from the Iowa Department of Education can be found here.

Two doctors resign from Skiff; CEO search plan awaits assessment outcome

By PETER HUSSMANN

Two Skiff Medical Center surgeons have announced their resignations from the hospital, interim CEO Francie Jahn told hospital board members at their regular monthly meeting today.

Dr. Greg Stanislav, MD, a general surgeon, will end his affiliation with the medical center on July 17. Dr. Frank Butera, DO, an orthopedic surgeon, will leave Skiff on Sept. 21.

Two weeks ago it was announced that Dr. Jennifer Althoff, a family practitioner, will leave Skiff at the end of this month. Dr. Tammy Chance, the former chief medical officer at the hospital, previously resigned.

In announcing the resignations, Jahn said she planned to meet with the medical staff to "start a dialog" on plans to move forward due to these doctors' resignations.

New CEO search

The hospital trustees briefly discussed the status of its search for a new chief executive officer but said the process it will eventually follow in finding a replacement will in large part depend on the findings of the operational assessment currently under way and any actions the board may subsequently take.

B.E. Smith and Associates of Lenexa, Kan., began its assessment study in late April. The assessment is focusing on three principle areas of the hospital's operation: its financial condition, how it manages its labor resources and an assessment of the hospital's organizational structure and design to ensure the management structure is appropriate for its mission, size and role in the community.

The Skiff Medical Center Board of Trustees authorized the expenditure of up to $70,000 on the operational assessment study.

B.E. Smith assessment team members, which were still at Skiff as late as last week, have yet to complete their final report.

Skiff board chairman Gary Kahn said that once the report is complete, a meeting with the trustees will be scheduled. That meeting, Kahn said today, will be held in a closed session. However, he did indicate that Dr. Leighton Frost, a representative of the local medical community, will be invited to that meeting. When it will be held is yet unknown.

Skiff board member Nancy Noth noted that the hospital has some "luxury" in putting together its CEO replacement search plan due to the quality of the leadership being provided by interim CEO Jahn.

"There is no reason to prematurely jump into this," Noth said. "Francie is handling a lot of the challenges."

Code of Ethics

Without discussion, the Skiff trustees approved an updated code of ethics that deletes two specific references to ability to pay as a nonfactor in the hospital's determination on whether to provide care services.

Under the hospital's Treatment of Patients ethics code section, a paragraph stating the hospital will "(m)ake no distinction in the availability of services, the admission, transfer or discharge of patients or in the care we provide based on age, gender, disability, race, religion or national origin" was amended to delete the words "or ability to pay for such care."

Under its Business Practices code, the following sentence was deleted under one of its many bullet points: "Patient care needs will be based solely on clinical decisions and not how Skiff Medical Center is compensated for care provided." The whole paragraph now reads" "In determining the appropriateness of admission, the patients' clinical needs shall take precedence over financial considerations."

In other action, the trustees voted to provide a $1,000 donation to the upcoming Relay for Life event on June 5. In addition, hospital officials will work on developing a set of criteria to follow in deciding to fund various requests from local organizations.

P&Z opts to make no changes to 1st St. S. for now

Newton Independent

The Newton Planning and Zoning Commission decided not to make any changes to the intersection of First Street South and Eighth Avenue when it met earlier this week, rather deciding to wait to see how development occurs in the area before taking any action. KCOB's Randy Van reports it here.

Pizza Ranch to sponsor Kyle Busch at Iowa Speedway

Newton Independent

Pizza Ranch will announce that it has signed a deal with Joe Gibbs racing to sponsor driver Kyle Busch at the inaugural Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway on Aug. 1. You can read a press release here.