Thursday, April 4, 2013
N/Warren Town and County News
Page Thirteen
Don't
LETTERS
QUR POLICY
We publish letters to the editor when they are not
libelous and when they are signed by the person or
persons submitting them. Opinions expressed are
not necessarily the opinions of the N/Warren
Town and County News staff. Letters are printed
as received. We do.not correct spelling and
grammatical errors.
fall for the "600 obs" sales pitch.
Vote No Ma' r 7th
Of the many promises made tO Warren County vot-
ers on why to approve gambling, perhaps the weakest
is the jobs promise. Let's e~amine the facts:
1) The promise of 600 jobs is not a contract with War-
ren County, it's more of a sales pitch. A casino in
Indianola, Carlisle, Norwalk or wherever doesn't obli-
gate the developer to build a hotel, bowling alley or to
provide a single job. The referendum simply gives them
the opportunity to build a casino between now and 2021.
Anywhere in Warren County.
2) Casinos tend to concentrate jobs in one location,
and over time other businesses lose jobs as their cus-
tomers spend their money in the casino. This is called
cannibalization. "Cannibalized dollars are revenues to
a business that are taken from other local businesses,"
according to Jane Speyrer, economist at the University
of New Orleans, "there's not new money falling from
the heavens waiting to be spent at the casino."
3) Warren County and the State of Iowa already en-
joy relatively low unemployment rates, according to the
State of Iowa. However, of the 99 counties in Iowa, 3 of
the 5 worst unemployment rates occur in counties with
casinos.
4) There's a state law that mandates casinos must pay
at least 25% higher than minimum wage. Why? Because
casinos tend to hire lower-wage workers, and the state
wants to protect them. 25% higher than current mini-
mum wage is $9.06 per hour, and over the course of a
year with full time work and two weeks off, it equals
roughly $18,120. For a single parent with two kids, the
poverty line in Warren County is $19,090.
So let's recap, there's a sales pitch promise of 600 jobs
that might pay slightly above or below the poverty line,
and those jobs may cannibalize other jobs in a county
with an already low unemployment rate. Not exactly
the building blocks of economic development.
Vote No on May 7th.
(Paid for by NoCasinoWarren)
I have the greatest job in the world!
Several weeks ago, I was encouraged to participate
in the Watchdog program at school (but in my case I
would be a granddog). Since I am retired, I decided that
maybe that would be something that would be interest-
ing and maybe even give a little something back to the
community. I contacted Oviatt Elementary and we de-
cided that I would be a 'greeter'. But since greeting
would involve only about thirty minutes, I asked if I
could help in a classroom for another hour. Long story
Short, I was assigned to Mrs. Juhl's kindergarten class,
and my 'job' would be to listen to the children read.
When each student comes to our reading area, one of
the first things we do is to talk about what the student
did over the weekend. As you might expect, I get a wide
variety of answers. But one thing has become painfully
obvious; I feel that those students who spend a lot of
time playing video games or X-box or watching tv and
etc. seem to have more difficulty with his/her reading. I
think we all know how important it is to be able to read,
not only for the test scores while in school but for the
rest of our lives. The ability to read is critical to what--
ever we choose as a career. Our children must be able to
read.
With all of this being said, dad, morn, brother, sister,
aunt, uncle, grandma and yes, grandpa, please take a
few minutes to read with a youngster in your life. The
lawn will get mowed and the dishes will get done.
Please take ten or fifteen minutes each day to read
with a child. The return is immeasurable.
And thank you Mrs. Juhl for letting me interrupt your
class every week,
/s/Ron Karnatz, Watchdog
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Child
Abuse Prevention Council of Warren County joins other
organizations and citizens across the country in the an-
nual Pinwheels for Prevention campaign to increase
awareness about child abuse and the importance of pre-
vention. Why pinwheels? The pinwheel symbolizes
what we want for our children - a joyful and carefre,j
childhood. It represents hope for a brighter tomorrow:
a future that recognizes the importance of support :
parents in their efforts to raise happy and succes; C
children.
Here in Warren County, the Council partners with
county and city government, local schools, human ser-
vice and faith organizations, libraries, medical clinics
and businesses as well as concerned citizens with the
message that Protecting Children is Everyone's Business.
In 2011, there were 11,747 Iowa children confirmed
as abused. Here in Warren Count35 161 children were
abused and 38.5% were under 6 years of age. Child abuse
has immediate and long term consequences and ulti-
mately increases costs to society.
The statistics are shocking and disconcerting. We all
want the children in our community to be safe and to
have happy, healthy childhoods. Child development is
a little like building a house. It is imlSortant to have a
strong and solid foundation. Child abuse and neglect
weakens this foundation and negatively affects future
behavioral health and cognitive development.
The underlying message.in the April campaign is that
child abuse CAN be prevented. The pinwheels, banners,
ribbons, signs and messages visible throughout the
county remind us of the importance of a happy child-
hood for all the children in our community. What can
concerned community members do? If you are a parent
Agenda
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Norwalk City Hall
Thursday, April 4, 2013
6:30 P.M.
This is a tentative Agenda only, which is subject to
change. The final City Council Agenda will be posted
at the Norwalk City Hall at least 24 hours prior to
commencement of the meeting.
1. Call to order at 6:30 p.m.
2. Approval of Agenda
3. Presentation - Galen Bedwell regarding Fire Ser-
vice
4. Approval of Minutes - March 7, 2013 Regular
Council Meeting
5. Mayor - Welcome of guests and public comment,
3 minute limit, no action
6. Consent Agenda
A. Expenditures
B. Tax Abatements
C. Liquor license renewals -Villagio Restaurant
Tacos Andreas #1
Cal's Fine Food & Spirits II
D. Proclamations - NALC food drive
Pay it forward day
E. Monthly reports
7. Hearings, Ordinances and Resolutions
A. Consideration and second reading of a pro-
posed Ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances of
the City of Norwalk, Iowa, 2008 making changes to the
Community Development fees - Second of Three read-
ings
B. Consideration and second reading of a pro-
yourself, learn and practice positive parenting skills. Ask , posed Ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances of
for help in times of stress. Reach out to neighbors, friends the City of Norwalk, Iowa, 2008, Chapter 136, pertain-
and family members who are parents. There are many
wonderful local resources available to help and support
parents and families. Learn about and show your sup-
port for successful programs as advocates, volunteers
and donors. Report suspected child abuse by calling 1-
800-362-2178.
Protecting Children is Everyone's Business. Whether you
ing to snow, ice, and accumulations from public side-
walks - Second of Three readings
C. Consideration and first reading of a proposed
Ordinance amending Chapter 177 of the Code of Ordi-
nances of the City of Norwalk, Iowa, 2008 making
changes to the EMS fees
D. Consideration and first reading of a pro-
are a parent, teacher, retiree, minister, nurse, business posed Ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances of
person or librarian, we all live in the community and the City of Norwalk, Iowa, 2008, by amending Chapter
interact with children, parents and families on a regu-
lar basis. Each of us can make a positive difference in
the life of a child. For more information about child
abuse prevention programs in Warren County, visit
www.cap.warren.ia.us or call 515-249-5130.
Colleen Reisener, Council Coordinator
Child Abuse Prevention Council of Warren County
177 pertaining to Building Department Permit Fees
E. Consideration of a Resolution approving the
Preliminary Plat for the Legacy Circle Villas
8. Current Business
A. Outdoor storm warning notification changeg
9. Reports-Mayor; Delker, Murillo, Curtis, Leto,
Sylvester; City Manager; City Clerk; Community De-
velopment Director; Director of Planning & Building;
Public Works Director; Police Chief; Fire Chief; Parks &
Recreation Director;
Library Director
10. Adjournment
America's Farmers Grow Communities
Drought stricken farmers
and rural communities
receive double funding
Warren County Fair
and Indianola Area Dol-
lars for Scholars will now
be able to better serve the
community thanks to the
support of local farmer,
Howard Core and
America's Farmers Grow
Communities.
Sponsored by the
Monsanto Fund, the phil-
anthropic arm of Mon-
santo Company, Grow
Communities provides
farmers in eligible coun-
ties the chance to win a
$2,500 donation for a local
nonprofit organization of
their choice. To further
• support counties declared
natural disaster areas by
the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture
(USDA) due to drought
this year, winning farmers
in these counties are able
to direct double donations,
a total of $5,000.
Warren County was de-
dared a disaster area by
the USDA, giving Core the
~pportunity to choose two
organizations to receive
Pictured, left to right: Warren County Fair President, Dennis Judkins; Monsanto
Representative, Missy Merwald; Winning farmer, Howard Core; Dollars for Schol-
ars Treasurer, Gary Coleman. Photo submitted.
$2,500 donations. Core se- donation to fund scholar- Grow Communities is
lected the Warren County ships to Indianola Highsponsored by the
Fair and Indianola Area School graduates for post- Monsanto Fund to partner
Dollars for Scholars. The secondary education, with farmers in helping
fair plans to put the dona- This year, the Monsantothem positively impact
tion toward constructing a Fund will invest nearly $6 their communities. This
new brick picture back- million in rural America program is part of the
drop for all youth and through Grow Communi- Monsanto Fund's overall
families to have photos Lies, which includes effort to strengthen rural
taken in front of. The back- double donations for America.
drop will be used during counties impacted by the For a complete fist of
the Warren County Fair historic drought. Grow Communities win-
and livestock shows held In Iowa $495,000 is be-ners and more program
during the year. ing given across 99 coun- information, visit grow
The Indianola Dollars ties. communities.com.
for Scholars will use the America's Farmers
