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In response to your editorial dated Oct. 12, 2022 regarding the concerns with the regional mental health structure of the Rolling Hills Region, I would like to take the opportunity to point out the facts on the other side of the issue.
Iowa Administrative Code 441-25.12 is clear that the Regional Governing Board shall include at least one board of supervisor from each member county. The Legislation (SF619) did not require that counties abdicate their responsibilities on the Governance Board whatsoever. While the financing changed to state dollars in lieu of county property taxes, the requirements and responsibilities on the county level remained the same.
Also, 13 of the 14 mental health regions across the state have employees on the county level that are funded with state dollars. There is nothing in legislation that refers to county employees needing to become state employees.
I also need to point out that the Region is making quarterly payments to the counties prior to the beginning of the quarter so that the dollars are available to draw from throughout the three month time frame.
Yes the law changed the financing of the system but it did not remove county involvement. I think it is important to follow the legislation versus our own rules or interpretations of the intent of the law.
Dawn Mentzer | CEO, Rolling Hills Community Services Region
Michael Franken has my vote for U.S. Senator in November, not just because Chuck Grassley has been in the Senate too long (he has), not just because Admiral Franken comes from our neck of the woods (Sioux County), but because he offers his many years of leadership experience through military service, someone all Iowans can be proud of as their representative in Washington.
Franken has literally traveled the world and will bring a first-hand, up-close grasp of international and military affairs to Congress. He has an energetic, positive can-do mindset. Refreshing! He is a doer, not just a talker. He will act to improve Iowans’ lives through supporting legislation that benefits every Iowan, including keeping Social Security solvent. He has a long list of what he’d like to accomplish as our next senator, but much more than that, country over party is his No. 1 talking point. It’s time for new leadership. Vote for Michael Franken for U.S. Senate.
Carol Lytle | Storm Lake
Readers of this newspaper will be familiar with “Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll and “Through the Looking-Glass,” a story of a fantasy world where nothing is as it seems. I feel as though I have passed through the looking-glass and I don’t like what I see.
Our Supreme Court, cheered on by many Republicans have decreed women no longer have the freedom of choice or control over their own bodies. These preposterous and draconian measures have turned this country upside down. Armed with an agenda laser focused on punishing women, I wonder if the next step is banning contraception? Will women be wearing chastity belts again? Who knows. There is some good news and light at the end of the rabbit hole. Ryan Melton is a pro-democracy candidate, a man who cares about people and cares about Iowa. Ryan is an advocate for reproductive rights. His opponent isn’t. Vote Ryan Melton on Nov. 8. Together we can end the insanity.
Gretchen Gondek | Sioux City
“Our Liberties we Prize, and our Rights we will Maintain,” is stitched into the red, white and blue flag of Iowa. However, with the changes to Iowa’s election laws in recent years, I am concerned about the infringement on my right to cast my vote and be assured that it is counted.
The Supreme Court has eroded the Voting Rights Act. State lawmakers moved swiftly after the 2020 election to enhance voting restrictions in Iowa. While Democrats and Republicans may differ on the issues, there has to be agreement that restrictions to voting laws infringe on our rights and freedoms to vote in elections. Voting is the very backbone of a Democracy. We the people cast ballots to elect our leaders.
Sadly, we continue to see lies about the 2020 election and there are some running for office who refuse to say outright that Joseph Biden is president of the United States. These lies have been debunked numerous times and as the January 6 hearing has proven, Trump himself knew he lost the election.
We cannot allow this lie to continue and to further erode our voting rights. We cannot allow restrictions to place barriers in the way of us, the voters. If you believe like I do, that every eligible voter in our state should have equal access to the ballot, vote for candidates who support voting rights and protecting our elections, not those who want to change the rules to make voting more difficult for everyone because their party lost.
Mary Weaver | Rippey
Boy, John Cullen, did I relate to your latest Fillers. On many levels: The Mantle idolatry; the sips of dad’s beer; the faithful listening to game broadcasts (although with my dad it was Vince Lloyd and Lou Boudreau on staticky WGN from Chicago); the baseball card collecting; the better late than never World Series win in 2016.
That belated blessing of us Cub faithful came at a cost that I still swear I wouldn’t have agreed to if I’d been in a position to negotiate its terms. They were similar to the ones Joe Hardy signed for in Damn Yankees, except that in this case the whole country’s soul was sold in exchange for a long-suffering team’s success. The bill came due on Election Day that year, a mere six-day honeymoon in the wake of Game Seven. We’ve all been paying it ever since and still are.
Mike Wellman | Des Moines
According to Sen. Chuck Grassley’s official government-funded website, he “has held at least one Q&A with constituents in each of Iowa’s 99 counties every year since coming to the Senate in 1981.” This is now called the “Full Grassley” and is featured prominently in current TV ads. However, a review of this year’s county meetings shows that few Iowans could participate in one of these highly touted events.
Grassley’s website indicates that 51 of 99 Q&A sessions were hosted by private companies, most unannounced publicly and by invitation only. (Will company employees ask tough questions in the presence of their Grassley-supporting employer?) Eight sessions were held at high schools, audiences unlikely to seriously challenge the Senator. Another 18 sessions were held with groups like a Chamber of Commerce (4), Farm Bureau (3), health facility (4), and others (7) usually not open to the public.
Only 22 counties, mostly small and rural, with just 15% of Iowa’s population, had a presumably public “town meeting.” Conversely, no public meetings were held in the 11 largest counties which are home to 1.74 million Iowans (55%), Polk, Linn, Scott, Johnson, Black Hawk, Woodbury, Dallas, Story, Dubuque, Pottawattamie, Warren. Is Senator Grassley really keeping in touch with his constituents? Or does he only meet with those most likely to agree with him?
Iowans deserve a senator who respects everyone, including those with differing ideas. Admiral Michael Franken will provide much needed, fresh leadership. He will listen to, and fully represent, all Iowans.
Tom Cook | Iowa City
Ever wonder why the January 6th Committee has focused a lot on President Trump’s desire to go with the angry protestors to the Capitol, and on his scuffle with the agents in the presidential limo who wouldn’t let him go?
Throughout history, when the commander-in-chief personally leads the troops into battle, the level of resolve is always enhanced, the level of effort is always compounded, the sense of righteousness and sacrifice is always raised to a power.
When the President was thwarted in this particular leadership strategy, he fell back on another line of attack by tweeting out against Mike Pence, which recovered some of the fever pitch he had earlier lost.
One can only imagine what might have happened if Mr. Trump had been able to lead his followers personally in the assault on the Capitol.
Kimball Shinkoskey | Woods Cross, Utah
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