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56,555 thoughts on “Whiner’s Den

  1. Donald Trump and his “children” (all adults) must testify in a lawsuit in which it is claimed they ripped off Americans. Here’s the intro to the case for your reading enjoyment:

    1. This case is about four working-class Americans, and tens of thousands more just like them, who were deliberately defrauded by Donald J. Trump, his family, and the corporation that bears their name. The Trumps conned each of these victims into giving up hundreds or thousands of dollars—losses that many experienced as devastating and life-altering. Surely the Trumps dismissed these amounts (and the lives they wrecked) as trivial. But by defrauding so many for so long, the Trumps made millions.

    2. For more than a decade, Defendants The Trump Corporation, Donald J. Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump (the latter four, collectively, the “Individual Defendants”) have operated a large and complex enterprise with a singular goal: to enrich themselves by systematically defrauding economically marginalized people looking to invest in their educations, start their own small businesses, and pursue the American Dream.

    3. Central to Defendants’ fraudulent scheme was a company called ACN, a multi- level marketing company (“MLM”) that offers a business opportunity to individual participants. From 2005 to at least 2015, Defendants received millions of dollars in secret payments to promote and endorse ACN. In return, Donald J. Trump (“Trump”) told prospective investors that “[y]ou have a great opportunity before you at ACN without any of the risks most entrepreneurs have to take,” and that ACN’s flagship videophone was doing “half-a-billion dollars’ worth of sales a year.” Trump also told investors that he had “experienced the opportunity” and “done a lot of research,” and that his endorsement was “not for any money.” Not a word of this was true.

    4. In the minds of many Americans, the Trump brand was once synonymous with entrepreneurial success. Indeed, Trump spent years cultivating a brand for himself and his family based on the impression that he was a successful entrepreneur. Defendants conducted the affairs of their enterprise as a fraudulent scheme to leverage that brand, and use a series of false and misleading statements and omissions, to ensnare vulnerable consumers in certain so-called business opportunities and training programs like ACN.

      1. What a way to spend your time, I hope life improves for you. Thank$$$ for the several dozen anonymous comments this morning, too.

  2. MASON CITY:

    Starting Monday, March 28, the Operation & Maintenance Utility Crew will close two roadways to make repairs to the water distribution system; North Carolina Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets NE and South Tennessee Place between 4th and 6th Streets SE.

  3. I see the DNC pundit just erased my comment about Trumps 24 million dollar lawsuit against the Hillery machine. We know what you are – turn coat pos.

    1. Trump’s lawsuit will be as successful as Trump Steaks. Here is a thought for you – A Republican-led U.S. Senate committee concluded Russia used Paul Manafort, a former chairman of Trump’s campaign, and Wikileaks to boost his chances in 2016.

      1. The lawsuit is an extremely cheap way to grab a headline and own the libs on FAUX news for at least one cycle. When he suit is summarily dismissed, FAUX won’t mention that lil nugget. The Q psychos can brag that Don is once again attacking all their hated enemies and ignore that he got nowhere.

        1. What’s she doing now? Not exactly a world-beater at this point, is she? Does she have a career of any kind?

          1. She is doing what she was doing before Trump was elected. Running her own right leaning political analysis firm. And a cable news analyst. This time for Fox News.

            1. Except she got nuttier over time. Total bonkos now, Karen on gamma rays. Kooky enough to slap high fives with the most whacko Q’s in existence. She’s gonna get hauled front of Congress now, and things might go south from there.

        2. A little different situation, bonzo. Clarence is a SCOTUS justice. Kelly was a bauble for Trump’s ego.

          1. False equivalencies are the backbone of any debate with Q’s. Next is whataboutism and distraction.

  4. Extension for Farmers/Fisherman to File & Pay 2021 Income Tax Returns

    The Director of the Iowa Department of Revenue issued Order 2022-01 on March 22, 2022, granting an extension to certain taxpayers to file and pay 2021 Iowa individual income tax returns without incurring a penalty for underpayment of estimated tax. Taxpayers who earn at least 2/3 of their income from farming or commercial fishing will have until May 2, 2022, to file and pay their 2021 Iowa income tax returns without incurring a penalty for underpayment of estimated tax.

  5. 2 minutes to fill a gas tank, 20 minutes to charge a battery. Oh yeah that’ll work.

    EMP burst will put an end to these electric puppies…

    1. If you live long enough, you’ll be at one of the charging stations sooner than you think. They are all over the place in actual civilization. But yes, you think it won’t work, you’ve said it in here numerous times under your anonymous moniker, we get it.

    2. More like 50 minutes and that is if you are using a level 3 charger. Can you imagine how many charging stations they will need at convenience stores in the future to keep customers happy? Electric cars are a good thing coming. Especially for vehicles on a local delivery route or local driving to work. But we need to figure out a new expanded electrical distribution system, Alliant or Mid-American can’t supply enough current for everyone to charge at the same time. And if your house only has a 100 amp electrical service, your electric car depending on the charge level of your battery could demand 40 amps of it leaving you only 60 left to cook dinner, while doing that you only have 30 amps left, oops daughter just plughed in and turned on an electric hair dryer and the clothes dryer happens to be running. Your lights just went off because you main breaker just tripped. At that point you’ll need to charge your car later on that night.
      It will take some lifestyle changes to be sure. Meanwhile save up for a new electrical panel. And hope your power supplier can keep up with all the demand.

      1. Dear Reddy, you must not follow technology. We improve our technology every day. Within a few years technology will have created chargers that re-charge in minutes. Batteries will last longer and there will be no need for gasoline-powered cars.

        1. So how are low income people supposed to pay for an electric car? Don’t say they buy a used one. By the time those get back on the lot the batteries will be shot and they could be looking at paying $5000 just to replace them. IF they can get them. A “starter car” for your kid? Can you afford to pay big money for a good used electric car? A decent used car anymore these days around $7500 to $10K. A good electric used car about double. Next lets talk cold temperatures. The efficiency of electric batteries go down in the cold. And remember you are using more things in the car to keep comfortable. Electric heater, seat warmers,windshield and mirror defrosters, not to mention the infotainment center, and the basic operation body and electric drive modules. All use lots of power. Power you need to keep the car driving down the road. The city of Duluth pulled something the Mason City city council would only dream of. Duluth spent big money on an electric bus and found they could not use it in the winter. Batteries and cold weather do not mix. When an electric car runs out of power its not as simple as finding a gas can. And who is going to fix eletric cars in North Iowa? Probably the car dealerships at least at first. Just ask Ford Mustang MachE owners about their warraty repair experiences. Many even had to pay over sticker for the priviledge of owning one. I really think though many of these problems could be worked out and many folks could own and enjoy them. But the year 2035 is going to be too soon. And if they are mandated. You could be down to only 1 car!

          1. Why should everyone own a car? Is this 1955? Ride a bike. Take a bus. Walk. Hitch. Be poor and be OK with it.

  6. Well when a highly educated person cannot define woman…. Then in my opinion she isn’t educated at all!!!! How would she ever be able to interpret law????? Crazy!!!

    1. Blackburn asked a stupid question and more than likely she wanted Jackson to answer it in a way that would offend some. It was a lead in to more attacks and Jackson didn’t take the bait.

  7. Sen L. Graham You POS sounding ALL Tuff at the SCOTUS Hearing. WHY Have YOU Voted YES On Every other Lower Court ALT LEFT POS Judge Biden has Nominated? …STFU

    1. Don’t forget, he ran away, fled the meeting when he was called out. Who votes for people like Lindsey G? (you would)

  8. Korean War China Supplied Nork Korea 100k’s of Troops & Materials & the Russians Supplied MIG 15’s the State of the Art Top Fighter & even SOME Pilots that actually Fought against OUR Pilots. That Was OK…Vietnam, China & Numerous Soviet Bloc Countries Supplied Guns Ammo etc. while Russia Provided Mig17’s & 21’s, SA2 SAM’S & the Radar to Guide them..That was Ok also. NOW The West CAN’T Supply MIGS to Ukraine using THEIR Own Pilots….WTF

    1. Ukraine is allegedly winning (so far). The less we do, the worse Putin looks, the weaker Russia emerges. The entire might of NATO stand by while Russia gets throttled by a much smaller neighbor. Putin will be dead, Russia in chaos, no dead NATO soldiers nor lost treasure. It is tragic that war is this brutal and cutthroat. Without nukes in the equation, we might have gotten involved by now.

  9. Shame!! There was a Time when People like Walter Cronkite was the MOST Trusted Man in America on how He reported the News. He was a Democrat but NEVER Sold Out to HIS Party to Report the News or would Spike a Story. Even CNN during Gulf War 1 had Credibility on its reporting of IT but Not Any More. BIG Tech was the First to Shutdown a Credible News Company to Protect Hunter Biden as did the REST of the Now Democrat Propaganda Networks. They ALL Circled the Wagons & Went & Found 51 SO Called Experts, ALL Democrats from Previous Presidential Admins Confirming from WHO Knows what The SO Called Proof of Russian Disinformation. Now NONE of those 51 are Now Talking or Explaining WHAT Was that Intel to CLAIM that these LIES they TOLD?..NO Accountability, Responsibility, NO SHAME from ANY Of Them & HOW They Interfered with OUR Election Process in doing SO!

    1. There was no propaganda in the news in the 50s and 60s? Oh I forgot, you wish it still WAS the 50s and 60s (MAGA) You might need a clue.

      1. If it was the 50’s 60’s there wouldn’t be the nit left leaning propaganda bullshit site. You know the one that dislikes republicans/conservatives, but will exploit them for personnel gain $$$$$$$.

        1. When are you going to learn to spell? It is ‘personal gain’ not “personnel gain”. Or is it you can’t remember that because of your brain injury?

  10. GALLUP POLL:

    Fifty-eight percent of Americans want the Senate to confirm judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court, tied for the highest initial support for a nominee in Gallup’s trends.

            1. Yes yes, “demtards” you sound as smart as the morons who stormed DC – the actual people with enough balls to do something that dum versus just copy and pasting trash all day 🙂

          1. Hmmm… Biden HAD to have a Black Woman VP, & We’ve SEEN how THAT’S Worked OUT! NOW nominates a Black Woman SCOTUS Judge Who Apparently since SHE’S Not a Biologist can’t explain or doesn’t KNOW what a Woman IS even after having 2 Kids of Her Own. SMH!

            1. ^^^ Good morning racist, try not to have a heart attack from your anger today, we will somehow miss all the spammy comments you put in here.

          2. Jackson is more qualified than the last 2 judges appointed by trump. And she didn’t break down and cry when people asked tough questions and questioned her character. If you remember Barrett’s testimony, she deflected often when asked about her views.

      1. He-man frat-boy a**hole Brett Kavanaugh is the first and only SCOTUS nominee to cry and throw a tantrum during confirmation hearings.

    1. Did you know that confirmation hearings were not used for a long while in our history? The nomination of a Jewish man was the first time they were held.

          1. 13 of the 17 judges since 1969 appointed to the SCOTUS have been appointed by Republicans. So “cooked up” by Democrats is bs like everything else you say.

  11. Joint Meeting of the Boards of Directors of Central Rivers Area Education Agency, Hawkeye Community College, Iowa Valley Community College District, and North Iowa Area Community College
    4:30 p.m. Joint Board Meeting
    NIACC Campus – Pierce Administration Building, Room 100,
    500 College Drive – Mason City, Iowa
    Central Rivers Area Education Agency – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and per Iowa Code 21.8, the Central Rivers AEA Board of Directors meeting will be conducted electronically.
    Hawkeye Community College, Hawkeye Center, Conference Room, 1501 E. Orange Road, Waterloo, Iowa
    Iowa Valley Community College District, District Administration Building Board Room, Marshalltown, IA 5015
    Wednesday, April 6, 2022

  12. Senility at the top, stupidity second runner up and an old drunk in third place….if it wasn’t so pathetic, it would make a great cartoon!

  13. When you understand “Presidential Administration” is the PC way of saying “Crime Syndicate” then the picture starts to focus.

  14. According to the US Chamber of Commerce:

    The U.S. is positioned to meet the world’s energy needs, while remaining focused on the challenge of climate change.

    Inflation is going to remain high into 2023 and maybe 2024.

    The SEC’s climate disclosure proposal could limit companies’ ability to provide information that shareholders and stakeholders find meaningful.

    The U.S. intelligence community believes Russia may be exploring options for potential cyberattacks.

    The U.S. and Europe remain each other’s most important markets.

  15. Treasurer Patricia Wright reminds all taxpayers that 2nd half Assessment Year 2020 real estate taxes and Assessment Year 2022 mobile home taxes are due in the Treasurer’s office by 4:30 pm Thursday, March 31, 2022. The Treasurer’s office will also accept a March 31, 2022, US Postal Service postmark.
    When paying by mail or in person, the Treasurer recommends using the 2nd half coupon attached to the statement. The taxpayer’s cancelled check will serve as receipt. Those wishing an additional receipt must enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Payment methods accepted in the office are cash, check, and debit card, Discover, MasterCard and Visa.
    The Treasurer encourages all taxpayers to take advantage of the online property tax payment at http://www.iowatreasurers.org. This service provides opportunity to pay taxes for any property in Iowa online, through a secure website, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Payment may be made by Discover, Master Card, Visa, or eCheck (an eCheck is a method of debiting the funds electronically from your checking account).
    The Treasurer’s office in the courthouse is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.

  16. How many suns are there in th LALA land that you live in? You’ve been standing out under them way too long.

  17. Joe Biden has been in Washington longer than my kids have been alive and all he has to show for it is failure.

    1. How’s Grassley’s record stack up? Who was elected first? How many votes did you cast for Chuck so he could grift since the 50s?

  18. Women Swimmer’s of the World…MAN UP!…LOL

    They can stick that gender crap where the sun doesn’t shine.

  19. Believe l heard this morning on the TV noise in the background, Russians and other Europeans were flying into Mexico…wonder why?

  20. ALL RINOS NEED TO GO IN NOVEMBER

    McCarthy is a snake and can’t be trusted. He talks and does nothing. TRUMP NEEDS TO STOP BACKING HIM.

  21. Adam Shifty is everything bad about AMERICA..The reason the world is so F up right now is because of shifty and his marxist movement.

    1. Adam Schiff for brains lied for 3 years about Russian collusion, and repeatedly said he had evidence; ALL A LIE!

  22. It’s Imperative for the Good of OUR Nation that ALL Masking MUST Be Voluntary! This will allow Fellow Americans from a Block Away that if Your Wearing One, YOUR Beyond STUPID!!! & Should be Avoided.

  23. Joe Biden is not a president. Doesn’t even know where he’s at, let alone what to do. Democratic Party is leading us down the path to destruction.

    1. Heaven forbid the big guy or his minions answer questions that the American people have a right to know about the viability of their president to deal with hostile world actors and the security of the nation he was elected to lead.

      1. Love the way you respond to your own posts, bot. Keep deluding the minority who believes your crap. They are beyond help.

      2. It takes them 2 minutes in deliberation to send billions to Uk . It Takes Over a year in deliberation to give the American people help, stimulus, For pandemic that killed many more . Whats up with that anyway?

  24. Biden asking other countries for help with more oil after shutting down his own pipeline makes him look like a fool. Let’s Go Brandon.

        1. Hey bot, he didn’t stop it from being completed. It has been in operation for over 10 years. He stopped a new section from being built as he should have. He rescinded most of his early shutdowns about a month later.

  25. Just because you put a clown in the castle doesn’t make him king. It turns the castle into a circus.

    1. You mean like Melanija Knavs?
      AKA as Melania Trump.

      She worked illegally in the US in the 90’s.
      “she had been paid for 10 modeling jobs she had done before she had obtained her H1-B work visa and was still living in the U.S. using her visitor visa.”

      Foreigners are not allowed to use a visitor visa to work for pay in the United States for America.

      She violated the law, throw the old slut out.

      1. If Melania Trump had as many different dicks sticking out of her as she had stuck in her, she would look like a porcupine.

  26. NY Times Lo & Behold NOW Claims the Hunter Laptop IS Real…Where’s ALL the Calls for a Congressional Investigation?….Impeachment Hearings? Maybe AFTER the GOP takes back the House & Senate IS the Way to Go.

    1. We subscribe to the NY Times. I can find no recent article about the purported lap top. Can you provide me with a link?

          1. It’s good to admit when you are wrong, just keep doing it, it will make you a better person. Also, don’t believe everything you hear/see on any mainstream media sites.

      1. You wouldn’t know what to do with a copy of the NY Times. If you would search for the article you will find several news sites with the proof you deny.

  27. 3,000 U.S. troops are deploying to Eastern Europe in response to the escalating situation along the Ukraine border.

    1. IF Ukraine Survives, How SOON will the Biden family & Members of Congress Be Swooping In to Cash In On Rebuilding Ukraine?

  28. Mason City Community School District | Board of Education | Administrative Center Board Room
    PUBLISHED MEETING
    3/21/2022, 5:30 PM

  29. Just exactly what have they done for the American tax payer, and try to be specific. No smoke and mirrors.

    1. Maybe there’s a journalistic reporter on this site that will be able to post an update on what actually happened. Inquiring minds would like to know!!!

  30. Think the Army will be Forced to Rename ALL its Helicopters…The Apache, Blackhawk, Iroquois, Chinook?

    1. They will if the cancel culture finds out it. I’m sure their rectums will be hurt or maybe their vaginas.

  31. I find TMZ Amusing watching Young Wokester’s Mind Twisting & Turning to Understand how Hollywood Celebrity Lifestyles are Normal. Last Night was NO Exception as the conversation drifted into a Couple Brothers relationship, when a 40ish Wokester mentioned Cain & Able. A 20 Something Wokester asked WHO are They? The 40ish answered Adam & Eve’s Son’s. NOT to be out done another 20 something in Astonished Disbelief…Adam & Eve had KIDS!?….Explains a LOT why America IS in this Shape.

  32. I’m letting trump live in my head rent free, and I’ve never been so miserable, what should I do?

    1. You should open your mouth and put a gun in it and pull the trigger. That will get rid of orange man!

          1. How much more tragic will Biden have to get before he is dragged out of office kicking and screaming.

  33. WE Expected the ALT Left Media to be ALL IN ON Putin’s Fault LIES over the Gas Prices & Inflation BUT NOW Tic Tok Idiots. How many of them are EVEN Voting Age for Christ Sake?

  34. The Indoctrination & Brainwashing is Complete. We have White People Protesting White People for BEING White People.

    1. BLAME the Oil Companies….SO They are behind KILLING America’s Energy Independence…The Rising Cost of Inflation..Or It’s Putin’s. Just Spitballing..Could it BE Anyone Else? Hmmmm?

  35. Smillette created racial discord in a COUNTRY. I think that constitutes a HATE CRIME and he should be treated LIKE EVERY OTHER CRIMINAL in this country. This is SO WRONG!!!

  36. This is just WRONG. Other people stay in jail while they appeal their sentence. Smollette should NOT get any special treatment . Keep him in jail. He might try and leave the country.

  37. Keep Jussie in jail. His sentence should have been longer. If he had been a white guy making a fake attack by black men they would have thrown the book at him and forgot where they put the key.

  38. Mason City Room March 15, 2022
    Mason City, Iowa 7:00 P.M.

    MINUTES
    REGULAR MEETING
    OF THE CITY COUNCIL

    The City Council of the City of Mason City, Iowa, met in regular session pursuant to law and rules of said Council, in the Mason City Room of the Mason City Public Library, at 7:00 P.M., on March 15, 2022. The meeting was called to order by the Mayor and on roll being called there were present, Bill Schickel, Mayor in the Chair, and the following Council Members: Thoma, Jaszewski, Masson, Adams, Symonds. Absent: Lee.

    Adopt Agenda: Motion, Adams; 2nd, Symonds that the agenda be adopted. AYES: All (Motion carried.)

    The Mayor proclaimed March 30, 2022 as Honey Bee Day.

    Planning and Zoning Manager Tricia Sandahl presented the annual CLG Report

    City Administrator Burnett presented his Monthly Activity Report. Council comments and questions followed the report.

    Prior to adopting the Consent Agenda Items #10 and #21 were removed to be acted upon separately.

    Consent Agenda Items: Regular Minutes of March 1, 2022; Claims dated March 3 and 10, 2022 in the amount of $1,795,287.23; Prime & Wine – Class C Liquor, Catering, Outdoor Service; Target – Class B Wine, Class C Beer, Class E Liquor; North Iowa Events Center (excludes Speedway) Class C & Outdoor Service; Simply Nourished – Class B Wine Permit; City of Mason City (Arena) – excludes junior hockey events – Class B Beer; Northside Liquor – Class B Wine, Class C Beer, Class E Liquor; Mason City Country Club – Class A Liquor License, Outdoor Service; Reappoint Colleen Niedermayer to the Planning & Zoning Commission; Appoint/Hire oe Gaubetz as Water Distribution Worker at $27.08 per hour; Appoint/Hire Laura Mott as GIS Analyst at Pay Grade J, Step 1 ($26.34/hr or $54,787 annual); Resolution No. 22-45, approving an Amendment No. 2 to the professional services agreement with Dixon Engineering, Inc. of Greenfield, WI for additional services related to the Water Tower Maintenance Program; Resolution No. 22-46, approving a Supplemental Letter Agreement #2 to the professional services agreement with SEH for additional services related to the “Mason Creek Culvert Replacement – Virginia Avenue”; Resolution No. 22-47, authorizing notice to bidders, fixing amount of bid security, and ordering clerk to publish notice and fixing a date for receiving same, and for a public hearing on plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of costs for construction of the “2022 Street Panel and Curb Replacement Program Project No. 22-1002; Resolution No. 22-48, authorizing notice to bidders, fixing amount of bid security, and ordering clerk to publish notice and fixing a date for receiving same, and for a public hearing on plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of costs for construction of the “2022 Street Rehabilitation Program Project No. 22-1001; Resolution No. 22-49, authorizing acceptance of the 2021 Iowa Certified Local Government Annual Report and directing staff to submit the report to the State Historic Preservation Office; Resolution No. 22-50, accepting work and ordering payment for construction of the “Sanitary Sewer CCTV – Phase 2 Project”; Resolution No. 22-51, approving publication of notice of hearing upon a consolidated application for Federal Transit Administration Assistance Grant for Non-Urbanized Areas and State Operating Assistance Funds for Transportation and authorizing the submission of the application, setting time and place of public hearing; prescribing form of notice to be given and directing clerk to cause publication of said notice; Resolution No. 22-52, authorizing bid process for proposed sale of 1422 North Hampshire Place and setting a public hearing; Resolution No. 22-53, proposing vacation of certain public easements located in Asbury Farms Tenth Subdivision and calling for a public hearing on the proposed vacation; Resolution No. 22-54, approving final plat for Stone Pillar Nineteenth Subdivision, was presented. Motion, Adams; 2nd, Symonds that all items in the Consent Agenda be approved and Resolutions adopted. AYES: All (Motion carried.)

    10. Approval of the proposed Firefighter Non-EMT position and attached wage scale, and recruitment strategy: Motion Adams; 2nd, Jaszewski that the recommendation be approved. Discussion followed regarding the position, recruitment, certificates involved, etc. AYES: All (Motion carried.)

    21. Option for Potential Purchase of 22 No. Georgia Avenue (Mohawk Square): Motion, Adams; 2nd, Thoma that Resolution No. 22-55, approving and authorizing execution of an Option to Purchase related to 22 North Georgia Avenue (Mohawk Square) and the associated parking lots and property, be adopted. Discussion followed regarding how the Option to Purchase would work, what would happen after the timeframe had expired, history of the building, etc. AYES: All (Motion carried.)

    2022 GO Bonding: The Public Hearing was held as per published notice. Mayor Schickel asked if there were any written comments or objections or anyone on Zoom that would like to comment with Burnett replying there were no written comments and no “raised hands” via Zoom. There being no comments the Public Hearing was declared closed. Motion, Adams; 2nd, Jaszewski that Resolution No. 22-56, instituting proceedings to take additional action for the issuance of not to exceed $4,300,000 General Obligation Bonds be adopted. AYES: All (Motion carried.) The Public Hearing was held as per published notice. Mayor Schickel asked if there were any written comments or objections or anyone on Zoom that would like to comment with Burnett replying there were no written comments and no “raised hands” via Zoom. There being no comments the Public Hearing was declared closed. Motion, Adams; 2nd, Symonds that Resolution No. 22-57, instituting proceedings to take additional action for the issuance of not to exceed $500,000 General Obligation Bonds, be adopted. AYES: All (Motion carried.) The Public Hearing was held as per published notice. Mayor Schickel asked if there were any written comments or objections or anyone on Zoom that would like to comment with Burnett replying there were no written comments and no “raised hands” via Zoom. There being no comments the Public Hearing was declared closed. Motion, Jaszewski; 2nd, Thoma that Resolution No. 22-58, authorizing the issuance of General Obligation Bonds, Series 2022, and levying a tax for the payment thereof, be adopted. AYES: All (Motion carried.)

    Adopting the Annual Budget for FY Ending June 30, 2023: The Public Hearing was held as per published notice. Mayor Schickel asked if there were any written comments or objections or anyone on Zoom that would like to comment with Burnett replying there were no written comments and no “raised hands” via Zoom. There being no comments the Public Hearing was declared closed. Motion, Adams; 2nd, Jaszewski that Resolution No. 22-59, adopting the annual budget for fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, be adopted. Comments followed regarding the impact to the average homeowner. AYES: All (Motion carried.)

    Approve application by Parker House Properties for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-CV) to fund upper story dwelling units at 26-28 East State Street. The Public Hearing was held as per published notice. Mayor Schickel asked if there were any written comments or objections or anyone on Zoom that would like to comment with Burnett replying there were no written comments and no “raised hands” via Zoom. Development Services Director Van Steenhusye provided the required comments. There being no comments the Public Hearing was declared closed. Motion, Jaszewski; 2nd, Symonds that Resolution No. 22-60, approving application, Duplication of Benefits Policy, and related documents for a CDBG-CV (Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus) Housing Conversion Project for 26-28 East State Street with Parker House Properties, LLC as developers, be adopted. AYES: All (Motion carried.)

    5 Year Utility Rate Plan Ordinance Changes: Motion, Symonds; 2nd, Masson that the Ordinance amending the City Code by repealing Title 6, Chapter 1 “Public Utilities”, Article A. Water Rates, Section 1, Rates and Charges Established, Subsections A and B (1) in their entirety, and adopting new subsections A and B (1) in lieu thereof be received and placed on file for First Consideration. AYES: All (Motion carried.) Motion, Jaszewski; 2nd, Symonds that the Ordinance amending the City Code by repealing Title 6, Chapter 2: “Sanitary Sewers”, Article A: “Sewer Rates”, Section 3: “Schedule of Rates”, Subsection A and B. and adopting a new subsection A and B in lieu thereof, be received and placed on file for First Consideration. AYES: All (Motion carried.) Motion, Adams; 2nd, Symonds that the Ordinance amending the City Code by repealing Title 4, Chapter 2: “Garbage, Refuse, Recyclables and Yard Waste”, Article C: “Solid Wastes”, Subsection 12: “Charges”, and adopting a new Subsection 12 in lieu thereof, be received and placed on file for First Consideration. AYES: All (Motion carried.) Motion, Symonds; 2nd, Jaszewski that the Ordinance amending the City Code, by repealing Title 6, Chapter 3: “Storm Sewers”, Article A: “Stormwater Utility Policy” and adopting a new Article A in lieu thereof, be received and placed on file for First Consideration. AYES: All (Motion carried.)

    The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:11 p.m.

    /s/Bill Schickel
    Bill Schickel, Mayor

    ATTEST:
    /s/Aaron Burnett
    Aaron Burnett, City Clerk

    Publish 3-22-22
    Emailed 3-17-22

  39. March 16, 2022

    An unknown amount of wastewater from a packing plant reached a tributary of the West Branch of the Floyd River south of Sioux Center, Iowa.

    The manager of Sioux-Preme Packing noticed the discharge from a partly open pipe valve this morning while preparing to land apply wastewater to a nearby field. The discharge may have started yesterday. The company estimates 5,000 gallons discharged. Most soaked into the field, but some flowed into the tributary.

    DNR staff will be checking the area and stream conditions this afternoon. DNR does not expect to find a fish kill.

    DNR will consider appropriate enforcement action.

  40. The United States Shares 500 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Worldwide

    Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State:

    The United States has now shared over 500 million safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses, free of cost, to more than 110 countries and economies around the world – for the sole purpose of saving lives.

    Since the start of the pandemic, we have provided nearly $20 billion in health, humanitarian, economic, and development assistance to over 120 countries, including rapid response support for urgent health needs and technical assistance to expand vaccine access. We have also invested and supported the expansion of regional COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing in Africa and Asia. Today, we continue to work tirelessly with governments and international organizations, vaccine producers, NGOs, the private sector, and others to deliver vaccines, get shots in arms, increase testing and treatment, support and protect healthcare workers, and more. Our recently announced COVID-19 Global Action Plan provides a clear roadmap for this international coordination.

    Our work is making a difference around the world.

    In Paraguay, our donation of two million Pfizer vaccine doses were quickly administered. The government set up a mass vaccination site based on a U.S. model and administered 500,000 doses within a week. In Zambia, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) used American Rescue Plan Act funds to support the administration of nearly two million COVID-19 vaccines through more than 500 health facilities across Zambia’s 10 provinces as part of its work to combat HIV/AIDS.

    In addition, a State Department grant helped Alfred Kankuzi in Malawi build his own app to respond to the rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation across social media. Called COVID-19 NEBA, or “Hey Neighbor,” the app is offered in three languages – Chichewa, Tumbuka, and English – and increases access to fact-based information from trusted sources including U.S. Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization, and Malawi’s Ministry of Health. Alfred has helped over 648,000 fellow citizens access accurate COVID-19 information.

    In Thailand, State Department exchange alumni used a small grant to support Chiang Dao residents in the Chiang Mai Province. Alumni joined community organizations to create visual and audio media in seven local languages on COVID-19 prevention best practices, collaborated with public health officials to conduct COVID-19 prevention workshops for village health volunteers, and provided effective communication tools and techniques to village leaders to help residents stay updated on COVID-19 – reaching more than 70,000 people.

    This work is critical because this pandemic is not over. Many lives are still at risk globally as countries contend with Omicron and we face the possibility of new variants. The United States will continue to work with partners and communities at every level to save lives and better prepare for future pandemics.

  41. GALLUP:

    U.S. Defense Attitudes Shifted Before Russia-Ukraine War.

    Before Russia invaded Ukraine, Americans were evenly divided on whether the U.S. was spending enough money on defense. In the past two years, increasingly more have said the U.S. national defense is not strong enough.

  42. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg released a public schedule update for the week of Monday, March 14, 2022 – Sunday, March 20, 2022.

    The following events are open to credentialed members of the media:

    Thursday, March 17
    Governor Reynolds visits Manson Hometown Grocery
    Manson Hometown Grocery
    1101 Main Street
    Manson, IA
    2:00 p.m.

    Friday, March 18
    Governor Reynolds tours RJ Thomas Manufacturing Company
    RJ Thomas Manufacturing
    5648 US Hwy. 59
    Cherokee, IA
    10:30 a.m.

    Governor Reynolds visits Little Hawks Childcare Center
    Little Hawks Childcare Center
    753 Main Street
    Manilla, IA
    1:50 p.m.

    Governor Reynolds visits The Anchored Collective
    The Anchored Collective
    1331 Linden Road
    Harlan, IA
    3:05 p.m.

  43. The West, Putin said, is trying to split Russians and is using that “fifth column” to achieve its goal of destroying Russia. He called for Russians to distinguish true patriots from “scum and traitors”—political opponents and dissidents—and to get rid of the latter like bugs. “I am convinced that such a natural and necessary self-purification of society will only strengthen our country, our solidarity, cohesion and readiness to respond to any challenges.”

    This is from the guy that some Republicans think is justified in his war on Ukraine. Sounds a lot like Donald J Trump and another well-known leader from the past.

  44. $1 Billion in New U.S. Security Assistance for Ukraine This Week

    03/16/2022 04:22 PM EDT

    Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

    In recent days, Russia has escalated its premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified war on Ukraine, striking hospitals, demolishing schools, leveling civilian infrastructure, and killing hundreds of civilians. As Ukrainian forces bravely continue to combat Russia’s renewed invasion, the United States and its Allies and partners stand steadfast in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and we continue expediting security assistance to Ukraine. This includes $1 billion in new security assistance for Ukraine this week.

    Exercising the additional authority provided in the Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act signed into law by the President, I have immediately authorized, pursuant to a delegation by the President executed earlier today, a Presidential Drawdown of military assistance valued at up to $800 million for Ukraine’s defense. This authorization is the fifth drawdown of equipment from Department of Defense inventories for Ukraine in the last 6 months. Combined with $200 million authorized March 12, it will bring the total U.S. security assistance approved for Ukraine to $1 billion in the last week alone. We are able to provide this level of assistance because of our partnership with Congress, whose responsiveness and generosity we deeply appreciate. We will continue to work closely with lawmakers to support our Ukrainian partners and impose costs on the Russian government.

    Today’s announcement nearly doubles total security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Administration to more than $2 billion, enabling us to surge additional needed assistance, including anti-aircraft, anti-tank, and anti-armor systems as well as small arms and munitions used by Ukrainian security forces on the ground right now in the fight to defend their country.

    The United States will continue to stand together with the community of nations backing the people of Ukraine as they defend their country and will continue to urge President Putin to stop the violence, de-escalate, and choose the path of diplomacy. Until then, we will remain in close contact and coordination with our partners and allies, rally freedom-loving countries worldwide to continue delivering swift and severe consequences to the Russian Government and its enablers, and keep surging diplomatic support, security and economic assistance, and humanitarian aid to help the people of Ukraine in their time of need.

  45. Dear bot, I have noticed you haven’t been posting as much lately. Now you have started up again must mean that the millions of dollars Russia is pouring into misinformation posts on social media sites finally reached you. Enjoy your new-found wealth while it lasts. Putin will be out of a job soon.

  46. If Biden is afraid of Putin, it is with good reason. Putin is a crazed maniac who has moved the world much closer to a world war. You would have to be an admirer of Putin not to see that. Kinda like trumpie who now says Putin has changed. Ha ha Donny. He has always been a crazy maniaC. You were just afraid to upset him.

  47. A major police chiefs organization is throwing its support behind President Joe Biden’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.

    In a letter sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, the International Association of Chiefs of Police urged senators to confirm U.S. Circuit Court Judge Jackson to the high court.

    “Judge Jackson has several family members in law enforcement, and we believe this has given her a deep understanding of, and appreciation for, the challenges and complexities confronting the policing profession,” Chief Dwight E. Henninger, IACP president, wrote in the letter.

    1. That shouldn’t matter. What matters to us conservatives is that she is Black and a woman. She just won’t work for us so we will vote no.

    2. Biden wants us to suffer the effect of a very bad economy, it masks all the illegal monies he is making off of us peons!!!!

  48. Biden is not afraid of Putin. Trump was and is, as any deadbeat weakling is afraid of a creditor he owes big money to.

  49. DM Registetr says this morning:

    Iowans widely oppose criminal penalties, lawsuits over schoolbooks, new Iowa Poll finds.

    The poll is the first to gauge Iowans’ interest in schoolbook legislation after high-profile book challenges in the Des Moines metro, across the U.S.

  50. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken With Wolf Blitzer of The Situation Room on CNN

    03/15/2022 09:51 PM EDT

    Washington, D.C.

    QUESTION: Let’s discuss what’s going on with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Mr. Secretary, thank you so much for joining us.

    SECRETARY BLINKEN: Hey, Wolf.

    QUESTION: So I – as you well know, obviously, the President will attend this truly extraordinary meeting of all the NATO leaders next week in Brussels. Is this purely a show of NATO strength, NATO force, or will they take new concrete steps to stop the Russian aggression?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN: Wolf, it’s a continuation of what we’ve been doing all along, which is bringing allies and partners together in support of Ukraine in very concrete ways, and to exert maximum pressure on Russia to stop the aggression that it’s committing. And so the President has been in constant contact with his counterparts – from throughout Europe, NATO leaders, the European Union, et cetera, and around the world – but this is an important opportunity to have everyone in the same room, in the same place to continue to map out the strategy – the strategy that has, as I said, exerted incredible pressure on Russia as well as showing incredible support for Ukraine.

    QUESTION: I assume all 30 leaders of NATO will be there. Just moments ago, President Zelenskyy signaled that Ukraine won’t join NATO anytime soon, saying – and I’m quoting him now as saying: for years we have been hearing about how the door is supposedly open to NATO membership, but now we hear that we cannot enter, and it is true and it must be acknowledged.* That’s a quote from President Zelenskyy. Is that a direct concession to Putin?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN: I don’t think that’s a concession. I think, first of all, it’s a reflection of reality that even before this aggression by Russia, Ukraine was not going to get into NATO tomorrow. All the more reason why, as we’ve seen, when Putin was saying that their concerns about Ukraine centered on its admission to NATO, that was wrong; that was a lie. What this is about, what Putin’s demonstrated it’s about, is denying Ukraine its independent existence. But what we’ve done in support of Ukraine is to provide extraordinary security assistance that continues as we speak to make sure that Ukraine has the means to defend itself.

    QUESTION: As the risk of miscalculation, though, grows, the UN secretary-general says that the prospect of nuclear – nuclear – conflict is now, and I’m quoting him now, “within the realm of possibility.” How real is the risk of this spiraling into nuclear war?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, President Biden has been very clear that one thing is for sure, is that we’re going to avoid getting into any kind of conflict with Russia, and certainly avoiding anything that brings us to World War Three. Some of Russia’s loose talk about its nuclear weapons is the height of irresponsibility and goes against everything that we’ve said, including that Russia has said over many years, about how a nuclear war is not winnable – something that was reaffirmed as recently as the meeting between President Biden and Putin back in – this summer in Geneva.

    So we watch this very, very, very carefully. There’s a lot of bad, loose talk and bluster. At the same time, I have to tell you we have real concerns that Russia could use a chemical – a weapon, another weapon of mass destruction. This is something we’re very focused on. Unfortunately, we’ve seen them use or acquiesce to its use before in Syria, with Syria using these weapons, using them itself, trying to assassinate its opponents, including in the United Kingdom. So this is something we are very focused on.

    QUESTION: Well, if they do use chemical weapons, what will the U.S. and the NATO Allies do?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN: We’ve been very clear, including with Russia, with others, that there would be a very serious response not just from us, but from the international community. I’m not going to spell it out here, but the consequences would be severe.

    QUESTION: Russia is also targeting civilians; they’re attacking hospitals, schools. Why is the White House so far refusing to come right out and say what the Russian – what the Russians are doing right now, that that’s a war crime?

    SECRETARY BLINKEN: We are documenting everything we’re seeing. We welcome the efforts that are being made, including investigations conducted by NGOs and institutions to look at this, to put everything together to determine whether the acts that Russia is engaged in would constitute a war crime. We’re looking at whether there are deliberate attacks on civilians. There’s certainly very credible reports and evidence of that, but what we’re doing is putting it all together, documenting it, and the appropriate institutions will make that judgement.

    QUESTION: The U.S. believes China has signaled some openness to providing military support to Russia. What’s your message, Mr. Secretary, to China as it weighs how much support it will actually provide to Putin?

    SECRETAR BLINKEN: Well, Wolf, there are two things. First, there is the rhetorical support, or at least the absence of clear rhetorical denunciation by China of what Russia is doing. And this flies in the face of everything that China purports to stand for, including the basic principles of the UN Charter, including the basic principle of respect for sovereignty of nations. And so the fact that China has not denounced what Russia is doing in and of itself speaks volumes. And it speaks volumes not only in Russia or in Ukraine; it speaks volumes in Europe and in other places around the world.

    Second, we are concerned at the prospect of China providing material support to Russia or undermining the sanctions that we put in place with countries around the world, something that we’ve communicated directly to China, including just this – in the past 24 hours when the National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, met with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.

    QUESTION: So if the Chinese do provide military support to the Russians, what will the U.S. do?

    SECRETAR BLINKEN: Again, without going into specifics of what we’ll do, we’ve made very clear that that’s not something that we’re going to take sitting down.

    QUESTION: As you know, Putin is making truly outlandish and very, very offensive claims that he’s de-Nazifying Ukraine. You and I both have family who survived the Holocaust; President Zelenskyy does as well. Do you think the U.S. will look back on this time right now and wish the West had done more to stop Putin?

    SECRETAR BLINKEN: Wolf, it’s hard to project into the future. I can tell you a couple of things, though, that I’m confident of. First of all, there’s going to be a Ukraine, an independent Ukraine, a lot longer than there’s going to be Vladimir Putin. One way or the other, Ukraine will be there, and at some point Putin won’t. The real question is how much death and destruction is wrought by Russia’s aggression in the meantime, and that’s what we’re working as hard as we can to limit, to stop, to put an end to this war of choice that Russia is committing.

    And we’re doing that through the support we’re providing to Ukraine every single day. We’re doing that by the pressure we’re exerting against Russia every single day. And my hope is that we can end this sooner rather than later so that that death and destruction doesn’t continue. But I can tell you how this is going to end ultimately: It’s going to end with an independent Ukraine, and at some point, it’s going to end without Vladimir Putin.

    QUESTION: So what’s your message to Putin right now?

    SECRETAR BLINKEN: Message to Putin is: end this war; stop this war that you’re committing; end the aggression that is unjustified, unprovoked.

    We’ve looked over many months at giving President Putin appropriate offramps to end this before the aggression, since the aggression started. Unfortunately, each and every time he’s pressed the accelerator. It’s time to stop with the accelerator. It’s time to stop the war, stop the killing, stop the destruction – that’s the message.

    QUESTION: Sadly, he’s showing at least so far no sign of that. But we will hope and pray. Secretary Blinken, thank you so much for joining us.

    SECRETAR BLINKEN: Thanks, Wolf. Good to be with you.

    QUESTION: Thank you.

  51. President Biden thinks he can blame Putin for high fuel costs. He pulled the plug on lower prices on day one, prices started going up then.

    1. Global wholesale oil prices have plunged by over 10% in the biggest one-day drop since April of last year. The fact that retail prices are still high, although dropping a little bit, is proof of profiteering by the oil companies, foreign and domestic.

        1. When wholesale prices drop, and retail prices don’t, that means somebody in between is keeping a bunch of money. That’s rich oilmen and their stockholders, in this case, and in a time of crisis, like a pandemic or looming war, it’s called profiteering.

          1. You forgot about the retailers that don”t lower their prices when the wholesale price goes down. How much oil does Casey’s, Kwik-Star, etc control?

          2. None. As I said, it’s the person in the middle–the middleman–who they’re buying it from that’s keeping prices high.

          3. Do you have any clue how a business works? Retailers buy from wholesalers who buy from producers, so if the wholesale price goes down but the retail price doesn’t, guess who is keeping the difference.

  52. These TV shows still don’t get it. No one wants to watch a bunch of America hating leftists! Except other leftists. Real Americans simply won’t watch!

    1. If nobody watched them, they would be off the air. They’re way too expensive to produce if they’re not making money, and the only way they make money is if lots of people watch.

  53. FINALLY I do Agree with Kamala, She’s Spot ON….The American People ARE Getting what they Voted FOR!

  54. We’re to believe That the Oil & Natural Gas Companies ON Their Own Shutdown Keystone, Numerous Natural Gas Line Construction & ALL Fracking on Federal Land & SOMEHOW Biden Claims WERE Producing & Refining MORE than We ever have? How are we NOT Energy Independent?

    1. NONE of the Keystone oil was going to Americans. The pipe was planned to be so long because it was going to go straight from the source, all the way to a port and onto tanker ships to foreign countries. Rich oilmen are mad about it, and want you to bitch about it so they don’t have to dirty their hands. You’re stupid enough to do it because you want to suck up to them, hoping you’ll get some money or a job from them. That will never happen, and they’re laughing at you for it, like they always do.

      1. No refining at all, but simpletons ignore this and think this CANADIAN OIL is magically transformed into gas stored in the Yes Way pumps at historically low prices so they can idle in the burger drive thru.

    1. Not as much as there used to be, thanks to Russia’s newly-limited access to the outside world. They don’t have the access to crap up this site, and lots of others, like they used to.

  55. Ice-out channel catfish are biting

    Channel catfish move close to shore and are eager to bite in many lakes and the large reservoirs across Iowa just after the ice is gone. The bite starts sooner in southern Iowa impoundments since they lose ice a week or two before northeast Iowa natural lakes.

    After eating light during the winter, channel catfish put the feed bag on in early spring cleaning up small fish that died over the winter. Search for actively feeding fish on windblown shorelines and points where dead fish are piled up and the shallow water warms quickly. Keep the wind in your face and move often until you find actively feeding fish.

    Use cut bait or shad sides fished on the bottom. To keep the bait on the hook, try using a 1/0 to 3/0 bait holder hook and enough weight (3/8th to ½ ounce) to cast into the wind. Bring along disposable latex gloves to handle the bait and help keep the smell off your hands.

    Ice-out catfishing can be good in any lak that has an abundant catfish population. Iowa’s flood control reservoirs, Rathbun, Red Rock, Coralville and Saylorville usually offer the best action. Try catfishing in the natural lakes, like Storm Lake, East Okoboji, Little Wall Lake, or Black Hawk Lake in northwest Iowa soon after the ice is gone. Small impoundments, like Don Williams, Big Creek, Volga Lake, Diamond Lake, Greenfield City Reservoir, or Lake Icaria, also offer good early spring catfishing.

    Catfish can be found in almost every body of water across Iowa.

    1. Catfish are the most under fished fish in the state. Used to hammer them back in the day. Filet them out then smoke em, what a high….

  56. Trout stocking in northeast Iowa streams starts April 4

    The popular trout stream stocking season starts on April 4. Find a list of stocked trout streams on the DNR trout stream map or the Iowa trout streams webpage.

    The DNR Trout Program offers Iowa anglers a variety of trout fishing opportunities, including catchable stockings, fingerling stockings, wild trout, streams with restrictive regulations, easy universal access areas and remote streams with difficult access.

    About 320,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout, 30,000 fingerling brook trout, and 5,000 fingerling brown trout will be stocked into hundreds of miles of northeast Iowa streams from the beginning of April through the end of October. Funding to support the trout stocking program comes from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and trout fees. About 40,000 Iowans and 5,000 nonresidents go trout fishing in Iowa each year.

    Iowa’s trout streams, open year-round, meander through some of the most scenic areas of the state.

  57. Progress Iowa Executive Director Matt Sinovic issued the following statement in response to the January jobs report from Iowa Workforce Development:

    “Iowans are hard workers who take pride in their jobs. But fewer Iowans are working today than when Corporate Kim Reynolds first took office.

    “Today’s report from Iowa Workforce Development proves the Reynolds Workforce Crisis isn’t going anywhere. The most recent data shows that nearly 63,000 Iowans are still unemployed.

    “Instead of helping workers, Corporate Kim Reynolds is taking away our hard earned benefits. Not only did she call workers lazy in her Condition of the State address, she cut off federal aid for the unemployed during a pandemic and is now trying to cut unemployment assistance nearly in half to force Iowans into jobs that don’t pay enough. These are critical funds that kept Iowa families afloat during a global pandemic.

    “Iowans need a governor who values hard work, invests in Iowa families and will make sure employers pay their employees what they owe.”

    1. Republicans have sold Iowa to out-of-state companies as a state of low wages, and now they whine because nobody will work for them. They deserve everything they get. During the pandemic, people figured out how to make as much money on the internet as they were making on their crappy jobs, without having to put up with boot-licking middle managers, and employers who try to school them on politics. They’re never coming back.

  58. March 15, 2022

    Treasury Sanctions Russians Connected to Gross Human Rights Violations and Corrupt Leader of Belarus

    WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated four individuals and one entity pursuant to the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012 (the Russia Magnitsky Act). These Russia Magnitsky Act targets were involved in concealing events surrounding the death of renowned Russian whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky, or were connected to gross violations of human rights against Russian human rights defender Oyub Titiev. Treasury is also re-designating Alyaksandr Lukashenka of Belarus, the head of a corrupt government in Belarus whose patronage network benefits his inner circle and regime, and newly designating his wife pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13405.

    “Today’s designations demonstrate the United States will continue to impose concrete and significant consequences for those who engage in corruption or are connected to gross violations of human rights,” said OFAC Director Andrea Gacki. “We condemn Russia’s attacks on humanitarian corridors in Ukraine and call on Russia to cease its unprovoked and brutal war against Ukraine.”

    CONCEALING THE LEGAL LIABILITY FOR THE DETENTION, ABUSE, OR DEATH OF WHISTLEBLOWER SERGEI MAGNITSKY

    Sergei Magnitsky, the namesake of the Russia Magnitsky Act, was an attorney and auditor who uncovered a large-scale tax fraud scheme by Russian officials while performing audit work for the Russia-based firm Hermitage Capital Management. In November 2008, he was arrested and detained by Russian authorities shortly after testifying as a witness as part of a complaint filed by Hermitage Capital Management alleging that a group of officials in the Russian Interior Ministry had been involved in a 5.4 billion ruble ($230 million) tax fraud involving three Hermitage-owned companies, Riland, Parfenion, and Makhaon. Russian Interior Ministry officials had previously raided the Hermitage offices and removed the original seals of incorporation for those three Hermitage-owned companies. The companies then were illegally re-registered under different ownership, and sham lawsuits were brought against those companies — with the same lawyers on both sides of the case — resulting in large court judgments against the three companies, for which the companies then claimed a significant and illegal tax refund from the Russian government. For exposing this fraud, Magnitsky was subjected to physical abuse and psychological pressure while detained, and on November 16, 2009, he died in a pretrial detention center in Moscow.

    Following his death, Congress passed the Russia Magnitsky Act in 2012, authorizing sanctions for those involved in, or who took actions related to, the detention, abuse, or death of Sergei Magnitsky as well as against others who are connected to gross violations of human rights in Russia.

    Natalia Mushnikova (Mushnikova), a district judge in Moscow, Russia, is being designated today for participating in efforts to conceal the legal liability for the detention, abuse, or death of Sergei Magnitsky. Russian authorities conducted a flawed and incomplete investigation into the cause of Magnitsky’s death and failed to hold accountable the individuals determined to be responsible for his death. Mushnikova rejected an appeal from Magnitsky’s mother requesting that post-mortem tissue samples of her son be turned over for an independent medical review after his family saw indications of abuse on his body. Mushnikova’s ruling to deny an independent autopsy of Magnitsky contributed to the concealment and obstruction of the release of evidence related to his mistreatment during his detention and ultimate cause of death.

    Mushnikova was designated today pursuant to the Russia Magnitsky Act for participating in efforts to conceal the legal liability for the detention, abuse, or death of Sergei Magnitsky.

    GROSS VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN RUSSIA PERPETRATED AGAINST OYUB TITIEV

    Prominent human rights defender Oyub Titiev (Titiev) is the long-time leader of the Chechen branch of Memorial, a recently banned Russian organization that documented human rights violations and advocated for civil rights, which Russian authorities recently ordered to close on politically motivated grounds. Titiev was closely involved in Memorial’s investigation into allegations of summary executions of 27 individuals by Republic of Chechnya security officials in 2017. Titiev was detained and convicted on drug-related charges based on falsified evidence.

    In January 2018, officers from the Kurchaloi District of the Chechen Republic Branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (Kurchaloi OMVD) arrested Titiev and charged him with possession of drugs, an allegation that Titiev, Memorial, international human rights groups, and international organizations have denounced as fabricated. After Titiev himself pointed out procedural problems related to his arrest, he was reportedly placed back in his vehicle, in which drugs were planted a second time, and he was arrested again on the same day. During Titiev’s pre-trial detention, the Kurchaloi OMVD pressured him to confess and initially denied him access to his attorney. Kurchaloi OMVD officers also harassed and threatened Titiev’s family, who subsequently fled Chechnya for their own safety. After a seven-month trial in which more than 50 Kurchaloi OMVD officers testified, Titiev was ultimately convicted and sentenced to a four-year prison sentence. After almost a year and a half in detention, Titiev was granted parole in June 2019.

    Nurid Denilbekovich Salamov (Salamov) was the Kurchaloi OMVD investigator who opened the case against Titiev and headed the investigative group. Khusein Merlovich Khutaev (Khutaev) was the Kurchaloi OMVD officer who allegedly spotted the drugs in Titiev’s car, providing the basis for Titiev’s arrest. Dzhabrail Alkhazurovich Akhmatov (Akhmatov) decided to bring charges against and prosecute Titiev, and request a four-year prison sentence, despite there being reason to believe that the evidence against Titiev was fabricated.

    The Kurchaloi OMVD and Akhmatov, the prosecutor of the Kurchaloi District of Chechnya, were designated today pursuant to the Russia Magnitsky Act for having acted as agents of or on behalf of the government of Chechnya in a matter relating to extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against an individual seeking to obtain, exercise, defend, or promote internationally recognized human rights and freedoms, such as the freedom of religion, expression, association, and assembly, and the rights to a fair trial and democratic elections, in Russia.

    Salamov and Khutaev were designated today for having acted as agents of or on behalf of the Kurchaloi OMVD in a matter relating to extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against an individual seeking to obtain, exercise, defend, or promote internationally recognized human rights and freedoms, such as the freedom of religion, expression, association, and assembly, and the rights to a fair trial and democratic elections in Russia.

    ALYAKSANDR RYHOROVICH LUKASHENKA AND WIFE

    Despite coming to power nearly 30 years ago on an anti-corruption platform, Alyaksandr Ryhorovich Lukashenka (Lukashenka) has used his authorities to grant unique privileges and advantages to his associates that could only be offered by the Belarusian state, including, but not limited to, government support, assets, property, amended governmental policies, financial relief, and an acceptance of smuggling of certain goods. Lukashenka has also targeted entrepreneurs whom he deemed had betrayed the Belarusian state through their support for the political opposition. For example, the Lukashenka regime used various levers, from health inspections to pressuring landlords to raise rents, in order to target businesses that participated in a nationwide strike in the autumn of 2020.

    Lukashenka rewards businessmen close to him with benefits and privileges in exchange for kickbacks to him and his regime. For example, Lukashenka enacted strategic policies that facilitate tobacco smuggling by Aliaksei Aleksin (Aleksin), granting Aleksin a virtual monopoly over the Belarusian tobacco industry. OFAC designated Aleksin on August 9, 2021, for being a person closely linked to a senior-level official who is responsible for or has engaged in public corruption related to Belarus.

    Lukashenka’s sons Dzmitry and Viktar Lukashenka were sanctioned on December 2, 2021, and June 16, 2006, respectively. Today, Treasury is designating one more member of Lukashenka’s immediate family: Lukashenka’s wife Halina Radzivonawna Lukashenka (Halina). Lukashenka remains married to Halina, Dzmitry and Viktar’s mother.

    Lukashenka was designated today pursuant to E.O. 13405 for being a senior-level official who is responsible for or has engaged in public corruption related to Belarus. Previously, Lukashenka was blocked pursuant to the same authority on June 16, 2006, when President George W. Bush included him in the Annex to the order.

    Halina was designated today pursuant to E.O. 13405 for being a senior-level official, family member of such an official, or a person closely linked to such an official who is responsible for or has engaged in public corruption related to Belarus.

    Additionally, the Department of State designated 11 senior Russian defense officials pursuant to E.O. 10424.

    SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

    As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the persons above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

  59. Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen on How to Close the Gender Pay Gap:

    U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen joined other female leaders to offer ideas on how to address the gender pay gap in America, as a part of CNN Business’ Featured Stories on Equal Pay Day.

    CNN Business

    “Women still earn less than men. 6 leaders explain what’s needed to close the gap”

    [3/15/22]

    Women have made major strides in the labor market over the last several decades, and America’s economy has benefitted as a result. Despite this progress, evidence suggests that many women remain unable to achieve equality in the labor market, particularly when it comes to the pay gap. And that gap is particularly large when we’re talking about women of color.

    Labor market policies and norms that discourage a healthy balance between work and family commitments contribute to pay disparities. Research has shown that although women now enter professional schools at rates nearly equal to men, they are still substantially less likely to reach the highest echelons of their professions. For example, in the field of law, women make up 47 percent of students at the top 50 law schools but comprise just 17 percent of equity partners at the nation’s top law firms.

    One of the contributing factors to this disparity is that top jobs in fields such as law and business require longer workweeks and penalize individuals with caretaking responsibilities. This has a disproportionately large effect on women who continue to bear the lion’s share of domestic and child-rearing responsibilities. The increased demands on caretakers during the COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated this dynamic.

    We can and should address these challenges. The Biden-Harris Administration’s economic agenda prioritizes policies that reduce the cost of childcare, provide families more access to homecare for a loved one who falls ill, and provide paid leave to workers. This suite of policies will especially improve the economic standing of women.

    By breaking down barriers to employment, these pro-family polices have the added benefit of attracting more women to the workforce and increasing the labor force participation rate. One published review found that a 10 percent decline in the price of childcare raises mothers’ employment by 0.5 to 2.5 percent, which led the Council of Economic Advisers to conclude that Biden Administration child care policies would boost affected parents’ employment rates by between 4 and 20 percent.

    From history, we know that women’s participation in the paid workforce has resulted in substantial benefits to America’s economy that extend well beyond a narrowed pay gap. When women do well, we all do better. It’s vital that we make progress on this issue. Doing so will advance equality for women, strengthen the economic situation of families and grow the economy overall.

  60. NOTICE OF HEARING AND LETTING TO BIDDERS
    2022 STREET PANEL AND CURB REPLACEMENT PROGRAM
    PROJECT NO. 22-1002
    MASON CITY, IOWA

    Public notice is hereby given that sealed proposals will be received by the City of Mason City, Iowa, at the office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 10 1st Street NW, Mason City, IA 50401, until 2:00 p.m. CDT, on the12th day of April, 2022 for furnishing materials and labor for the 2022 Street Panel and Curb Replacement Program in said City, as described in plans and specifications therefore now on file in the office of the City Clerk. Proposals will be acted upon by the City Council at a meeting to be held in the Mason City Room, Mason City Public Library, 225 2nd Street SE, Mason City, Iowa, beginning at 7:00 p.m., on the 19th day of April 2022.

    At said time and place, a public hearing will also be held on the 19th day of April 2022 for proposed plans, specifications, and proposed form of the contract for said 2022 Street Panel and Curb Replacement Program, and at said hearing, any interested person may appear and file objections thereto or to the cost of said improvements.

    Due to public health concerns related to COVID-19, this meeting is being held electronically in accordance with Iowa Code Section 21.8. The public may access the meeting electronically by Internet or by phone through access information posted on the meeting agenda, available on the city’s website at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

    Please check the posted agenda in advance of the April 19, 2022 meeting for any updates to the manner in which the public may access the hearing.

    The general extent of the work involved is to remove and replace PCC pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalk, install detectable warning panels, adjust sanitary sewer manholes, adjust water valve road boxes, and incidentals at various locations within the City of Mason City.

    The kinds of materials proposed to be used and the approximate amounts are as set out in these specifications, the “Special Provisions”, and the “Price Schedule”, which by this reference are made a part of this proposal.

    ITEM ITEM DESCRIPTION UNIT QUANTITY
    Full Depth Saw Cut LF 3,082
    2’ PCC Curb and Gutter, Remove and Replace LF 770
    4” PCC Sidewalk, Remove and Replace SY 31
    6” PCC Sidewalk, Remove and Replace SY 9
    PCC Sidewalk, Pedestrian Ramp SY 142
    Detectable Warning Panel SF 200
    6” PCC Alley Approach, Remove Existing SY 34
    4” PCC Driveway Approach, Remove and Replace SY 6
    6” PCC Alley Approach SY 20
    Remove 6” PCC Pavement and Replace with 7” PCC Pavement (C-Mix) SY 1,121
    Remove 8” PCC Pavement and Replace with 9” PCC Pavement (M-Mix) SY 815
    Remove 9” PCC Pavement and Replace with 9” PCC Pavement (M-Mix) SY 362
    Pavement, PCC, 6” (C-Mix) SY 269
    Sanitary Manhole, Adjust Top, New Rings, Casting and Cover EACH 3
    Internal Chimney Seal EACH 3
    Water Valve Manhole, Convert to Road Box EACH 3
    Water Valve Road Box, Adjust Existing EACH 5
    Crushed Aggregate Base Course TON 810
    Seeding and Fertilizing, Urban LS 1
    Topsoil TON 70
    Traffic Control LS 1
    Mobilization LS 1

    The method of construction shall be by contract. All work is to be done in strict compliance with plans and specifications prepared by the City Engineer of Mason City, Iowa, which have heretofore been approved by the City Council and are now on file for public examination in the office of the City Clerk.

    All work shall be done in accordance with the latest version of the City of Mason City Standard Specifications and the Iowa Department of Transportation, Standard Specifications for Highway and Bridge Construction.

    Each bid must be made out on a Proposal Form, furnished by the City and obtained at the office of the City Clerk.

    Each proposal shall be sealed in an envelope marked, “Proposal for 2022 Street Panel and Curb Replacement Program, Project No. 22-1002, Mason City, Iowa”. Each bid must be accompanied, in a separate envelope, by a bidding check or bid bond in an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the bid price, said check being either a cashier’s check or a check certified by a bank in Iowa or a bank chartered under the laws of the United States, or a Certified Share Draft drawn on a credit union in Iowa or chartered under the laws of the United States, and made payable to the City Treasurer of the City of Mason City, Iowa, as a security that the bidder will furnish the required bonds and enter a contract within ten (10) days after the award of the contract.

    Payment for said “2022 Street Panel and Curb Replacement Program” will be made from Road Use Tax Funds from the City of Mason City, Iowa, or from such other funds as may be legally used for such purposes. Monthly estimates will be made by the City Engineer, and payment will be made to the contractor in the amount of ninety-five percent (95%) of said estimate on or about ten (10) days thereafter. Payment shall not be made for materials stored off or on site. Final payment will be made no sooner than thirty (30) days following final acceptance of the work by the City of Mason City.

    Bidders shall not be permitted to withdraw their bids for a period of forty-five (45) days after the same are opened.

    By virtue of statutory authority, a preference will be given to products and provisions grown and coal produced within the State of Iowa.

    Pursuant to Chapter 73 of the Code of Iowa, out-of-state bidders are hereby advised of the Iowa Bidding Preference Law extending to Iowa firms any preference out-of-state competitors receive in their own states. Such preference may be (a) strict preference, (b) reciprocal preference, or combination preference and reciprocal. Application of such preference will be extended for any “public improvement” as defined in Chapter 73A.1 of the Code of Iowa.

    Failure to submit a fully completed Bidder Status Form with the bid may result in the bid being deemed nonresponsive and rejected.

    The established DBE goal for this project is 0% of the total amount bid.

    The City of Mason City, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d to 2000d-4) and the Regulations, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

    Prospective bidders’ or contractor’s attention is specifically called to the Mason City Human Rights Commission Specifications which mandates that female and minority business enterprises shall be afforded the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of this project. Prospective bidders’ or contractor’s attention is also directed to the fact that the Mason City Human Rights Commission will notify firms designated as Minority, Women, and/or Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, of this project and determine if they are interested in participating as subcontractors for this project. Prospective bidders or contractors shall then be notified by the Commission of those interested parties.

    The successful bidder will be required to furnish a performance and maintenance bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price. Said bond is to be issued by a responsible surety approved by the City Council, and shall guarantee the faithful performance of the contract and the terms and conditions therein contained, and shall guarantee the prompt payment of all materials and labor and protect and save harmless the city from claims and damages of any kind caused by the operation of the contractor. Said bond shall also guarantee the maintenance of the improvements constructed for a period of two (2) years for all underground work and four (4) years for all pavement from and after its completion and acceptance by the city.

    Bidders shall be expected to comply with Chapters 91C and 103A of the Code of Iowa concerning the registration and bonding of construction contractors and the successful bidder shall be required to supply the City of Mason City with proof of said compliance.

    The bidders’ attention is called to the prompt payment to the subcontractors, under Chapter 573.12 of the Code of Iowa.

    The final completion date for the project is September 16, 2022.

    Plans and specifications governing the construction of the proposed improvements have been prepared by the City Engineer of Mason City, Iowa, which plans and specifications are hereby made a part of this notice and the proposed contract by reference, and the proposed contract shall be executed in compliance therewith.

    Copies of said plans and specifications are now on file in the office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 10 1st Street NW, Mason City, Iowa, for examination by bidders. A refundable deposit of $25 will be required for the Plans and Project Manual. To receive a refund both the Plans and Project Manual must be returned in complete and reusable condition within fourteen days of the award of the project.

    All bids shall NOT include Iowa State Sales Tax for materials used in the project. Upon award, the successful bidder shall immediately provide a listing of subcontractors and associated Federal ID or Social Security Numbers for both the contractor and subcontractors. The city will register the contractor and subcontractors with the Iowa Department of Revenue and will provide appropriate certificates to the contractor for distribution and use.

    The City of Mason City reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities and irregularities.

    Published upon order of the City Council of the City of Mason City, Iowa.

    Aaron Burnett, City Clerk
    City of Mason City, Iowa

    Publish 4-6-22
    Emailed 3-14-22

  61. NOTICE OF HEARING AND LETTING TO BIDDERS
    2022 STREET REHABILITATION PROGRAM
    PROJECT NO. 22-1001
    MASON CITY, IOWA

    Public notice is hereby given that sealed proposals will be received by the City of Mason City, Iowa, at the office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 10 1st Street NW, Mason City, IA 50401, until 2:00 p.m. CDT, on the 12th day of April 2022 for furnishing materials and labor for the 2022 Street Rehabilitation Program in said City, as described in plans and specifications therefore now on file in the office of the City Clerk. Proposals will be acted upon by the City Council at a meeting to be held in the Mason City Public Library Community Room, 225 2nd Street SE, Mason City, Iowa, beginning at 7:00 p.m., on the 19th day of April 2022.

    At said time and place, a public hearing will also be held on the 19th day of April 2022 for proposed plans, specifications, and proposed form of the contract for said 2022 Street Rehabilitation Program, and at said hearing, any interested person may appear and file objections thereto or to the cost of said improvements.

    Due to public health concerns related to COVID-19, this meeting is being held electronically in accordance with Iowa Code Section 21.8. The public may access the meeting electronically by Internet or by phone through access information posted on the meeting agenda, available on the city’s website at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

    Please check the posted agenda in advance of the April 19, 2022 meeting for any updates to the manner in which the public may access the hearing.

    The extent of the work involved is to replace sanitary and storm sewer manholes, reroute water mains, replace storm sewer intakes, adjust storm sewer intakes and manhole castings, replace water valves, replace curb and gutter, pavement patching, mill pavement, and place a Hot Mix Asphalt surface and all other incidentals on designated streets at various locations within the City of Mason City.

    The kinds of materials proposed to be used and the approximate amounts are as set out in these specifications, the “Special Provisions”, and the “Price Schedule”, which by this reference are made a part of this proposal.

    ITEM ITEM DESCRIPTION UNIT QUANTITY

    Full Depth Saw Cut LF 2,689
    2’ PCC Curb and Gutter, Remove and Replace LF 807
    4” PCC Sidewalk, Remove and Replace SY 357
    4” PCC Sidewalk, Remove Existing SY 6
    PCC Sidewalk, Pedestrian Ramp SY 187
    6” PCC Sidewalk, Remove and Replace SY 29
    Detectable Warning Panel SF 390
    Existing Driveway Approach, Remove SY 6
    6” PCC Alley Approach, Remove and Replace SY 58
    Remove 6” PCC Pavement and Replace with 7” PCC Pavement (M-Mix) SY 1,021
    Sanitary Sewer Manhole, Remove and Replace Base, Barrel Sections,
    and Cone Section EACH 11
    Sanitary Sewer Manhole, Adjust Top, New Rings, Casting, and Cover EACH 14
    Sanitary Sewer Manhole, Adjust Top, Use Existing Rings, Casting,
    and Cover EACH 4

    Internal Chimney Seal EACH 7
    External Chimney Seal EACH 11
    Sanitary Sewer Service Wye, 8”x4” EACH 5
    Sanitary Sewer Service Wye, 8”x6” EACH 1
    Sanitary Sewer Service, 4” LF 50
    Sanitary Sewer Service, 6” LF 10
    Storm Sewer Manhole, Remove and Abandon Existing Storm Sewer LS 2
    Storm Sewer Manhole, Adjust Top, New Rings, Casting, and Cover EACH 2
    Storm Sewer Intake, Adjust Grate EACH 1
    Storm Sewer Intake, Remove and Construct Type “C” EACH 2
    Sump Pump Discharge, Remove and Replace EACH 4
    Water Valve Road Box, Adjust Existing EACH 17
    Water Valve, 6”, Remove and Replace EACH 8
    Water Main, 6” DIP LF 150
    Water Main Fittings LB 4,751
    Tap Water Main and Install 1” Corporation EACH 6
    Water Service, 1” Copper LF 60
    Granular Backfill Material TON 2,376
    Crushed Aggregate Base Course TON 384
    Pavement Scarification SY 5,406
    Hot Mix Asphalt Standard Traffic, Base Course, 1/2 In. Mix TON 1,415
    Hot Mix Asphalt Standard Traffic, Surface Course, 1/2 In. Mix,
    No Special Friction Requirement TON 1,415
    Asphalt Binder, PG 58-28S, Standard Traffic TON 171
    Hot Mix Asphalt Mixture, Wedge, Leveling, or
    Strengthening Course TON 139
    Seeding and Fertilizing, Urban LS 1
    Topsoil TON 179
    Traffic Control LS 1
    Mobilization LS 1

    The method of construction shall be by contract. All work is to be done in strict compliance with plans and specifications prepared by the City Engineer of Mason City, Iowa, which have heretofore been approved by the City Council and are now on file for public examination in the office of the City Clerk.

    All work shall be done in accordance with the latest version of the City of Mason City Standard Specifications and the Iowa Department of Transportation, Standard Specifications for Highway and Bridge Construction.

    Each bid must be made out on a Proposal Form, furnished by the City and obtained at the office of the City Clerk.

    Each proposal shall be sealed in an envelope marked, “Proposal for 2022 Street Rehabilitation Program, Project No. 22-1001, Mason City, Iowa”. Each bid must be accompanied, in a separate envelope, by a bidding check or bid bond in an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the bid price, said check being either a cashier’s check or a check certified by a bank in Iowa or a bank chartered under the laws of the United States, or a Certified Share Draft drawn on a credit union in Iowa or chartered under the laws of the United States, and made payable to the City Treasurer of the City of Mason City, Iowa, as a security that the bidder will furnish the required bonds and enter a contract within ten (10) days after the award of the contract.

    Payment for said “2022 Street Rehabilitation Program” will be made from General Obligation Bonds, Water Funds and Sewer Funds from the City of Mason City, Iowa, or from such other funds as may be legally used for such purposes. Monthly estimates will be made by the City Engineer, and payment will be made to the contractor in the amount of ninety-five percent (95%) of said estimate on or about ten (10) days thereafter. Payment shall not be made for materials stored off or on site. Final payment will be made no sooner than thirty (30) days following final acceptance of the work by the City of Mason City.

    Bidders shall not be permitted to withdraw their bids for a period of forty-five (45) days after the same are opened.

    By virtue of statutory authority, a preference will be given to products and provisions grown and coal produced within the State of Iowa.

    Pursuant to Chapter 73 of the Code of Iowa, out-of-state bidders are hereby advised of the Iowa Bidding Preference Law extending to Iowa firms any preference out-of-state competitors receive in their own states. Such preference may be (a) strict preference, (b) reciprocal preference, or combination preference and reciprocal. Application of such preference will be extended for any “public improvement” as defined in Chapter 73A.1 of the Code of Iowa.

    Failure to submit a fully completed Bidder Status Form with the bid may result in the bid being deemed nonresponsive and rejected.

    The established DBE goal for this project is 0% of the total amount bid.

    The City of Mason City, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d to 2000d-4) and the Regulations, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

    Prospective bidders’ or contractor’s attention is specifically called to the Mason City Human Rights Commission Specifications which mandates that female and minority business enterprises shall be afforded the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of this project. Prospective bidders’ or contractor’s attention is also directed to the fact that the Mason City Human Rights Commission will notify firms designated as Minority, Women, and/or Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, of this project and determine if they are interested in participating as subcontractors for this project. Prospective bidders or contractors shall then be notified by the Commission of those interested parties.

    The successful bidder will be required to furnish a performance and maintenance bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price. Said bond is to be issued by a responsible surety approved by the City Council, and shall guarantee the faithful performance of the contract and the terms and conditions therein contained, and shall guarantee the prompt payment of all materials and labor and protect and save harmless the city from claims and damages of any kind caused by the operation of the contractor. Said bond shall also guarantee the maintenance of the improvements constructed for a period of two (2) years for all underground work and four (4) years for all pavement from and after its completion and acceptance by the city.

    Bidders shall be expected to comply with Chapters 91C and 103A of the Code of Iowa concerning the registration and bonding of construction contractors and the successful bidder shall be required to supply the City of Mason City with proof of said compliance.

    The bidders’ attention is called to the prompt payment to the subcontractors, under Chapter 573.12 of the Code of Iowa.

    The final completion date for the project is September 30, 2022.

    Plans and specifications governing the construction of the proposed improvements have been prepared by the City Engineer of Mason City, Iowa, which plans and specifications are hereby made a part of this notice and the proposed contract by reference, and the proposed contract shall be executed in compliance therewith.
    Copies of said plans and specifications are now on file in the office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 10 1st Street NW, Mason City, Iowa, for examination by bidders. A refundable deposit of $25 will be required for the Plans and Project Manual. To receive a refund both the Plans and Project Manual must be returned in complete and reusable condition within fourteen days of the award of the project.

    All bids shall NOT include Iowa State Sales Tax for materials used in the project. Upon award, the successful bidder shall immediately provide a listing of subcontractors and associated Federal ID or Social Security Numbers for both the contractor and subcontractors. The city will register the contractor and subcontractors with the Iowa Department of Revenue and will provide appropriate certificates to the contractor for distribution and use.

    The City of Mason City reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities and irregularities.

    Published upon order of the City Council of the City of Mason City, Iowa.

    Aaron Burnett, City Clerk
    City of Mason City, Iowa

    Publish 4-6-22
    Emailed 3-14-22

  62. “PUBLIC NOTICE

    Public notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Mason City, Iowa, will meet and hold a public hearing on the 5th day of April, 2022, beginning at 7:00 o’clock P.M. in the Mason City Room of the Mason City Public Library, Mason City, Iowa, 225 2nd Street S.E., Mason City, Iowa, on the proposed vacation of certain public utilities located in Asbury Farms Tenth Subdivision and legally described as follows:

    Easement for drainage purposes across the Northeasterly 7.5 feet of Lot Sixteen (16), Asbury Farm Tenth Subdivision, Mason City, Iowa; and

    Easement for drainage purposes across the Southwesterly 7.5 feet of Lot Fifteen (15), Asbury Farm Tenth Subdivision, Mason City, Iowa; and

    Easement for utility purposes across the Northeasterly 7.5 feet of Lot Sixteen (16), Asbury Farm Tenth Subdivision, Mason City, Iowa, except the Northerly 7.5 feet thereof and except the Southerly 7.5 feet thereof; and

    Easement for utility purposes across the Southwesterly 7.5 feet of Lot Fifteen (15), Asbury Farm Tenth Subdivision, Mason City, Iowa, except the Northerly 7.5 feet thereof and except the Southerly 7.5 feet thereof.

    Aaron Burnett, City Clerk, City of Mason City” (End of Notice)

    Publish 3-22-22
    Emailed 3-14-22

  63. Wednesday, March 16
    Governor Reynolds holds press conference
    Des Moines International Airport
    Endeavor Hangar
    2811 Willow Creek Ave.
    Des Moines, IA
    10:00 a.m.

        1. Why bother? You would just re-post this again tomorrow. You got answers before, why post this again?

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