POLITICS

MASON CITY — Mason City officials are preparing to add two more full-time employees to help operate the city-managed facilities inside downtown’s Southbridge Mall, including its costly multipurpose arena.

The Mason City City Council will consider hiring a new Southbridge operations manager and creating an arena and ice-maintenance position during its regular meeting Tuesday, July 21, 2026.

Together, the two employees would receive approximately $128,710 in annual base wages. The total cost to taxpayers would be higher after insurance, IPERS retirement contributions, payroll taxes and other employment costs are included.

MASON CITY — The Mason City Community School District continues to reshape and fill its workforce for the approaching school year, with another round of hires, transfers and new assignments scheduled for consideration on Monday, July 20, 2026.

The personnel changes follow a lengthy report approved by the Board of Education during its June 15 meeting, when the board hired 10 certified employees and approved numerous support-staff transfers, resignations and extracurricular assignments.

The board’s July 20 personnel report includes one new certified teacher, two special-education paraprofessionals and several employee transfers or reassignments for the 2026-27 school year.

Andrea Rodemeyer is listed for hire as a fourth-grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary at a salary of $52,005. Rodemeyer, a Buena Vista University graduate, would replace Kelly Lien following Lien’s voluntary transfer.

The proposed non-certified hires are:

DES MOINES — Iowa economic development officials announced more than $4.66 million in tax credits, loans and grant funding Friday, including $623,500 for two Northern Iowa manufacturers planning to create a combined 102 jobs.

PRIMGHAR — A northwest Iowa cattle-feeding operation is seeking state approval to drill another deep well and withdraw as much as 78.9 million gallons of water each year from an underground aquifer and nearby creek.

CLEAR LAKE — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is considering renewal of an air-quality operating permit for a large refined petroleum pipeline terminal in Clear Lake that helps supply gasoline, diesel, ethanol and other fuels to Mason City, Clear Lake, communities across North Iowa and the surrounding region.

According to the DNR, the Clear Lake facility has the potential to emit up to 180.88 tons of volatile organic compounds each year.

MASON CITY — The Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors approved a temporary $10,000 annual pay increase for an employee in the county auditor’s office, authorized more than $428,000 in claims and reorganized several county funds during its regular meeting on Monday, July 13, 2026.

NORTHWOOD — The Worth County Board of Supervisors approved more than $921,000 in county claims, signed off on several sheriff’s office pay raises and accepted financial reports during its regular meeting on Monday, July 13, 2026.

At the request of the Worth County Sheriff’s Office, supervisors approved four employee salary adjustments:

* Rick Anderson: $32.49 per hour effective Aug. 25, 2026.
* Teri Dorsey: $33.61 per hour effective July 14, 2026.
* Carol Mens: $22.18 per hour effective July 15, 2026.
* John Smith: $91,045.20 annually effective June 15, 2026.

DES MOINES — The federal government is investing more than $19 million in rural Iowa projects aimed at expanding businesses, improving healthcare, strengthening emergency services and upgrading water systems, with several Northern Iowa organizations and communities positioned to see major benefits.

Algona Municipal Utilities also received a $300,000 grant for a revolving loan fund that will help finance additional equipment for the health center.

FOREST CITY — Winnebago County officials will seek additional medical examiner investigators as the county works to maintain enough trained personnel to respond to deaths and assist with official investigations.

NORTHWOOD — The Worth County Board of Supervisors approved more than $422,000 in drainage district assessments during its regular meeting on July 6, 2026.

MASON CITY — The Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors approved county claims, payroll and a new public meeting notice posting policy during its regular meeting on July 6, 2026.

DES MOINES — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Executive Order 20 on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, creating a new Iowa Medicaid Fraud Elimination Task Force aimed at rooting out fraud, waste and abuse in the state’s Medicaid program.

FOREST CITY — The Winnebago County Board of Supervisors pledged $5,000 toward a proposed new clubhouse at Bear Creek Golf Course, adopted a $23.6 million county spending plan and scheduled a public hearing on changes to the county’s nuisance ordinance during its Tuesday, June 30, 2026, meeting.

CHARLES CITY — The Floyd County Board of Supervisors approved major communications project payments, road equipment purchases, zoning board compensation, drainage district expenses and a conservation fund transfer during its regular meeting on June 30, 2026.