Gazette Daily News Podcast: February 9, 2024

The Gazette Daily News Podcast

Featured Stories

– Speakers decry Iowa bill giving politicians more control over libraries

– Cedar Rapids seeks community-oriented leader as new police chief

– Summit pipeline moves closer to reconsideration in North Dakota

Episode Transcript

You’re listening to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast on Friday, February 9th,

2024. This podcast provides the latest headlines from the Gazette newsroom. I’m

Becky Lutgen Gardner.

Library officials and supporters spoke out against a proposed bill

Thursday that would give city councils authority over public libraries

including book selection. They warned it would bring partisan, political decision-making

into library operations.

The legislator who managed the bill said his goal

is not to address the selection of books, but instead to provide elected local

officials with more authority over the spending of taxpayer dollars

Under the bill, a city council would be able to

hire a library director, use library funds for library projects and initiatives

by passing an ordinance … all without voter approval.

Wade Dooley, who chairs the library

board in Albion, called the bill a "train wreck."

He says, “It opens up all sorts of

possibilities for very disastrous consequences if you get an activist city

council that starts see-sawing on what they believe for a library to be or not

be. Our city council has barely any training to be a city council. Now, you

also want them to run a library. that’s not a good idea.”

Rep. Carter Nordman, a Republican from

Panora, advanced the bill. He says he’s heard from city council members who

want more direct control over library spending and personnel decisions.

Nordman says, “Ultimately, the library board wasn’t elected; the city

council was. And so, the buck stops with them when it comes to taxpayer

dollars. They should have that authority.”

Nordman said he would be willing to consider an amendment to the bill to

give city councils more authority over library boards but specify that content

selection is with library officials.

Next, In Cedar Rapids’ search for a new police chief, some residents say

they’re looking for a respected leader who focuses on community policing and

fosters a police department culture that promotes citizen equity and trust.

Residents had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with all four police

chief candidates Wednesday night in a meet-and-greet event at the DoubleTree by

Hilton Convention Center.

With the City Council’s consent, City Manager Jeff Pomeranz says he will

decide soon on which candidate will succeed Wayne Jerman. Jerman retired as police

chief last April.

Three candidates — Jennifer Birkhofer, Jeff Coday and David Dostal —

participated in media interviews before the event. Tom Whitten, declined media interviews.

Monica Vallejo is a citizens' review board member and met with all four

candidates. She said it’s important that the next police chief works to establish

more programs that promote diversity and inclusion with all communities.

Vallejo says the community overall feels comfortable and safe with Cedar

Rapids police because of the “wonderful job they do.” She says Jerman left

behind a stable community: "There are big shoes to fit. They have to be

working with trust a lot.”

Finally, Summit Carbon Solutions and other pipeline companies won

this week when the North Dakota Public Service Commission decided that state

rules preempt local ordinances on pipeline zoning issues.

That decision paves

the way for a rehearing on Summit’s application for a pipeline permit in North

Dakota, which the state’s commission denied last year.

The proposed pipeline

would run through Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota before ending in

North Dakota. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports that hearings in Iowa have

concluded. The Iowa Utilities Board is now charged with deciding whether the

company is eligible for a permit and for eminent domain authority. Summit has

obtained easements for about three-quarters of its more than 680-mile route in

Iowa.

Join The Gazette for Iowa Ideas In-Depth Week on Homelessness in

Iowa, beginning February 12th. Register for free to participate in the daily

lunch-hour virtual sessions on homelessness, resources, and long-term solutions

in Iowa. Visit Iowa Ideas dot com for full details and to register, that's Iowa

ideas dot com.

Today’s weather in Cedar Rapids. Sunny with a high near 50. Tonight there’s

a 20 percent chance of rain before midnight. It will be partly cloudy with a

low around 30. Saturday will be sunny with a high near 42.

You can find a link to each of the stories featured in today’s episode in

this episode’s description or at the gazette dot com.

Thank you for listening to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast. I’m Becky

Lutgen Gardner.