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MidAmerican Energy Prepared
for Winter Storm
With meteorologists predicting a winter storm to con-
tinue impacting the Midwest, MidAmerican Energy has
placed "its electric operations personnel on alert. Numer-
ous other employees also are available for storm response
who are trained to make conditions safe in the field and
support activities as needed.
MidAmerican Energy works year-round to prepare for
and minimize storm-related outages. When storm-related
outages occur, MidAmerican employees focus on ensuring
public sa£ety, determining the extent of the damage, pro-
viding customers with all available information, and re-
storing service as safely and as efficiently as possible.
As part of its storm preparation and response efforts,
MidAmerican also works closely with local and state pub-
lic safety officials. To assist customers' storm preparations,
MidAmerican offers the following storm tips.
• If you see a downed line, assume it is an energized
electric line and do not touch it. Touching an energized
power line can cause serious injury. Call MidAmerican En-
ergy immediately at 800-799-4443.
• If your storm preparations include a standby genera-
tor, inform MidAmerican and make_sure it is installed
safely and properly.
• If you lose power to your home during a storm, check
your fuses or circuit breakers first, then call MidAmerican
Energy at 800-799-4443.
• Never assume someone else has reported a power out-
age. If you lose power during a storm, call MidAmerican
Energy.
• Keep fresh batteries in flashlights and lanterns for
use during emergencies, and have extra batteries on hand.
• Never use a grill, space heater or portable generator
intended for outside use inside your home. Similarly, never
attempt to heat your home with a gas range. All can emit
deadly carbon monoxide.
• Use caution and common sense in the placement of
Candles and oil lamps for light. Never keep candles burn-
ing when you go to bed. Keep them away from drapes and
other materials that could catch fire. Avoid-placing candles
on low tables where pets or children could knock them off.
• Fill used liter-size plastic soda bottles with water and
place them in the freezer now. During an extended out-
age, transfer them to your refrigerator to prevent food from
spoiling. Open the refrigerator only when necessary, keep-
ing warm air out and cooler air in.
Be Ready for Medicare Part D
2010
Q. I've heard you need to sign up for a new Medicare
drug plan by December 11? I thought we had until the end
of the year to change.
A. You're correct. The time you can change Medicare
drug plans (Part D) is November 15-December 31. You
can also enroll during this time if you missed earlier en-
rollment opportunities. However, Medicare is encourag-
ing people to enroll early to assure that your enrollment is
processed and you'll be able to use the new plan at the
beginning of the new year. The closer you get to December
31 the busier Medicare, the plans and organizations as-
sisting with enrollments will be.
Q. If I'm happy with my current Part D plan why would
I change?
A. All plans have made changes for 2010 and there are
new plans available. There are 46 stand along prescrip-
tion drug plans and 30 Medicare Advantage drug plans
offered in Iowa for 2010. Even if you've been happy with
your plan in 2009 it's a good idea to do a comparison of
2010 plans to see if you can save more with a different
plan. Comparing plans carefully is important. Remember,
if you're on Medicare and don't have drug coverage, or the
coverage you have is not as good as Medicare's, you will
face a penalty for each month you delay in enrolling.
Q. How can I enroll in a new plan for 2010?
A, You can enroll by calling the plan directly, calling 1-
800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), enrolling online at
www.medicare.gov or by calling the Senior Health Insur-
ance Information Program (SHIIP) at 1-800-351-4664 (TTY
800-735:2542). SHIIP is a service of the State of Iowa and
has counselors around the state that can do comparisons
and assist with enrollment. They do not sell or promote
plans. Be sure to print and keep a copy of the confirma-
tion if you enroll online. If you enroll with an agent keep a
copy of the signed (by you and the agent) and dated en-
rollment form. Should you enroll by telephone with 1-800-
Medicare or a plan, request a confirmation number, the
name of the person enrolling you and note the date and
time enrolled.
Thursday, December 24, 2009 • The Carlisle Citizen • Page Nine
The Appel Report
By Senator Staci Appel
Focusing on middle-
class families, small
businesses and a bal-
anced budget
• With the 2010 legislative
session just around the cor-
ner, I'm keeping my focus
on helping middle-class
families and small busi-
nesses, creating good-pay-
ing jobs and balancing the
state budget without rais-
ing taxes.
In spite of tough times, we
can protect the progress
we've made in these areas
by continuing to change
state government to make
it more accountable.
The first major review of
state government opera-
tions in nearly 25 years is
already producing results.
Republican and Democratic
legislators and the Gover-
nor have put together cost-
saving proposals that will
provide better services to
Iowans while reducing bu-
reaucracy and saving tax-
payer money.
The Governor has already
issued an Executive Order
to implement new practices
that could save the state
more than $700 million, over
the next five years.
In addition, the
Legislature's bipartisan
State Government Reorga-
nization Commission,
which I co-chair, has unani-
mously approved a number
of cost-saving recommenda-
tions, including increasing
oversight and accountabil-
ity for corporate tax credits,
e-government innovations
and consolidating purchas-
ing.
Big corporations receive
tax credits and other incen-
tives that total hundreds of
millions of dollars each
year. Those tax credits
should be re-evaluated on a
regular basis to ensure that
our investment is creating
high-quality jobs for Io-
wans.
The Commission's recom-
mendations-and many of
the Governor's proposals--
will be considered by the
full Legislature when the
2010 session opens on Janu-
ary 11.
I want to thank all my
constituents who submitted
suggestions for saving
money and improving state
government. Keep the ideas
coming.
With your continued in-
terest and support for re-
form, we can make real
changes immediately and
develop a long-term plan for
improving out state.
You can review the legis-
lative Commission's recom-
mendations at
www.les.state.ia.us/Cur-
rent/Interim/. Just click on
"State Government Reorga-
nization Commission." For
more details on the
Governor's proposals, go to
vww.governor.iowa. gov,
and click on "Iowa Effi-
ciency Review Report."
Additional information
This is a legislative up-
date from Senator Staci
Appel, representing Warren
and Madison counties and
southwest Dallas County.
For newsletters, photos and
further information, go to
www.senate.iowa.gov [
app..
To contact Senator Appel
when the Legislature is not
in session, call her at home
at 515-961-6982. E-mail
her at
staci.ap.zlles.state.ia.us.
Senator Staci Appel is an
Assistant Majority Leader
and chair of the State Gov-
ernment Committee. She
also serves on the Agricul-
ture, Appropriations, Edu-
cation, and Rebuild Iowa
committees.
Upcoming.YMCA Programs
Preschool
The South Suburban YMCA, is taking registrations for
the following programs that begin the week of January 4:
Tiny Tumbletots, Kinder Chefs, Art Class, Music 'N Mo-
tion and Y-Sci. Contact Jen Merschbrock, 285-0444, of
jen.merschbrock@dmymca.org, for more information..
"Li'L" Ninjas
A "Li'L" Ninjas program is offered for 3- to 5-year olds,
with the next session beginning January 5 and running
through February 9 on Tuesdays at 5:15 p.m.
For information contact Hollie Zeglen at 285-0444 or
hollie.zeglen@dmymca;or.
Youth Basketball - Rookie Program
An instructional basketball program for Pre-K and Kin-
dergartners is being offered beginning Saturday morning
February 6. Pre-registration is required. For more infor-
mation, contact Mike Renze at 285-0444 or
mile.renze,dmymca.org.
March Madness Youth Basketball League
The South Suburban YMCA will be offering a Febru-
ary-March Youth Basketball League for boys and girls lst-
7th grade. The season wilt consist of games on Saturday
afternoons beginning February 6. For more information
call 285-0444.
Notice is hereby given that there
is now on file for public inspection in
the office of the Clerk of the City of
Carlisle, Iowa, a proposed Resolu-
tion of Necessity, an estimate of
costs and plat and schedule show-
ing the amounts proposed to be as-
sessed against each lot and the valu-
ation thereof within District as ap-
proved by the Council of Carlisle,
Iowa, for a street improvement, des-
ignated as the Carlisle, Iowa, South
1st Street Improvements, of the types
and in the location as follows:
Construction of ADA-compliant
sidewalks, consisting of 5" Portland
Cement Concrete (6 foot sidewalks)
on east side South 1st Street, and
5" Portland Cement Concrete (10
foot sidewalks) On west side of South
1st Street, from Highway 5 to School
Street,
The South 1st Street Improve-
ments Project begins at the intersec-
tion of South 1st Street and Highway
5 and proceeds north along South
1st Street to the intersection of South
1st Street and School Street.
That the proposed District to be
benefited and subject to assessment
for the cost of such improvements is
described as follows:
Sunrise Lots 19 7 20
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNERS
S 1/2 Sunrise Lot 18
N 1/2 Sunrise Lot i8
Sunrise Lot 15
Sunrise Lot 14
Sunrise S 50 feet Lots 7 & 8
Sunrise Lots 7 & 8, except S 50 feet
Sunrise S 60 feet Lots 5 & 6
Sunrise N 90 feet Lots 5 & 6
Hulls OL W V2 Lot 5
Hulls OL Lots 7, 8, & 9, and 16 feet
on S Lots 7, 8, & 9
Land in Sec Lots 1, 2, & 3, SW SE
The Council will meet at 6:30
o'clock P.M., on the 1 lth day of Janu-
ary, 2010, at the Council Chambers,
City Hall, 195 N. 1 ' Street, Carlisle,
Iowa, at which time the owners of
property subject to assessment for
the proposed improvements, or any
other person having an interest in the
matter may appear and be heard for
or against the making of the improve-
ment, the boundaries of the District,
the cost, the assessment against any
lot, tract or parcel of land, or the fi-
nal adoption of a Resolution of Ne-
cessity, A properly owner will be
deemed to have waived all objections
unless at the time of Hearing he has
filed objections with the Clerk.
This Notice is given by authority of
the Council of the City of Carlisle,
Iowa.
City Clerk, Carlisle, Iowa
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
CITY OF CARLISLE
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 6:15 P.M.
Carlisle City Hall Council Chamber
Officials present were: Mayor Ruth Randleman and Council Members Drew
Merrifietd, Alma Reed and Robert Van Ryswyk. Council Members Eric Mahnke
and Doug Hammerand were absent. Also present were City Administrator/
Clerk Neil Ruddy and City Attorney Robert Stuyvesant. Mayor Randleman
called the meeting to order at 6:15 P.M.
The employment status of Electric Superintendent Jack McCuen was dis-
cussed. It was explained that Mr. McCuen had not requested a closed ses-
sion. He had been invited to attend the meeting to present his explanation of
an incident on December 12, 2009 that resulted in criminal charges of Oper-
ating While Intoxicated, Going Armed with Intent ("D" Felony), Domestic Abuse
Assault, Carrying Weapons and Burglary 1" ("B" Felony) as well as his ex-
planation of a violation of the City's Zero Tolerance Policy for Workplace
Violence involving a loaded handgun in a file drawer at the Electric Depart-
ment Office. It was explained that Mr. McCuen had been rearrested on De-
cember 15 t" and ordered to serve four days in jail for failing to surrender
weapons, which is a violation of his no contact order• He was therefore
unable to attend the meeting. Motion by Merrifield, second by VanRyswyk to
change the employment status of Electric Superintendent Jack McCuen from
paid administrative leave to unpaid administrative leave, effective December
16, 2009, carried unanimously on roll call vote of those present. Motion by
Merdfield, second by VanRyswyk to set a special Council meeting for De-
cember 21, 2009 at 5:00 P.M. to reconsider the employment status of Elec-
tric Superintendent Jack McCuen, carried unanimously on roll call vote of
those present.
No action was taken on the future of the position.
Motion by VanRyswyk, second by Reed to ADJOURN AT 6:20 P.M., carried
unanimously on roll call vote of those present.
Ruth Randleman, Mayor
Attest:
Nell Ruddy, Administrator/Clerk
The Word On: Improving Labor
Protections for U.S. Imports
by Senator Chuck Grassley
Q. Is it illegal to import goods made by forced labor,
including forced child labor, into the United States? A.
Current law prohibits the entry of goods into the United
States if they were made from convict labor or forced or
indentured labor, including forced or indentured child la-
bor. Even so, the law includes an exception which poten-
tially allows goods to enter the United States despite such
practices. This law, which dates back to the 1930s, per-
mits the importation of such goods if production in the
United States is insufficient to meet demand for that good.
Q. Are you working to strengthen these labor protec-
tions? A. As Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Com-
mittee, which has jurisdiction over made policy, I've worked
with Chairman Max Baucus of Montana and Senator Kent
Conrad of North Dakota to develop and introduce legisla-
tion to strengthen labor protections. Our bipartisan legis-
lation repeals the carveout in current law, making it ille-
gal to import any good made with forced labor, including
forced child labor. It also expands the prohibition to cover
goods made by means of coercion or by people who were
subjected to severe forms of trafficking, such as sex traf-
ticking or the recruitment or transportation of a person
for debt bondage. In addition, our legislation establishes a
new office to coordinate federal efforts to enforce these
prohibitions. New civil penalties are also added for violat-
ing these prohibitions, on top of the civil and criminal pen-
alties already provided for under current law.
Q. How will you continue to work on this important
issue? A. I will continue to use my positio n as Ranking
Member of the Senate Finance Committee to advocate for
this reform to ensure that goods made with forced child
labor are prohibited from entering the United States. The
Chairman and I are committed to pushing this legislation
through the legislative process and seeing it enacted into
law next year.
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