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4 weeks ago

Story County supervisors remove data-center section from draft ordinance, direct moratorium extension after extensive public hearing After an extended public hearing focused on water and energy impacts, the Story County Board of Supervisors on March 3 amended a staff-drafted ordinance on data centers and cryptocurrency mining to strike the data-center section and directed staff to pursue a temporary moratorium extension while further standards are developed.

In a crucial move for environmental protection, Story County supervisors have removed data-center provisions from a zoning ordinance after intense public outcry over water use and energy demands.

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#StoryCounty #IA #CitizenPortal #WaterUsage #EnergyDemand #LandConservation

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1 month ago

Board approves FY27 asset funding recommendations and carryover of unallocated funds The Story County Board approved the asset board's FY27 funding recommendations and permission to carry over remaining unallocated asset funds. Sandra King reported $5,145,804 allocated to human services and an additional $270,732 set aside for basic‑needs and shelter services; board members discussed provider claims processes and oversight.

The Story County Board just approved over $5.4 million in funding for vital human services, but concerns about provider claims are raising eyebrows.

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#StoryCounty #IA #FundingTransparency #CitizenPortal #MentalHealthServices #CommunitySupport #StoryCountyHumanServices

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1 month ago

Story County supervisors review FY27 budget; staff flags uncertain revenues, placeholders for projects At a Feb. 9 work session, Story County staff presented the board with a near-final FY27 budget that trims about $1,600 from FY26 requests, but staff warned that some revenue estimates remain uncertain and several project line items are placeholders pending grants or receipts.

Story County supervisors are juggling uncertain revenues and placeholder projects as they finalize the FY27 budget, raising concerns about future funding commitments.

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#StoryCounty #IA #CommunityProjects #CitizenPortal #RevenueTransparency #StoryCountyBudget

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1 month ago

Story County prepares RFP as jail medical contract rises; staff warn of hospital-bill and overtime spikes Sheriffs office staff told supervisors they plan to issue an RFP ahead of a June 30 contract expiration; the proposed medical line item rose from about $414,000 to $550,000 and staff flagged a recent 14-day in-hospital custody stay and 287.5 hours of overtime as potential near-term cost drivers.

Story County's jail medical services costs are skyrocketing, and staff are bracing for significant hospital bills and overtime expenses ahead of a crucial contract renewal.

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#StoryCounty #IA #HealthcareAccess #CriminalJusticeReform #CitizenPortal #StoryCountyJail

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1 month ago

Story County reviews facilities budget, flags aging HVAC, EOC remodel and security transfers At a Feb. 5 facilities budget work session, Story County staff outlined operating and capital requests across county buildings, highlighting replacement needs for a 25-year-old chiller and ongoing heat-pump work, a planned EOC remodel, and transfer of camera monitoring costs to IT.

Story County is gearing up for major upgrades as officials tackle aging HVAC systems and plan a $200,000 emergency operations center remodel!

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#StoryCounty #IA #StoryCountyFacilities #EnvironmentalSustainability #InfrastructureImprovement #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety

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2 months ago

Story County reviews county attorney budget as programs report lower recidivism and phone licensing costs rise At a Jan. 30 work session, County Attorney Jim Mills highlighted new hires and a state recidivism study showing a 12% recidivism rate for participants in the office's alternatives program versus 61% for non-completers. Staff reviewed revenue and line-item budgets, flagged a possible 30% increase in phone/licensing costs, and confirmed use of opioid-settlement funds for diversion and treatment supports.

Story County is making strides in reducing recidivism, with a groundbreaking 12% rate for participants in the alternatives program, while grappling with rising phone licensing costs and budget challenges.

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#StoryCounty #IA #OpioidSettlement #BudgetTransparency #CitizenPortal

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2 months ago

Story County supervisors review multi‑year CIP; conservation acquisitions, facility upgrades and camera replacement among priorities Supervisors reviewed the draft Capital Improvements Plan for FY26–FY31, discussed funding for conservation acquisitions (Skunk River Greenbelt phases), major park projects (Dakins Lake cabin, Hickory Grove water‑quality work), facilities needs (HSC roof, elevators, storage shed) and an IT proposal to replace county security cameras. Public comment on the draft will be sought Feb–Apr.

Story County is gearing up for major improvements with a draft Capital Improvements Plan that includes exciting conservation projects and vital facility upgrades!

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#StoryCounty #IA #StoryCountyConservation #EnvironmentalProtection #PublicSafety #CitizenPortal

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2 months ago

Story County supervisors adopt LSA 'Plan 1' for supervisor districts and draw lots for initial terms Story County supervisors voted Jan. 27 to adopt Legislative Services Agency-drawn "Plan 1" for supervisor districts under Senate File 75. Auditor Lucy Martin said Plan 1 has the least variance; the board drew lots assigning District 1 an initial two-year term.

Story County supervisors have adopted a new redistricting plan that reshapes local representation, sparking discussions about the future of voter choice in the county.

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#StoryCounty #IA #LocalGovAI #ElectionReform #CitizenPortal #StoryCountySupervisors #CivicAccountability

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2 months ago

Story County treasurer lowers expected investment returns, cites likely 2026 rate cuts The Story County treasurer proposed lowering near‑term investment return estimates after noting lower average balances from ARPA spending and new IPAPE guidance predicting multiple federal rate cuts in 2026.

Story County's treasurer has revised investment return forecasts downward, anticipating future rate cuts that could impact the county's financial landscape.

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#StoryCounty #IA #InvestmentStrategy #FiscalResponsibility #StoryCountyTreasurer #MarketValuations #CitizenPortal

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2 months ago

Story County pays $75,000 to former deputy to settle lawsuit • Iowa Capital Dispatch A lawsuit filed by a former deputy who alleges harassment and discrimination in the sheriff's office may be close to a settlement.

Story County pays $75,000 to former deputy to settle lawsuit

iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/01/07/s...

#News #USNews #Iowa #IowaNews #StoryCounty #Cops #Police #BadCops #PoliceMisconduct #Harassment #StoryCountySheriffsOffice #Law #Legal #Lawsuit

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2 months ago

County engineer outlines 2026 road projects, bridge grant pursuit and drainage fixes County Engineer Darren Moon summarized maintenance and construction work, including a newly opened bridge, planned 17 miles of overlays, pursuit of a federal grant for the Howard 11 bridge, a proposed roundabout design with possible county cost-share, a main-shop expansion cost increase to about $1.7'$1.8 million, and a Nevada drainage tile repair estimated near $60,000 (staff proposed splitting costs).

County Engineer Darren Moon reveals ambitious plans for 17 miles of road improvements and a crucial bridge grant pursuit in Story County, tackling everything from winter maintenance to drainage dilemmas.

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#StoryCounty #IA #CommunityFunding #TransportationDevelopment #PublicSafety

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3 months ago

Story County redistricting committee holds public hearing on Plan 3; no public comments The temporary Story County Redistricting Committee reviewed the Legislative Services Agency map for 'Plan 3', presented two illustrative alternates, heard no public testimony, and agreed to prepare a report for the Board of Supervisors with the goal of being on the Jan. 6 agenda.

The Story County Redistricting Committee held a public hearing on Plan 3 but was met with silence from the community—what does this mean for local representation?

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#StoryCounty #IA #PublicInput #StoryCountyRedistricting #CitizenPortal #ElectionImpact #CivicParticipation

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4 months ago

Story County Board approves Luana Savings Bank as lender for $4M conservation bond; adopts Resolution 26-18 The Story County Board of Supervisors voted Dec. 2 to award Luana Savings Bank the lender role for a $4 million general obligation conservation bond issuance and approved Resolution 26-18 to issue the bonds, following a presentation from placement agent Travis Squires of Piper Sandler.

Story County just made a significant move by awarding Luana Savings Bank a $4 million conservation bond, ensuring flexibility and cost savings for the county's future projects!

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#StoryCounty #IA #PublicFinance #CommunityInvestment #CitizenPortal #StoryCountyConservation

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4 months ago

Ames proposes curbside recycling RFP for Story County partners; participation optional, questions remain about billing and long-term disposal Ames staff will issue an RFP for curbside recycling (96-gallon carts, every-other-week service) and offer pricing for partner communities as an optional "tag-on"; per-capita fee remains $10.50 but attendees pressed for billing mechanisms, diversion accountability and countywide long-term landfill planning.

Ames is gearing up to roll out a new curbside recycling initiative that could change the way Story County handles waste, but many questions remain about costs and long-term solutions.

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#StoryCounty #IA #CitizenPortal #SustainableCommunities #EnvironmentalAccountability

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4 months ago

Ames to close waste-to-energy plant, build $16.8 million Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus; tipping fees to rise City staff said Ames will stop operating its waste-to-energy facility and build a Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus (R3C) to handle 52,000 tons/year. Construction is estimated at $16.8 million, the tipping fee is projected to rise from $75 to about $95/ton in 2027, and staff asked 20/80 partners to indicate support for a 20-year extension of agreements by January.

Ames is shutting down its waste-to-energy plant and investing $16.8 million in a new Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus, but expect higher tipping fees for waste disposal!

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#StoryCounty #IA #CitizenPortal #SustainableWaste #StoryCountyWasteManagement #CommunityOutreach

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4 months ago

Story County approves DOT preconstruction agreement for I‑35 widening; DOT to handle land acquisitions The board approved a preconstruction agreement with the Iowa DOT for the final phase of the I‑35 widening to six lanes; the county engineer said DOT will replace a bridge at 90th Street, may temporarily landlock one property and will handle any land acquisition or access costs, not the county.

The Story County Board has officially greenlit the final phase of the I-35 expansion, but brace yourself for some major traffic changes and potential landlock issues ahead!

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#StoryCounty #IA #CitizenPortal #StoryCountyIowa #LandAcquisition #TrafficManagement

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4 months ago

Story County approves TIF support for LMI housing; school district warns of $33,000 annual impact The Story County Board of Supervisors approved amendments to its urban renewal plan and a development agreement to provide up to $1.95 million in TIF support to the Story County Housing Trust for low‑to‑moderate income housing; Nevada Community Schools warned the board the district could lose about $33,000 a year under the plan.

Story County has just greenlit nearly $2 million in funding for low-to-moderate income housing, but concerns arise as the local school district warns of a potential $33,000 budget hit.

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#StoryCounty #IA #UrbanRenewal #CitizenPortal #StoryCountyHousing #CommunitySupport

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5 months ago

AIMS reports retraining program growth, LiveWorkPlay job postings and expanding workforce events AIMS Regional Economic Alliance presented its Q3 workforce update on Oct. 28, reporting 17 current retraining participants (46 for 2025 to date), a range of certificate programs offered, 806 LiveWorkPlay job postings (653 in Story County) and a 3.2% unemployment rate in Story County. The alliance highlighted outreach to transitional-youth programs,

AIMS Regional Economic Alliance's latest report reveals impressive workforce growth in Story County, showcasing a surge in retraining participants and hundreds of job postings aimed at helping young adults transition from foster care.

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5 months ago

Story County approves $10,000 for countywide childcare feasibility study The Story County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Oct. 28 to contribute $10,000 from the countywide unassigned fund balance to a countywide childcare feasibility study led by Pendulum Dependent Care Solutions LLC. The three-phase study, to start in November and conclude in March, will inventory current capacity, model future demand, assess a育

Story County is investing $10,000 in a groundbreaking childcare feasibility study to address local needs and enhance future capacity.

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#StoryCounty #IA #CitizenPortal #CommunitySupport #StoryCountyChildcare #EconomicDevelopment #ChildcareAccess

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5 months ago

Ames Regional Economic Alliance updates Story County supervisors on rural housing projects and LMI set-aside effort Ames Regional Economic Alliance representative Brenda updated the Story County Board on continued commercial development in Gilbert and several rural housing/subdivision projects in Maxwell, Roland and Colo; the Alliance is pursuing a state-level challenge to the county's LMI set-aside percentage to direct more funds to infrastructure.

Brenda from the Ames Regional Economic Alliance is pushing for changes that could unlock vital funding for housing and infrastructure in Story County's small communities like Maxwell and Colo!

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#StoryCounty #IA #WorkforceHousing #CitizenPortal #StoryCountyHousing

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5 months ago

Story County sets public hearing on urban renewal amendment to enable TIF support for housing The Story County Board of Supervisors voted to set a public hearing for Nov. 18 on an amendment to the countys urban renewal plan that would authorize tax-increment financing (TIF) to support the Story County Housing Trust; supervisors and county officials raised timeline, cost and legislative-risk concerns ahead of the vote.

Story County is moving forward with a public hearing on an urban renewal amendment that could unlock vital funding for affordable housing—will it help families in need?

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#StoryCounty #IA #UrbanRenewal #CitizenPortal #StoryCountyHousing #AffordableHousing #TaxIncrementFinancing

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5 months ago

Summit Carbon Solutions presents updated community benefits, landowner options and permit changes to Story County Summit Carbon Solutions told the Story County Board of Supervisors it has a new executive team, filed an amendment with the IUC on Sept. 15, and proposed county grants, annual royalties and landowner payment options; the company said its pipe in Story County would generate roughly $1.34 million in property taxes annually.

Summit Carbon Solutions has unveiled exciting updates for Story County, including new community benefits and landowner payment options that could bring significant financial support to the area!

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#StoryCounty #IA #CitizenPortal #StoryCountyCarbonSolutions #EnvironmentalSafety

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6 months ago

Public Invited to Provide Input on Climate Action Plan Through Online Survey Residents can submit feedback on the Climate Action Plan via an online survey.

Story County is taking a bold step in climate action by inviting residents to share their voices through an interactive online survey—your input could shape the future!

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#StoryCounty #IA #CitizenPortal #ClimateAction #CommunityEngagement #StoryCountyClimate #PublicFeedback

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6 months ago

Story County Government Sets Goals to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2030 Story County aims for a 10% reduction in emissions by 2030 through sustainability initiatives.

Story County is taking bold steps to combat climate change, targeting a 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 with innovative sustainability strategies!

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#StoryCounty #IA #CitizenPortal #StoryCountySustainability #ClimateAction #GreenhouseGasReduction

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6 months ago

Story County Government Launches Public Input for Climate Action Plan Development Story County seeks public feedback on its Climate Action Plan aimed at operational resilience.

Story County, Iowa, is inviting residents to shape its groundbreaking Climate Action Plan aimed at combating climate change and enhancing government resilience.

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#StoryCounty #IA #CitizenPortal #PublicEngagement #SustainabilityGoals #ClimateAction #StoryCountyClimate

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6 months ago

Story County Government Implements Strategies for Extreme Weather Preparedness and Sustainability Officials propose actions for building resilience to extreme weather and reducing emissions.

Story County officials are taking bold steps to safeguard the community against extreme weather and ensure sustainability for the future.

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#StoryCounty #IA #CitizenPortal #EmergencyResponse #SustainabilityStrategies #StoryCountyClimate #WeatherResilience

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6 months ago

Story County Board of Supervisors holds meeting and approves agenda items The Board approves agenda, minutes, and personnel actions during their Tuesday meeting.

The Story County Board of Supervisors tackled their agenda with efficiency, but the silence from the community during public comments raises questions about civic engagement.

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#StoryCounty #IA #CivicEngagement #CitizenPortal #CommunityOutreach #PublicHealth #StoryCountyGovernance

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8 months ago

Go Green Team Hosts Countywide Electronic Recycling Event on September 13 Astoria County's Go Green Team organizes electronic recycling event at Story County Fairgrounds.

Get ready to declutter and go green at Story County's electronic recycling event on September 13, where your old gadgets can make a positive impact!

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#StoryCounty #IA #CitizenPortal #CommunityEngagement #StoryCountyEnvironment #EnvironmentalSustainability

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8 months ago

AIMS Regional Economic Alliance Discusses Workforce Programs and Community Outreach Strategies AIMS Regional Economic Alliance highlights low enrollment in workforce programs and suggests outreach improvements.

Story County officials are sounding the alarm on low enrollment in vital workforce training programs, urging a community-focused approach to boost participation and meet local job demands.

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#StoryCounty #IA #CitizenPortal #CareerSupport #StoryCountyWorkforce

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8 months ago

Good Neighbor Seeks Funding to Sustain Navigator Program After ARPA Support Ends Good Neighbor reports navigator program funding will run out by October, seeks new sources.

As the vital navigator program in Story County faces funding cuts, community leaders are rallying to find new resources to support families in need and prevent homelessness.

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#StoryCounty #IA #CitizenPortal #StoryCountyHousing #CommunityAssistance #HousingInsecurity