By John Speer

Editor

jspeer@tamatoledonews.com

“We’re simply at a point a lot has to be replaced,” Iowa Valley Community College District Chancellor Christopher Duree told The News-Herald / Chronicle and Marshalltown Times -Republican in a Feb. 28 meeting to explain the April 2, $32 million bond issue vote.

Absentee voting on the bonds began March 4. The doors open at the polls this coming Tuesday from noon-8 p.m. for all or portions of the 10-county area which the community college district encompasses.

Chancellor Chris Duree Kathy Pink Vice Chancellor of District Finance

In Tama County, voters in the South Tama, GMG and Gladbrook-Reinbeck school districts are eligible to cast ballots. Other voters who live in school districts which overlap into Tama County and are part of the Iowa Valley District also are eligible. A 60 percent approval total of votes cast district wide is required for passage.

While no organized opposition to the vote has surfaced, a vote yes committee based in Marshalltown sent postcards earlier this month to voters including South Tama residential addresses. Duree said there is also organized support in the Iowa Falls area.

The last bond issue for the Iowa Valley District was for $35 million. It was approved in 2006.

Along with Kathy Pink, vice chancellor of district finance, Duree stressed the $32 million was for needed infrastructure and educational-related improvements for which the district has no other avenue for which to pay. He said the cost of the bonds will average 71 cents per $1,000 tax valuation over the 10-year repayment period beginning in 2021.

Levy Rate Down

Pink said it would actually provide a total Iowa Valley levy rate totaling $1.72 per $1,000 valuation for 2020 and a $1.66 for 2021 which is less than the 2017 rate of $1.75. Pink said the levy for residential farm ground and commercial is all the same rate.

The need for what Duree calls “massive infrastructure issues” surfaced competely with a facilties walk through and subsequent assessment conducted in 2017 by architects and engineers. Iowa Valley has campuses in Marshalltown, Iowa Falls and Grinnell.

Called for is improved safety and security measures for students, faculty and staff. This stems from assessments and on-campus training.

Revealed were deficiencies including worn-out electrical and heating and air conditioning equipment, needed building repairs and renovations and an updating of several areas, he said.

Use of the bond issue proceeds, if approved, breaks out at about 55 percent for the Ellsworth Community College

in Iowa Falls, 35 percent for use at the Marshalltown Community college campus and the remaining 10 percent at the Grinnell campus.

Some of the major costs revolve around renovations of dormitories at Iowa Falls, parking lot improvements ta Marshalltown, and a district -wide security update.

Duree said a mass casualty simulated event on the Marshalltown campus pointed up the need for across the district improvements. These would provide measures to lock-down campus buildings from the interior, lighting and other safety-related measure.s

Along with this buildings will be made Americans With Disabilities (ADA) compliant. Duree and Pink said.

They said the current allowance of 20 cents does not put enough funding into district coffers to pay for all the building infrastructure needs.