We wanted to make certain you’re aware there are 16 counties that are eligible to apply for Public Assistance funding under Disaster Declaration 4557 (Derecho Storm). For any communities that qualify this funding could cover the cost of material such as poles, wire and associated equipment as well as the labor costs, both straight time and overtime, as well as debris removal in some instances.
The counties that qualify are as follows:

Benton
Boone
Cedar
Clinton
Dallas
Jasper
Johnson
Jones
Linn
Marshall
Muscatine
Polk
Poweshiek
Scott
Story
Tama

The following link will navigate to the Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management website where the information and details for this program can be found.
https://www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/disasters/public_assistance.html

If you have any questions the public assistance program contacts are:
Rick Biondi – (515) 979-3519
Katie Waters – (515) 249-2242

Assistance is still available for Iowa homeowners and renters through the COVID-19 Iowa Eviction & Foreclosure Prevention Program. Announced yesterday, the maximum mortgage payment assistance has increased from a maximum of $3,000 to $3,600. The maximum rental assistance payment remains unchanged.

ELIGIBLE IOWANS

• Current renters and homeowners that are at risk of eviction or foreclosure due to a documented COVID-19 related loss of income on or after March 17, 2020.
• Household income at the time of application may not exceed 80% of the median family income, which varies by household size and county, a listing of income limits is available here.
• Additional eligibility information is available here.

ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

• Rental assistance for up to four months. This can include months in arrears, no earlier than the April 1 rent payment, ($3,200 maximum).
• Includes manufactured home rent and lot rent
• Mortgage payment assistance, including up to four months (this can include up to two months in arrears) beginning with April 1 mortgage payment, ($3,600 maximum).

APPLICATION
Additional program details and the application are available here.

REPORTING
The number of Iowans assisted through the program to date, can be found on the EFP Reporting Page.

“The 2020 Wastewater and Drinking Water Treatment Financial Assistance Program (WTFAP) application is now available. 

Grants will be awarded to water and wastewater projects based on the following priorities: 

• Disadvantaged communities
  
• Projects that will significantly improve water quality in their watershed
• Projects that use alternative wastewater treatment technologies (all projects proposing alternative technologies must be approved by DNR)
• Communities with the highest sewer or water rates
• Projects that use technology to address nutrient reduction
• Projects that will improve source waters for drinking water utilities.”
  

 There is approximately $2 million available in this program, which is a part of the Senate File 512 legislation.  It is not related to the State Revolving Loan Fund projects.

The application (accessed via the black button mid-page) is due by September 25th.

The grant awardees are determined by a committee consisting of the Secretary of Agriculture (or designee), the Executive Director of the IFA (or designee), and the Director of the DNR (or designee). 

Please contact the IFA Water Quality Team with questions.

The latest edition of IAMU's Toolbox Talks - What are Whip Checks? is now available.

Click here to download it.

Other Toolbox Talk articles are available here.

If you have a Toolbox Talk idea, please send it to Margret Meade.

Don’t let your unanswered employment questions turn into employment problems.

Termination. Sexual harassment. Due process. Employee handbooks. Workers’ compensation. Too often these employment-related issues end up in court cases.

EMC Insurance Companies and the AttorneyConnect program can help answer your employment law questions and resolve issues before they end up in court. AttorneyConnect is a proactive program designed especially for Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU) Safety Group members who want to make the right employment decisions.

Under the AttorneyConnect program, IAMU Safety Group members can receive legal consultation on the issues faced by employers every day at no additional cost. Not only does AttorneyConnect help municipalities and municipal utilities solve employment problems, but it helps avoid them in the first place.

Click here for more information.

Are you taking advantage of social media to communicate with customers and citizens? This webinar series aims to provide you with ways to identify and connect with your audience, develop content for platforms, and where social media is trending today.

Series Topics & Schedule:

September 9, 2020 - “Who is Your Audience & What Do They Need From You?”

September 16, 2020 - “Writing Better Content for Social Media”

September 23, 2020 - “Social Media Trends & How Social Networks Work in 2020”

Time: 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. each week

Cost: FREE for IAMU Utility Members

About the Presenter:

Chris Snider has spent his career pushing for innovative and creative ways to tell and present stories in print and online. He’s currently an assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Drake University in Des Moines. Chris has a degree in journalism from the University of Iowa and an MBA from Drake University.

https://chrissniderdesign.com/blog/about

Registration Info: To register, click on the above dates or visit the IAMU Events page HERE.

*The webinar link will be sent to the registered participant’s email address. Please note the webinar invite will come from Zoom.*

QUESTIONS? Contact events@iamu.org

Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) will host a video dedication ceremony to commemorate the completion of construction and beginning of power generation at the Red Rock Hydroelectric Project (RRHP) outside of Pella, Iowa, an MRES member community. The premiere showing of the video dedication will be available via the organization’s website and social media channels on Sept. 2, 2020, at 2 p.m. CDT. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, MRES is opting for a video dedication in lieu of an in-person event.

RRHP will harness the power of the Des Moines River to deliver enough renewable, emissions-free energy to supply over 18,000 homes and businesses in MRES member communities and it will be the second largest hydroelectric facility in the State of Iowa.

MRES invites everyone to join us for the historic dedication of this clean, renewable and reliable resource that will provide energy for the next 100 years.

What: Video Dedication Ceremony for the Red Rock Hydroelectric Project

When: Sept. 2, 2020; 2 p.m. CDT

Where: MRES website and social media channels: www.mrenergy.com, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook

We are excited to announce that our annual golf outing will now be a fundraiser for the IAMU Scholarship Program (details will be announced in the coming months), and will award scholarships beginning in 2021.

Registration is open for the IAMU Golfing Fore Scholars fundraiser. This event, formerly Golfing Fore Safety, will be held at Briggs Woods Golf Course on Monday, September 21, 2020. Registration information and sponsorship opportunities can be found here.  See you there!

For More Info: Contact IAMU at 515.289.1999 or email smarsh@iamu.org.

Purchase a raffle ticket at the event for your chance at walking away $1000 richer!