09/21/2020 Alcester City Council Meeting – Agenda Item #11 – Finance Office Updates

• Purchase of (8) 10 inch computer, screen protectors and cases $2232.00 .  Yeah, a wasteful expenditure of money just in case the council has to meet remotely.  Oh but C.A.R.E.S will reimburse the city, maybe?  C.A.R.E.S. ( the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress with overwhelming, bipartisan support and signed into law by President Trump on March 27th, 2020.  This over $2 trillion economic relief package delivers on the Trump Administration’s commitment to protecting the American people from the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19.)  Want to know where C.A.R.E.S. funding   comes from our tax pockets. So why do we (the city) spend fund money for an “I Wants” when someone whose “Needs” (food, rent, medical care) are greater than our “I wants”?  $2232.00 would be better left in the fund to provide for food, beds and medicine for those who really need it.  We don’t.  Oh yeah, I was not supposed to research A&B Solutions and their quote. Oh my, shame on me for asking questions about a potential purchase without a translator.

09/21/2020 City Minutes – September 21, 2020   Agenda Item #11 (e) Covid-19

Marcus Ireland made a motion to approve the purchase of Eight (8) Samsung Tablets from A&B Business Solutions, $2,232.00, General Fund, as a COVID readiness expense, for remote meetings; Linda Talbott seconded it. Roll Call vote – Melissa Kay, Marcus Ireland, Linda Talbott and Darla Reppe voted aye, Dave Larsen and Vickie Larsen voted no.

 Auditor:  Iowa Misallocated at Least $21 Million in COVID-19 Funds

“Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand announced Governor Kim Reynolds misused CARES Act Funds to purchase software for her staff… Iowa’s government misallocated at least $21 million of federal assistance intended for COVID-19 relief and must correct the error by the end of the year or face having to repay the money, State Auditor Rob Sand says.”   Jason Clayworth, Auditor:  Iowa Misallocated At Least $21 Million in Covod-19Funds,  Des Moines Register,  www.desmoinesregister.com published October 18, 2020, 3:34 PM CT

Folks I voted against this and I wrote why I did in my post 09/21/2020 A Voice From the Gallery.  My opinion and position on CARES Funding of computers still stand, the City of Alcester could be on the hook for $2232.00, want to guess whose pockets that will come out of?

Let your council know:

Contact City Council

Mayor Dan Haeder                   605-934-2287

Councilman David Larsen        605-934-2434

Councilwoman Melissa Kay     712-557-0689

Councilwoman Darla Reppe    605-934-2602

Councilwoman Linda Talbot    605-934-1849