Compiled by Matt Miller matt@dmcityview.com
Paid for by taxpayers in…
City of Des Moines
(paid during the week of March 29)
Amount: $150
To: Audio Labs
For: Purchase of 300 pairs of earplugs to be provided to residents of the Waterbury neighborhood by the City of Des Moines to combat noise levels from the Val Air Ballroom.
Amount: $229
To: Financial Peace University
For: Payment for Mayor Frank Cownie to participate in 13 weeks of Dave Ramsey’s “Financial Peace University” to help balance the City of Des Moines’ budget.
Amount: $500
To: Best Buy
For: After fiery locker room speeches by Iowa State University coaches Paul Rhoads and Bill Fennelly became YouTube hits, the Des Moines Hoover athletic director purchased recording equipment for Mitch Elbert to help improve his 3-24 football record over the past three seasons.
Amount: $200,000
To: WeatheRate
For: Payment for WOI-TV to license the WeatheRate seal of approval for advertising and promotional services.
Amount: $225,413.72
To: Halley Griess
For: Mileage reimbursement for campaigning for at-large seat on Des Moines City Council.
Amount: $2,500
To: Des Moines Police Department
For: Payment for additional alcohol compliance checks by Des Moines Police at Peggy’s bar, 3020 Forest Ave., and The Dublin, 2307 University Ave.
Amount: $8,000
To: Lowe’s
For: Purchase of primer and pink paint to be applied to bridges over Interstate 235 in Des Moines.
Amount: $25
To: AARP
For: Subscription renewal to AARP for Bob Mahaffey of the Des Moines City Council.
Amount: $267,478
To: Des Moines Water Works
For: Purchase and installation for equipment to filter and convert remaining floodwater to bottled water for City of Des Moines employees.
Amount: $18
To: Ingersoll Wine and Spirits
For: Purchase of a bottle of Everclear by the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department to study the effects on the human body.
Amount: $2,000
To: PDM Distribution Services Inc.
For: Payment for the City of Des Moines to turn Des Moines River green for St. Patrick’s Day.
Amount: $28
To: G & L Clothing
For: Purchase of a white dress shirt for Skip Moore who was recently elected as an at-large on the Des Moines City Council.
APRIL FOOLS!
Salaries and Such
Name: Karen Trummel
Title: President of Enemies of Rice Field
Years experience: 10
Annual salary: $2.36
APRIL FOOLS!
Travel
The Des Moines City Council recently approved $3,440 for Bryan Simpleton, pothole observer, to attend the “How to Look For and Patch a Pothole” in Austin, Texas, from April 8 to 10. Simpleton will be one of more than 100 pothole observers from the Midwest who will attend the conference to learn what a pothole is, how to spot one, the many hazards they present and how to fix one. The Des Moines City Council has budgeted $443,280 for the 2010 fiscal year. As of March 29, the council has expended $718,293. CV
APRIL FOOLS!
