Paid for by the taxpayers in...

Des Moines:

Amount: $654.80
To: Eurest Dining Services
For: Fees associated with a Metro Advisory Council reception on Feb. 1 held at the Science Center of Iowa including a guided tour by the SCI staff, hors d'oeuvres and presentation by the city manager's office. Rental of the "Commons" room cost $300, the fee for a podium and wired microphone ran $40 and use of the powered screen for a laptop added another $35. Food - including sourdough bruschetta, California sushi rolls, strawberry and brie kabobs, smoked salmon with red onion, mini-quiche with sun-dried tomato, and zesty BBQ meatballs - accounted for a total cost of $279.80. This, despite correspondence from the Science Center staff to the assistant to the city manager that worried that "as 30 people for the final guest count, the menu currently provides 5.6 pieces of food per person. During the dinner hour, which your event falls in, we always suggest at least 16-20 pieces of food per person." The assistant to the city manager, however, replied that "this group are not big eaters, so we'll stay with that amount."
Filed: Jan. 31

Amount: $134.80
To: Wireless Touch
For: Cell phone equipment for Department of Parks and Recreation employees, including a wall charger for Jody Heuberger's phone, an extended battery for Jim Hyler's phone and a car charger for John Morrow's phone.
Filed: Jan. 30

Amount: $1,444.81
To: Diners Club
For: Airline charges for city officials from the period Dec. 13, 2005, through Jan. 12, 2006, including trips to Washington by Frank Cownie and Tom Vlassis, to Atlanta by Kent Farver and to Miami by Lillie Miller-Sistrunk for various conferences and trainings.
Filed: Feb. 1

Amount: $13.42
To: Waters-Oldani Executive Recruitment
For: Meals for Jerry Oldani - contracted by the city in the executive search for a new city manager - on Dec. 20.
Filed: Jan. 31

Amount: $254,417.59
To: MidAmerican Energy
For: November 2005 street lighting fees.
Filed: Jan. 30

Amount: $50.94
To: Hy-Vee
For: Twelve pizzas - six specialty and six single-topping - for training conducted by the Des Moines Fire Department on Dec. 20.
Filed: Jan. 31

Amount: $31,286.62
To: Ned Chiodo
For: Reimbursement for expenses at Blank Park Golf Course for November and December 2005, including $3,398.75 for equipment, $24,954.61 for employee payroll, $2,563 for GPS technology, and $255 for training.
Filed: Jan. 30

Amount: $317.35
To: Crystal and Hinckley Springs
For: Beverage items for the City Manager's Office, including $38.94 for drinking water, $29.25 for a hot and cold cooler and $203.24 for Starbucks coffee.
Filed: Feb. 1

Amount: $1,120
To: Menards
For: Twenty-eight gift certificates in the amount of $40 each for employees of the Wastewater Reclamation Facility.
Filed: Jan. 31

Amount: $1,345
To: Wal-Mart
For: Twenty-eight gift certificates in the amount of $40 and nine in the amount of $25 for employees of the Wastewater Reclamation Facility.
Filed: Jan. 31

Amount: $6,230
To: Stanley Consultants Inc. (Des Moines)
For: Consulting regarding Principal Park Stadium Lighting, including 73 hours of professional services, and $406.97 in reimbursable expenses ($373.46 for travel, $25.03 for meals and $8.48 for retrographics).
Filed: Jan. 30

Amount: $115.84
To: Jim Spurling, Parks and Recreation Department
For: Reimbursement for a new coat and jeans after his previous set were "damaged/ruined during work when a battery charger exploded while he was trying to jump start a tractor." The replacement items were purchased at G&L Clothing ($100) and Wal-Mart ($15.84).
Filed: Jan. 31

Amount: $100.10
To: Hy-Vee
For: Refreshments served at the joint Human Rights Commission meeting on Jan. 12.
Filed: Jan. 26

Who's giving to:

Michael Blouin
Democratic gubernatorial hopeful

Tom Bedell (Spirit Lake): $30,000
B.L. Schwartz (New York): $25,000
Doris Jean Newlin
(Des Moines): $20,000
David and Mary Robinette
(Elliott): $17,000
Toby Shine (Wahpeton): $10,000
Mary Nelson (West Des Moines): $10,000
George Cataldo (Des Moines): $10,000
Associated General Contractors of Iowa: $10,000

Expense report:

John Norris, Chairman of the Iowa Utilities Board

Nov. 13-16: Travel to Palm Spring, Calif., for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
Registration: $425
Lodging: $573.99 (at $191.33 per night)
Airfare: $374.80
Meals: $97.50 (including a $59 dinner on Nov. 15)
Parking: $20

Nov. 21: Travel to Chicago for a joint board meeting of regional transmission organizations
Airfare: $478.40
Meals: $9
Parking: $9

Travel

Last month the city council approved Kent Farver, Housing Services Department accounting manager, to travel to Atlanta, Ga., from Feb. 13-16 for a training seminar titled, "The Nuts & Bolts of Public Housing Authority Accounting and Budgeting." Hosted by Casterline Associates P.C., a Valley Forge, Penn.-based public accounting firm, Farver's attendance at the three-day course hosted at the Westin Peachtree Plaza will cost $1,775.

Salaries and such

Charlie Smithson, executive director and legal counsel for the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, earned $77,418.22 with $627.56 in travel and subsistence, in fiscal year 2005.

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