Paid for by the taxpayers in...

West Des Moines

(All items paid Oct. 11)

Amount: $929.14
To: City Manager Jeff Pomeranz
For: Expenses during the International City County Management Association meeting in Minneapolis from Sept. 25-28, including $548.99 for three nights' lodging at the Hilton, $130 for conference books, and $101 dinner ($70 reimbursed) with Anna Larsen on Sept. 25 comprised of $30.95 filet mignon, $25.95 seared salmon and $12.95 shrimp cocktail

Amount: $34.80
To: Jeff Pomeranz
For: Lunch at Nick's Bar and Grill with D. Stanbrough to discuss "development issues" on Sept. 23, including $13 king salmon and $10 caesar salad with rotisserie chicken

Amount: $1,579.25
To: Dynamic Auto Detailing
For: Reimbursement for removal of paint from six residents' cars after wet traffic paint that was not marked splattered onto their vehicles

Amount: $300
To: Mike Avery
For: Officiating of 15 adult flag football league games

Amount: $900
To: Wendy Lacina
For: Officiating of 50 adult volleyball league games

Amount: $171.50
To: Custom Awards
For: 26 lapel pins for the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) at the West Des Moines Police Department
Amount: $69.66
To: Kent Eubank, West Des Moines Fire Department
For: Meal reimbursement for International Association of Arson Investigators conference from Sept. 25-29, including four hot breakfasts at Ace's in Harrah's Council Bluffs comprised (over the four days) of pancakes, bacon, sweet rolls, biscuits and gravy, eggs and large glasses of milk

Amount: $1,067.98
To: Mid-American Energy
For: Reimbursement for damage to a utility pole on Southwest Army Post Road that was struck by city a crew with a lawn mower on June 22

Amount: $42.24
To: Clyde Evans, West Des Moines Community Development
For: Reimbursement for an economic development lunch with Mid-American Energy on Sept. 29, attended by Jeff Pomeranz, Clyde Evans, Deb Calvert, John Wetzel and Katherine Runnert

Amount: $98.68
To: Hy-Vee
For: Supplies and food purchased by the parks and recreation department between Sept. 21-26, including three birthday cakes (on separate days), seven pizzas and the rental of "Because of Winn Dixie"

Amount: $313.50
To: Stuart Isaacson
For: 38 T-shirts for fire department recruits

Amount: $63.68
To: Christopher Shires, Community Development
For: Supplies for Wi-Fi ribbon cutting, including $47.54 for wire cutters
Amount: $550
To: Stratford Rhythm Ramblers
For: Three hours of entertainment for OctoberWest event on Oct. 22

Amount: $794.97
To: West Des Moines Soccer Club
For: 121 soccer balls

Amount: $195
To: Diagnostic Testing Inc.
For: Three alcohol testers shipped to the Youth Justice Initiative

Amount: $98.75
To: Flight Suits LTD
For: 10 leather nametags for West Des Moines EMS

Amount: $2,369.75
To: Country Inn and Suites
For: Lodging for Senior Fall Foliage trip to Stillwater and Redwing, Minn., on Oct. 8-9

Amount: $201.80
To: Costco
For: Breakfast supplies (including $124.75 for butter croissants) and DVD rental (including $2.46 late fee)

Amount: $2,410
To: Outdoor Recreation Products
For: Two black benches and two custom bench plaques for personal memorials

Amount: $1,424
To: Hewlett Packard
For: One HP Compaq Business Notebook nx9600 for Scott Eftink, including a $40 "HP Sports Backpack"

Amount: $107.30
To: Kenny and Gyl Co.
For: Helmet decals for the fire department

Who's giving to:

E.J. Giovannetti
Polk County Board of Supervisors
Michael Myers $1,000
Marvin Pomerantz $1,000
Stephen Sanquist $1,000
Charles Gabus $500
John Kline $500

Expense Report:

John R. Perkins, Iowa Consumer Advocate (and President of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates)

July 22-27: To Austin, Texas, for National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners committee meetings
Lodging: $514.05 (for three nights; remaining three stayed with family)
Registration: $350
Meals: $195 (including $32.11 dinner on July 21)

Sept. 7-8: To Washington for National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates
Airfare: $194.39
Lodging: $210.68 (one night)
Meals: $90 (including $29.20 dinner in Sept. 7)

Sept. 20: To Washington for Consumer Energy Council of America Forum (partial reimbursement from CECA pending)
Airfare: $220.08
Lodging: $341.20 (one night)
Meals: $62 (including $31.87 dinner on Sept. 21)

Travel

Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie and Sister City Commissioner Kathie Watts were approved last month to travel to Shijiazhuang, China, from Oct. 11-20 to participate in a 20th anniversary celebration of the sister city relationship. Their nine-day, international trip will cost a combined $3,800.

Salaries and such

Of the 42 states with lieutenant governors, Iowa's Sally Pederson ranks 23rd in pay, earning $76,698 annually, according to the National Lieutenant Governors Association. That's barely half what top-ranked Mary Donohue of New York earns annually ($151,500), but more than 10 times that of last-ranked David Dewhurst of Texas ($7,200).

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