Paid for by the taxpayers in...

Des Moines:

Amount: $1,028
To: Shuck-Britson Inc.
For: Emergency evaluation of damage to skywalk, including "multiple site visits, letter report, coordination and administration"
Filed: Oct. 11

Amount: $1,809.18
To: G&L Clothing
For: Clothes for the Public Works Department, including a $40.95 mountaineer jacket for Chris Murillo, $46.95 denim jacket for Jim O'Connor and $25.75 wind shirt for Wendi Phipps
Filed: Oct. 11

Amount: $119.80
To: Papa John's of Iowa
For: Five pepperoni, five sausage and 10 cheese pizzas (14-inch) for the pool staff training on July 22
Filed: Oct. 11

Amount: $1,093.89
To: Primary Source
For: 1,000 translucent, light blue IDEA pens with two-color logo on the barrel and web site on the clip, shipped to Roy Criss at the Des Moines International Airport
Filed: Oct. 12

Amount: $744.10
To: Primary Source
For: 25 large, executive travel bags with embossed logo on the front pocket, shipped to Roy Criss at the Des Moines International Airport
Filed: Oct. 12

Amount: $17,500
To: Justin Leader and Alan Olson (attorney)
For: Settlement of lawsuit demanding compensation for past and future medical expenses and past and future lost wages after Leader tripped and fell over a partially obstructed sewer intake box on Ingersoll Avenue in September 2004
Filed: Oct. 13

Amount: $1,118.85
To: Office Depot
For: Five "Cool Pix 4600" digital cameras for the Public Works Department
Filed: Oct. 12

Amount: $48.60
To: American Marking Inc.
For: Nameplates for employees Daye, Johnson, Murray and Ramirez at the Logan Community Services office
Filed: Oct. 13

Amount: $472.71
To: Country Insurance and Financial Services
For: Damage to Marjorie Robertson's vehicle after city driver Thomas McDonald ran a stop sign on Southeast Sixth Avenue and Scott Street and struck her car
Filed: Oct. 13

Amount: $5,381.56
To: Beltman Group, Inc.
For: Moving expenses for John and Linda Morton after the acquisition of their home by the city for an airport runway expansion project
Filed: Oct. 13

Amount: $57.09
To: Hy-Vee
For: Food and decorations for a party at Four Mile Senior Center on Sept. 29, including two "blooming plants," one custom-decorated cake and vanilla ice cream
Filed: Oct. 10

Amount: $270
To: Jim's Johns Inc.
For: Six portable toilets for hurricane victim's arrival at Des Moines International Airport
Filed: Oct. 13

Amount: $482.50
To: L&M Apparel
For: 50 Des Moines Police uniform caps: navy in color, 100 percent cotton with Velcro adjustable straps and lettering in silver thread with "Des Moines Police" stitched on the front and "Police" on the back
Filed: Oct. 13

Amount: $365.81
To: Quality Painting Co.
For: Caulking around 20 poles at Simon Estes Amphitheater
Filed: Oct. 12

Amount: $977.50
To: Commercial Bag and Supply Co.
For: Rags for the Parks and Recreation Department
Filed: Oct. 10

Amount: $155
To: Hudson Poly Bag
For: Generic police evidence bags for the Des Moines Police Department
Filed: Oct. 13

Amount: $6,919.20
To: The Conley Group
For: Manned security service from Sept. 16-30 for Gate 5 of the Des Moines International Airport
Filed: Oct. 11

Amount: $1,744
To: Fraser Medical Services
For: Ambulance services for the Greater Des Moines Senior Softball Tournament held Aug. 19-27
Filed: Oct. 10

Who's giving to:

Ako Abdul-Samad
Des Moines School Board
AFSCME $1,000
Iowa Building and
Construction Trade Council $500
South Central Iowa Federation
of Labor $500
Islamic Center of Des Moines $250
Ted Townsend $250

Expense report:

A sampling of recent expenses paid on behalf of Mary Lawyer, Director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development

June 21-July 1: Travel to New York City and Germany for a "Sell Iowa" event, "appointments with business clients" and work on behalf of the Des Moines Partnership
Airfare: $1,514.34
Lodging: $1,653.99 (including $342.49 on 6/21)
Meals: $535.50 (including $37.18 din- ner on 6/23 and $60 dinner on 6/29)
Phone: $24.10
Gratuities: $35
Total: $4,213.89

Sept. 11-12: Travel to Cincinnati for the Midwest U.S. - Japan Association Conference VIP and opening receptions
Airfare: $318.42
Lodging: $162.64
Meals: $40
Taxi: $57
Parking: $11

(Amounts listed are from last available report)

Travel

Des Moines Fire Chief Phillip Vorlander was recently approved to travel to Honolulu, Hawaii, from Oct. 21-29 for an International Association of Fire Fighters symposium. The event, focusing on occupational health and safety, will offer educational workshops, twice-daily fitness classes and interactive roundtables, such as "Ask the Doc" and "Ask the Trainer." Vorlander's trip will cost $2,091.98.

Salaries and such

Due in part to budget cuts shedding the city of more than 100 employees in the past three years, Des Moines has paid more than $10 million over the past year to outside consulting firms for a variety of engineering and economic analyses.

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