Louisa County Supervisor

Feel free to contact me anytime. I will want input from Louisa County residents to make the best decisions for the county.

Email: kenpurdy@lisco.com

Phone: 319-728-2274

23423 Highway 92

Columbus Junction, IA 52738

 

Kenneth Edgar Purdy

Thanks for electing me to my second term on the board of supervisors.

1st term 2001-2004

2nd term 2005-2008

 Sign the Lake Odessa for All on line petition.

Click on the link below.

Watch here for more information.

http://www.petitiononline.com/o5d2e7s3/petition.html

THE COMMITTEES I SERVE ON.

1. Louisa Economic Development Group, Inc. - I was appointed to the board of directors of this organization as a representative of the Louisa County Board of Supervisors. I was subsequently approved by vote of the development committee and I am on the executive committee as past president. The mission of this group is to raise incomes or the tax base in Louisa County.

2. Community Action of Southeast Iowa - The mission of this group created by the Iowa Legislature is to help the low income people of the region. Some of their programs they administrate are Head Start, Early Head Start, Energy Assistance, Regional Transit (for anyone, but includes aging and disabled), Weatherization Programs, Low Income Energy Assistance.

3. Louisa County Board of Health - Just appointed to that board.

4. Louisa Regional Solid Waste Agency - Responsible for closed landfill and transfer station.

5. Louisa Regional Unity Board - Mayors and supervisors in the region.

6. Southeast Iowa Regional Transit Committee - RTA (Regional Transit Agency) provides public transportation including aging and disabled. Call 1-866-753-5107

7. Louisa County Emergency Food & Shelter Committee for Comm. Action

Accomplishments of the board in my first term.


1. The current board of supervisors was responsible for obtaining an Economic Development Director for Louisa County. I was a part of this effort. I feel this is one of the most important accomplishments of any board. The mission of this group is to raise incomes or the tax base in Louisa County. This is reflected in the 2004 work plan for the director: Work with government bodies to plan for growth. Gather and compile information regarding economic opportunities in Louisa County. Encourage spending locally to keep money in Louisa County. Market economic opportunities in Louisa County. Work with existing businesses to facilitate improvement and growth to bring more money to Louisa County. Create a formal plan for LDG's marketing effort.


2. Started the clean up of contaminated soil at the Texaco Station in Oakville, This includes excavation of soil and demolishing the old station and getting the property back on the tax rolls, at no cost to the county. I helped find out that county's are eligible for Underground Storage Tank clean up funds. $100,000 from the state Underground Storage Tank funds will be used in Louisa County for the clean up at no cost to the county. No matching dollars are required for countys.


3. Helped guide the progress of getting the GIS (Geographical Information System) for the county. The system involves taking high resolution aerial photographs of the county, digitizing the photos and putting them into a computer, and attaching data layers to the aerial photograph. Some of the data layers are: text documents in the court house involving real estate information and taxes, roads and right a way layers, utilities, lot lines, 911 addresses, confinement facilities and minimum distances to neighbors, trails, conservation board ground, school district boundaries, fire districts, etc. The system should streamline the work in several offices and help the constituent access information quicker and easier.


4. With the recommendations of existing staff and the board of supervisors, helped guide and approve the reorganization of Community Services and the CPC's office into one office. This reorganization saved 4/5 the cost of one full time equivalent person and benefits.


5. Helped guide the Louisa Regional Solid Waste Agency in managing the closed landfill at Cairo and the Transfer station in Wapello. This process involved meeting requirements of the DNR and past debt obligations of the agency to Great River Solid Waste. The Louisa Regional Solid Waste Agency is operating smoothly.


6. Helped score the first Matrix (animal confinement scoring sheet) for the DNR in the county. This scoring system introduced by the DNR this year is used to evaluate animal confinement facilities. Unfortunately, this is only for facilities housing over 2500 animal units and the DNR still has the final say. However, by a county board of supervisors being willing to score the matrix, this gives the board of supervisors the right to give input to the DNR on whether to issue a construction permit.


7. Manually helped clean up the Fredonia Cemetery of old LP tanks and dispose of them properly at no cost to the county.

 My Background

I am a life long resident of Louisa County so I feel I am very knowledgeable about the county. I spent the first 22 years of my life in Wapello, IA where I graduated from high school in 1961, first in my class. I got my Masters Degree in Mathematical Statistics from the University of IA in 1969.

I taught HS mathematics at the Columbus Community School District from 1965-1999. I started the wrestling program at Columbus and coached wrestling for 18 years, and coached the boys track team for 30 years. All programs (math, wrestling, track) were very successful.

I retired from teaching in June of 1999. I now have the time to devote to being a county supervisor.

As a youth in Wapello I worked on farms around Wapello (John Hupp, Paul Buster, Wayne Ryan,Jack Dotson, etc). While going to college I worked summers at the US Gypsum plant in Sperry, IA. I worked 2 summers for the Louisa County engineer on a survey crew out on the roads and drew cross sections of the roads of Louisa County in the office. It was fun work. I learned a lot about surveying and the county road system and it paid my way through college.

While teaching at Columbus I was active in the salary negotiation process and learned to deal with multi-million dollar budgets. I was instrumental in the fund raising project to build the all weather track in CJ. I worked one summer at the former Rath Packing Plant in CJ to see first hand what the parents of a lot of my students did.

Yes, I feel I am very knowledgable of the county. I feel I can make informed logical decisions because of my background.

 

 

See the handy links at the bottom of the page.

  click to email: kenpurdy@lisco.com 
Duties:The supervisors are in charge of the non elected officials in Louisa County, such as the engineer, health, 911 officials, etc. Each elected official (auditor, recorder, sheriff and treasurer) as well as the assessor (who is appointed by the conference board) are in charge of their own offices. The supervisors also approve the budget of each department, including elected officials, so they do have a significant influence on elected officials. Besides their regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday mornings at the court house, each supervisor is on various committees that meet during the week.

Supervisors after Nov. 2004election: (Ken Purdy 2001-2008, Forrest Bartenhagen 1999-2006, Dave Wilson 2005-2008)

Term of office: 4 years but the terms are staggered. The terms are listed above.

AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING

 

The Agenda is posted at the court house on the exit doors and you may call the auditors office for the agenda or go to the public notices of the county web site. ph. 319-523-3371

BOARD MINUTES

Minutes are available in the auditors office. Call 319-523-3371 or go to the public notices of the county web site.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Louisa County Economic Development Director took office January 14, 2004

One of the most important endeavors Louisa County has undertaken is happening now - obtaining a full time Economic Development Director. The board of supervisors two years ago started setting aside money for the occasion. The opportunity came this year with a joint effort between Southeast Iowa Regional Planning (getting a grant for $10000 to help fund the project), Western Illinois University (Has an intern program), and the Peace Corps (They have funds for former peace corps volunteers).

Right now the Louisa Economic Development Committee (supervisors, mayors, bankers, business people, and interested citizens) are in the fund raising mode and developing by-laws. The project will only cost around $25000 the first year for the full time position because of the cooperation of the above groups. $15000 will have to be raised within the county. The board of supervisors has pledged $5000 and office space and internet usage. The banks in the county have pledged $3000. The city councils in the county are in the process of deciding how much they can contribute. The Columbus Jct. City council pledged $1000. The Columbus Community Club pledged $500. Other cities are in the process of approving funds.

The fund raising committee chairperson, Kathy Vance, assigned about 6 larger businesses to committee members to ask for donations. Organizations will be asked to donate $250. Bigger businesses (over 100 employees) $1000. Medium size businesses $500. Small main street businesses will contribute as they see fit.

Our new director, Mallory Smith, took office January 14, 2004. She has her main office in the Heritage Center building, 609 James L. Hodges Avenue (HWY 61), Wapello, 52653. Office hours are Wed. and 10 AM to Noon and other times by appointment. The intention is to have office hours in Columbus Jct., also. She will be continually in contact with the community leaders of all the cities in the county and will be available to spend time in all communities in the county.

Some initial goals set up by the committee for the new director are:

1. Determine the need of the existing businesses in the county through site visits and/or surveys.
2. Compile a directory of existing businesses.
3. Conduct a county wide job survey.
4. Establish a central contact point for Louisa County.
5. Be a representative on regional issues.
6. Create Marketing Materials designed to promote all county events and attractions, including natural resources (web site, brochures).
7. Provide a central point for people interested in relocating in Louisa County.
8. Work with all organizations to promote Louisa County's quality of life.

Supervisors 2005

Forrest Bartenhagen (1999-2006), Ken Purdy (2001-2008), Dave Wilson (2005-2008)

COUNTY OFFICES

 SUPERVISORS
(elected for 4 years)
Ken Purdy 2001-2008
Dave Wilson 2005-2008
Forrest Bartenhagen 1999-2006

 319-523-3372

supervisors58@louisacomm.net

 In charge of county business, budgets, and non-elected officials. Regular meeting Tuesday 8-12 AM.
ASSESSOR(appointed ) and ZONING ADMINISTRATOR  Greg Johnston  319-523-6111  Determines land value. Zoning administrator.
 AUDITOR (elected)  Sylvia Belzer

319-523-3371

auditr58@louisacomm.net

Keeps track of budgets, land transfers, elections
 CENTRAL POINT OF COORDINATION  Pat Foor

 319-523-8815

patfoor@louisacomm.net

 This is the person to contact for any mental health problem.
 CLERK OF COURT (State office) Melissa Schoonover

 319-523-4541

Melissa.Schoonover@jb.state.ia.us

 
 COMPUTER DEPT. Carol Nixon

319-523-6466

Louisaco@louisacomm.net

 
 CONSERVATION BOARD Julie Ohde, Detra Dettman-Easler

319-523-8381

lccb@lccb.org

 
 ENGINEER Bob Simmering

319-523-5271

locoe@louisacomm.net

For any road problem, call this office and tell the secretary JoEllyn Yotter your problem. She will contact the road crew.
EXTENSION ISU Louisa County Shirley Werner 319-523-2371  

LOUISA COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES

Director

 Pat Foor

319-523-8815

patfoor@louisacomm.net

Central Point of Coordination

General Assistance

Case Management

HUMAN SERVICES Charlene Peterson or Jon Coon 319-523-6351  
PUBLIC HEALTH, HOME HEALTH CARE Alana Poage

319-523-3981

lcph@louisacomm.net

 
RECORDER (elected) T.Jean Brauns 319-523-3981  
SHERIFF (elected) Curt Braby 319-523-4371  
TRANSFER STATION

Tom Jones

Barbara Hewitt

319-523-5013

Norm Stone 319-766-2162

Vice Chr: Ken Purdy 319-728-2274

TREASURER (elected)  Karen Elkin 319-523-4451  
SEI CAP (SE Iowa Community Action Program  Marcy Gerst-Meeker 319-728-2314
 Workforce Development  Dorothy Distlehorst

1-800-642-4032

Distelhorst@iwd.state.ia.us

  Job service (employment), unemployment, training for both employees and employers

 Emergency Management Coordinator Louisa County  Tom Colthurst

 319- 658-3851

louisaema@hotmail.com

Job is to provide safety to life and property before,during, and after times of emergency.
 Custodian Steve Orr

319-523-2207

steveworr@yahoo.com

Takes care of courthouse and grounds.
 Louisa Development Group Mallory Smith 319-527-5182 loudevgr@louisacomm.net http://www.louisadevelopmentgroup.org

 

 

 

click to email: kenpurdy@lisco.com

 

Handy Links:

 Email state/fed. congress members 

 Send Email to our state Senator for Louisa County: Tom Courtney  

 Send Email to our state rep. for Louisa County: Tom Sands

 Info. about Louisa County

  State of Iowa

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  Cedar Rapids Gaz

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Louisa County Conservation Board

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Louisa County's Official Website

 Louisa Economic Development Group

  

 

 

Louisa County

Businesses and Organizations on the Web:

  Columbus Junction, Iowa Homepage

 Columbus Community School

Columbus Junction State Bank

Community Bank Peoples Office

 Delzell Bros. Morning Sun

 Duncan Real Estate,Cell Phones, Internet

  H&P Minerals and Gems, CJ

Info. about Louisa County New

Ken Purdy Powered Parachute Instructional Flights 

 Louisa County Pheasants Forever

Mincer Ford, CJ  

 Our Shop, CJ (custom knitting)

 Stacey -Lewis Funeral Home, CJ

 TriOak Foods (Oakville)

 Wapello Alumni

Wren's Nest, CJ

Thunder Road Liquor, Wapello

webmaster: kenpurdy@lisco.com

 

 

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