Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission Meeting Held In Cedar Falls
Commissioners to Convene Over Two Days — August 25 and 26 — to Discuss Information Gathered at RIAC, Task Force and 'Speak Up Iowa!' Sessions
(CEDAR FALLS) — The fourth Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission (RIAC) meeting and fifth “Speak Up Iowa!” public input session were held today in Cedar Falls following a bus tour of Parkersburg, New Hartford, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Evansdale and Waverly.
Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge welcomed U.S. Representative Bruce Braley (D-IA 1st). Representative Braley joined state officials, commissioners and local leaders for the bus tour.
The commissioners heard three task force updates: Long-term Recovery Planning, Floodplain Management and Hazard Mitigation, and Public Health and Health Care.
RIAC is a 15-person, bipartisan commission whose members chair nine task forces focused on specific issues that will develop further recommendations to support the state’s strategic recovery and rebuilding process. The Commission reports to Lt. Governor Judge, who is executive director of the Rebuild Iowa Office, which coordinates all state recovery activities. Major General Ron Dardis of the Iowa National Guard serves as the Commission's chairman.
Governor Culver said, “This is the last RIAC meeting before the commission meets to assemble the initial report, which is due on September 2, 2008. This important report will be the roadmap the state uses as we move forward with a short- and long-term recovery plan to rebuild Iowa safer, stronger and smarter.”
The “Speak Up Iowa!” input sessions initiate dialogue on the major issues facing the State of Iowa and provide an opportunity for official public and community involvement, with specific focus on gaining input for the RIO’s initial 45-day report due September 2, 2008. The sessions include nine booths, each representing one of the nine task force areas. At these booths, residents have the opportunity to voice their ideas and desires regarding the long-term recovery of their communities.
Lt. Governor Judge said the “Speak Up Iowa!” input sessions are critical as the state moves forward. “Some areas of northeast Iowa were devastated first by tornados and secondly by floods. The ‘Speak Up Iowa!’ sessions provide Iowans the opportunity to give the task force members and the commissioners their perspectives as we continue with the difficult task of recovery.” Iowans can also give their input regarding the state's disaster recovery efforts by filling out the online survey at www.rio.iowa.gov.
The RIAC will meet over two days at Comfort Suites at Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa, for the sole purpose of discussing and working on the initial 45-day report.
Beginning July 28, 2008, the task forces held public meetings to discuss issues surrounding housing, economic and workforce development, infrastructure and transportation, agriculture and environment, education, long-term recovery, floodplain and hazard mitigation, public health and healthcare, and cultural heritage and records retention.
The initial 45-day report will include an assessment of the storms' impact on the state's people, schools, businesses and private and public infrastructure, with recommendations for initial steps to be taken by the legislative and executive branches to assist in recovery. Another report will be presented to the Governor at 120 days as mandated by Executive Order 7, which established the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission and Rebuild Iowa Office.
MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2008
| What: | Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission to meet and draft initial 45-day report due to Governor Chet Culver on September 2, 2008. |
| Where: | Comfort Suites at Living History Farms 11167 Hickman Road Urbandale, Iowa *Directions: Take Hickman Road exit on Interstate 35/80. Comfort Suites is just east of the Interstate and west of the Machine Shed Restaurant on Hickman Road. |
| When: | 1:00 – 5:30 p.m. |
TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2008
| What: | Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission to meet and draft initial 45-day report due to Governor Chet Culver on September 2, 2008. |
| Where: | Comfort Suites at Living History Farms 11167 Hickman Road Urbandale, Iowa *Directions: Take Hickman Road exit on Interstate 35/80. Comfort Suites is just east of the Interstate and west of the Machine Shed Restaurant on Hickman Road. |
| When: | 8:00 a.m. – noon |