Government

All Charges are subject to review by the Benton County Attorney’s Office. An arrest or criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the Defendant is presumed innocent, unless proven guilty. Intrastate Warrants are issued by Law Enforcement Agencies for crimes happening in their jurisdictions.Two Adult Arrests the week of February 6-12, 2023February 7 Danan Lee Ary 27 Keystone, IADomestic Abuse Assault with Intent to Inflict Serious InjuryCriminal Mischief 3rd Degree, Trespass-Injury or Damage Greater Than $300February 11 Wesley Allen Venenga 23 Shellsburg, IAIntrastate Warrant Arrest-Theft 2nd DegreeZero Juvenile Referral for the week of February 6-12, 2023Six Code Enforcement Violations Junk x1Junk Vehicle x 1 Snow Removal x 3 Parking x 1 Eight Traffic Citations for Offenses were issued the week of February 6-12, 2023Fifteen Traffic Warnings for Offenses were issued the week of February 6-12, 2023Zero Reported Motor Vehicle Accident for the week of February 6-12, 2023For the Week of February 6-12, 2023 86 complaints/calls for service were handled by the Vinton Police Department.

February 10, 2023The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Seeman, Primmer and Bierschenk present. The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m. at the conference room at the Benton County Service Center. Members of the public were provided the zoom access capability to join in during open session and livestream at https://www.

February 10, 2023The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in special session at 10:00 a.m. at the Virginia Gay Hospital Conference Room in Vinton. Supervisor Seeman called the meeting to order along with Supervisor’s Primmer and Bierschenk present. This is a joint meeting with the Benton County Public Board of Health along with Virginia Gay Hospital CEO Michele Schoonover and Katie Cox, Director of Public Health.

February 9, 2023The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in special session at 6:00 p.m. at the Farm Bureau Office Building in Vinton. Supervisor Seeman called the meeting to order with Supervisor’s Seeman, Primmer and Bierschenk present.Discussion was held on the FY24 county budget. Budget topics ranged from the upcoming 911 Radio system project, mental health, roads and other budget concerns, along with explaining the importance of keeping reserves in the county fund balances.

Improving Access and Affordability of HealthcareWhen surveying Iowans on what matters to them, healthcare access and affordability consistently rank at the top. This week the Iowa Legislature took a huge step toward improving these matters. HF 161 implements a limit of $1 million for doctors and $2 million for hospitals on the amount of non-economic damages a jury may award to a plaintiff in a medical malpractice case.

SPECIAL COLLEGE COMMUNITY SCHOOL ELECTIONSPECIAL HAWKEYE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SCHOOL ELECTIONPUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given to the qualified electors of the County of Benton, State of Iowa, that the Special Benton Community School Election will be held on Tuesday, the 7th day of March 2023. The vote centers for said election shall be open from 7:00 A.M.

February 7, 2023The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Seeman, Primmer and Bierschenk present. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. at the conference room at the Benton County Service Center. Members of the public were provided the zoom access capability to join in during open session and livestream at https://www.

Week five in the Iowa House of Representatives was the first funnel week deadline, which was basically the last week to submit a non-budgetary bill to be considered for a sub-committee.On Tuesday, the Government Oversight committee held a hearing with five mothers of Iowa students who gave examples of inappropriate and sexually explicit books in school libraries across Iowa.

Attorney General Brenna Bird joined 24 other states in a lawsuit against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) over a new federal rule requiring gun owners to register their firearms with attached pistol braces, or risk criminal penalties.   The ATF explicitly approved pistol braces as legal ten years ago and has since reaffirmed that decision multiple times.