Lee County Chair Wants Complaints Sent Elsewhere

Chairman Ron Fedler used this week's Lee County Board of Supervisors meeting to deliver the message to county residents that the Board is not responsible for every decision in county government.
 
For years, Lee County offered drivers licenses in both Keokuk and Fort Madison.  That changed in 2011 when Janet Strunk, who was County Treasurer at the time, moved all of her employees and services to Fort Madison, making it the only location to obtain a license.
 
Current Treasurer Chris Spann changed that, reopening the drivers license in Keokuk a couple of weeks ago.  Turnout has been heavy with about 200 licenses being issued during its first four days in service.
 
The current schedule calls for licenses to be issued in Fort Madison on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and in Keokuk on Wednesdays and Fridays.
 
Fedler said his concern is that county employees are telling residents who show up on the wrong day to voice any complaints to the Board of Supervisors. “That basically implied that we made the decision as the Board of Supervisors," said Fedler.  "This was a department head decision and not a board decision."
 
Fedler said elected leaders such as the Auditor, Treasurer and Sheriff can operate their offices as they see fit, as long as they stay within their budgets.
 
Chris Spann said she has received just a few complaints about the restructuring, compared to many more compliments.  She said residents are free to contact the supervisors and ask them to set aside enough money to open both drivers license bureaus five-days each week.