The Democrats running for the District V seat on the Lee County Board of Supervisors are on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to government consolidation.
It was one year ago, this month, that the board voted to reorganize county government.
The final proposal resulted in the moving of the Auditor and Treasurer’s offices to the North Lee County Office Building in Fort Madison.
In turn, the Assessor and Recorder’s offices are now located in the South Lee County Courthouse in Keokuk.
Incumbent Janet Fife-LaFrenz, who chairs the board, cast one of the four votes in favor of the reorganization plan. She says the decision will benefit the county’s bottom line for years to come.
“The overall savings per year is about $300,000 - $330,000,” says Fife-LaFrenz, “(so if you ) multiple it over ten years, you are talking about $3-million.”
Former Lee County Supervisor Matt Pflug believes that figure is inflated.
He says other cuts should have been made to prevent the burden being placed on Keokuk residents who must drive to Fort Madison to renew their drivers’ licenses.
“The biggest inconvenience that I see is (for) our senior citizens,” says Pflug, “they do not even know what building they are going to. Some are going into the post office thinking that is the county building. Another big inconvenience is for people who work 8:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. jobs.
District V encompasses much of northern and eastern Keokuk. The primary is scheduled for Tuesday, June 5.
