Senate Concurrent Resolution 4 - Introduced SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4 BY KIBBIE A Concurrent Resolution directing the Office of 1 Citizens’ Aide/Ombudsman to perform mediation 2 services, under the direction of the Legislative 3 Council, to resolve a dispute between the board of 4 trustees of a drainage district and residents of 5 land in the district. 6 WHEREAS, on December 15, 2010, the Levee and 7 Drainage District Law Study Committee, as appointed by 8 the Legislative Council, met to consider a number of 9 issues affecting districts organized under chapter 468 10 of the Iowa Code; and 11 WHEREAS, the committee considered testimony and 12 evidence presented by persons involved in a dispute 13 concerning Muscatine-Louisa Drainage District 13; and 14 WHEREAS, the dispute involves the dredging of a 15 drainage ditch ordered by the Muscatine-Louisa Drainage 16 District 13 Board of Trustees and its decision to 17 dispose of the resulting spoil on the residential 18 property of district landowners who are not engaged in 19 farming; and 20 WHEREAS, the Levee and Drainage District Law 21 Study Committee recommended that the General Assembly 22 consider legislation authorizing the Office of 23 Citizens’ Aide/Ombudsman to provide mediation services 24 to assist in settling the dispute; NOW THEREFORE, 25 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, THE HOUSE OF 26 REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, That the Office of 27 Citizens’ Aide/Ombudsman offer mediation services, 28 -1- LSB 2056SS (3) 84 da/rj 1/ 2
S.C.R. 4 under the supervision of the Legislative Council, to 1 the parties involved in this dispute; and 2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the parties to this 3 dispute are encouraged to cooperate with the Office 4 of Citizens’ Aide/Ombudsman in order to find common 5 ground and achieve a lasting solution, that satisfies 6 all parties; and 7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Office of Citizens’ 8 Aide/Ombudsman provide a report to the Legislative 9 Council regarding the resolution of this issue by 10 December 1, 2011; and 11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this 12 resolution be sent by mail or electronic means to Ms. 13 Ruth H. Cooperrider, Citizens’ Aide/Ombudsman; to the 14 Board of Trustees of Muscatine-Louisa Drainage District 15 13; and to the following residents of Muscatine County: 16 Mr. Russell Alderin, Mr. Todd Reinsager, and Mr. Bill 17 Haag. 18 -2- LSB 2056SS (3) 84 da/rj 2/ 2