Two United States Marshals recently visited the Guthrie County Courthouse in order to give Sheriff Marty Arganbright some new ideas on courthouse security. Arganbright told the County Supervisors that the Marshals believed that courthouse staff was implementing some good safety measures, but they recommended greater use of metal detection devices. Arganbright has been heavily focused on improving courthouse security since a West Des Moines woman swallowed pills and assaulted deputies during a courtroom hearing late last year.

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Iowa is one of 31 states to require vehicles to display both front and rear license plates. Despite a proposed bill in the Iowa House to make the front plate optional , State Representative Clel Baudler wants both plates to stay put. “I think I got it stopped. I hate that. As a Trooper, law enforcement officer, you need that front plate.”

Baudler says that in addition to displaying both your front and rear license plates, Iowa law also requires you to keep your plates’ county of registration visible.

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The Guthrie County Arts Council is interested in sharing part of the new Guthrie Center City Hall, when it opens in about a year. The future City Hall location, which is the current Guthrie County State Bank building, has more than enough room for the clerk’s office and council chambers, so the city is looking for tenants to share the space. Guthrie County Arts Council President, Dale Menning, told the City Council at Monday’s meeting that if the price is right, they would be willing to share the space. Menning says the Arts Council is not wealthy and pays just $250 a month in rent at their current State Street location.

The City Council agreed that they would consider Menning’s proposal, but were nowhere near deciding who the other tenants of City Hall would be. The Art Council is the first entity to publicly express interest in sharing the space.

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Secretary of State Paul Pate will be in Guthrie Center next week to promote a program which aims to provide support to victims of domestic assault. The “Safe at Home” program has already been adopted in 33 states and allows victims of domestic assault to relocate without their abusers finding them. Pate is working with the state legislature to pass a similar address confidentiality program in Iowa. Pate is making local visits to work with people like Guthrie County Auditor Jerri Christman, who will be key in implementing the program if it becomes reality. Pate will be in the Guthrie County Courthouse public meeting room at 2:15 p.m. on Monday, March 30th for the introductory discussion.

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State Representative Clel Baudler is the sponsor of a controversial bill that helps maintain Iowa’s private lakes. Two of those lakes, Panorama and Diamondhead, are in Guthrie County. Approximately $1.7 million is paid each year by the residents of Guthrie County to maintain Lake Panorama through Rural Improvement Zone (RIZ) funds. Opponents of the bill think they’re being unfairly taxed to maintain land owned by Iowa’s movers and shakers. Supporters of RIZ believe it’s a worthwhile investment in spurring economic development in maintaining Iowa’s most pristine bodies of water. Representative Baudler believes RIZ will pass. “I feel we got that pretty good. I think it will move. I hope it moves.”

Baudler is our guest today on Let’s Talk Guthrie County, which airs during the 9 am, noon and 5 pm hours on K107.9 and www.raccoonvalleyradio.com .