Pensioners' Post, Summer 2003

IPERS is prefunded, which means that while members are working they contribute to IPERS for their own future retirements. Contributions from employees and their employers, plus investment income, must be enough to cover the costs of future benefits that IPERS promises to pay.

Pensioners' Post, Winter 2003

IPERS is prefunded, which means that while members are working they contribute to IPERS for their own future retirements. Contributions from employees and their employers, plus investment income, must be enough to cover the costs of future benefits that IPERS promises to pay.

Pensioners' Post, Summer 2004

IPERS is prefunded, which means that while members are working they contribute to IPERS for their own future retirements. Contributions from employees and their employers, plus investment income, must be enough to cover the costs of future benefits that IPERS promises to pay.

LifeTimes, Winter 2010

IPERS is prefunded, which means that while members are working they contribute to IPERS for their own future retirements. Contributions from employees and their employers, plus investment income, must be enough to cover the costs of future benefits that IPERS promises to pay.

Concrete Pavement Mixture Design and Analysis (MDA): Effect of Aggregate Systems on Concrete Properties, TPF-5(205), 2012

For years, specifications have focused on the water to cement ratio (w/cm) and strength of concrete, despite the majority of the volume of a concrete mixture consisting of aggregate. An aggregate distribution of roughly 60% coarse aggregate and 40% fine aggregate, regardless of gradation and availability of aggregates, has been used as the norm for a concrete pavement mixture. Efforts to reduce the costs and improve sustainability of concrete mixtures have pushed owners to pay closer attention to mixtures with a well-graded aggregate particle distribution. In general, workability has many different variables that are independent of gradation, such as paste volume and viscosity, aggregate’s shape, and texture. A better understanding of how the properties of aggregates affect the workability of concrete is needed. The effects of aggregate characteristics on concrete properties, such as ability to be vibrated, strength, and resistivity, were investigated using mixtures in which the paste content and the w/cm were held constant. The results showed the different aggregate proportions, the maximum nominal aggregate sizes, and combinations of different aggregates all had an impact on the performance in the strength, slump, and box test.

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, April 4, 2012

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the legislative session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All historical publications are reproduced here with the actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained. April 4, 2012 THIS WEEK: Dating an Epoch from Photographs. BACKGROUND: Iowa State Capitol Grounds Extension Project The Capitol extension project began about 1913. The purpose of the project was to purchase land surrounding the Capitol in order to improve the beauty of the grounds and obtain enough land to build new structures and alleviate the overcrowding in the Capitol. Senate File 538 levied a tax to pay for the purchase of the property. Van Buren and Wapello counties filed a suit against the state because it was believed by many people that this statewide tax was simply providing Des Moines with a “new park.” This case was argued before the Iowa Supreme Court and the photographs that follow are a portion of the brief filed with the Court.

Iowa Legal Assistance Program Best Practices, 2009

Legal problems faced by older Iowans are often more critical than those problems faced by any other segment of our population. Older Iowans in poverty are less likely to seek the assistance of an attorney. Often, it is either because they do not have cash resources to pay for services or they do not realize that they have a “legal problem.” The Older Americans Act of 1965 (hereafter, OAA) as amended, which primarily funds the Legal Assistance Program, requires that states have the capacity to improve the quality and quantity of legal programs for older individuals. These Legal Assistance Program Best Practices are meant to provide guidance to providers in the area of priority casework, coordination and collaboration to ensure cohesiveness and uniformity throughout the state’s legal assistance programs. Additionally, Congress mandates that states improve the quality of their Title III-B legal programs. One proven way to ensure a quality program is to have in place best practices to define expectations for not only the legal assistance program provider, but for the state unit on aging (the Iowa Department on Aging) and the area agencies on aging as well. These legal assistance program best practices may be amended from time to time to reflect the change in the legal needs of older Iowans as well as the mandates under the OAA, Iowa Department on Aging (hereafter, department) policy and other governing state and federal laws and regulations.

Issue review : executive branch employees, January 2011 and August 2012.

This issue review examines the change in the number of executive branch employees, supervisors and payroll between January 2011 and August 2012. In recent years, a variety of factors have encouraged a reduction in the number of state employees, salary adjustment that pays for contract-related salary and benefits increases has not been funded, limited departments' ability to pay increasing personnel costs. Early retirement packages have been offered, encouraging higher-paid employees to retire. Beginning in January 2011, the Governor set a goal of reducing the cost of state government by 15 percent, which could impact the number of employees.

06034-016 Lake Colchester/Middle Creek Watershed Final Report

In-lake management can be a critical need for water quality improvement for impaired recreation lakes. Biomanipulation practices to achieve the proper balance of predatory fish, zooplankton grazing of algae, and native aquatic vegetation can sometimes restore water clarity of turbid, nutrient enriched lakes. Lakewood leaders have a renovation plan for Lake Colchester, involving several common and three innovative practices. Lakewood is prepared to pay for proven practices, but seeks WIRB grant support to test innovations in collaboration with Iowa DNR biologists, and ISU limnologists, serving as advisors and monitors for the entire project.

Long-Term Care Choices

Consumers today have many choices when it comes to considering long-term care – whether they wish to remain in their home or community or move into an assisted living program or nursing home. Choosing a long-term care option that best fits your individual situation can depend on the level of care you need, your location preferences, your lifestyle needs and your ability to pay. The best time to begin exploring your options is long before the need arises. That way, you can communicate your preferences to your loved ones and create a plan that meets your needs as well as your wishes.

Long-term Care Payment Options

As the population ages, many of us will be faced with the prospect of moving either ourselves or a loved one into a long-term care setting (nursing home, assisted living facility or elder group home). Whether the decision comes up suddenly following a hospitalization or gradually as care needs evolve, the question of how to pay for long-term care is certain to arise. Some people mistakenly believe that Medicare will pay for their long-term care stay, but while Medicare will pay for hospital costs and skilled nursing facility stays, it does not pay for long-term care. Rather, possible payment options for long-term care include private pay, Medicaid or long-term care insurance or veterans benefits.