A bill to re-establish Iowa’s five Rural Improvement Zones (RIZ) passed unanimously in the Iowa House and Senate and now sits on Governor Branstad’s desk, waiting to be signed. Despite the overwhelming support from state legislators, some Guthrie County citizens were opposed to renewing the RIZs which provide financial support to the areas surrounding Lake Panorama and Diamondhead Lake. State Representative Clel Baudler says it’s hypocritical for somebody to be opposed to an RIZ, but in favor of other funding of private land. “To the people that say we shouldn’t be doing this to private property. They’re calling Lake Panorama private property, saying we shouldn’t be using this $2 million fund. I say, maybe if we’re going to do that, we shouldn’t use any tax dollars for crop insurance or any type of private property, whether it’s a lake or district where they build new houses, offices, etc.”

We’ll wrap up our conversation with Representative Clel Baudler today on Let’s Talk Guthrie County. It airs during the 9 a.m. noon and 5 p.m. hours on K107.9 and www.raccoonvalleyradio.com