State and Local Government Programs
 
Municipal Clerks Institute

Contact: Paul Coates
Extension Political Scientist
Local Government Programs,
Department of Political Science

Jerry D. Stubben, Co-Director
Extension Communities Specialist
Center for Family Research

Program description: The Municipal Clerks Institute (MCI) is a 100-hour education and training program for city clerks.
The education and training provided by MCI fulfills the education requirements for certification by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks and is cosponsored by ISU Extension and Iowa Municipal Finance Officers Association. The MCI classes are grouped into three week-long sessions.  Each session is offered each summer. MCI also includes an annual 16-hour continuing education class for clerks who have successfully completed Sessions I, II and III. All sessions are held on the ISU campus.

Program objectives: Develop a quasi-professional class of municipal government officials in Iowa that has the capacity to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of municipal governance.

Clients for this program: City clerks, deputy city clerks and municipal utility clerks of Iowa's 953 municipalities, new staff of the Iowa League of Cities, and some Council of Government staff members.

Intended benefits/impacts/outcomes: Adequately trained municipal clerks contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of municipal government in many ways: 1) by promoting sound public administrative practices, the public services and facilities provided by the city government are more likely to reflect the needs of citizens; 2) by providing accurate, timely and well-organized information to county, state and federal agencies, the activities of all levels of government are better coordinated; 3) individual municipal clerks are empowered by the training and develop self confidence that enhances their lives and those around them.

Collaborating groups/agencies: The Iowa Municipal Finance Officers Association is a collaborating partner. The Iowa League of Cities publishes institute events and accomplishments. The Institute of Public Affairs provides one instructor.

Fees: Registration fees, $160 each for Sessions I, II and III, $90 for Advanced Academy; five nights of dormitory lodging, $110 single occupancy or $72.50 each, double; dormitory meals, breakfast $4, lunch $5.25, dinner $6

Municipal Clerks Institute

Program format: Sessions are structured around 90-minute learning sessions.  Sometimes a subject or field trip will take up to three sessions but generally each learning session covers a single subject. Some subjects are sequenced within and among sessions to enable the participants to develop a depth of knowledge in critical areas such as finance administration.

Resource materials: Each participant receives a three-ring notebook when he or she registers for Session I. Instructors prepare and hand out material that is retained by the participant in this notebook.

Faculty and staff who currently deliver this program: Instruction is provided by ISU academic and extension faculty supplemented with faculty from the University of Iowa and practicing professionals.

Governmental Services Training

Contact: Paul Coates
Extension Political Scientist
Local Government Programs,
Department of Political Science

Program description: Governmental Services Training is valuable when the federal, state government or social-economic changes dictate a major change in the management of local government. A recent example was when the Iowa Legislature enacted laws that required all county governments and larger city governments to maintain their financial records on an Accrual Accounting Standard. This need of Iowa municipal and county government was met with accounting student summer internships. In this case, ISU Extension collaborated with the accounting department in the College of Business and upper level undergraduate and graduate students on how to convert Iowa city or county accounting records from a pure cash basis to a modified accrual basis. One or more students were employed by participating counties or cities for 12 weeks during the summer.

Program objectives: Assist Iowa counties and large cities in complying with governmental service requirements imposed by state and federal legislation.

Clients for this program: City and county administrative and support staff from all of Iowa's 99 counties and 953 cities. The specific class of participants depends on the subject of the governmental service training.

Intended benefits/impacts/outcomes: This training aids and supports cities and counties in complying with legislative requirements for the management of local government.

Collaborating groups/agencies: Cities and counties, other government agencies, depending on topic.

Fees: Costs involved in training and materials are assessed to participants.

Program format: The program format is tailored to the specific subject, application, time frame and client requirements.

Resource materials: Materials used are dependent on topic covered.

Faculty and staff who currently deliver this program: Instruction is provided by extension and subject matter faculty.

Township Trustee Training

Contact: Paul Coates
Extension Political Scientist
Local Government Programs,
Department of Political Science

Program description: The township trustee training is a three-hour education and training program for Iowa township trustees. The education and training is provided in conjunction with the county auditor and county attorney of the appropriate county. The training is provided upon request of the trustees, usually every other year. Sessions are usually held in the county courthouse.

Program objectives: To orient and train township trustees and clerks to be aware of the Iowa statute sections that empower them and the general procedures that are required in the performance of their duties

Clients for this program: Three trustees and one clerk from every township in every county in Iowa. Counties have between 12 and 32 townships.

Intended benefits/impacts/outcomes: Adequately oriented and trained township trustees and clerks contribute to functioning of township government activities by:

Collaborating groups/agencies: County auditor and county attorney.

Fees: None

Program format: Sessions are two- to three-hour workshops. The county auditors and county attorneys describe and explain the relationship between county government and the township. The state statutes that concern township trustees and clerks are reviewed and questions answered. Fence viewing procedures and forms are explained.

Resource materials: Copies of recent Iowa law changes and illustrative documents concerning fire protection, cemeteries, recreation, etc., are distributed. Instructive material such as a true-false quiz on specific powers and duties is often used.

Faculty and staff who currently deliver this program: ISU faculty, community development specialists, and county officials

Understanding Current Regulations

Contact: Paul Coates
Extension Political Scientist
Local Government Programs,
Department of Political Science

Program description: Education and training programs help Iowa local government officials understand, comply with, and adopt procedures for new regulations imposed by federal and state laws. The learning sessions can be single and general or multiple and detailed. Major law changes on open meetings, intergovernmental agreements, public sector collective bargaining, investment of public funds, the Americans with Disabilities Act, hazardous chemicals, and right-to-know areas are subjects that may be covered.

Program objectives: Assist local government officials incorporate new and existing state and federal regulations into their unit of government with a minimum of disruption and exposure to risk of penalty for noncompliance.

Clients for this program: Iowa city, county and township officials

Intended benefits/impacts/outcomes: Knowledgeable local government officials fully aware of the statutes that spell out their powers and responsibilities and guide many of the relationships and functions of the government unit they are associated with are more likely to provide a mix of public services and facilities that are acceptable to all stakeholders

Collaborating groups/agencies: The collaboration is largely determined by the subject of the regulation and the availability of the resource at the time the program is delivered.

Fees: None. Participants pay for their own meals and breaks.

Program format: These learning sessions have been presented at multiple locations around the state. Content and applications of regulations are reviewed and discussed to enable all participants to grasp the significance of the regulations to their city or county government. In some cases model forms, worksheets and procedures are offered and discussed.

Resource materials: Copies of the regulations under study, names, addresses andtelephone numbers of people and agencies who can provide additional forms or specific interpretations of regulations, sample worksheets, reports and evaluation forms.

Faculty and staff who currently deliver this program: Montgomery Van Wart, extension political scientist, Local Government Programs, and associate professor, Department of Political Science; and Jerry Stubben, extension communities specialist.

County Officials Continuing Education

Contact: Paul Coates
Extension Political Scientist
Local Government Programs,
Department of Political Science

Program description: The County Officials Continuing Education is a flexible education and training program for elected and appointed county officials. These education and training opportunities are developed, delivered and evaluated as a collaborative program between extension and the Iowa State Association of Counties.  Each learning session is announced to all Iowa county officials and participation is voluntary. Specific sessions usually are held at two to four sites in a period spanning from three months to one year, depending on the nature and amount of material.

Program objectives: Develop a skill and knowledge base among county officials that will improve their capacity and empower them to more effectively and efficiently provide the most acceptable mix of public services and facilities to their counties.

Clients for this program: Clients are elected county supervisors, auditors, treasurers, sheriffs, and recorders as well as appointed county engineers, relief directors and others

Intended benefits/impacts/outcomes: Adequately trained and knowledgeable county officials contribute to effective and efficient county government by:

Collaborating groups/agencies: The Iowa State Association of Counties and the Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Iowa

Fees: Administered by the Iowa State Association of Counties

Program format: The learning sessions usually involve approximately six hours of educational and training activities during a single day.
Each session is delivered at one or more locations in the state depending on the number and origin of the participants. Specific courses may involve from one to five learning sessions. Team assignments, specific applications of subject matter to county government and experience sharing are structured into the learning experience.

Resource materials: Books, learning exercises and evaluation materials are provided at registration and as the session unfolds.
Faculty and staff who currently deliver this program: ISU academic and extension faculty, University of Iowa faculty, and practicing professionals

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