Vett  - to appraise, verify, or check for accuracy, authenticity, validity, etc. (Dictionary.com)

      During my 2014 campaign, I emphasized public involvement and the use of best practices. I believe both are imperative to effective governance in a representative democracy. Their absence automatically dilutes the implementation and success of any governing body's decision.

      One of the best practices to assure public involvement is to announce and discuss ideas, challenges and opportunities early, clearly and often during board of supervisors meetings.

      Once elected, I'd like to work with you and my fellow supervisors to make vetting early, vetting clearly and vetting often the standard in Story County.

     Liaison updates and announcements

     The current supervisors recognize the need to keep the public and each other informed about what is being discussed at the various boards, committees, and commissions they attend. Standing items on the board of supervisors' weekly meeting agenda are "Liaison assignments & committee meetings updates," followed by "Announcements from the supervisors."

     The number of updates given and the amount of detail provided vary as expected, given that many of the boards and committees each supervisor attends only meet once a month while others meet even less frequently. But significant activity or discussions also frequently occur outside of those scheduled meetings and updates from the supervisors on these sometimes don't make it to the board table until some sort of formal action is required. Or they are mentioned, but in fragments during discussions about the activities of the one or more county departments working on the topic.

     Let's increase the frequency and consistency of how we provide updates at the board table. And let's encourage each other to ask more questions about the topics to make certain we understand any possible future significance.

     Seven-day consideration

     Many items appearing on the board of supervisors' weekly agenda are routine administrative actions, requiring little to no forethought and deliberation. They are introduced, discussed and voted upon all in the same meeting.

     Other items, however, involve large expenditures, long-term commitments, widespread citizen interest and/or major policy changes. Public hearings, which require prior notice, are not mandatory for some of this second group. But forethought and public input is needed. So the supervisors usually hear introductory remarks and initiate discussion at one board meeting, then hold follow-up discussion and voting at the next meeting.
     Usually, but not always. Which is why, once elected, I want to work with you, my fellow supervisors and county staff to implement a seven-day consideration period between the introduction/discussion and follow-up discussion/voting period for all large expenditures, long-term commitments, major policy changes and topics with widespread citizen interest. (Of course, emergency situations would be exempt.) 

     Let's plan county business to allow time to ask, and have answered, any questions we have, to evaluate proposals in relationship to the county's Strategic and Cornerstone to Capstone and other plans, and to discuss likely consequences before votes are taken.

 LWV Ames-Story County 

411 Guide asks 5 questions

The League of Women Voters of Ames and Story County asked the candidates for supervisor questions about 5 important county topics:

• Roads & Bridges repair
  
• Ames Urban Fringe Plan
  
• Cornerstone to Capstone plan 
  
• County budget and
  
• Dakota Access' Bakken Pipeline.

The answers are posted on the group's 411 Guide.

Each candidate's answers could be no more than 800 characters per topic- an equivalent of about a 60-second "sound bite" on TV or the radio. I feel the topics are important enough that voters deserve more informative, comprehensive answers should they want them.

 Lauris Olson for  Story County Supervisor

The Democratic Party's nominee for the 4-year seat

* Vett early.  Vett clearly. Vett often.

Together we can

• Expand Transportation
  Let's embrace the mandate to keep travel in the unincorporated areas safe & efficient.
  Let's recognize that inadequate options for some impact the county's vitality for all.
  Let's initiate new public/private partnerships to increase countywide mobility.
  Let's commit to funding transportation, even if it means increasing taxes slightly.
• Diversify Housing 
  Let's affirm that the need for affordable housing extends beyond Ames' city limits.
  Let's look at using future tax revenues from the wind turbine farms to rehab & build.
  Let's create new and unique partnerships to improve housing options countywide.
• Show Leadership
  ​Let's speak up for our neighbors in need and speak out to protect our natural resources.
  Let's identify talent in others and mentor them to be our successors.
  Let's develop  partnerships with equitable terms & clear goals benefiting citizens.
• Communicate electronically
  Let's bring county officials and citizens together via interactive video technology.
  Let’s make vetting projects early, clearly and often the standard in Story County. * 
• Create the future.
  Let's recognize that today we must build for the future rather than sustain the past.
  
• ​​Let's champion fiscal and managerial accountability, asking elected officials and department managers to budget realistically for the county's needs.