Diana Dawley seeks re-election to Poweshiek County Board of Supervisors

   Diana Dawley is seeking her second term as Poweshiek County Supervisor. Dawley began her county career working as a clerk in the Auditors office in 1986. She was appointed auditor in 2007 and was re-elected in 2008 and 2012 serving until 2016 when she stepped down. She was elected to her first term as supervisor in 2016.
   “I enjoy the responsibilities of serving the public as their county supervisor,” said Dawley. “Over the years, I have watched Poweshiek County grow stronger while holding the line on taxes and working with our citizens to deliver essential services.”
  “In the coming years I hope to see continued cooperation between the state, cities, townships, and the county,” she added “Partnerships that keep taxes in check and essential services to all citizens are a high priority to the growth and develop of our communities. Together, we can make that happen.”
   In addition to managing the county budget, supervisors also serve on several boards and commissions as a part of their duties.
  Dawley currently serves on the Central Iowa Community Services (CICS) Board and attends the advisory meetings at the Independence Mental Health Institute and in Ames at the joint CICS Advisory board.
   “CICS includes 11 counties with supervisors appointed to the board,” she said. “We analyze the funding and business contracts that determine the eligibility of adults and children in need of services for this area.  This is a significant part of the county budget, one that I appreciate working on. As one of my priorities, it is very important that I understand the needs and services.”
   Mental health services are essential to Poweshiek County residents. One specific area of interest to Dawley is the jail diversion program. This program assists incarcerated individuals in how to deal with their mental health issues, find transportation and assist them in finding jobs.
   Dawley also serves on the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center Board in Eldora. This includes 25 counties joining cooperatively to provide services to their residents. She also serves on the board of Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging. NEI3A consists of 18 counties that coordinate services for individuals to help seniors maintain the independence they desire.
   Of special interest to Dawley is her service on the Poweshiek Iowa Development Board (Pow-I-80) led by Laura Manatt. This board looks at the economic opportunities to help grow our communities and provide jobs within the county for residents. Pow I-80 is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. This is a public/private collaboration dedicated to assisting the businesses and cities of the county. 
   County roads and transportation issues are always important to rural Iowans. A highlight of Dawley’s service to the county was the completion of the 20th Street bridge in Grinnell. This had been in the works for several years. The project was completed by Poweshiek County Secondary Road Employees. This joint railroad/county project was negotiated with the railroad contributing $200,000 to the project. Additionally, the county replaced the bridge over the English River on the Poweshiek-Iowa county line; the deck on the bridge by the Grinnell wastewater treatment plant; and replaced several smaller, less visible crossings with new bridges and/or culverts to make the roads better. The county has resurfaced F29 east of Brooklyn to Highway 21; resurfaced the road into Guernsey; and improved the curve on F29 east of Brooklyn enhancing the safety of that road. Lastly, our equipment fleet continues to be improved to meet the needs of the county.
Coming projects include the resurfacing of F27 going west out of Grinnell (11th Avenue) and 480th street along the north side of Lake Ponderosa.  
   “As supervisor, I appreciate the department directors and elected officials that work diligently to keep the county business within budget and work hard to meet the needs of our citizens,” says Dawley. “I believe that one of our most important duties as supervisors is to judiciously spend the tax money paid by our citizens.” 
   Dawley is from the Montezuma area and graduated from Montezuma High School. She and her husband, Dan, farm in Union Township where they raise corn and beans and have a commercial cattle herd. Her family also proudly owns a Heritage Farm in the county that has been in her family since 1866. They have two children and five grandchildren. 
  “Thank you, it is an honor to serve as your Poweshiek County Supervisor and I would appreciate your support in June and November,” noted Dawley.