ALBIA, IOWA -- Iowa's lieutenant governor stopped in Albia Wednesday morning.
Lieutenant governor Kim Reynolds spoke on a number of issues in a town hall meeting held at the First Iowa State Bank on the square. Along her many stops through Iowa this week, residents continue to talk about jobs and taxes.
“Almost every stop we continue to hear about onerous burdens and regulations that are placed on businesses and the cost that that has on business,” Reynolds said. “Commercial property tax continues to be an issue that, especially in communities like Albia and Chariton."
One question that was brought up several times was the Iowa workforce development. Much has been made of how closing of such branches is not good especially during Iowa’s high unemployment numbers in the area. Despite concerns, the lieutenant governor asks Iowan’s for patience.
“We've asked people to give us six months. We're continuing to work on it. Our hope is to increase the access points to make it more accessible after hours on weekends.”
She also added that every Iowan should be within 50 miles of an Iowa workforce development center or kiosk like ones in public libraries. Democrats in the Hawkeye state say this is not enough for the thousands of unemployed.
The visit to Albia is fresh off the lieutenant governor’s first executive board meeting of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics council (STEM). The first full board meeting will be Oct. 31.
“It really gives [students] the opportunity to see how if they stick with those courses, if they take the math courses and science course they can understand that there’s a good paying job waiting for them.”