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The former head of the Iowa Department of Human Services who was unexpectedly asked to resign by the governor says he had objected to a request from the governor just before being fired. Governor Kim Reynolds asked Jerry Foxhoven to continue paying the salary of a woman moving from his department to the governor's office. Foxhoven says he declined to approve paying the salary of Elizabeth Matney. She left DHS on May 17 to accept a job as Reynolds' adviser on health policy.
Documents obtained by the AP show a memorandum of understanding between the governor's office and DHS was signed on June 19, two days after Jerry Foxhoven was asked to resign. His name appears on the document but is crossed out and replaced by the interim director named by Reynolds to replace Foxhoven.
Foxhoven was asked to resign on June 17. He declined to specify it was the reason for his departure but confirmed Wednesday he objected to paying Matney out of DHS funds. saying Reynolds received additional funding from lawmakers for the position.
The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors voted in discussions regarding the construction of a new law enforcement center. The goal is to ease overcrowding and make the center healthier for inmates and those who work there. The project would cost an estimated cost of $49.5 million.
Director of Woodbury County building services Kenny Schmitz told the board that a new detention center would cost twice as much as fixing the current jail. The board is expected to vote next Tuesday to approve an architecture contract during the next supervisors meeting, a step that could lead to the construction of a 440-bed facility.
