South Iowa News

City of Blockton issued the following announcement on Oct.11. 

RESOLUTION 19-11

APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, STATE ACCOUNTING ENTERPRISE, ANDTHE CITY OF BLOCKTON, IOWA, FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE INCOME OFFSET PROGRAM

WHEREAS, the City of Blockton, Taylor County, State of Iowa, is a duly organized Municipal Organization; and,

WHEREAS, Section 8A.504 of the Code of Iowa provides for the offsetting of payments made by the State to satisfy liabilities to the State (the Program), with the Department of Administrative Services, State Accounting Enterprise (DAS/SAE) directed to establish and maintain a procedure to collect any claim owed to a person by a state agency and apply money owed to the person against the debt owed by the person to the State of Iowa; and,

WHEREAS, the Program has been expanded to allow DAS/SAE to enter into agreements with political subdivisions of the state for the collection of monies owed to those subdivisions; and,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Blockton, Iowa, hereby approves the attached Memorandum of Understanding between the Iowa Department of Administrative Services, State Accounting Enterprise, and the City of DeWitt, Iowa, for participation in the Income Offset Program and authorizes the Mayor to execute said agreement.

PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 7th day of October, 2019, by the Blockton City Council.

RESOLUTION NO. 19-12

APPROVING IOWA OFFSET PROGRAM APPEAL PROCESS

WHEREAS, the City of Blockton participates in the Iowa Offset Program as provided for within Chapter 8A of the Iowa Code, and

WHEREAS, the Iowa Offset Program provides a means for the City to collect debts due the City by way of capturing moneys due a debtor from the State of Iowa, and

WHEREAS, debtors are provided an opportunity to appeal the offset of their funds to the City, and whereas it would be beneficial and appropriate for the City Council to approve a written policy in that regard, and

WHEREAS, a written policy has been prepared and is attached hereto and incorporated within this Resolution by this reference as if same had been set forth fully verbatim herein, and

WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Blockton, Iowa, finds that the Iowa Offset Appeals Process policy sets forth a fair policy in accordance with Iowa Code 8A.504 and 11 Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) 40.4 and should, therefore, be approved.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Blockton, Iowa, that the attached Iowa Offset Appeal Process policy is approved.

PASSED AND APPROVED this 7th day of October, 2019.

City of Blockton

Iowa Offset Program Appeal Process

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this Policy is to establish procedures to be employed during the appeal of a proposed offset of an individual or entity indebted to the City under the Iowa Offset Program.

SCOPE:

This Policy shall apply in all situations where an individual or entity wishes to appeal the offset, by the City, of moneys owed the individual by the State of Iowa that have been held up for payment by the State of Iowa Offset Program pursuant to Chapter 8A of the Iowa Code.

PROCEDURE:

Upon the receipt of Notice by the City, from the State Offset Program, of a “hit”, meaning that funds are owed by the State of Iowa to a person or entity whose name was submitted to the State by the City of Blockton as owing money to the City, the City shall:

1. Notify the person/entity in writing at their last known address of the “hit” and of their right to request an appeal with the City of Blockton.

2. In the event written notice of appeal is received the following appeal/hearing process will be followed:

a. The Appeal shall be heard by the City within fourteen (14) days of the receipt of the written appeal.

b. An attempt will be made to work with the appellant to schedule the appeal hearing on a date and time that will work for them.

c. In the event that the appeal involves a City utility related billing, the appeal shall be heard by the Mayor, the City Clerk and one Council member to be chosen by the Mayor. After their consideration of the testimony and/or evidence presented by the appellant a decision shall be made within three (3) days with written notice of the decision being sent to the appellant by regular mail.

d. In the event that the appeal involves any other City related billing or debt, the appeal shall be heard by the Mayor, the City Clerk and one other City employee or official to be chosen by the Mayor.  After their consideration of the testimony and/or evidence presented by the appellant a decision shall be made within three (3) days with written notice of the decision being sent to the appellant by regular mail.

This Policy was reviewed and approved by the City Council on the 7th day of October, 2019 by Resolution 19-12 to take effect immediately.

Original source can be found here.