Rock Island, IL - The Amy Helpenstell Foundation has awarded a $15,000 grant to Christian Care to help support their domestic violence shelter in Rock Island.  This contribution will help Christian Care to permanently transform the lives of abused women with children through counseling and case management. Like Christian Care, the Amy Helpenstell Foundation has helped thousands within the Quad City community over the years, and their generosity is much appreciated.

The mission of Christian Care's domestic violence shelter is to empower abused women and children to desire and achieve a new and independent way of life while keeping them safe, warm, fed and clothed. By providing basic needs, professional counseling, holistic case management, advocacy, and access to community resources, Christian Care seeks to end the cycle of abuse and offers an opportunity for women to lead a successful new life.

Christian Care is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization operating two facilities?a domestic violence shelter for abused women and children and a rescue mission for homeless men. It serves homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence, veterans, men and women coming out of prison, and those with mental illness.

Christian Care's community meal site is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekdays Monday through Friday, and for breakfast and dinner on Saturday and Sunday. Breakfast is served at 6:30 a.m., lunch at 12:15 p.m., and dinner at 6:30 p.m. If you know of someone in need, call Christian Care's crisis hotline any hour of the day at (309) 788-2273 or visit online at christiancareqc.org.

Scott County Administrator, Dee F. Bruemmer discussed her retirement plans with the Board of Supervisors at their last regular meeting. Ms. Bruemmer was appointed County Administrator in August of 2008 after serving 27 years as an assistant administrator in the City of Davenport. She plans to leave the County in the spring.

County Chairman Sunderbruch, along with several board members, recognized the significant accomplishments of Ms. Bruemmer during her tenure at the county and the role she has played in making the county financially sound now and in the future. The Moody's Investor Services upgrade to Aa1 this month is a validation of the hard work that has been done to create the necessary fund balances and capital improvement plans that will allow the County to continue to have one of the lowest county property tax per capita in the state. Only nine counties have a lower per capita amount.

Over the seven years of Ms. Bruemmer's tenure, the County has implemented several cost savings measures to assure financial success. She introduced LEAN to the organization, which lead to operational savings in many of the departments, and skill development, to continue to find ways to become more efficient. These new ways of doing business saved the county over $1.5 million in the first year and has contributed ever since to increasing the fund balance to over 20%.

To help offset the revenue losses due to the 2008-2010 recession Ms. Bruemmer recommended the county become self-insured and develop a strong wellness program which has had great results. Since 2009 the county health insurance cost has increased an averaged 2% per year a rare result private or public sector. One of the more innovative ideas she recommended was insuring inmates to reduce medical costs in the jail.

In addition, she led the County in developing an IT masterplan that resulted in new financial software for better performance management and a complete replacement of the County's hardware and software. Additionally, a facilities masterplan was completed which included $8 million of courthouse renovations to upgrade courtrooms and security; expansion of the secondary road facility to combine the workforce and bring preventive maintenance of vehicles in house; and finally a new patrol facility located near Highway 61 and I-80. All of these projects are funded without bonding. Supervisor Hancock, who was Chair at the time when Ms. Bruemmer was hired, recognized her significant knowledge of local government and her ability to collaborate with other jurisdictions and agencies. "The County has benefited because of her breadth of knowledge and skills and we only hope that she continues to serve our community in her retirement."

Supervisor Earnhardt, who worked closely with Ms. Bruemmer in the formation of the mental health region and in securing funding from the state for mental health services, stated that "Dee is a professional who has worked exceptionally hard to satisfy the needs of the County."

Supervisor Brinson Kinzer stated "I have worked with Dee only a short period of time but have been impressed with her work and the excellent job she has done for the County. I made a friend and I will miss her leadership."

In reviewing her time working with Ms. Bruemmer, Supervisor Diane Holst added, "I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with someone so well versed in the operations of our county, and I appreciate her sharing her knowledge."

The Board of Supervisors plans on discussing the process to replace Ms. Bruemmer at their next Committee of the Whole Meeting on December 1, 2015. Please contact Mary Thee, Assistant County Administrator/HR Director for any  questions at 563-326-8767.

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is investigating the compressed natural gas station in Afghanistan that cost the U.S. taxpayers $43 million, as much as $42.5 million more than it should have, and the Pentagon task force that oversaw the construction.  The task force spent $800 million in total on the gas station and other similar projects.  The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction reported on the gas station cost over-run and cited a lack of cooperation from the Pentagon with its auditors.  Grassley is seeking full cooperation from the Pentagon with SIGAR.  SIGAR confirmed to Grassley that it has "several ongoing criminal investigations" related to the task force, called the Task Force for Business and Stability Operations (TFBSO).  SIGAR cannot discuss the specifics of those investigations.  Grassley made the following comment on this development.

"Everybody responsible for the tremendous waste of U.S. tax dollars on the gas station and any other projects ought to be held accountable.  That includes any warranted criminal cases.  I expect the Pentagon to cooperate fully with the inspector general and with my office in all inquiries involving the task force.  With the poor track record reported on the auditing side, there's reason to be skeptical on the level  of cooperation with the inspector general on the criminal side."

Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities (MCC QC) in collaboration with The Project of the Quad Cities plans a special World Aids Day Service to be held on
Wednesday, December 2nd at 7:00pm

DAVENPORT, Iowa, November 23, 2015 - The public is invited to a World Aids Day Service at Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities, located at 2930 W. Locust Street. Since 1988, December 1st has been designated as World Aids Day with the goal of bringing together people from around the world to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and to demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the pandemic. MCC QC will honor the theme of World AIDS Day, Getting to Zero: Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS related deaths during the gathering on December 2nd by requesting a love offering for The Project of the Quad Cities. One hundred percent of the offering will be donated to support the programs and services offered at The Project.

The Project of the Quad Cities is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community based organization that was established in 1986 to provide services to those at risk of contracting, affected by, or living with HIV/STI/AIDS. TPQC is the only HIV/STI/AIDS service organization within a 60 mile radius of the Quad Cities. There are two offices, one in Moline, IL and one in Davenport, IA that serve approximately 300 clients, many of which live 200% below the poverty line. Thea Hansen, the Director of Grants and Services, can be reached at 309-762-5433.

Prior to the service, guests are encouraged to visit the social hall for coffee and fellowship. The doors to the church will be open by 5:30pm. For additional information, please contact Rev. Rich Hendricks at 563-324-8281 or by email at richdhendricks@msn.com.

###