[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6234620,"mediaKeyId","3411011-37f7d27329b5eb090a8aa67f27418166","parentId",3411011,"title","Raising Readers reports enrollment gains after program redesign; program expansion planned for Cambridge and Nevada","audioSeconds",142,"startMs",385000,"endMs",527000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3411011-37f7d27329b5eb090a8aa67f27418166&start=385&end=527","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3411011-37f7d27329b5eb090a8aa67f27418166/thumbnail_385000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6234620/Story-County/Iowa/Raising-Readers-reports-enrollment-gains-after-program-redesign-program-expansion-planned-for-Cambridge-and-Nevada","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6234620-33a45f661e04d998582a50a267db062f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159103&Signature=BQ25p8gYLwF~AlW63w2Jtn0kIA9U3o5pJZw4MnA3yQE33P79ac7GADKi5yp-U~T4wW30oXAeU8RXD7MxcOVRIERC9UPtH9pvrBdHCKzX9n0IOeG15ZyjepWikiGrWJ6LoPPBYl9tQDH9Y0pfNsAPBOfA4FR-7e0twkWIHroyUcy9BzLy9dEng3lTQvObOqvN7CVaMCoTldXzF7HZNq7jQV3Kv4dM-EmrQcRlBy-aZm5PvxWQuTEHdQezCZSZypoPfv4GysjwAMyY6mn3-NoS71gtmi9jf7WzJiLwXCaMnDQeY6vf9NsAMHng8EIO4~UpaVxZlWR1EiP5VjWYhqi6cQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Story County, Iowa","date","2025-05-20T23:52:53.793Z","article","Christy Mayo, executive director of Raising Readers, updated the Story County Board of Supervisors on May 20 about program changes and expansion.

Mayo said the Small Talk family education program shifted to a workshop-based, play-focused delivery this year to model interactive caregiver-child talk and boost engagement. \"Since the format change, we've recorded the highest enrollment, attendance, and graduation rates in the past five years,\" Mayo said. She reported about 30 families completed Small Talk cohorts this fiscal year across three cohorts, with another cohort of roughly 10 families already enrolled before the fiscal year ended.

Mayo also described a new Playful Pages family workshop pilot that is expanding this summer to Cambridge and Nevada after a successful pilot in Ames. In addition, Raising Readers added a prenatal literacy component in partnership with obstetrics providers that delivers a literacy packet and messaging during prenatal visits; Mayo said feedback from expectant families has been highly positive.

Board members asked about virtual options and attendance: Mayo said the Small Talk workshop is still offered virtually for families facing transportation or schedule barriers, though in-person programming now predominates and virtual attendance has decreased. She said retention after the delivery-mode change was strong; of roughly 30 enrolled families, only two dropped out for scheduling or other reasons.

Board members thanked Mayo and encouraged continued outreach to outlying parts of the county.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 20, 2025 Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Raising Readers reported that a redesign of its Small Talk program to a workshop/play-based model produced its best enrollment, attendance and graduation rates in five years, and the group plans to expand a new family workshop series to Cambridge and Nevada this summer.","taxTitle","taxId",4974,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6234633,"Story County approves first reading of rezoning to allow concrete/asphalt operations at 1901 S. Dayton Ave. with conditions",2158,1533000,3691000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3411011-37f7d27329b5eb090a8aa67f27418166&start=1533&end=3691","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3411011-37f7d27329b5eb090a8aa67f27418166/thumbnail_1533000.jpg","/articles/6234633/Story-County/Iowa/Story-County-approves-first-reading-of-rezoning-to-allow-concreteasphalt-operations-at-1901-S-Dayton-Ave-with-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6234633-d89a8f1fb147b2f46d9b0463decc1137/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159103&Signature=gZkCulr0rbwF3wts8WiuSOSdnzmjLjThsVe1KiyUfdd~wWFLJchzD~se7blxP4b0HSsvJA6Jg8sd4rql-fOOjw1JyAXGahlaPvtwL4AgecKxA5eNFQsEAAhg~yS8vVOChjuBsrjkKqHTCEQUDsF3v6BYAZveFjzUaa7j6yj0OhzaFZYnQBiQDi94KHccbpxXOXVvzS1iuF6-IKIwWuY~pVe1YjO1uh1jDtGIMPWzdA~Q318RegFy67qHW2T1w8BYb0WA7iVwKskF-ne~H156WaQ2L6iV710yCMowCTKZA6cLFfbIxwyb7q16djE9UXKMqKR~6B1dG5Pt16Sw4kjIRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Story County Board of Supervisors voted on May 20, 2025, to approve on first consideration a rezoning request to change two parcels at 1901 South Dayton Avenue from A-1 Agricultural and Commercial Light Industrial to the HI Heavy Industrial District, limiting uses on first consideration to concrete mixing, concrete products manufacture, and concrete and asphalt recycling and stockpiling materials.

The vote on first consideration was Merkin aye, Basil aye and Heddens no, and supervisors said they would not set second or third consideration until required conditions — including a signed conditional rezoning/annexation agreement with the City of Ames and specific conservation protections — are completed.

Staff said the property lies in Story County’s Cornerstone to Capstone (C2C) planning area designated for urban expansion and contains mapped special flood hazard areas under the National Flood Insurance Program; the applicant has started a FEMA letter of map revision but it has not been completed. Staff recommended a conditional rezoning so the board could attach time-limited and use-specific conditions to the approval.

David Jensen, owner of the adjacent former truck stop site, spoke in public comment and said he believed the request conflicted with the C2C plan and neighboring city plans. \"I do not think that is is a compatible use,\" Jensen said, adding he and his design team had envisioned residential and commercial gateway development across the street and voiced concern about dust and noise from heavy industrial uses.

Planning staff said conditions recommended by interagency review require coordination with Story County Conservation, including placing portions of the parcels into a conservation easement or rezoning to Greenbelt Conservation and defining landscaping (species, size, quantities) to protect the adjacent river corridor. Staff also said the HI rezoning being requested would be limited by condition to the concrete/asphalt uses rather than opening the site to the full list of HI-permitted uses.

Supervisors and staff discussed tying the timing and duration of the allowed uses to an annexation agreement with the City of Ames; staff said they would not bring this item back for third consideration until the applicant and city sign an annexation agreement and until conservation easement/legal boundaries and floodplain changes are resolved. Staff noted the Planning and Zoning Commission was split and had no recommendation.

The board’s action was limited to first consideration of Ordinance 3-25 with conditions; the ordinance will return for additional readings only after the required documents are executed and staff confirms the floodplain and conservation conditions.

For now, the rezoning remains conditional and subject to future site-plan and Chapter 88 site standards review before any development may proceed.","The Story County Board of Supervisors voted on first consideration to rezone land at 1901 South Dayton Avenue to Heavy Industrial, restricted to concrete and asphalt-related uses, contingent on an annexation agreement with the City of Ames and conservation easements.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6234615,"Board approves shared-access easement with private landowner along Heart of Iowa Nature Trail",314,929000,1243000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3411011-37f7d27329b5eb090a8aa67f27418166&start=929&end=1243","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3411011-37f7d27329b5eb090a8aa67f27418166/thumbnail_929000.jpg","/articles/6234615/Story-County/Iowa/Board-approves-shared-access-easement-with-private-landowner-along-Heart-of-Iowa-Nature-Trail","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6234615-6fcb80a57a2579cd6148b9cdb7f0171c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159103&Signature=kSulbWmVW-9XugvcENSMVujJYg-wBHU6wQo6tWabblsM59ZbEum7MUqaaqHqeYY0FXJIKRbA0H4NKMsKJGp5HfK28OCLs0sn~eik77G~j9z0NZUII~DNJ5EhoEoXDL~yFHXGkVCwfu52lBP0jcQUdr10GfH1HUmmgOi4LCqlZELuZDsI449xk3Kdk18u5SETII70MGnRK4NjacSBroi83DzfVctawyX4raEkI10efYq2nMlNcVDgXqRmzEPi9Y5msKe-ZmYK-vYdK2Cs1OLbYsUS1LjSlMTsNgNgr2HQ0QP8hLdrdvHXo5BlLpKSEJ28NdL7uW4Kmbgm2d4SV4WQIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Story County Board of Supervisors approved Resolution 25-80 on May 20, 2025, authorizing a shared access drive easement with Phyllis Jean Maxwell as trustee for property in Section 29, Township 82 Range 22 West that intersects the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail.

Staff told the board the landowner had been using the trail for lengthwise access to farm fields for years. As the county improves and paves portions of the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail, staff said the shared easement will formalize an access lane along the common lot line between the county and the private parcel so the landowner will use the dedicated access lane rather than traversing the trail.

Staff said the conservation office and project manager coordinating trail paving had reviewed the proposal and that the easement would alleviate current informal access across the trail; the board had no public comment and voted to approve the resolution.

Supervisors asked whether other similar situations exist along the trail; staff and the project coordinator said a few locations already have formal crossings or reinforced crossing points but this appears to be one of the last instances where a landowner uses the trail lengthwise to reach fields. The county will proceed with clearing or reopening older access lanes as part of the trail improvements.","The board approved Resolution 25-80 to enter a shared-access drive easement with Phyllis Jean Maxwell as trustee to formalize a private access lane along the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail, a step staff said will remove existing informal, lengthwise trail crossings by the landowner and reopen cleared legacy accesses.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6234624,"Story County amends FY25 budget and approves corresponding appropriation amendment",2958,783000,3741000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3411011-37f7d27329b5eb090a8aa67f27418166&start=783&end=3741","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3411011-37f7d27329b5eb090a8aa67f27418166/thumbnail_783000.jpg","/articles/6234624/Story-County/Iowa/Story-County-amends-FY25-budget-and-approves-corresponding-appropriation-amendment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6234624-ca71e9e062d223318b5d4fd5f421165c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159103&Signature=i4AysVXCX572JnNzXbKgct~n405IKcMPunm802rlQ0PYHp4NjsIAmyfA4eR08RRdYVhOoio0h29gSN4zZb1CocD3B9olqI89btRzzAQmBrTrDDi~ZIdL47L2WTshrKa8-FpemnNhVtpMAqHIFh2IqECdIAEp6tiFqiQkPBlV-j4vZhEqrNdj~RfoSw0O2AUWc2aMspwZJ4Sa-dofiiZ59CEZrzQrJmlTua-~seuW4bwiOYH618oHbrplR9uluSWbrJWHgqlrFcHNNTLsK~ivqw5TCGoBwWUDd81OgWluVhvLYKbwrBT6rFVc~fqW2Nm69oCsmhekjqmPwMpGVV4Kiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a public hearing on May 20, 2025, Story County staff presented Resolution 25-92, the final FY25 budget amendment for the year. The county published the public notice in the three required newspapers on May 8, and staff said the amendment reflects department-submitted revenue and expense changes and the county’s adjustments.

Staff reported the amendment reduces revenues by about 1.5% and lowers expenses by about 1.7%. As amended, the projected general fund ending balance is approximately 31 percent, down from the 36 percent budgeted at the start of the fiscal year.

No members of the public commented during the hearing. The board approved Resolution 25-92 on the motion shown in the record and later approved Resolution 25-93, which implements the appropriation changes needed to reflect the amended budget.

County staff noted specific departmental amendment requests for Animal Control, Conservation, Environmental Health, IRVM, General Assistance, HSC and Planning & Development; other adjustments were made by staff analysis. The board completed both routine actions during the same meeting.

Supervisors and staff closed the public hearing after no public comment and approved the resolutions to amend revenues, expenses and appropriations for fiscal year 2025.","Board approved Resolution 25-92 amending the FY25 budget (reducing revenues ~1.5% and lowering expenses ~1.7%) and then adopted Resolution 25-93 to appropriate the amended amounts; staff reported the general fund ending balance projection fell from 36% to about 31%.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6234629,"Story County board pauses open application round for urban renewal funds, directs focus toward housing",593,3768000,4361000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3411011-37f7d27329b5eb090a8aa67f27418166&start=3768&end=4361","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3411011-37f7d27329b5eb090a8aa67f27418166/thumbnail_3768000.jpg","/articles/6234629/Story-County/Iowa/Story-County-board-pauses-open-application-round-for-urban-renewal-funds-directs-focus-toward-housing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6234629-145d3e72faf736ab4bbc158739eaa491/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159103&Signature=iTX9ZjfHn6wiyPHmp0FNRUoloxBkRZLc63XD4G1IcTWcOoZbVeSCxUEi0M~FEc7QViMDFsxZAyT~kUUVqymCeZ039PwnaPe76L1YBsuhK1j3lWrVfDaCVRDaARJ5Iq7A13oaHSeF71PVwpcG~JK80jCe4fcSC1fnzVRpjqeOmJtVFBThgFo4HaeWSwv8aGjDjmBoDj~hx2ZPzE8o4t9vQr9VXK1jJrts-31yEkKq-1-j8Va42ycRJheQGwM-QfyGdMyvRwXYVCRN78J-X04nISpxA5UeoBTPDhhCDi1EWjgFDj8R35KFeQ0vfdyv8JA13YOKvGhUR8eBWHppu~3X7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On May 20, 2025, the Story County Board of Supervisors voted to limit the current year urban renewal funding process and not open the program this cycle to outside taxing entities, directing staff to explore concentrating available urban renewal tax increment financing (TIF) toward county-identified housing priorities for fiscal year 2027.

County staff told the board that, under current policy, the county may allocate up to 50% of projected TIF for urban renewal projects; staff estimated roughly $900,000 would be available for FY27. Supervisors discussed whether a targeted, county-led approach to affordable housing would have a larger impact than distributing smaller awards to multiple municipalities.

Supervisor comments emphasized directing funds to projects that increase affordable housing supply or preserve affordability. Staff told the board that any county-directed amendment to the urban renewal plan would still require formal plan amendment steps, consultation with affected taxing entities and timely certification for debt on or before December 1.

The board adopted a motion to approve the economic development process and policies but remove the step opening the current round to other taxing entities; staff will draft notices to taxing entities and work with county finance staff to outline next steps for a targeted housing program. Supervisors noted that work would continue through fall to identify project(s) and finalize plan amendments in time to certify obligations by the statutory deadline.

Staff also reminded the board that FY26 allocations already include commitments (about 38% of TIF) to several communities for projects previously approved, and that the county will still return in the fall to amend the plan and ordinance to list any county-selected project for certification.","Supervisors voted to delay opening the urban renewal application round to outside taxing entities and instead consider directing urban renewal funds toward county-identified housing priorities for FY27; staff said roughly $900,000 (50% of TIF) would be available in FY27, and the board asked staff to develop a focused housing strategy.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Raising Readers reports enrollment gains after program redesign; program expansion planned for Cambridge and Nevada

Story County approves first reading of rezoning to allow concrete/asphalt operations at 1901 S. Dayton Ave. with conditions

Board approves shared-access easement with private landowner along Heart of Iowa Nature Trail

Story County amends FY25 budget and approves corresponding appropriation amendment

Story County board pauses open application round for urban renewal funds, directs focus toward housing