[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_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":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6220957,"mediaKeyId","3615617-8f63966155564f8679a8b6143454fb27","parentId",3615617,"title","Polk County staff propose employee suggestion pilot: 10% reward up to $5,000; unions ask for representation","audioSeconds",1169,"startMs",1431000,"endMs",2600000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3615617-8f63966155564f8679a8b6143454fb27&start=1431&end=2600","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3615617-8f63966155564f8679a8b6143454fb27/thumbnail_1431000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6220957/Polk-County/Iowa/Polk-County-staff-propose-employee-suggestion-pilot-10-reward-up-to-5000-unions-ask-for-representation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220957-535e6c9e8ba8bac55d803d70265f96f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180136&Signature=i0Ss2BqiTKFWTLuE8lvkZtHRyDmaK9cRQd~yPLCWEIa~5q2rIAKu6xcWwJBuSgvzd9g-bB2jNAhd4m4narybLTg93Bo8Aw4rL8pSISY7LOeW6QfCHlt5~rF6WnbbfDTlCYIg4z22U-46-AeudqZaXX1HKP8OMi-AlDQH5Hcmj327gp~-7g03mv4UJziZ6Sfu0Nf~xZS9HxVUZJguwM9kU6jjsDczCRFD4OfK8siabs4yqX4JQxC7WuqTx5YvOD6t19YT4q1r3TgltEufA8lUTrIW6IMa~r9gBlXcQhsq8-ltevG~ZlyRUSZPWRx4J~44Tv5Y85pQmAcbmsB2CBdFBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Polk County, IA","date","2025-05-29T03:12:09Z","article","Taylor Van de Kroll, assistant to the Polk County Board of Supervisors, presented a proposal for an employee suggestion pilot program that would pay non-supervisory employees a cash award equal to 10% of first-year net savings for formally adopted suggestions, capped at $5,000.

Van de Kroll told the board the program would use an online submission form, gather suggested savings and department contacts, and route submissions to a small program review board. Initial reports to the review board would anonymize submissions and list suggested savings to focus review on feasibility and dollar impact. If a suggestion is formally adopted, the presenting employee or team would receive a monetary award, a certificate and recognition at a board meeting; adopted ideas would also be featured in Polk Future, the county’s employee newsletter.

\"A program created to encourage employees to develop and submit ideas, which will reduce cost and increase efficiency within an organization,\" Van de Kroll said when describing the proposal and its goals. The presentation included examples from other states: Iowa’s program language (as summarized in the handout) awards 10% of the first year’s net savings with a minimum savings threshold for payout; Washington and Nebraska examples were cited for tiered awards and accessible online submission forms; California’s program was noted for having produced large aggregate savings historically.

Van de Kroll said the pilot would exclude employees in managerial or supervisory status from receiving the monetary incentive though anyone could submit ideas. The presenter recommended a monthly reporting cadence to the suggestion program board and quarterly public recognition. The proposed launch date for the pilot is July 1; the presenter said the board could consider a resolution at the next meeting to allow IT and communications staff time to implement an online submission process.

Board members asked several implementation questions. One supervisor asked whether the award would be based on forecasted savings or actual realized savings; Van de Kroll said some programs wait to verify actual first-year savings before issuing a payout, and that process would need clarification for Polk County. Board members also raised questions about mid-year starts and how departments would validate proposed savings. Treasurer Mary (County Treasurer) asked whether the department affected by a suggestion would be consulted; Van de Kroll said departments and subject-matter experts would be involved to assess feasibility and that elected officials would retain decision authority over implementation.

AFSCME Local 1868 requested representation on the suggestion program board. Dominic, speaking on behalf of AFSCME, asked that the union have a voting or nonvoting seat to ensure labor’s perspective on operational impacts. The board indicated it would consider including union representation when drafting a resolution.

Less-urgent details: Van de Kroll cited other states’ programs and examples of tiered awards, and recommended a $5,000 cap for Polk County’s pilot based on comparisons with other jurisdictions and county size.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Polk County Board Staff Meeting (05/28/25)","oneSentenceSummary","An assistant to the Polk County Board proposed a pilot employee suggestion program that would pay non-supervisory employees 10% of first-year net savings (up to $5,000) for adopted suggestions. Board members and union representatives discussed implementation details and requested labor representation on the review board.","taxTitle","Polk County, Iowa","taxId",2975,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6220962,"Catch Des Moines says $800,000 funding cut will limit future event bids",805,336000,1141000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3615617-8f63966155564f8679a8b6143454fb27&start=336&end=1141","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3615617-8f63966155564f8679a8b6143454fb27/thumbnail_336000.jpg","/articles/6220962/Polk-County/Iowa/Catch-Des-Moines-says-800000-funding-cut-will-limit-future-event-bids","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220962-3f2569441cdbb2c1b7b44d9fa044c464/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180136&Signature=grGYzojMCA8U6fm~sYBOrUlxuefht7spYc-mLzro8b7nCBbCHv7u4XnIzabeTw1WXptUU0jyeTtX60srS98XvxYVaerJktrVhjT~nUQ9wZLg9tjkgT0xyQAKP156AC2dIbEttqd9Wp0-LY34g5Tx90EE8yCRY-L5JQEim1DYY5ath3PfNt7pSmy5x91tF1OdxaOk1AcHyRRe-W~AHnPCn5KoRzYx3NpIDxAJY1WkyTGYkd~sq-QYFNx3-uQnOGRyQPaLtI4xvrOi4DnB2JarBM9wQgIeU6rp0MM-fsiDQcv0r3BQw6g9YXbDuIIkjNrwGeTYW-HRCnlewN4CFU2bkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Catch Des Moines leaders told the Polk County Board of Supervisors that a recently announced change to the local funding model will reduce the bureau’s budget by roughly $800,000 and make it harder for the organization to compete for large conventions and sporting events.

The warning came during Catch Des Moines’ annual presentation to the board, where outgoing CEO Greg Edwards and incoming CEO Trina Flack reviewed the organization’s activity, marketing strategy and the scope of events the bureau helped bring to the metro area.

Catch Des Moines said its operating budget directs about 85% of dollars to sales, marketing and sports efforts and 15% to administrative expenses. Leaders said the bureau directly solicited 261 events during the past year, assisted with 393 total conventions or sporting events, and has roughly 300 additional events booked for future years. The group reported sending 224 leads to the downtown Hilton (60 events held there this past year, 46 booked for future years) and 94 leads to the Iowa Events Center (72 events held, 42 future events booked). Trina Flack, who said she has been with Catch Des Moines 17 years and served as vice president since 2019, said the bureau is already planning 3–5 years ahead for future bids.

\"We just totally disagree with it,\" Greg Edwards said when asked about the property-tax driven funding change and its impact on Catch Des Moines’ budget. Edwards added that the reduction will “put us in a tough situation” and that competing cities and regions have larger event budgets that allow them to buy more business.

Flack told the board the bureau will pursue other funding options and try again next year to pass a tourism improvement district—a voluntary assessment on hotel rooms that she said did not pass at the state level this year. She said the full effect of an $800,000 reduction may not be felt immediately but could appear over the next three to five years in the bureau’s ability to bid for and win events.

Catch Des Moines highlighted several upcoming and recurring events that drive leisure travel and hotel demand in Polk County, including the Principal Charity Classic, Red Bull Soapbox Derby, World Pork Expo, National Junior High School Rodeo Championships, the National Senior Games (expected to bring 12,000–14,000 participants for an 11-day event using about 26 venues), NASCAR and IndyCar races, and national academic and competition events such as National Speech & Debate and mock trial competitions. The presentation also noted national trends in youth sports (an industry estimate cited in the presentation put the sector at about $40 billion in 2022, with projected national growth to about $60 billion by 2030).

Board members and staff thanked Catch Des Moines for the work that supports hotel occupancy, air service and downtown businesses and asked bureau leaders to continue outreach as they adjust to the reduced budget. The bureau said it will introduce the new CEO publicly following the presentation and continue efforts to secure events and alternative funding.

Less-urgent details: Catch Des Moines played a short video describing the bureau’s marketing work and impact and noted internal staff who attended the presentation, including the vice president of marketing and the vice president of finance.","At a Polk County Board of Supervisors meeting, representatives from Catch Des Moines gave an annual update and warned a property-tax driven funding change that will cut about $800,000 from its budget could make the bureau less able to compete for large events.","actionData","errors"]

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Polk County staff propose employee suggestion pilot: 10% reward up to $5,000; unions ask for representation

Catch Des Moines says $800,000 funding cut will limit future event bids