Courthouse News & Announcements

Courthouse News - October 5, 2005

UNION COUNTY RECORDER - Paula White, 641-782-1725.

ATV and Snowmobile renewals for paid registrations are due by December 31, 2005.

Fall deer and turkey tags are now on sale.

Effective July 1, 2005 the law changed concerning boat sales. Casual sales (sales between individuals) are now subject to Iowa Sales Tax and depending on the point of delivery, local option tax. You will now need a Bill of Sale from the seller, current registration and a title if the boat is 17’ or longer. Please call Taxpayer Services at 1-800-367-3388 or this office, if you have questions.

Passport fees are now $97.00 for ages 16 & older and $82.00 for ages 15 & under. Please apply early to avoid expedite fees. Processing times (6-7 weeks) are longer due to the number of passport requests and the loss of the New Orleans agency.

The new Union County Website is up and running. Please log onto www.unioncountyiowa.org. Forms are available to request a vital record, application for marriage or passport application.

UNION COUNTY AUDITOR - Sandy Hysell, 641-782-1701.

The Auditor’s Office is busy preparing for the November 8, 2005 City Election and are accepting Requests for Absentee Ballots. Voter Registration deadline is Friday, October 28, 2005, our office will be open until 5:00 p.m. The last day to request an absentee ballot to be mailed to you is on November 4, 2005 our office will be open until 5:00 p.m. You will be able to absentee vote in the office on November 7, 2005 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) has made federal money available to make polling places handicap accessible. On September 24, members of the Arispe Methodist Church, East Union FFA, members of the Board of Supervisors, and the Auditor’s Office came together to construct a van accessible parking spot and walkway to the back entrance of the Church. The project was a great success due to the amount of volunteer help and donated supplies that were furnished. Plans for making a van accessible parking spot at Crest Baptist Church are taking place on October 15, 2005.

The Office is preparing for the first stages of receiving and implementing a new state-wide voter registration system (IVOTERS) which is expected during the month of October.

UNION COUNTY TREASURER - Linda Marley, 641-782-1710.
Drivers License (hours 8:30-4:00)

The first half property taxes were due by September 30th. If you did not get your taxes paid, interest of 11⁄2 % per month will be added on. You can still pay your taxes online at www.iowatreasurers.org. Thanks to everyone that remembered to include their payment stubs with their tax payment. Those stubs helped make the process go more smoothly and kept the waiting lines down.

The Department of Natural Resources now has 3 different license plates to choose from. Besides the Goldfinch, a pheasant or eagle is now available. The initial cost to obtain one of these plates is $45.00. Each year at renewal time, the additional renewal fee is $25.00. You can also personalize the plate with up to 5 characters for an initial fee of $90.00. If you wish to obtain one of these plates, bring in your county issued plates and registration. If you wish to exchange your Goldfinch plate for a pheasant or an eagle, bring in the Goldfinch plates and your registration. There is a $5.00 charge to exchange the Goldfinch plates.

The motor vehicle renewal notices that are sent as reminders when your plates are due for renewal now have a PIN number on them if you are eligible to renew your plates online at www.getyourtags.com. You must have that PIN to be able to renew online and your vehicle must be currently registered.

UNION COUNTY ASSESSOR -Gene Haner, 641-782-1735.

All Union County residents who have purchased a home and moved should stop in and sign a New Homestead and Military Exemption, if eligible.

The qualification for any honorably discharged member of the United Armed Forces has been changed to be eligible for the military exemption on your property taxes. Now if you have served three or more consecutive years of service in the armed forces irregardless of when you served you are now eligible for a Military Exemption or if you have served for twenty years in the Reserves or the National Guard you are also eligible for the military credit. What is required to sign for this credit is either a DD-214 from the regular service or a complete listing of years served from the Guard or Reserve.

You are also required to inform this office if you have removed or built any new buildings or dwellings or if you have remodeled any buildings or dwellings.

Family Farm Credit is now a one-time sign up and can be signed at any time for qualifying owners.

Union County has attempted to insure accurate information is posted to this site. However, Union County does not warrant nor guarantee the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of information on this site or information referenced or linked by this site.

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Aug. 4, 2005
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