MARSHALLTOWN – Residents of Marshall, Tama, Hardin and Poweshiek counties recently took the opportunity to make their thoughts known on how the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program is used.

Every two years, residents in the four counties gather for regional assemblies to voice their opinions on how to direct resources, like 12 residents did on Tuesday, July 28, in the Gallery Garden. The Main Street Marshalltown location, owned by Barb Hagstrand, received REAP funds in previous years.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources REAP Coordinator Michelle Wilson said the desires of residents will be taken to the August REAP Congress meeting, during which delegates from 19 regions in the state will talk about how the program is run and what policy changes would be best.

“This year we are reimagining the assembly by putting local voices and proven projects that have transformed our communities and improved quality of life at the center of the conversation,” she said.

After presentations about how REAP funds were used for the Gallery Garden and the Taylor Park open air picnic shelter in Traer, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Stewardship Environmental Specialist Mike Franklin asked for REAP motions which were voted upon.

Trees Forever representative Erin Carpenter made the first motion, which received unanimous approval.

“I would like the legislature to fully fund REAP with $20 million in perpetuity,” she said.

Franklin said in perpetuity means there is no sunset date for the funding. The current sunset date for REAP is 2028.

“We have basically one more legislative session before the REAP sunset date kicks in and the possibility of the REAP program goes away,” he said.

Carpenter said the legislature could decide not to fund it at all in 2028, and Franklin told her that is correct. Another attendee suggested the sunset date be extended for another three years, which also received unanimous approval.

Carpenter also made the motion that REAP provides funding for maintenance of, instead of just brand new, conservation management projects. Wilson told her REAP grants generally are not given for maintenance, but had no problem including it in the subjects for the REAP Congress to discuss.

“This isn’t the first assembly that this has been asked and raised at,” she said. “It’s been a thing. We just have to figure out how to make it work, because the original law didn’t really allow for maintenance as easily. That doesn’t mean there’s not opportunity, especially if the body wants us to take it up as a conversation.”