| Departure is opportunity for waterworks
City leaders say a change in management at Des Moines Water Works is a chance to explore money-saving ventures that could help keep metro-area rates down in the long run.
The utility recently raised rates for Des Moines customers 3 percent, from $2.28 to $2.35 per 1,000 gallons, the second straight increase.
Waterworks general manager L.D. McMullen retired in December after about 30 years with the utility. .
Pensions help for the fretful fifties
Fears of a generation of older workers retiring with negligible pension savings have prompted the City regulator to target those in their late fifties and early sixties with a new 'last-minute' saving awareness campaign. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) wants to warn what it calls the 'pre-retired' - those within two years of retiring - to the potentially huge gaps between the amount they expect to retire on and what they may actually end up with. Its national campaign for 'anxious aspirants', which will start on 17 September, will highlight how those who have saved little can still make up for lost time. 'We don't want these workers to panic; rather to consider their options,' says an FSA spokeswoman. For many with little in the way of savings, these options are not cheap and usually include an equity-release element to tap into the value of a home; working beyond 65; 'buying' extra years of an occupational pension scheme; and delaying the taking of the state pension.
Salmond ditches election pledge on police
Alex Salmond has admitted his government will not fulfil its election promise to recruit 1000 extra police officers, prompting accusations that he had betrayed the people of Scotland. The First Minister and Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill have been under intense pressure from opponents and leaders of rank-and-file officers to honour a manifesto commitment to raise the policing complement by 1000, a pledge Mr Salmond also made to the Scottish Police Federation conference when he cited a £78m fund. Earlier this month, The Herald revealed ministers had asked a senior civil servant to find efficiency savings to help them meet their promise, which led to a rebuttal from the administration. Yesterday, however, during rowdy exchanges at the Scottish Parliament, the First Minister said his government would instead boost numbers through recruiting some new officers, but also by persuading some not to take early retirement and by freeing up others from desk duties.
Dealer's choice for Smith
Bill Smith is not afraid to trade Johan Santana. Nor is he afraid to hold on to him for as long as possible. The Minnesota Twins rookie general manager with Portsmouth, N.H., roots has been through a few rebuilding programs in his 22 years in the organization, and though he is new to the job of general manager, there's a good chance that neither Mr. Epstein, Mr. Minaya, nor Mr. Cashman is going to snooker this Winnacunnet High grad. Smith has played it close to the vest with the Santana trade talks. He realizes he has the most valuable commodity in baseball in a two-time Cy Young Award winner, still only 29 years old. While he fully acknowledges that he's more of a baseball administrator than a scout or judge of talent, what he's heard from the Mets, Yankees, and Red Sox so far doesn't compel him to trade.
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