☕📰Ankeny, You've Got Decisions To Make

Good morning Ankeny! A Swiss movie producer is suing Netflix for $105 million after an unreleased copy of his film was stolen from their office. Ironically, it was a movie starring Nicolas Cage. I bet the producer would make even more if he just cast Nicolas Cage in a new movie about stealing a movie from Netflix.

In today’s digest:

Lets get started.

— Chase & Chance

Every other city in Polk County has a Local Option Sales Tax, every city except Ankeny. That changes (or doesn't) on Sept. 8, when residents vote on adding a 1% sales tax, bumping the rate from 6% to 7%, a phrase every parent in Ankeny has now heard shouted at them unprompted… Kids. Groceries, rent, gas, prescription meds, and vehicles are exempt. Everything else at the register isn't. Worth noting: about a third of Ankeny's sales tax comes from non-residents, so visitors would help cover the bill too. (more)

So where would your extra money actually go? Half toward property tax relief, half toward everyday stuff like streets, parks, trails, and public safety. All in, that's about $12 million a year for Ankeny, starting in the new year if voters give it the green light.

Town halls: Aug. 6 (noon, Albaugh Community Center), Aug. 12 & 25 (5:30pm, Council Chambers), and Sept. 2 (noon, Council Chambers). Absentee requests due Aug. 24 by 5pm. Early voting runs Aug. 19–Sept. 4 at the Polk County Election Office. Election Day polls are open 7am to 8pm on Sept. 8. Find your polling place through the Iowa Secretary of State, though it's worth confirming with the county too, since special elections sometimes shuffle the usual spots. Either way, it's decided in three weeks.

A Strange Thursday Morning

MercyOne on East 1st Street was evacuated Thursday morning after multiple people reported feeling ill from a suspicious odor. Around 4 p.m. it was determined that the smell came from roofing adhesive being applied to the building's roof, which made its way into the facility's HVAC system. Eight people got sick; two were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, six others were evaluated on site and declined further care. Mercy reopened by 2 p.m. and air monitoring confirmed no hazardous conditions. (more)

Last week's rain already gave your lawn a break, and the 10-inch rain before that, but now Central Iowa Water Works is making sure it never needs one again this summer. All lawn watering restrictions are now lifted, closing out a record breaking 193 day nitrate removal run. Your lawn just got its independence back. (more)

Summerween @ Glazed Expressions - Shop exclusive Halloween pottery pieces months before they hit the shelves, enjoy creepy-cute treats and hauntingly good tunes, and BYOB to your table! Just $10 to reserve your spot, then pay only for the pottery you choose that night. 7-10pm (tickets)

Pineapples & Paws @ Brown Dog Bakery - Aloha, pet lovers! Bring your furry friend for a Tropical Luau complete with island-themed treats and toys, free leis for pets, luau-themed pet snacks, photo opportunities, and in-store giveaways throughout the day! Throw on your Hawaiian shirt and come escape to paradise with us. 10am - 2pm 

Farmers Market @ Market & Pavilion - Fresh produce, local meats and eggs, homemade food goods, and handmade crafts! 8am-12pm  

Fitness in the Park @ The District - Start your Saturday strong with a free outdoor Pilates class in the park. Designed for all fitness levels whether you're a seasoned pro or trying it for the first time! Bring your mat, water bottle, and a friend and get ready to feel good. 9am

Bridges & Bubbles Trolley - Hop on the trolley at Whiskey River Ankeny for the winery tour. Stopping at Madison County Winery, Covered Bridges Winery, Winterset Cidery, and Dosaage Winery. Tickets are $50, 21+, BYOB on board, and a light snack is provided at check-in. 10:30am - 5pm (tickets)  

Puzzle League @ Uptown Garage - A new round of Puzzle League is starting and spots are almost gone. Grab a team of up to 4, race to finish the same puzzle in 2 hours, and compete week after week for Uptown Garage gift cards. 1-3pm 

Music Bingo @ Cabaret - A fun twist on the classic game where song clips replace numbers, your phone is your bingo card, and prizes are up for grabs every round! Free to play, just show up and get ready to sing along. 7pm

Thanks for reading today’s Digest. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who had a baby this weekend. They definitely won’t read it.

Stay classy, Ankeny.