Radio Host Van Harden: Moving County Offices from Adel Square ‘Unthinkable’

Van Harden, an Adel kid who climbed to top management ladders at WHO Radio but never lost his love for his hometown, said in an open letter to Dallas County residents that a plan to move county offices off the town square will kill business in the county-seat town.

Harden is co-host of the popular “Van and Bonnie” drive-time program on WHO Radio and also the station’s program director. He posted his letter on dallascountyvoteno.com, a site set up to rally opponents to a  $16.85 million bond issue to county administration and law enforcement center in an Aug. 6 special election.

If the referendum is approved, Dallas County officials will build the new center to a location near Ortonville.

TALK BACK: Will you vote for the referendum on Aug. 6? Why or why not? Tell us below in the comments.

Here’s Harden’s letter:

I remember as a little boy in Adel back in the 50’s and 60’s when Merle Hay Plaza (now Mall) opened and later K-Mart Stores and Valley West Mall, and how shoppers in the Adel area started shopping less here and more there. It was sad, but it was the free market system, and something over which our community had little or no control. We would never do something to send people away like that.

Yet that is exactly what a “yes” vote would do to Adel in the August 6 Dallas County vote. What is the largest draw of people to Adel daily? Employment. What is the largest employer? The county. If you were trying to make a ghost town of Adel, especially downtown, that could be one of the most effective things you could do.

The County Supervisors have some tough decisions to make for sure, but this one has put the county as an adversary of its own county seat, Adel. That to me is an unthinkable move. I spoke with a local business owner who brought up to one of the Supervisors how Adel would suffer from this. The response was that they were responsible for the county, not the city.

Last time I checked Adel was in Dallas County. Plus, this business owner said, there was not an ounce of compassion in his answer. A Des Moines business friend of mine, interested in bringing a business to Adel around the square is now reconsidering because of what the county is proposing. You’ve probably heard nothing about it, but you need to know that the Adel city council has voted unanimously against this proposal.

I’ve spoken to many people about this and most everyone I talk to is upset about it for some particular reason, all of which are valid. My reason is the security, wellbeing and expansion of one of the greatest towns in the USA, Adel, Iowa. Help be a part of avoiding a tragedy. SAVE ADEL! VOTE NO August 6th and take as many people as you can with you to the polling place.

– Van Harden, Adel, Iowa

In comments, Dick Boies, a former Van Meter HIgh School baseball coach and teacher, said the vote isn’t just about Adel.

“As much as I appreciate the people and businesses of Adel, when voting I have to consider the entire population of Dallas County," he posted. "If I vote, I will vote ‘Yes’ for the issue."