Q: Is it legal for the Iowa Liquidation Store in Waterloo to charge sales tax on food products that don’t get taxed in grocery stores? I made a food purchase there recently and was charged tax. I asked if they charge tax on food and the cashier sharply answered, “yes we do!”
A: John Fuller with the Iowa Department of Revenue said the same sales tax rules should apply to all sellers, so food that is exempt at a grocery store should be exempt when sold by a liquidation store. If you think you wrongly paid sales tax, you can ask the seller for a refund or file an 843 Refund Claim with the Department of Revenue.
Q: Waterloo Schools just hired Tavis Hall. Did they make a position for him to have or was this an existing position? How much does the position pay? How many people applied for the job?
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A: Tavis Hall was hired as the Waterloo Schools’ community partnerships coordinator. He replaced Emily Neuendorf who had a different title as the director of school and community relations. He will make $85,000. District officials said 38 people applied.
Q: When is the city of Waterloo going to fix the stoplight at 11th and Williston? Are they waiting for a bad accident?
A: Waterloo’s traffic operations director Safiah Elahi said the light was damaged when a car hit the cabinet that holds the equipment controlling the light. Since that is a more serious problem than wiring or minor equipment failures, the larger equipment can take six to eight months to be delivered. She said the cabinet was ordered in July and should take another three to four months to arrive.
Q: I’m wondering why some of Waterloo’s street lights have a purplish blue color. Why is that?
A: The blue or purple color is caused by a manufacturing defect in the special coating that turns LED lights into white lights. Over time, the coating can deteriorate which allows more of the blue or purple light to come through. This happens in street lights across the country.
Q: Donald Trump says we’re making all this money on tariffs. We want to know if we’re making all this money, where is it going? The deficit goes up every day at a record amount.
A: Tariff revenue goes to the U.S. Department of Treasury into the general budget – the same place our federal tax dollars go. That money is not earmarked for anything specific so could be used for things like Social Security, the military and infrastructure.
Q: Is The Courier going to have a story on the people that were the under 40 nominees?
A: Yes. We begin running the “20 under 40” winners’ stories on Nov. 14 and one will run on every print day thereafter.
Q: I live in Evansdale and I have a neighbor that is trash. Her yard has left an eyesore. Her kids run through neighbors’ yards at night. And the mayor or the police don’t do anything about it. What’s next?
A: For an unkempt property, you could call the Evansdale code enforcement department at (319) 493-0641.
Q: What year was Crossroads Mall built and what year did it open?
A: Construction began in March 1968 and the grand opening was May 1970. Sears, Penney’s, Black’s Department Store and Walker Shoes opened in 1969.
Q: What was the Fairness Doctrine and when and why did it end?
A: The Fairness Doctrine was introduced in 1949 by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission that required radio and TV broadcasters to air contrasting views on issues. It ended in 1987, when the FCC under the Reagan administration stated it violated the First Amendment.
Q: Why doesn’t Canadian National railroad fix the track crossing on Mulberry Street between Sixth and Seventh streets? The tracks are sunken below the road grade.
A: Jamie Knutson, Waterloo’s city engineer, said the crossing is owned by Union Pacific Railroad and leased to CN. Union Pacific and Waterloo have submitted a grant with the Iowa Department of Transportation for $343,000 to make crossing repairs and are waiting for a response.
Q: Why are the Waterloo Schools purchasing over $700,000 in sports equipment? Doesn’t both East and West have equipment to use at United High School?
A: The sports equipment is still needed at East and West because it will hold eighth and ninth graders once Waterloo United opens for the 2028-29 school year, Leigh Schmidt, the district’s assistant to the superintendent, said. The current equipment is used for both gym classes and after-school athletics. Since it is used for academic instruction, it cannot be relocated.
Call (319) 291-1550 to leave a voicemail or email newsroom@wcfcourier.com with your question.
Read a collection of Call the Courier columns answering reader questions.
