Rural Water

The Law Shop offers the following representation services and professional guidance for rural water districts and associations (non-profit or 357A) within the State of Iowa:

Board Member Training
Board of Director Meetings
Agendas and Minutes
Rules and Regulations
Open Records and Meetings
Public Bidding
Easements and Land Acquisitions

Franchise Proceedings
Public Notices
Professional/Project Liaison
28E Agreements
Debt Collection
Employment Matters

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Board Member Training

General training of new and existing board members on district or association protocols, board member duties and responsibilities, and public body legal authorities where applicable.

Board of Director Meetings

Meeting attendance to provide general legal guidance as needed and maintain firsthand working knowledge of relevant protocols, issues and concerns impacting the district or association.

Agendas and Minutes

Preparation of board and member meeting agendas and minutes consistent with the best interests of the district or association as well as laws regarding open records and meetings where applicable.

Rules and Regulations

Review of existing policies and drafting of new or amended policies for district or association rules and regulations.

Open Records and Meetings

Guidance on and drafting of documents in compliance with relevant laws regarding open records and meetings where applicable.

Public Bidding

Guidance on compliance with public bidding requirements for district or association construction projects where applicable.

Easements and Land Acquisitions

Preparation of standard easement and water user agreement forms; review of easements and supporting documentation prior to filing with county recorder; preparation and filing of land acquisition or disposal documents.

Franchise Proceedings

Active involvement with district or association, city council, and county proceedings relating to potential water or sewer franchises; document drafting for franchise proceedings.

Public Notices

Preparation of public notices required by law; arrangements for publication of notices unless publication is handled directly by district or association.

Professional/Project Liaison

Liaison services when needed for projects and other matters involving others such as customers, engineers, contractors, city councils, outside entities, government agencies, project sponsors, lenders, bond counsel, litigation counsel, etc.

28E Agreements

Negotiation, drafting and review of intergovernmental agreements that allow a public body or bodies to provide a specified service or services to citizens or members in a more cost-effective manner.

Debt Collection

Advising as to filing of actions in small claims court ($6,500 or less) and filing utility liens with the county treasurer for collection with property taxes; referrals to litigation counsel for larger debt collection claims (>$6,500) requiring action in district court.

Employment Matters

General guidance on employee matters and handbook as well as referral to employment law counsel or other experts as may be needed from time to time.

“Amy and her team at The Law Shop handled 5 adoptions for us. From beginning to end they impressed us. The team made the adoptions easy, efficient and FUN! We will continue to refer our friends and family to The Law Shop for many, many years.” – Chris & David

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When I got married I never imagined that I would be divorced, but I think that's true of most people. 17 years later, I was a nervous wreck walking into Amy's office. She greeted me with a warm hug. After my nerves were settled, and I had told my story, she took my hand and said that it was time for me to stop taking care of someone who needed to start taking care of himself. I felt safe, and I felt ready. My divorce journey was not as difficult as it could have been, but there were some uphill climbs that I had to take, and Amy was right there with me. Always with advice, always with a kind word, and always with a feeling of positivity. I cannot imagine having anyone else represent me or my family. To work with Amy, is to work with more than just a legal representative. I could provide some small similes in order to really hit home with how pivotal she has been (and to utilize that English Master's degree I'm still paying for) and say: Amy is like a light house during a storm, she is the smell of your favorite cookies baking at your grandma's house , and can be thought of as steaming cup of hot chocolate that awaits you after you've been sledding all day. All true. Simply put, Amy helped my four children and I navigate a very difficult time, and begin our new life as a happy family of five We now live without being afraid, and enjoy every single day that is ahead of us. Amy helped us to get there.” – Kelly

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"We contacted The Law Shop after a referral from a friend. We were looking for a slight modification. The Law Shop worked well for our needs, and we are very pleased. We will definitely call them again if needed." – Respectfully, Ryan & Mary

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"Not going to lie, my divorce was the worst time of my life. But through compassion, education, and immense knowledge of the law, Amy helped the process be as it could have been. She helped me understand my options and I chose with an educated view of both sides. The biggest benefits to using Amy and her firm are: 1. Compassion for both parties. They support and work for you, but will let you know what they’ve seen with their experiences in the field and the potential impacts to my decisions. Also compassion doesn’t equal pushover by any means. 2. Timeliness: Amy, Andrea, and others responded right away. My ex’s lawyer took a week for some answers. Given the entire process once I involved Amy took 10 weeks, I felt like I mattered and not just a number. Everyone’s divorce process and timelines may be different, but knowing I could TEXT or CALL multiple people and get a prompt response took stress away during a stressful time. 3. Knowledge: Been there, done that. Doesn’t influence either way, just educates and helps you make the choices. It was my divorce and knowing what Amy had seen in past cases helped me make some tough decisions. 4. Cost: Fair rates compared to the other rates I was quoted at the big Des Moines firms. If you don’t believe me, go and have a consultation with Amy, Andrea, or anyone else who is there as multiple people helped me through the process. You will see the reasons why they stand out vs the big firms." – Ty

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IOWA SUPREME COURT NOTICE

The determination of the need for legal services and the choice of a lawyer are extremely important decisions and should not be based solely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise.

A description or indication of limitation of practice does not mean that any agency or board has certified such lawyer as a specialist or expert in an indicated field of law practice, nor does it mean that such lawyer is necessarily any more expert or competent than any other lawyer.

Memberships and offices in legal fraternities and legal societies, technical and professional licenses, and memberships in scientific, technical, and professional associations and societies of law or field of practice, does not mean that a lawyer is a specialist or expert in a field of law, nor does it mean that such lawyer is necessarily more expert or competent than any other lawyer.

All potential clients are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any lawyer being considered.

The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attomey-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.

This notice is required by rule of the Supreme Court of lowa.