Polk County's treasurer is urging car buyers and dealers to title vehicles locally, launching a "Polk Proud" campaign to keep that business in the county.

Why it matters: Hundreds of vehicles are being titled in surrounding counties each month, draining thousands in revenue that would otherwise support Polk County services, Treasurer Mary Wells tells Axios.

Catch up quick: For decades, Iowa required vehicle titles to be processed in the owner's county of residence.

• That changed last year, when a new law allowed vehicles to be registered in any county.

Zoom in: The change reflects shifts in how people buy cars, including online, making the process less cumbersome for consumers and sellers, Bruce Anderson, president of the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association, told Radio Iowa last year.

Reality check: The county doesn't know how many titles are being processed elsewhere or how much revenue it's losing, Wells tells Axios.

Yes, but: Wells' office is aware of instances when a large number are processed at once by dealerships or recyclers.

• In one week in December, for example, there were 600, she told Polk supervisors in a February budget meeting.
• Each title costs $12.50, resulting in $7,500 in lost revenue.

State of play: The Polk Proud campaign aims to better inform residents that they can request Polk plates when buying a vehicle, since many people don't realize they can choose them at a dealer.

• It'll use social media, billboards, printed materials and community events, at an estimated cost of $3,000.

Zoom in: Besides showing county pride, a reason residents of the county should choose Polk plates is to make future transactions easier, Wells said.

• Iowa law requires owners to complete annual registration renewals in their county of residence.
• Titling a vehicle locally keeps all records in one place and makes future transactions smoother and more efficient, she said.

What's next: Wells will present information about Polk Proud during an event hosted by the Downtown Des Moines Neighborhood Association on Wednesday at West End Architectural Salvage & Coffee Shop.

• A social begins at 5:30pm, followed by a community discussion at 6:30pm.

The Jamie Hurd Amphitheater is used for everything from symphony concerts to rock cover bands and film screenings.

• But the one major thing missing for those events is a bathroom with flushable toilets, West Des Moines city staff say.

State of play: WDM's Parks and Recreation department is requesting $700,000 for a bathroom as part of its upcoming capital improvements budget, but one council member says the price is too high, likening it to the Taj Mahal during a February council meeting.

• "I still find it hard to believe that it's $700,000 to build four walls, a roof, flush toilets and sinks," councilmember Kevin Trevillyan tells Axios.

What they're saying: Unlike a prefabricated city park bathroom, WDM Parks and Rec Director Ryan Penning says the cost reflects a custom design that fits in with the rest of the city campus, including the library, City Hall and the Learning Resource Center.

• "We don't want to put in something that's a sore thumb, that doesn't look like it fits," Penning tells Axios.

Zoom in: At the moment, event organizers rent porta-potties, according to staff. The pond near the amphitheater is also popular with trail users who could use it, considering that 130,000 people passed by last year.

• The project will also upgrade the electrical system in the area to help bring more food trucks.

What's next: City staff believe they can also get $250,000-$350,000 in donations to help with costs.

• Council will consider the budget in April.

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🗳️ Madison County Supervisors are voting tonight to outsource the county's human resources department and custodial services. (WHO-13)

Some East Village decor invited people passing by to write messages on an egg to the Easter bunny.

Our thought bubble: Can you fill up our baskets with Nerds Clusters (arguably the best candy of the 21st century)?