Got a problem? Call the ombudsman

Iowa’s number-one “complaint taker” is releasing his annual report on one of his busiest years in state history. The state Ombudsman’s office got 58-hundred requests for help last year, the third highest number in its 30 years. Bill Angrick and the staff of 14 work to solve problems Iowans have with their state and local governments, from complaints about child support to inmate weddings, even problem pets.Of last year’s complaints, about a fifth dealt with local and county governments, more than a third involved the state corrections department, ten percent were over Human Services and everything else ranged from the Department of Revenue and Finance to the D-O-T.Angrick says sometimes fixes take minutes, other times, months. Iowans can file a complaint via email to “[email protected]” or by calling (888) 426-6283.