(Radio Iowa) – Residents of the Riverside neighborhood in Sioux City expressed frustration with the city’s flood response at the city council meeting. Susan Bart was the first to speak at Monday’s meeting. “Where we’re our city leaders when we’re in time of need? I am flooded out I got three lots along the Big Sioux in my backyard,” She says. “I’m flooded out and I had a sewer leak prior to the flooding. On Sunday, MidAmerican turned off my gas, so they were well aware of what was going on. Yet no sirens, no nothing.” Steve Kurally was awake and started warning neighbors as the floodwaters rose. He says they could have used more warning from the city.

“I don’t know who is in charge of that, but that really could have been used some improvement. I’m not here to, by no means to criticize anybody I think in the city, they came a long way through that flood. I mean they were working diligently trying to build the temporary levees and man and the pumps and all of that,” he says. Bonnie Whitlock was emotional as she talked about he flood damage. “I’ve lost two cars. I’ve lost my babies pictures and everything if I would have had some warning, I could have gotten that stuff up,” Whitlock says. “I’ve lost everything in my home. All my drywall is gone. All my flooring is gone. My furniture, my appliances, everything is gone. My husband and I are just retired.”

Mayor Bob Scott says he will meet soon with City Manager Bob Padmore to discuss what happened in Riverside and how they can move forward. “Let’s just say that I’ve told Bob that after this quiets down with his staff in a couple of weeks we need to have a real sit down and talk about what we did,”Scott says. “I think we were in denial that river was going to go as high as what did unfortunately it just kept rising and rising.”

Scott said he expected to be back out at the flood scene today (Tuesday)

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, today (Tuesday) received a regular weekly report from County Engineer Karen Albert. She said Secondary Roads Department crews have been cold patching roads along the RAGBRAI® Route in the County.

The Board heard also, from West Township resident Jan Norris, with regard to the (former) Iowa Utilities Board ruling last week, granting Summit Carbon Solutions unanimous approval of their 682 mile project, and the use of Eminent Domain, allowing the company to seize 853 parcels of land if the property owner does not grant them an easement. The IUB changed its name Monday to the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC).

Montgomery County BOS mtg 7-2-24

Norris said the Board’s approval affects 18-miles of western Montgomery County, where the pipeline route could run north and south, parallel to the County line. The entire Phase 1 route includes 3,035 parcels.

Norris said the project is a go, but there are still several steps ahead, including the likelihood those opposed to the pipeline will file for reconsideration by the IUC.

Norris said a meeting will be held at the Corning Opera House August 26^th at 6-p.m., with regard to Summit’s Phase II project. Another meeting will be held in Red Oak at the Red Coach Inn August 27^th, at Noon.

The Supervisors took no action on Norris’ renewed request for an ordinance dealing with the pipeline.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Cass Health in Atlantic have announced General and Weight Loss Surgeon, Dr. William Rizk, will be providing care to patients starting this month. Dr. Rizk is a board-certified general and bariatric surgeon who specializes in weight loss surgery, and he has been performing laparoscopic weight loss surgeries since 2002. The Doctor says “People with obesity, particularly severe obesity, face a number of medical concerns that can be improved with weight loss surgery. It’s not an easy decision to make, and it takes commitment and lifestyle change to see long-term success. Weight loss surgery is a great tool, and I’m very excited to offer this surgery to patients in southwest Iowa.”

Iowa ranks 12th in states impacted by obesity, with more than 37% of the state’s adult population being impacted by obesity. According to Iowa Health and Human Services, 42.5% of adults in Cass County have an unhealthy body weight, which is classified as a BMI of 30 or higher. Dr. Rizk will perform sleeve gastrectomies, also known as gastric sleeve surgeries, at Cass Health beginning this fall.

Dr. William Rizek

“Our program will utilize a multidisciplinary approach,” said Dr. Rizk. “This will include several clinic appointments, nutritional counseling and behavior modification classes.  This education will help ensure the most successful outcome for patients.”

Patients interested in learning more are invited to come to a free educational class on the surgery on Tuesday, July 9th at 6:00 at Cass Health. Reservations are required; sign up online at casshealth.org/weightloss. Questions can be directed to our Program Coordinator at 712-243-7535; patients are also encouraged to talk with their primary care provider about the surgery and referrals.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday morning, unanimously passed a Resolution (2024-21) allocating ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) Funds to a Childcare Facility project in Atlantic.

(That’s Board Vice-Chair Mark O’Brien). The Board also discussed and approved courthouse hours in advance of the RAGBRAI ® event in Atlantic on July 22nd and 23rd. Vice Chair Mark O’Brien summarized the Board’s decision…

Cass County BOS mtg 7-2-24

The Supervisors received a 3rd Quarter report from Cass County Veterans Affairs Director Mitch Holmes.

Among the paperwork issues he helped veterans with, were those associated with federal burial benefits. The Supervisors received a regular report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken. Wolken said crews were out checking the roads, following the heavy rain that fell over the area Monday night into Tuesday morning. He said as of Tuesday morning, there were no reports of water over the road.

Wolken also discussed the Safety Action Plan.

Cass County’s Safety Action Plan workshop is scheduled for August 27th in the courthouse basement meeting room. EMS, Police and other County Agency representatives are being invited to attend, including the Board of Supervisors.