(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, received an update on one project to develop new housing, and acted on passing an engineering agreement for another. Marty Boose, with Boose Building Construction, LLC, of Atlantic, provided an update on his Redwood Subdivision project.

Redwood Subdivision project, lot descriptions (Courtesy Marty Boose)

Boose has been a carpenter for 47 years and moved to Atlantic in 1980. He started his own business in 1988 and has weathered the housing market ebbs and flows. His first custom home in town was built in 1991 and there have been 30 built since then. He says he’s been buying in-field lots, including for the Redwood Subdivision.

He already has two lots for new homes sold, with construction set to begin on one later this year, and the other in 2023. Prospective home buyers must sign a purchase agreement for the lot, to ensure quality houses are built around the cul-de-sac to protect both buyers and the City. Among the provisions: The purchaser of one of the lots must build within five-years from the date of purchase of the property, or it will revert back to the developer (Boose), who will assess a restocking charge; No pre-built or trailer homes will be allowed on any of the lots; Living space must be 1,000 square feet, and the home must be connected to public utilities (no septic tanks). The house cannot have metal siding or a metal ribbed roof.

Some of the nine lots, he says, will have enough room for walk-out basements and larger homes than those featured on his Ash Street project. Councilperson Elaine Otte and other members of the Council thanked Boose for his presentation.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, approved a Snyder and Associates Supplemental Engineering Agreement for additional services associated with the Prairie Hills Development Project, the land for which will be purchased from Jim Comes, for $830,000. The agreement covers many facets, including: Platting Services (Boundary and topographic survey, preliminary and final plats); Design services; Bid services; construction services and other necessary items plus the administration of those services. The total cost of the Engineering Agreement is $262,750. Councilman Pat McCurdy…

The Snyder representative to the Council, Dave Sturm, said services described for the large project will take “A long time,” to undertake, even with the help of “A lot of people.” Separately, the Council passed a Resolution setting the date for a public hearing on the sale of City-owned property at 611 Linn Street, as June 1st. Henningsen & Baragary, LLC, have proposed building a 3,000-sq.ft home on the lot. City policy says the lot can be sold for $1-dollar, provided a home worth a minimum of $100k is built on it.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A woman from Red Oak was arrested at around 7:15-p.m. Wednesday, for Public Intoxication. Red Oak Police say 58-year-old Rhonda Joann Sperber was taken into custody in the 1300 block of N. Broadway Street, and transported to the Montgomery County Jail. Her bond was set at $300.

(Elliott, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says a man was arrested Wednesday a little after 7:30-p.m., after authorities received a call about an allegedly intoxicated man who, while driving erratically in Elliott, nearly hit two children and a woman. While en route to the scene, Deputies were informed two men were fighting after an altercation. Upon arrival, Deputies made contact with multiple individuals, and upon further investigation found probable cause to arrest 29-year-old Caleb L. Walter, on charges of OWI/1st offense, and Disorderly Conduct. The man was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Senate Republicans have revived a plan to have the governor appoint the majority of those who serve on commissions that nominate candidates to be district court judges. Senator Todd Taylor, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says it gives the governor too much influence. “The deck is going to be stacked in favor of the governor picking judges,” Taylor says, “so it’ll probably be done on ideological balances instead of on, you know, their record.”

The proposal was one vote short of clearing a HOUSE committee this spring, so Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee have attached it to a budget bill. Republican Senator Julian Garrett of Indianola says for nearly three years, the governor has appointed a majority of members on the STATE commission that nominates candidates for vacancies on the Iowa Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.

“I really haven’t heard complaints that we’re not getting good quality judges at the state supreme court level and the appellate court level,” Garrett says. “This very same formula seems to have worked out fine there.” Iowa governors appoint judges, but must choose from a slate of candidates submitted by nominating commissions. The commissions for district court vacancies have 11 members. Five are elected by local lawyers and five are currently appointed by the governor, with the chief judge in each district serving as chair.

This proposal also removes judges as leaders of the commissions — since the governor would appoint six of the 11 members. Last fall, a judge in Humboldt chairing a nominating commission was accused of coaching one candidate and lying about another withdrawing from consideration for a district court opening in the Carroll area.