(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic, Wednesday, approved a request from Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) Community Development Director Alexsis Fleener, to support an application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), for a $900,000 CDBG-CV (Community Development Block Grant-Covid Recovery) grant to facilitate facade improvements to buildings in the 200-to 210-block of Chestnut Street, in downtown Atlantic.

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Fleener says the City’s support is needed in advance of the submission of the application to IEDA, as they will judge which projects are to be approved in the next grant cycle. The application deadline is April 30th. If approved, the City would act as the holder of the construction contract without any financial obligation. The building’s owners are Keith and Cindy Steffens.

The proposed plan will bring the buildings to good condition by repairing or replacing elements of the fronts of the buildings, which could include brick tuckpointing, windows, doors, painting, awnings, and storefront work.

The Steffens’ property is not the only project on the list for downtown improvements.

She says once it begins, construction will take approximately ten months to complete and must be completed by June 2023. In other news, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, approved a preliminary plat for the Redwood Subdivision for residential development. The land will be used for the creation of nine new lots for single-family homes. The first reading of a related ordinance changing the area zoning classification from R-4 (multiple family) to R-2 (low density single family),was also approved.

The Atlantic City Council also held and approved the first reading of Ordinances pertaining to the “Mowing of Properties” (reducing the maximum allowable growth of grass from 12 inches to 9 inches), and an Ordinance under Nuisance Abatement to include the amended mowing ordinance.

If the property owner fails to comply after the 2nd notice, the City would mow the grass and bill the owner accordingly. The hourly rate for mowing would be considerably higher than if a private mower were hired to handle the unsightly grassy area.

(Radio Iowa) – Eight people were arrested on Wednesday as part of an undercover investigation by Iowa Drug Task Force agents in Marshalltown and the surrounding area. According to a press release from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, three Marshalltown residents were taken into custody by law enforcement authorities after a search warrant was issued at a home located at 522 North Center Street.

Twenty-seven-year-old Austin Peter Baer was arrested and charged with having possession of a schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine), with intent to deliver; failing to affix a drug tax stamp; and violating a parole warrant. Twenty-nine-year-old Scott William Doc Slocum was also arrested and charged with violating a parole warrant, while 22-year-old Ramon Jesus Mora was charged with having possession of a schedule II controlled substance (meth).

A search warrant was also issued by authorities at a home located at 206 South Third Avenue, at which time multiple arrests were made. Thirty-year-old Omar Alejandro Cruz, and 26-year-old Stefani Jo Perdue, both of Marshalltown were each charged with having possession of a schedule II controlled substance (meth); engaging in prohibited acts; and possession of drug paraphernalia. Thirty-one-year-old Jose Eduardo Victor of Marshalltown was also arrested at the same address on felony warrants. In addition, 45-year-old Michael Joseph Alexander of Wellsburg was arrested by authorities in Wellsburg on a failure to appear warrant.

A warrant was also issued by authorities in Hampton, resulting in the arrest of 41-year-old Andrew Craig Buttshaw on charges of having possession of a schedule II controlled substance (meth); and possession of drug paraphernalia. Warrants were also served at three other addresses in Marshalltown on Wednesday with no additional arrests being made. However, the search did lead to the seizure of a “distributional” amount of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, with a stolen vehicle also being recovered.

According to the press release, a minor child was also encountered while the warrants were being served.

(Radio Iowa) – The City of Ottumwa has a pit bull ban in place, but the city’s leadership are discussing some changes to the ordinance after hearing from some community members. Ottumwa City Council member Cara Galloway says while she can emphasize with the public’s feelings on both sides of the debate, some people are out of line. I don’t like the threatening emails, the bullying tactics and people being rude,” she said at this week’s city council meeting. “I’m sorry. I understand this is a heated issue, but threatening and bullying is not going to get anyone anywhere. It’s really just going to shut us down from listening and truly understanding what you’re trying to say.”

City Council member Marc Roe says some citizens have threatened legal action.  “People are taking pictures of litigation papers and (saying): ‘We’re just going to sue the city if we don’t get what we want,'” he said during this week’s council meeting. “Here’s my invitation: If the speed of this process to make sure it’s done correctly is not to your liking, please hire an attorney because we’re not going to be threatened by litigation.”

City Administrator Phil Rath did not directly mention the pit bull ban at the council’s meeting this week, but indicated council discussions about the ordinance began last fall. “We looked at other communities, the Iowa Humane Society, different resources,” he said. “The public weighed in, has been weighing in — the pros, cons, people for and against.”

A revised version of the ordinance is expected to be read during the Ottumwa City Council’s May 3rd meeting. It must be publicly read three times at these meetings before the city council can vote on it. The earliest that vote could happen is June 7th. Ottumwa has had a pit bull ban since 2002 after a child died following a pit bull attack.

(Neola, Iowa) – One person was transported to the hospital Wednesday morning by the Neola Fire Department, following a collision in front of the Tri-Center High School in Neola. The accident happened at around 7:45-a.m. No other details are currently available. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

Photo courtesy of Zach Ploen.