(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Administrator in Atlantic reports the upcoming City Council meeting that begins 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, “Will be a longer meeting.” John Lund says “[there are ] A lot of important things to cover, including the FY 2023 Budget, 10 year budget forecast and 10 year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). In addition, Lund says “We also have an important presentation from the Housing Committee, swearing in our newest member of the Police Department, project approvals for the Airport Bridge and Bull Creek, an updated Clerk Agreement with Marne, and setting the dates for the annual debt for the landfill and the maximum tax dollars resolution.”

The agenda includes the swearing-in of Anthony Snyder as an Officer of the Atlantic Police Department. The A-PD recently lost Sgt. Cameron Ward to the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, and Sgt. Spencer “The Mountain” Walton. Snyder was recruited from Lake City. He’s originally from California, and began working with the Atlantic Police Department last week. He is already State-Certified, and as such does not have to attend the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in Johnston, saving the City time in getting more boots on the ground.

Former Atlantic 2nd Ward Councilwoman Kathy Somers, who chaired the Housing Committee, will make a presentation to the Council with regard to the findings of a Rural Housing Readiness Action Plan report, which is 251 pages…but will be in a summary form for Wednesday’s meeting. Somers is also expected to address some of the progress the Committee has made on promoting housing development in Atlantic.

The Council will then act on an Order allowing Mayor Grace Garrett to sign all of the documents necessary to facilitate the joint Airport Bridge Rehabilitation Project with Cass County. The Board of Supervisors have already approved the County’s share of the costs associated with the project on 6th Street (Bridge #289) – known as the Airport Bridge. The project cost has increased slightly from projections made in 2019, at $203,000, as opposed to the earlier estimate of $200,000. A 28-E agreement between the City and County means the City/Council will split the cost 50-50, once the City officials signs on-board.

The Council will receive also, a presentation of the final plans and specifications for the Bull Creek Improvement Project. Thanks to the efforts of Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen in cooperation with Snyder and Associates Engineers, John Lund says the costs have been vastly reduced from earlier versions, and has received approval from the U-S Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps helped reduce the costs as well, when they pared down some of the more expensive elements, while still retaining the essential function of erosion control and habitat preservation. The final cost estimate is $435,535, with a five-percent match required. The City is offering a more generous 25% match to demonstrate its commitment and secure Water Infrastructure Grant funds. And, instead of using all of the ARPA resources, Lund says now, only $108,883.75 will be necessary.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on a Resolution setting the date for a Public Hearing on a proposal to enter into a General Obligation, Solid Waste Management Loan Agreement (and to borrow money) not to exceed a principal amount of $90,000. That’s with regard to the City’s 28-E agreement to support the Cass County Landfill. The Council is expected to approve the renewal and updating of a City Clerk Services Agreement with the City of Marne. Another task for the Council, is to set the date for a Public Hearing on Maximum Tax Dollars, as March 2nd, 2022. John Lund says on the property tax statements of properties where no changes in assessed or taxable value have occurred, the City will show an increase of 2.92% – not the 3.86% shown on the public notice, due to a four-dollar debt service levy that is hidden from the notice, and accounts for $1,014,669 dollars the city will tax.

Lund says “While the 2.92% is the increase in dollars generated, it is not going to be reflective of the impact on property taxes levied against individual properties. There is no way to know what the impact will be in year-to-year impact on taxpayers.” The taxpayer can, however calculate the changes in their property taxes, once the other authorities have set their levies. The formula is as follows:

• (Assessed Value)x(Property Class Rollback) = (Taxable Value)
• (Taxable Value)x(Combined Levy of All Taxing Authorities)/1,000 = (Gross Taxes Due)
• (Gross Taxes Due) – (Applicable Tax Credits) = (Net Taxes Due).

And, in his report to the Council, City Administrator John Lund will present the FY 2023 Budget, 10-year Budget Projections, and 10-year Capital Improvement Plan. The Council has 13 days to review the documents before the preliminary budget hearing is scheduled for approval on March 2nd, 2022, and set the date for a Public Hearing on approving the final budget. March 16, 2022 is the date the final budget will be adopted. The budget is due-in to the Iowa Department of Management by March 30th.

(Radio Iowa) – The Dubuque County Treasurer has resigned after being arrested in a prostitution sting. Sixty-year-old Randy Wedewer, of Epworth — the now former Dubuque County Treasurer — is among 11 men arrested last week at a Dubuque hotel. Authorities say the men responded to social media posts from police who were posing as sex workers. The Dubuque County Board of Supervisors appointed Wedewer as county treasurer in early January to replace the county’s long-time treasurer who retired. Wedewer had worked in the Dubuque County Treasurer’s office for 33 years. He submited his resignation on Friday. The criminal complaint against Wedewer said he paid $75 for a sex act after responding to the social media advertisement. He was then arrested after arriving at the hotel at 4:51 p.m.

The Dubuque County Auditor announced Wedewer’s resignation at 8 p.m. Friday and, by law, the auditor is now the acting treasurer for Dubuque County. According to a written statement, the county’s board of supervisors will meet in the coming weeks to determine next steps. County treasurers are elected to four year terms and voters in all 99 counties will have a chance to vote for a county treasurer candidate this November.

Others arrested during the sting include:

Vincent J. Hanson Jr., 59, of rural Dubuque; Timothy J. McAndrews, 57, of rural Dubuque; Kevin M. Bockenstedt, 41, of Sherrill, Iowa; Joshua J. Vondran, 40, of Epworth, Iowa; Ryan P. Besler, 21, of Farley, Iowa; Timothy Murphy, 55, of Peosta, Iowa; Jordan H. Watkins, 38, of Bellevue, Iowa; Timothy A. Griffin, 32, of Dickeyville, Wis.; Kevin Stanton, 63, of Cuba City, Wis.; and Craig A. Mason, 57, of Stoughton, Wis.

Authorities noted that the investigation is ongoing and additional charges related to the sting are possible.

(Anita, Iowa) – The CAM School District’s Board of Education will hold their regular monthly meeting beginning at 6:30-p.m. Monday, in the CAM High School Superintendent’s Office (in Anita). On the Consent Agenda for approval, are any: Open Enrollments; Resignations, and Contracts. Discussion and/or action items include, but are not limited to:

• The FY22/23 School Calendar
• The FY22/23 Budget
• Approval of an SWCC (Southwestern Community College) Educational Services Contract
• Approval of a Budget Guarantee for 2022-23
• A Resolution Adopting the Cass County Multi-Jurisdictional HMP (Hazard Mitigation Plan) for the CAM CSD.
• and continued discussion with regard to District Facilities.