(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet at 9-a.m. Tuesday, March 5th, in the Board Room at the Courthouse, in Atlantic. Among the discussion and/or action items on their agenda is the consideration and possible passage of a resolution allocating ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act [Covid Relief funds]) for the Atlantic Splash Pad Project.

The full agenda can be seen below:

The order of agenda items may change based on when personnel are available and when time allows.
1. Call to order
2. Approve Agenda
3. Approve minutes from the February 20, 2024 meeting
4. Public Comments
5. Proclamation of March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month and presentation by Amanda
McCall, Gambling Treatment Counselor with Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services
6. Approve Class C Retail Alcohol License for Griswold Golf & Country Club
7. Set the date of public hearing to approve a resolution declaring Emergency Medical Services to
be an Essential Service for May 21, 2024
8. Set the date of public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 tax levy for Tuesday, March 26,
2024
9. Authorize Chairman of the Board of Supervisors to sign the 28E Agreement with Juvenile Detention
10. Consider/approve Resolution 2024-05 Allocating ARPA funds for the Atlantic Splash Pad Project
11. Discuss/approve contributing to Connections Area Agency on Aging in FY 2025
12. Discuss/approve the county’s health insurance plan for Fiscal Year 2024-2025
13. Discussion/possible action on a Jail and ICE Detainment Policy
14. Discuss/approve abatement of all taxes, penalty, interest and tax sale for 405 Cherry Street in Atlantic, IA under Iowa Code 445.16 under the recommendation of the county treasurer
15. Report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken
16. Appoint Ciara Hoegh to fill the vacant position on the Cass County Local Food Policy Council for
the four-year term from January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2027
17. Appoint Mark Smith to fill the vacant position on the Cass County Conservation Board for the
five-year term from January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2027
18. Supervisor Committee Reports
19. Filed Reports, if available: Recorder, Sheriff, Clerk of Court
20. Approve claims
21. Adjournment
22. Next Meeting: Tuesday, March 19, 2024

The meeting can be seen in-person, or electronically via this link (Meeting ID: 289 919 5216
Passcode: 012064). You may also call-in to join the meeting at 312-626-6799, press *9 to indicate you wish to speak.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A public hearing will take place 8:45-a.m. Tuesday, March 5th in Montgomery County, with regard to a proposal to enter into a General Obligation, Courthouse Improvement Loan Agreement. The hearing is part of a regular meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, which begins at 8:30-a.m. in their Board Room at the Courthouse, in Red Oak.

Following the hearing, the Board will consider and/or act on, a Resolution taking additional action on the proposal, and providing for the private placement of a G.O. Courthouse Improvement Note, Series 2024.

Other business on the Board’s agenda, includes:

• Discussing and setting the date for the FY24/25 Montgomery County Budget, as March 26, 2024, with action as necessary.
• Approve Resolution 2024-10 Awarding the Contract for Project L-SC702-69
• Discuss and Approve Letter of Support for the County Creek Sign Grant Program
• Discuss the request from Montgomery County Commission of Veteran Affairs to raise the county credit card limit from $1000 to $3000 for the Veteran Affairs Director with action as necessary
• Approve the Sheriff’s Report of Fees for the month of February in the amount of $4,834.37
• Approve the Treasurer’s Semi-Annual Report ending fund balance on February 29, 2024, in the amount of $11,590,269.53
• Discuss and Approve Consulting Agreement between Montgomery County and Sonia Morrison.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The filing period for candidates seeking nomination to County Offices in advance of the June 4th Primary Election, begins Monday, March 4th, with the last day to file being March 22nd at 5-p.m.

The filing period for State and Federal offices began February 26th, and ends on March 15th. The Voter pre-registration deadline is Monday, May 20th.

KJAN will provide updates from the Cass County Auditor’s Office, on candidates who have filed their nomination papers for the Primary Election, when those papers have been received and processed, but by no later than 4:30-p.m. each day candidates file.

There may, of course, be days when no nomination papers are filed by a candidate, in which case we will update you as soon as such nominations are filed.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Gov. Kim Reynolds, Friday, announced appointments to Iowa’s various boards and commissions.  The appointments are subject to Senate confirmation, and include (In western/southwest Iowa): 

• From Pottawattamie County, Wendy Andersen, to the Iowa Autism Council.
• From Adams County, Bobbi Maynes, to Commission on Community Action Agencies.
• Douglas Reed, from Pott. County, to the Flood Mitigation Board.
• Sue Gehling, of Carroll County, to the Mental Health and Disability Services Commission.
• Cindy Dozark, of Crawford County, to Board of Nursing Home Administrators.
• Travis  Miller, of Union County, to the Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy.
• Gary Langbein, of Sac County, to the Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Board.
• and Mary Peterson, of Shelby County, to the Early Childhood Iowa State  Board.

Here’s the full list of appointments announced by the Governor (Name/County):

Accountancy Examining Board 

• Brian Powers, Dubuque
• Bradley Hauge, Linn

Commission on the Status of African American Affairs

• Whitney Smith McIntosh, Polk
• Rachel Cross, Dallas

Agricultural Development Board 

• Jayme Ungs, Greene
• Claire Masker-King, Warren

Alcohol Beverages Commission  

• Kevin Kimle, Story

Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs 

• Peggy La, Woodbury

Athletic Training Board 

• Erica Boer, Marion

Iowa Autism Council

• Caleb Primrose, Polk
• Evelyn Horton, Polk
• Wendy Andersen, Pottawattamie

Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts & Sciences 

• Teono Smith, Polk
• Andrew Oswald, Polk

Bioscience Development Corp Board  

• Billi Hunt, Dallas

Commission for the Blind

• Amy Salger, Benton
• Sara Coleman, Warren

Chiropractic Board  

• Kirby Connell, Polk
• Rodney Langel, Polk
• Charles Elchert, Johnson

City Development Board 

• Thomas Treharne, Linn

Commission on Community Action Agencies 

• Bobbi Maynes, Adams

Iowa Comprehensive Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Fund Board

• Lisa Coffelt, Iowa

Credit Union Review Board 

• Megan Tjernagel, Story
• Nathan Bissell, Wapello
• Bobbi Terrell, Jefferson

Board of Dentistry 

• James Nemmers, Dubuque
• Megan Clatt, Lee
• Candace Bradley, Jones

Early Childhood Iowa State Board

• Mary Petersen, Shelby
• Brook Rosenberg, Polk
• Mayra Martinez, Buena Vista
• David Arens, Polk

State Board of Educational Examiners 

• Miranda Brus, Polk

Electrical Examining Board 

• Joe Porepp, Polk

Employment Appeal Board 

• Ashley Koopmans, Dallas

Environmental Protection Commission 

• Jim Christensen, Buena Vista

Flood Mitigation Board 

• Jodi Freet, Cedar
• Douglas Reed, Pottawattamie

State Judicial Nominating Commission 

• Dustin Graber, Polk

Landscape Architectural Examining Board 

• Ryan Anderson, Linn

Commission of Latino Affairs 

• Anthony Chavez, Polk

Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council

• Sadie Weekley, Marshall
• Diana Venenga, Johnson
• Nathan Fulk, Polk

Iowa Lottery Board of Directors 

• Mathew Connealy, Woodbury

Board of Massage Therapy 

• David Henson, Dallas

Board of Medicine 

• Jason Meyers, Polk
• Douglas Hoisington, Polk

Mental Health and Disability Services Commission 

• Sue Gehling, Carroll

Board of Mortuary Science 

• Kelsey Lo, Polk

Iowa Commission of Native American Affairs 

• Timothy Perkins, Polk

Board of Nursing Home Administrators 

• Billy Meyers, Polk
• Cindy Dozark, Crawford
• Zach Byrnes, Mitchell
• Karen Bentsen, Sioux
• Kimberly Hermsen, Dubuque

Board of Optometry 

• Caitlyn Stakeley, Johnson

Board of Parole 

• James Moses, Dallas

Peace Officers Retirement Accident and Disability Systems Trustee 

• Mark Oiler, Dallas

Board of Pharmacy 

• Erik Maki, Polk

Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy 

• Travis Miller, Union
• JP Webb, Polk

Board of Physicians Assistants 

• Natalie Weber, Dubuque

Board of Podiatry 

• Andrew Steele, Black Hawk
• Laurie Barr-Cronin, Polk

Board of Psychology 

• Lora Keipper, Dallas

Public Employment Relations Board 

• Catherine Lucas, Polk

Public Information Board 

• Barry Lindahl, Dubuque
• Joan Corbin, Marion
• Luke Martz, Story

Real Estate Commission 

• Dakotah Reed, Polk
• Tanner Westberg, Dallas

Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Board 

• Gary Langbein, Sac
• Steve Goodhue, Story

Board of Respiratory Care and Polysomnography 

• Melissa Walsh, Scott
• Brandon Jagow, Polk

School Budget Review Committee 

• Susan Battani, Polk

Board of Sign Language Interpreters and Transliterators 

• Amanda Miller, Pocahontas
• Tina Jarvis, Clinton

Board of Social Work 

• Jillyn Kaufman, Scott

Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology 

• Nancy Almasi, Linn
• Jordan Cook, Story
• Shania Kinywa, Polk

Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission 

• Mark Campbell, Webster
• Amy Burkhart, Des Moines

Iowa Telecommunications and Technology Commission

• Steve Olson, Clinton

Transportation Commission 

• Bill Anderson, Cherokee
• Mary Gronen, Dubuque

Commission of Veterans Affairs 

• Linda Jones, Polk
• Reginald Richardson, Story

Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine   

• Sierra Hagedon, Tama
• Yuko Sato, Story

State Workforce Development Board

• Jayson Henry, Marion
• Jessica Dunker, Dallas
• Charlie Wishman, Polk

DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) – Emergency crews in Dubuque, Friday morning, responded to the 3100 block of Lake Ridge Dr. for a report of a construction site trench collapse. The incident was reported at around 8:20-a.m.

Responders arrived at the construction site to find excavation co-workers attempting to dig out an individual who was buried under approximately 7-8 feet of soil. Rescue crews immediately initiated recovery efforts and began efforts to shore up the trench to prevent additional collapsing.

The deceased victim was recovered at 9:46 am. Officials have not yet identified the individual. The incident remains under investigation.

(Urbana, Iowa) – A collision Friday afternoon in eastern Iowa’s Benton County resulted in one person killed, another injured. The Iowa State Patrol says a 2022 GMC Sierra pickup was traveling south in the 5100 block of Iowa Highway 150 in Urbana at around 3:47-p.m., at the same time a 2013 Jeep Patriot SUV was traveling northbound. For reasons unknown, the Jeep entered the southbound lanes and collided head-on with the pickup.

The driver of the SUV died at the scene. The driver of the pickup was transported to the University of Iowa Hospital. No names were released, pending notification of family.

(Atlantic, Iowa) The Coca-Cola Bottling Company plant manager Bill Garrett hosted a dinner for the plant employees to honor them for their achievement on Friday afternoon at the Venue in Atlantic.

Back in 2019, the plant had a ranking of 37th out of 116 other Coca-Cola bottling facilities in North America. Atlantic Coca-Cola plant manager Garrett then challenged his employees to improve the ranking to at least make the top ten. This ranking was based on safety, quality, and environmental requirements which is set by the North American operating unit which manages all of the plants. In 2022, the Atlantic Coca-Cola Company scored a ranking of one, one of the top rankings you can obtain, which they tied with a plant in Puerto Rico.

Plant Manager Garrett had this to say about another achievement that the plant employees were going to celebrate at the lunch gathering on Friday

This achievement is a something a very few companies have achieved, according to Garrett. Coca-Cola Bottling company production manager Andy Fewson had some praise for his good and quality employees at the plant .

 

Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett was also on hand to praise the plant employees for their hard work and dedication on accomplishing their goals.

The plant employees also received a sweatshirt as they were leaving the lunch, which stated the ranking and the ten years without any time incident.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens (steven bains), today (Friday), issued a statement with regard to a decision by the Story County Attorney’s Office, to discontinue prosecution of four sports wagering cases. Bayen said the decision is “disappointing,” and that “Despite their decision, they repeatedly shared with us their belief that the Division of Criminal Investigation’s actions were legal.”

In 2019, sports betting became legal in Iowa.  Bayens said “The sports gambling industry is closely regulated and with that comes significant oversight.  Once sports betting became legal on digital devices, Iowa law required sportsbooks to geo-locate players when placing wagers and to notify accountholders about information being gathered and shared.

To comply with Iowa law, sportsbooks contracted with GeoComply to facilitate geo-location and provide analytical software that allows aggregate data to be filtered. As a state gambling licensee, the company provided the state access to these tools to regulate the industry and enforce Iowa law. GeoComply specifically trained DCI agents on how to use the software and participated in ongoing meetings regarding its use. Agents were trained to review anonymized data points across Iowa for anomalies that called into question regulatory compliance or suggested criminal activity.

During a review of anonymous data points, anomalies were observed at athletic facilities that only individuals associated with NCAA-sanctioned sports teams had access. This was concerning because sportsbooks must seek to prohibit sports wagering by coaches, athletic trainers and players as required by Iowa law. Also, individuals with access to these facilities would possess insider information, could impact outcomes, and tended to be underage.

Given these red flags, agents obtained subpoenas seeking the names on the accounts affiliated with those data points.  When the information was received, it became evident that many account holders lacked any real connection to the places flagged by the data, strongly suggesting fraudulent activity or identity theft. The Department investigated only these accounts.

Throughout the investigation, agents conferred with legal experts. Agents ultimately applied for search warrants to seize the digital devices controlling those accounts which were approved by impartial judges.  At the conclusion of the investigation, the Department’s findings were presented to prosecutors who then made charging decisions.

The investigation uncovered concerns of a seismic magnitude within Iowa’s sports gambling industry.  In 2023 alone, $2.4 billion dollars in sports bets were placed in the state with 91% of those being placed online. Existing guardrails were insufficient to deter the creation of fraudulent accounts, gambling by prohibited persons, or identity theft.

In the eleven months preceding this investigation, sportsbooks in Iowa closed 28,554 sports betting accounts.  In the eleven months since the investigation, they closed 82,559 accounts.”

Commissioner Bayens said also, “I understand why this investigation and the resulting charges have generated so much attention and such strong opinions.  We love our college sports here in Iowa, myself included.  Had this situation not involved college athletes, the public perception may have been entirely different.

As law enforcement officers, we take an oath to uphold the law and we do so without exception, even when it’s difficult.  Throughout the investigation and subsequent prosecution, we continually reviewed our actions and I fully stand behind the investigation and the agents who did the work. I want to thank them and their families for their service to Iowa. “

(Des Moines, Iowa) –  Drake University Provost, Dr. Sue Mattison, Friday (Today), unveiled proposed plans to make changes to the University’s academic programs. Last month, Drake President Marty Martin sent a message to the student body and staff detailing the University’s financial sustainability and outlining Drake’s path forward to ensure its future success. ,

In her message on the University’s website, Dr. Mattison said, “To ensure Drake’s future as a mission-driven institution that provides outstanding educational opportunities, an academic program review was launched in November 2023 in partnership between faculty governance, administration, and the Drake Board of Trustees. The review process is one of several measures the University is taking to reach a balanced operating budget by July 2025. ”

Mattison said she has shared with the faculty and staff preliminary recommendations for changes to academic program. “Of the 4% of current students enrolled in these programs, each one will be provided with a plan to complete their degree on time. Prospective students interested in these programs will have alternative program options with similar learning outcomes and career opportunities and will receive individual communications, advising, and support for their decisions.”

She specified the following academic programs recommended for discontinuance:

Undergraduate Majors

• Anthropology/Sociology (ANSO)
• Astronomy
• Physics
• Religion
• Rhetoric
• Health Care Administration

Undergraduate Minors

• Anthropology
• Religion
• Rhetoric
• East Asian Studies

Graduate Majors

• Master of Accountancy
• Master of Public Administration

Graduate certificate

• Evidence-based Health Care

Next Steps:

Dr. Mattison said “I want to emphasize these are only recommendations at this point. In adhering to AAUP guidelines, faculty in programs recommended for discontinuance may submit evidence between March 1 and April 1, in support of a claim that retaining the program is in the best interest of the institution. Faculty governance committees, the deans, and I will review feedback before providing final recommendations to Faculty Senate and the Board of Trustees. On April 17, Faculty Senate will vote on the recommendations. Following Faculty Senate’s vote, President Martin will review the recommendations before presenting such to the Board of Trustees at their April meeting. President Martin will communicate the Board’s final decisions to campus on April 29.”

She added, “As President Martin stated in his message in early February, higher education is at a crossroads. With a declining high school population, inflation, and growing public scrutiny related to disinformation around the value of a college degree, institutions across the country must adapt and change. Academic program reviews serve as an essential process necessary to ensure we are meeting students’ interests, societal needs, and providing the highest quality educational programs.

While this work demands that we make difficult decisions, it also presents an opportunity to invest in academic innovation that aligns with institutional strengths and meets evolving needs of Drake students and the communities where they will engage. Earlier this week Drake launched an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program to address the national nursing shortage and growing demand for high-quality nursing education. We recently invested in other new programs, including artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. These programs exemplify the University’s commitment to create academic offerings built upon institutional strengths, address student interests and societal needs, and ensure Drake students are prepared to graduate ready to make a difference in the world.”

Dr. Mattison concluded by saying, “Drake University has navigated through many challenging periods in our 143-year history. Each time, struggles notwithstanding, the University has grown stronger. As we work together to face this most recent challenge, I’m confident we will leave a mission-focused legacy for another 143 years and beyond.”

(Onawa, Iowa) – An SUV that failed to yield was struck by a train this (Friday) afternoon, in Monona County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2001 Ford Expedition driven by 40-year-old James M. Ball, of Onawa, was traveling east on Emerald Street in Onawa at around 1:15-p.m.  Ball stopped, but then proceeded without yielding to the oncoming train before his vehicle was struck on the passenger side near the intersection with 9th Street. The impact sent the SUV into the northeast ditch.

Ball was transported by Burgess Ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Sioux City. No one on the Union Pacific train was injured. The Monona County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the crash scene.