(Dickinson County, Iowa) – Two people died (including a one-year old male) and four others were injured, during a crash late Saturday morning, south of the Iowa/Minnesota border. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2008 Hyundai Accent driven by 29-year-old Mariah Nelson, of Jackson, MN, was eastbound on Dickinson County Road A-15/120th Street, and coming to the intersection with Highway 71. At the same time, a 2011 GMC Sierra pickup driven by 63-year-old Allen Weinzetl, of Jackson, MN, was traveling south on Highway 71.

When Nelson failed to stop at the posted intersection, her car was struck by the pickup on the driver’s side of the car. Both vehicles then entered the ditch southeast of the intersection. Nelson and the one-year-old male suffered fatal injuries. A five-year-old female and a six-year-old female, Allen Weinzetl, and 58-year-old Teresa Chonko, all from Jackson, MN, were injured and transported by Lakes Regional EMS to the hospital.

All of the crash victims except Teresa Chonko were wearing their seat belts.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet 9-a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16th, in their Boardroom at the Courthouse in Atlantic. On their agenda is the placing of a resolution of vacation of a portion of a roadway back on the table for discussion, followed by possible action on Vacating about 500-feet of 570th Street contained within the State of Iowa right-of-way (under Interstate 80).

Other action items include:

• Compensation for precinct election officials and medical examiner expenses.
• Approval of a contract with Motorola for the Chair to sign, with regard to the ISICS Project
• Establish a Cass County Economic Development Fund & Debt Service Fund for the ISICS Project.
• Discussion & possible action with regard to American Rescue Plan funding – use of funding, etc., including consideration of a request regard the COVID-related use of the Cass County Community Building, and a request regarding radios and repeaters for Fire/EMS service providers.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors will discuss Board and commission appointments to fill vacancies, and those appointments to be made or renewed in Jan., 2022. They’ll also act on the Second Tier of a Canvass of the Nov. 2nd City/School Election for school districts lying in more than one county, and combining the Cass County vote counts with those from other counties and declare persons elected and the pass-or-fail of public measures.

(Audubon, Iowa) – Members of the Audubon School Board will meet 7-p.m. Monday in their Board Room at the High School, with some members meeting for the last time. During the meeting of the Retiring School Board, they’ll discuss Warrants and Financial Reports, Act on accepting the Canvass of Votes from the County Auditor, approve the Annual settlement of Accounts and the first and final reading of Board Policy Review for two 500 series policies.

Afterward, an organizational meeting of the new Audubon School Board will be Called to Order, with the Board Secretary sworn-in as President Pro-Tem, followed by the Administering of Oath to newly elected members Sarah Asmus, and Heath Hansen, and the election of officers, along with their Oath of Office. The person chosen as President of the Board will preside over the remainder of the meeting.

Action items for the new board include (But are not limited to);

• Approve snow removal contract
• Set the date/time for the November 29th Special Board meeting on the sale of bonds.
• Approve Strength and Conditioning Coach position
• Approve Early Retirement Plans and Dates
• Resolution approving the sale of Sales Tax (SAVE) Bonds.

In the “Communications and Updates” portion of the Board meeting, they’ll discuss:

• School Board Convention logistics
• Building Project update
• Update on the Sale of Bonds – Bond rating and sale results
• the Transportation report
• and Principal’s reports.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A public hearing will be held during this Wednesday evening’s City Council meeting, in Atlantic. The hearing is with regard to the sale of city-owned property at 901 Birch Street, a dilapidated home with a large retaining wall, broken windows, a bad roof and other issues. City Administrator John Lund notes the Personnel and Finance Committee has met with the potential buyer, Charles (CJ) Adams, who proposed buying the lot and building for the fair market value of $5,350. The Council meeting takes place 5:30-p.m. inside their Chambers at City Hall.

Mr. Adams intends to “flip” the property (rehabbing the home to make it saleable and profitable). Lund said selling the lot would yield a triple-profit for the City: Cash up-front; Increased property value if Adams chooses to sell it; and a serious liability property would be removed from the City’s books. He recommends the Council approve the sale.

In other business, a representative with Fox Engineering (designers of the City’s wastewater treatment plant) will present Councilman Jim Behrens with a check for $500. Behrens won the funds during the annual Iowa League of Cities Conference in Coralville. The Council will hear a presentation from Kristine Stokes, Community Development Specialist with the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO), with regard to a Community Development Block Grant – CARES (CDBG-CV) opportunity for the City’s Food Pantry, to help them pay for food in 2022.

The Pantry currently serves more than twice the number of people it did before the pandemic, and more than tripled their food expenses. SWIPCO would serve as the applicant on behalf of the food pantry, which makes the pantry a sub-recipient of the grant funding. If the Council approves the opportunity, the food pantry would be on the Council’s meeting agenda in December to conduct a public hearing for the food pantry’s application for the CDBG-CV.