(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is questioning the head of the U-S Department of Veterans Affairs about reports of inconsistent inspection practices and a lack of quality controls at veterans homes nationwide.  “It’s not directed just to any specific instances,” Grassley says. “It’s kind of an accumulation of a lot of concerns we’ve had.”

Those concerns include the pandemic and reports that show more than 14-hundred residents and staff of V-A homes nationwide have died of COVID-19. The V-A spends about one-billion dollars a year on state-run homes for veterans. The homes are only required to do one annual safety inspection. “Since there’s a lot of tax dollars goes into this,” Grassley says, “we have a responsibility to make those tax dollars keep our promises to our veterans.”

Grassley, a Republican, says it appears the standard of care at many state veterans homes “falls well short” of those required by other government-supported nursing homes. He says, “Americans deserve answers and our veterans deserve better.” “The lack of oversight by the VA seems to be a problem that’s not being carried out the way it should be,” Grassley says. “This is a letter to get answers to some specific questions.”

A POLITICO report says nearly 14-hundred V-A residents and 40 staff have died from COVID-19 in 110 state veterans homes. In the worst case, 110 deaths were reported at a 126-bed veterans home in New York. It’s unclear how many veterans, if any, have died from COVID at the Iowa Veterans Home. This summer, it was reported that two residents of the home in Marshalltown who were housed in the COVID unit had died. I-V-H officials said both veterans had “significantly compromised health conditions” and thus, they weren’t listed as COVID deaths.

(Waterloo, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections, Tuesday, said 30-year-old Devin Dewayne Smith, who was convicted of Robbery 2nd and other charges in Black Hawk County, failed to report to the Waterloo work release facility Monday night, as required. Smith is a black male, 6-feet 2 inches tall. He height 6’2″, and weighs 167 pounds. Smith was admitted to the work release facility on May 26, 2021.

Persons with information on Smith’s whereabouts should contact their local police.

Devin Smith (IA DOC photo)

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council is expected to act Wednesday, on a request by Produce in the Park organizers to extend the closure of 6th Street, from Chestnut to Poplar, through Oct. 14th. Their meeting begins at 5:30-p.m., in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. If the request is approve, the street would be closed for Produce in the Park held on Thursday’s at the downtown City Park. On May 5th, the Council approved closing 6th Street from June through Sept. 30th.

The Council will also act on Resolution “Granting 60365 Glacier Road permission to connect to the City’s Sanitary Sewer System.” A new business – Nextlink Internet, from Texas, has signed a lease for the building on the City’s northwest side, that will create 10-to-12 jobs, and is requesting a sanitary sewer hook-up. The company covers five states from Texas through the Midwest, supplying rural wireless internet. The building may be divided into three sections so that three separate businesses may operate out of it. City Code requires that property outside the City Limits must receive permission by the City Council to connect to the sanitary sewer system. The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee met Monday evening to review and act on a recommendation to the City Council, with regard to the request. Upon receiving the recommendation, the Council may deny the request, approve the request with conditions, or grant it without conditions.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on an Order to approve a change order pertaining to the Downtown Revitalization Project. The project initially started as a facade improvement for participating downtown businesses, but was expanded to include projects to improve the safety and historically significant architecture of some buildings, both inside and out.

This most recent Change Order amounts to $5,065, and brings the contract total to $516,280. The request is with regard to the following improvements:

• 511 Chestnut Street: Interior masonry repointing ($1,980). [Repointing is the process of renewing the pointing, which is the external part of mortar joints, in masonry construction. Over time, weathering and decay cause voids in the joints between masonry units, usually in bricks, allowing the undesirable entrance of water.]
• 403 Chestnut: 1) provide sealant and repairs ($907), and 2) provide additional repairs ($1,628).
• 421 Chestnut: Repairs to the ceiling at interior storm ($550).

John Lund says the FY2021 Budget approved by the Council on March 18, 2020, had construction for the project to be $713,519. With professional services included, the City was expecting the total project cost was $902,519, but because several participants droppedout of the program at the onset, the costs fell dramatically. Lund says also, the change order costs are not shouldered by the City, alone. For every additional dollar of cost the property owner commits to the project, the City matches that with a dollar, and the Feds match it with two-dollars.

The final order of business, Wednesday, is the appointment of At Large Councilperson Grace Garrett to the Beautification Committee, which has been dormant since the addition of banners and street signs they had requested, were implemented a few years ago. John Lund says there remain many recommendations on the original report, with new ideas and opportunities possible. He said, by July 2022, the City will have committed an additional $45,000 towards ongoing improvements to the community.

The Atlantic Police Department reports officers will be working with Cass County Sheriff’s deputies this Thursday, September, 2nd for a special traffic enforcement project. The project will be taking place both within the City of Atlantic and on County roads. Residents can expect heightened traffic enforcement on this date throughout the county.