The Cass County Board of Supervisors met today (Tuesday), in the basement meeting room, while Auditors were working in the Boardroom at the Courthouse. During their meeting, the Board approved the appointment of Brigham Hoege to the Cass County Local Foods Policy Council. Auditor Dale Sunderman said she currently resides in Des Moines, but is very active with the LFPC. He said she basically directed Produce in the Park and other such projects.

Cass Board of Supervisors (left to right) – Frank Waters, Mark O’Brien, Steve Green & Steve Baier.

Interim County Engineer Rich Hansen requested the Board sign a Resolution with regard to a Cass County Procurement Policy, where Federal Funding is included. He said it’s to get state funding for disaster flooding this past Spring, in the amount of $124,000. $75,000 of which comes from FEMA. The funds are passed through the Dept. of Homeland Security. Dale Sunderman said the Resolution the Board passed on May 31^st was not sufficient because it did not contain Federal Administrative Code references. Board Chair Steve Baier said that included “Micro-purchase procedures.” There are other guidelines as well, that language for which Baier said had to match that of “The Federales.”

Because the County remains without a licensed, Professional Engineer (PE) following the resignation late this Summer of Charles Bechtold, Hansen said some paperwork (including payroll & claims) will need to be signed by a PE. Board Chair Steve Baier mentioned retired County Engineer Charles Marker would be willing to step-in and handle those tasks on an as-needed, contracted basis, but not as a full-time Engineer. The Board took it under advisement.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors canvassed and approved the results of elections on Nov. 5^th. Dale Sunderman announced what the percentage of voter turnout for each Ward and Precinct/City was: Atlantic – Ward 1, 12.79%; Ward 2, 14.36%; Ward 3 – 24.38%; Ward 4 – 25.11%; Ward 5 – 27.28%; Anita – 20.13%; Cumberland – 12.33%; Griswold – 17.10; Lewis – 18.56; Marne – 16.7; Massena – 17.67; Wiota – 15.04%.

Tomorrow (Wednesday, Nov. 13th), the Board will meet at 8-a.m. to perform a post-election audit of ballots tallied at the Cumberland/Union Township precinct, and votes cast for Mayor/City of Cumberland on Nov. 5th. Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman says this is not a recount, but a hand-count audit of ballots tallied by optical scan equipment, to verify that the election vote tabulation equipment functioned as designed and programmed. It will include a hand-count of the votes cast for a designated position on the first ballot style of the selected precinct.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Betting on races at Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque rose by 14% this year, but the park’s future and that of greyhound racing still look dicey. Wagering at the park and other facilities on the Dubuque races is up for the fourth year in a row, according to figures for this year’s season, which ended Sunday after 104 days of racing. “We’re moving in the right direction, but we’re only going by baby steps, where we need to be going by leaps and bounds,” park general manager Brian Carpenter said. “Our plan is to open again next year in May, and, hopefully, we have another successful year.”

Carpenter told the Telegraph Herald the park remains far from being financially viable on its own. It continues to reap the benefits of a 2014 agreement with state gambling regulators that allowed Dubuque’s Mystique Casino & Resort — now Q Casino and Hotel — and the Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs to sever ties with the greyhound industry. The betting at the dog tracks affiliated with the casinos plummeted after the casinos were established, officials have said.

Key parts of the settlement included the $4.6 million Horseshoe Casino’s owners pay yearly to Iowa Greyhound Park through 2022 and the $500,000 that Q Casino’s owner pay yearly through 2021. And the future problems are not just financial. “The question is whether we’ll have enough greyhounds to keep going,” Carpenter said. Florida voters last year approved a measure that will eliminate greyhound racing at the end of Florida’s 2020 season. Also, racing officials in Arkansas recently agreed to phase out greyhound racing at that state’s lone track by the end of 2022.

Only six states still have active greyhound tracks, and the loss of Arkansas and Florida tracks could deter breeders and lead to a shortage of greyhounds, Carpenter said. Jean Hallahan, assistant general manager at Iowa Greyhound Park, said she thinks bettors in Arkansas and Florida could raise their wagers on races taking place in Dubuque. She said she’s already fielded calls from Florida residents who shared their hopes for continued racing in Dubuque.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous arrests took place over the past five days. 46-year old Salomon Martinez, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the sheriff’s office a little before 2-a.m. today (Tuesday), on warrants for Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree/1st offense, and Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $10,000. 27-year old Alan Mauricio Colin-Zarate, was arrested Monday night, following a traffic stop. He was charged with Driving While License Suspended or Revoked. Early Monday morning, 52-year old Warren Ward Karlen was arrested for OWI/1st offense.

Sunday night, 58-year old Michele Marie Callahan was arrested for Absence from custody, following a traffic stop. 23-year old Kasi Juliana Thomas was arrested Sunday night for OWI/1st offense. 21-year old Dakota Scott Eccles was arrested Sunday night in Pott. County, for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender. Early Sunday morning, 20-year old Cody Andrew Kidwell was arrested in Council Bluffs for OWI/1st offense.

Early Saturday morning, 25-year old Jeremy James Taylor was arrested for Operating Under the Influence/3rd or Subsequent Offense. Friday morning, 55-year old Odies Jerome Scott, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Oakland, for Domestic Abuse Assault/strangulation, and on a hold for another agency.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce has announced that Atlantic has been recognized as a Neighborhood Champion for the sixth year in a row by American Express. Atlantic will participate in the 10th Annual Small Business Saturday to support small businesses. Chamber Executive Director Bailey Smith said “We’re excited to partner with all of the Atlantic Area businesses to create shopping incentives and activities to celebrate Small Business Saturday.”

Founded by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday® is a day to celebrate the small businesses that help support our community. American Express created the Neighborhood Champion Program to help rally communities around Small Business Saturday and is working alongside numerous business organizations to support local Small Business Saturday celebrations throughout the country. Participating organizations include: the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA), the International Downtown Association, the Latino Coalition, the National Main Street Center, the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

American Express recognizes communities that have strong participation. The on-going Shop Local Initiative, presented by First Whitney Bank & Trust, and overall community support has helped Atlantic achieve this national recognition. Smith says “It’s a great opportunity for Atlantic to receive positive, national exposure. Atlantic has everything you need and this day is just an added reminder for the community how important their support and participation in shopping local is to keeping Atlantic a vibrant place to live.”

November 30th marks the 10th annual Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated to supporting the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. Small business owners can learn more about taking part in Small Business Saturday and download free marketing materials on www.shopsmall.com. Consumers can visit www.atlanticiowa.com to find merchants to shop at on Small Business Saturday.