A standing-room only crowd packed the Lewis Fire Station’s conference room Wednesday night for Lewis City Council Public Forum/Question and Answer session pertaining to utility rates. Lewis Mayor Jon Mosier started the 6:30-p.m. meeting that lasted for about 50-minutes, prior to the start of the regular Council meeting. Mosier said a group of citizens had approached him last week with regard to a large increase in the City’s water billing based on a new rate schedule. Mosier said the number one question dealt with a perceived discrepancy between the information that was sent to the citizens and what was actually billed.

Mosier said the only thing that changed was the access fee, which he said dropped from $36 to $17.27, and then up to 23-cents to $17.50. With regard to how the City arrived at the adjusted rates, Mosier turned that over to Perry Gjersvik, Professional Engineer with Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc., of Johnston, the firm hired to study the water and sewer system in Lewis.

He said “The City, very early on mentioned to him that the existing sewer and water rates were not generating adequate revenue to cover the expenses, so they asked us to do a water and sewer rate study to come up with the rates that would be necessary or needed to generate revenue to meet the expenses for the water and sewer system. He said they took a look at the past couple of years of expenses and revenue [and] noted that in the water system in 2016, the water system had been losing about $30,000.”  In 2017 loss jumped to $43,000. On the sewer side, Gjersvik said the loss was about $10,000 in 2016 and $3,000 in 2017. He said it was clear there was not enough revenue to meet expenses. He said they crunched the numbers and scenarios and projected out to 2018, and based expenses based on FY 2017-18. The deficit in water revenue was projected to be $48,000 and the sewer $6,200 more. Information about the amount the City owes on its SRF are available here: scan0127

The new rates, he said, were based on an average customer water usage of 3,000 gallons per month. That equates to an increase of about 36-percent on the water and seven-percent on the sewer rates. Some people in attendance questioned why the rates were not pro-rated, to which Mosier responded “We have never pro-rated anything since the 3-percent (original fee) went into effect” in 2011. He said that’s something the Council could explore. When some complained they were not notified the 3-percent increase had gone away in favor of the new rate structure, the Mayor said if people had come to the meetings they would have known that there is no more 3-percent increase.

Nancy Gerica-Joens, spoke on behalf of the “Concerned Citizens of Lewis.” She said the rate increases — which for some families has jumped from $136 to as much as $300 per month — will have “A ripple effect” on the community to where some people will have to choose between paying their water bill, getting it shut-off, or buying food. Others said they knew of people who would be moving out if the rates continue, because they can no longer afford to live in Lewis.

During the Council’s regular session, it was decided more information was needed on the rate adjustment and other pertinent data. Perry Gjersvik will appear before the Council during a Special Session August 21st at 7-p.m., in the Fire Hall meeting room. Their next regular meeting will be September 5th.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help in finding a vehicle that struck a building in Anita over the weekend. The incident happened sometime between the evening of Saturday, August 4, and early morning of August 5. An unknown vehicle ran into a building at the intersection of Highway 148 north and Main Street in Anita, causing some damage to the building.

The vehicle would have damage to either the right front side or down the right side. Please give the Sheriff’s Office a call with any tips at (712) 243-2206.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department reports an Atlantic woman was arrested July 23rd, on an outstanding warrant. The warrant for 24-year old Maisie Sheryl Williams was for Possession of Meth. Williams remains in the Audubon County Jail.

On July 19th, 25-year old Laura Lynn Bovill, of Omaha, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear for possession of marijuana. She was held in the Audubon County Jail until she was seen in District Court and was released.

On July 16th, 37-year old Amanda Lynn Thompson, of Audubon, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for Violation of Probation. Thompson was being held in the Audubon County Jail.

On July 22nd, 34-year old Jennifer Sue Schmitz, of Carroll, was arrested in Audubon County for Operating while Intoxicated, 1st offense. She was cited and released. And, on Aug. 2nd, 29-year old Juston Phillip Travis, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for violation of probation. He is currently being held in the Audubon County Jail.

SALIX, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in northwestern Iowa say they’ve pulled the body of a man who went missing while canoeing from a lake. The Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were called to Snyder Bend Park on Monday evening for a report of an empty canoe floating on the park’s lake. Crews searched the lake that evening and again the next morning, when the body of 70-year-old Ronald Cooper, of Sergeant Bluff, was found.

The sheriff’s office said Wednesday that investigators have not received an official cause of death from the medical examiner’s office.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest Wednesday of 47-year-old Ann Kristine Harding of Red Oak for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Harding was arrested at 2:31pm Wednesday in the 100 block of West Coolbaugh Street. She was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.

The Red Oak Police Department reports a Red Oak man was cited following a hit and run accident on Tuesday afternoon. Officers responded to the scene of the accident at 2:51pm Tuesday at 6th and East Elm Street. A 1998 Ford Expedition driven by 30-year-old Jessica Renee Dady of Red Oak was westbound on Elm Street when another vehicle that was northbound on 6th Street failed to yield the right of way and struck the passenger side of the Ford. The other vehicle fled the scene after the collision. Dady was able to provide a good description of the other vehicle which officers located a short time later. That vehicle was a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 53-year-old Scott Randall Johnson of Red Oak. Johnson lied to officers about how his vehicle was damaged claiming he had hit his house. Officers then contacted Dady to have her confirm the vehicle identity and match up paint transfer. Before she arrived Johnson admitted he was involved in the accident and claimed he didn’t know he had to yield. Johnson was then issued a citation for Leaving the Scene of an Accident.

No injuries were reported during the accident. Damage to the Ford was estimated at $1,900 and damage to the Jeep was estimated at $2,000.

Officials with the Harlan Police Department, Wednesday, released a report on several arrests dating back to July 27th. Among the more notable arrests:

• On August 4th, 33-year old Christine Marie Belt, of Persia, was arrested in the 5000 block of Ridgeway Drive, following an investigation. Belt was charged with Delivery of a Controlled Substance. That same day, 32-year old Eugene Chron Cardine, of Harlan, was arrested following a call about a domestic disturbance in the 2100 block of Lincoln Avenue, in Harlan. Cardine was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Domestic Abuse Assault, and Child Endangerment. And, 24-year old Jacob Brady Scheffler, of Harlan, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and for having an improper light on a bicycle
• On July 31st, Harlan Police arrested 30-year old Kurtis Kelly Kobold, of Kirkman, and 24-year old Sarah Nicole Caswell, of Harlan. Kobold was charged with a Controlled Substance Violation, Felon in Possession of a firearm, Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver, Prohibited Acts penalties, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, and no seat belt; Caswell was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver, A controlled substance violation, Prohibited Acts penalties, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, no seat belt, forgery and ongoing criminal conduct.