Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones, Wednesday night, set the rules for how the public forum portion of City Council meetings will be handled. The unwritten mandate follows a time of public comment during the May 16th City Council meeting, whereby two local business owners got into a verbal sparring match with Jones, and Councilperson Kathy Somers over proposed business incentives and the prospect of grants being provided instead of loans.

Atlantic City Council meeting, 6-6-2018

Jones said anyone wishing to address the Council at future meetings should fill out an online form indicating the topic you wish to talk about, and submit the form to City Hall prior to the next meeting. Persons will have two minutes to speak, but if the discussion on a particular subject is redundant, the speaker will be asked to sit down and let someone else speak who has reserved their time. You will come to the podium, state your name, where you are from and the subject matter.

If something comes up during Council discussion on a matter that you do not understand, you will be required to raise your hand and come to the podium when called on. Atlantic resident Bill Saluk said the incident that occurred during last months meeting was inappropriate, but he questioned the two-minute rule. Saluk said “It seems like the function of government should be to be responsive to its citizens and that [the time constraints and answers] seems to make it much more complicated to be able to express your opinion and get anything done.” He also questioned the validity of unwritten rules and the legality of enforcing them when there is no written procedure.

Jones said the time can be adjusted, but again, if the discussion is repeated over and over, the speaker will be asked to take a seat. As for the City Council, Jones said if they have a question during the Public Forum part of the meeting, he suggests it would be best if “They refrain from asking questions,” but they may still ask. He added that no action can be taken by the Council on a particular matter during the public forum. Any action would have to come on the heels of a recommendation from whichever committee is assigned to tackle certain matters.

Thomas Schroeder, one of the business persons who was at the May 16th meeting, asked when the online form to be available and how soon an issue may be addressed by the Council. Mayor Jones said the form should be available on the City’s website in a couple of days, and the issue or concern may be addressed after it’s brought before the appropriate committee. That could take anywhere from two-weeks to a month. Schroeder was in a meeting with Dave Jones with regard to business incentives. That meeting was the topic of the aforementioned May 16th heated discussion, during which Schroeder and his business partner Tayla Kamies alleged Jones pushed them toward other incentives instead of the Economic Development Revolving (EDR) Loan fund.

Councilman Chris Jimerson suggested that if the Mayor or any Council Member meets with a citizen or business owner on official City business, another Council person or and/or the Mayor should be present, to act as a witness to the discussion. That, he said, would alleviate any contradictory statements being made by City officials.

One person is dead, four others were hurt in a crash that took place Tuesday afternoon, in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 1992 GMC conventional truck driven by 65-year old James Allen Robertson, of Pacific Junction, was westbound on Highway 34 at around 12:18-p.m., when a tire blew out. The truck went out of control and crossed the median before entering the east bound lanes and striking a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am, driven by 23-year old Jennifer Leann Marsh, of Clarinda.

Following the collision, both vehicles came to rest in the south ditch. The truck came to rest upright. The car rolled over and came to rest on its top. 34-year old Tristan Lynn Marsh, of Clarinda, who was a passenger in the car, and who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene.

Jennifer Marsh, one-year old Brantley Marsh and 11-year old Alexis Woodyard, all from  Clarinda, who were wearing seat belts or child restraints, were transported to UNMC in Omaha by Malvern Rescue. James Robertson, who was wearing a seat belt, was transported by Glenwood EMS to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs.

The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Glenwood and Malvern EMS.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports three separate arrests and an accident took place earlier this week. At around 12:20-a.m. Monday, a Page County Deputy stopped a car for speeding near the intersection of M Avenue and Highway 2. Afterward, 26-year old  Christopher Ryan May, of Shenandoah, was arrested for Driving under suspension. May was transported to the Page County Jail where he was booked in on $566.25 bond. He later posted bond and was released pending further court proceedings. Tuesday night Deputies in Page County were called to 2561 Upland Avenue in rural Page County. The caller stated that a wife had shot at her husband. The investigation indicated that 52-year old Rebecca Anne Christie had been verbally arguing with her husband, 57-year old Richard Lynn Christie, on the property. Rebecca entered the residence, returned outside with a .40 caliber handgun and fired the handgun. Neither party reported any injuries to Law Enforcement. Rebecca was arrested on charges of Domestic Abuse Assault and Reckless use of a firearm. She is currently being held in the Page County Jail on No bond.

At around 3:15-p.m. Sunday, 32-year old Jonathan Terriell Steele, of Clarinda, was arrested for Driving while license revoked and OWI 2nd Offense. Steele was also cited for speeding. The arrest stemmed from a traffic stop for speeding near E Avenue and 170th Street. Steele was transported to the Page County Jail. Steele was placed in jail on $3000 bond. He later posted bond and was released pending future court proceedings.

And, one person was transported to the hospital following an accident that happened just before 10-p.m. Monday, at Highway 71 and 280th Street, in Page County. Authorities say 57-year old Darla Annette Peregrine, of rural Coin, was stopped on Highway 71 in the northbound lane, waiting for oncoming traffic to turn west onto 280th Street. 64-Year old Debra Lynn Jenkins, of Clarinda, was traveling north on Highway 71. Jenkins’ 2006 Dodge Dakota pickup hit the rear of Peregrine’s 2007 Buick, causing a total of $2,000 damage. Peregrine was transported to the Clarinda Regional Health Center with unknown injuries. Jenkins claimed not to be injured. No citations were issued by the investigating Deputy.

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Kansas man accused of raping a fellow student in a Waldorf University dorm in northern Iowa has taken a plea deal. Court records say 18-year-old Sean Perkins, of Olathe, Kansas, signed the deal filed Tuesday in Winnebago County District Court. The agreement includes a one-year deferred prosecution on the charge of serious misdemeanor assault, which had been lowered from felony sexual abuse. The agreement says that if Perkins were to violate the agreement, the guilty plea would be used against him. But the charge would be dropped if he were to meet the agreement’s terms.

County Attorney Kelsey Beenken says there wasn’t enough evidence to prosecute Perkins for rape. Beenken says the woman involved believes the agreement, which includes a no-contact order, will help her start the healing process.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A city in Iowa has agreed to settle a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of a woman who was mistakenly shot and killed by a police officer. Attorneys for the city of Burlington and the estate of Autumn Steele notified a federal court of the settlement Wednesday. Details of the agreement weren’t immediately available. Steele was a 34-year-old mother when she was killed in January 2015 in front of one of her young children.

Steele was shot by officer Jesse Hill, who was responding to a domestic disturbance between Steele and her husband outside their home. Hill intended to fire his weapon at a growling family dog but the shot struck Steele in the chest and killed her. Attorneys for Steele’s estate argued last month in federal court that police video that’s been withheld from the public contradicts the official narrative that the dog bit Hill.