Voters in the Glenwood Community School District, Tuesday, approved passage of a 10-year Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) that will generate about $3.7-million for a long list of renovations to the complex, including a new track surface, a press box, bleachers, locker rooms, concession stands, ADA compliant restrooms and a parking lot. Unofficial results from the Mills County Auditor’s Office show the physical plant and equipment levy referendum passed 969-to-838 (or, 53.62 percent-to-46.38 percent).

The levy amounts to 85-cents per thousand dollars property valuation. Voters rejected the first referendum on the issue last April by a super majority. Tuesday’s PPEL referendum passed on a simple majority.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Voters in two Des Moines suburbs have approved bond measures to build new schools. The Des Moines Register says Ankeny voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved an $18 million bond referendum to build a new elementary school. It will be built north of the Des Moines Area Community College campus in the Prairie Trail development. Construction is planned to begin in the fall and is set to open in 2020. Officials say the bond will not affect property tax rates.

Urbandale voters approved a $59 million plan to build two new elementary schools to replace four 50-plus-year-old school buildings set to be closed. The bond will also cover construction of the district’s first fitness center. Urbandale school officials say the consolidation will save the district $1.8 million annually. Construction won’t begin for another 18 months.

The Atlantic City Council is expected to act this (Wednesday) evening, on setting the date for Public Hearings on entering into General Obligation Loan agreements with regard to bonds for Capital Improvement and Solid Waste Management. One Resolution calls for a bond not to exceed $2.54-million for building, vehicle, equipment, street, bridge and alley projects for the 2018, 2019 and 2020 calendar years. The bond is set to bring in $2.69-million, although the principal amount borrowed will be less, according to City Administrator John Lund, because the City will receive a premium from its creditors, which incentivizes an amortization schedule agreeable to them. The premium covers the cost of the bond council and broker fees, but some money will remain to offset the City’s borrowing. The second Resolution pertains to a Solid Waste Management Loan Agreement and the borrowing of money not to exceed $90,000. Together, the bonds amount to slightly more than $3-million.

The Council will also discuss the proposed FY 2019 Budget and 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), and act on passing a resolution authorizing bids for 2018 Street and Alley improvements. Speaking of streets, the Atlantic City Council is expected to approve tonight, an Order closing certain streets on August 5th from 8-a.m. to 5-p.m., for the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, in honor of their 125th Anniversary Celebration. If approved, the following streets will be closed during the requested date and times:

• West 6th, between Locust and Poplar
• West 5th, between Locust and Poplar
• Locust, between 5th and 6th Streets
• West 6th, between Locust & the alley between Locust & Cedar.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on an Order approving an Engineering Agreement with Snyder & Associates, for the AMU Connector Trail Project. The City has agreed to cover the cost of the engineering work necessary to complete the project. And, the Council will act on an Order approving a Subscription Agreement with 5Q in Atlantic, for a new web service called “Journity,” which is designed to customize the experience of persons visiting the City’s website, by identifying their location. It will also collect statistical information on the visitors, including their zip code, frequency of visiting the site, and what features visitors are looking at on the site. 5Q owner Chad Williams will make a presentation to the Council, prior to their vote on the Agreement.

The Atlantic City Council meeting begins at 5:30-p.m. in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall.

Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst, from Red Oak, wants your input on the upcoming Farm Bill, which is in the process of being written. Officials with her office said Ernst didn’t receive any questions about the bill during a recent visit to Red Oak.  Ernst serves on the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. The Farm Bill, a comprehensive food and agriculture legislation, is typically enacted every four or five years.

Last month, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Bill and Legislative Principles for 2018. (You can download a pdf copy of those legislative principals here: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2018-farm-bill-and-legislative-principles.pdf

Persons with input and concerns about the bill being drafted are strongly urged to contact Ernst’s office in Council Bluffs, by phone, letter, or fax, or her office in Washington, D.C.

Contact info.:

Senator Joni Ernst

221 Federal Building
8 South Sixth Street
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
Phone: (712) 352-1167
Fax: (712) 352-0087

111 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3254
Fax: (202) 224-9369