The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday night, received a presentation from Courtney Long, ISU Extension Community Design Lab, in Ames, and Atlantic Parks and Recreation Director Seth Staashelm, with regard to information gathered by the local Public Gardens Group.

Long gave a brief overview of the program. She said they started with a goal of creating opportunities for people to accept healthy food options and increase recreation. There were various public input sessions, and in the end, the group chose Mollet Park on the east end of 3rd Street Place, and Cedar Park, near 2nd and Cedar Streets, just west of the downtown area.

Seth Staashelm (left); Courtney Long (foreground)

The least developed area is Mollet Park, which Staashelm described to the Council. He said the design group came up with some ideas for upgrades. That includes making updates to the end of the drive, which is now a cul-de-sac, implementing community gardens with raised beds that could be rented by citizens or community groups for donation of vegetables to the Food Pantry or Farmers Market.

The Council however, seemed more interested in improvements to Cedar Park, which has the benefit of being close to the Schildberg Recreation Area, and downtown. Staashelm said it does have more to offer, and is a viable option.  A cost analysis for either or both parks has not officially been conducted, but Staashelm estimated Mollet Park would cost $25-to 35-thousand dollars to upgrade. Councilman Dana Halder said “We need to go back to our priorities, and talk about restrooms,” which are needed at the Schildberg Rec Area.

He said, “As far as the two parks, my opinion is, do one. Mollet is easy to mow. You put more up..and there’s more maintenance to do. If you want to go to Cedar Park, fine. My recommendation would be [to] buy the junk that’s to the south of it, and expand it that way. As far as [a proposed splash pad], why not put it at the pool?”

Courtney Long the reason they decided against having it at the Sunnyside Pool, is because some of the groups they spoke with, didn’t have access to paying to get in, so they’re looking at this as a public opportunity to have similar amenities. Staashelm said they’re budgeting for 2020 to update the new basketball court at Cedar Park and updating in general, both parks. The Public Gardens planning is just a long-term part of those improvements, which are still many years down the road. No action was taken on any of the concepts at Wednesday night’s meeting.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Human Services is still trying to fix errors in its database of health care providers enrolled in a new state-funded family planning program.

DHS Director Jerry Foxhoven told reporters Wednesday the agency continues to have problems with a list that’s supposed to help the public find services. Among the issues are duplicate names.

Foxhoven added preliminary data indicates a drop in the number of people using family planning services under the state program, which went into effect last July. He cautioned some health care claims are still pending. He says DHS must better advertise the program.

The Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature passed legislation last spring giving up millions in federal dollars to create a state-funded family planning program that excludes abortion providers. No state or federal dollars pay for abortions in Iowa.

SPENCER, Iowa (AP) — No charges will be filed in the shooting death of a man who broke into a home in Spencer. The Clay County Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday that 26-year-old Andres Ramos was justified on Sept. 1 when he shot 30-year-old Nicolas Bandomo, who had broken into a home. Authorities say Bandomo, of Albert City, was prohibited from making contact with residents of the home by protection orders.

Ramos, of Sibley, fired a single shot, hitting Bandomo, who then fled to a nearby home. Bandomo was taken to a hospital in Spencer, and then transferred to a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, hospital, where he died.

The attorney’s office says Ramos was justified under Iowa law in using deadly force.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — County officials in western Iowa have asked a judge to allow guns in some areas of the courthouse amid security questions and the likelihood of increased costs. The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors formally requested on Tuesday that Judge Duane Hoffmeyer permit weapons on the floors of the Woodbury County Courthouse without court functions. The Sioux City Journal reports that counties can seek to authorize guns in public areas of a courthouse that aren’t occupied by the court system under a supervisory order issued by the Iowa Supreme Court in December. Judges approve the requests.

The board’s request letter would change how security is handled in the courthouse. Some question whether it’ll be costly to keep the building secure, due to individuals with guns potentially moving on various floors.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Nebraska man has pleaded guilty to threatening Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa. Court records say Robert Simet, of Omaha, entered the plea Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Council Bluffs. The charge: violent threats to a federal official. His sentencing is scheduled for May 23.

An arrest affidavit says employees of a motorcycle shop in Pacific Junction, Iowa, told an FBI agent that Simet had been there July 5. During that visit, Simet made several statements about Ernst, including that he believes she is a member of the Islamic State group and that he “could kill” her during a July 10 event at the motorcycle shop.