The Atlantic City Council Wednesday evening, is expected to act on a Resolution authorizing Mayor Dave Jones to sign a three-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the City and the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 234. During their 5:30-p.m. session at City Hall, the Council will also act on approving a Resolution establishing the Pay Plan for non-union employees of the City, for Fiscal Year 2012-2013, which begins July 1st.

City Administrator Doug Harris says the CBA he’s reached with the Union, calls for a 3.5-percent pay increase in FY 2013 and 3% increases in FY 2014 and 2015. The new contract, which requires employees to pay a proportionate share of their medical insurance premiums, and increases the minimum deductible amount, is expected to result in a substantial savings to the City, according to Harris. It does not affect the Police Union contract, which runs through the end of FY 2013. Longevity pay does not increase during the term of the contract. Harris says by negotiating the contract for the City, it also has saved them at least $20,000, which is what the fees for a Labor Attorney would have amounted to, had they handled the agreement.

Harris says the proposed Pay Plan established for non-union City employees, reflects a 3.5% increase in the non-union pay scales, which is the same increase given to union employees, per their contracts. The Health Insurance Plans for Non-Union employees as well as Street and Wastewater Employees (who are represented by  IUOE Local 234) have been modified to do away with the lowest deductible insurance option, and increases employee contributions for their medical insurance premiums.

The City Administrator’s position is not part of the pay plan, and does not receive automatic pay step increases as do other employees, according to Harris. The City Council may grant merit-based step increases based on Harris’ performance evaluation, if it sees fit, and based upon a recommendation by the City’s Personnel and Finance Committee.

The Iowa State Patrol has released the names of the victims who died in Monday afternoon’s fiery crash on Highway 20 near Holstein, in northwest Iowa’s Ida County. Officials say 55-year old Michael Hengel, of Milwaukee, WI, and 38-year old Cory Severson, of Pine River, WI died in the crash that took place at around 1:25-p.m.  Two other people, 45-year old Oscar Alonzo, of Miami, FL, and 55-year old Jeffrey MacGregor, of Spencer, IA, were injured.

Officials say a 2009 Pontiac G-6 driven by Michael Hengel, was stopped in a construction zone westbound on Highway 20 behind a 2007 Freightliner semi driver by MacGregor, while the drivers waited for a Pilot car. The Pontiac was rear-ended by a 2007 Freightliner semi, driven by Oscar Alonzo. The impact shoved the car into the rear of the first semi. The vehicle then rolled on the highway and burst into flames, trapping the occupants, who perished in the fire. Alonzo’s semi entered the north ditch and rolled over following the collision. He was  transported by Holstein Ambulance to Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove. Officials say MacGregor did not require transport to the hospital.  

Authorities say no alcohol or drugs were involved. The crash remains under investigation, and anyone with information concerning the accident is asked to contact the Iowa State Patrol at 712-263-4621.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department filed numerous charges against a Carroll man, following an investigation into a crash early Monday morning, north of Elk Horn. Officials say 21-year old Cody Lee Petersen was charged with Failure to Maintain Control, Open Container, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Authorities say Petersen was traveling north on Highway 173 at around 7-a.m., Monday, when the Chevy Cobalt he was driving went out of control.

The car went off the roadway to the right, crossed 280th Street and entered the right ditch before hitting a pine tree and a fence. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $1,500. Petersen failed to report the accident and left the scene. He was later arrested and brought to the Audubon County Jail. Petersen appeared before the judge this (Tuesday) morning, pled guilty to the charges, and was fined.

The Atlantic Police Department reports no one was injured during an accident Monday morning, at the intersection of 7th and Olive Streets. Officials say vehicles driven by Michele McNabb, of Atlantic, and Daylan Kleen, of Marne, collided at around 8:30-a.m., after Kleen failed to obey a traffic control device. McNabb was traveling north on Olive Street as Kleen was heading west on 7th. Kleen failed to stop at the red light and hit McNabb’s vehicle on the right front corner, causing a total of $5,500 damage.

The Harlan Community School District will be making use of the new “Smart Board” technology in the Middle School for next year. In a regularly scheduled board meeting held Monday afternoon, the board of directors approved the slightly more than $12,500 project from CCS Presentation Systems out of Omaha, NE. CCS helped the Harlan community save over $5,000 from the 2nd lowest bid. The District will receive 11 Smart Boards for the Middle School. The normal price for each board is $1,500, however through a SMART Starter Grant, the district will receive six of the boards at half the cost. Superintendent Justin Wagner said it was another step in efforts to improve technology within the district.

The Smart Boards weren’t the only bids the Harlan School Board approved Monday. They also reviewed bids for a walk-in cooler intended for the elementary building. The current 5-by-7 cooler will be replaced with a larger 8-by-11 cooler, for additional storage. Wagner said it’s replacement was long overdue. The Board received two bids for the walk-in cooler. They ended-up accepting a bid from Kruse Refrigeration and Electric Inc. of Harlan. Their bid of $18,650, includes installation.

In other business, Harlan Board of Education hired a new girl’s head basketball coach. Zach Klaassen will replace Tony Vis next season. Vis left the district last month. The Board also hired Dan Hoch for High School Social Studies Teacher, and, Middle School Track Coach Jared Boysen, was hired for head girl’s soccer coach. In addition, Mike Bierl will become a full time bus driver at the start of the new school year.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold the second and final public hearing concerning an Illegal Dumping Ordinance during their meeting Wednesday morning, in Atlantic. Following the hearing, the Board will hold a second reading of the ordinance and move to adopt it, after waiving the third reading, assuming their are no objections.

In other business, the Supervisors will act on an extension of tax credits for Fiscal Year 2012-2013 (Homestead, Edlerly & disabled, Ag Land and Family Farm),  Expense Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2013, including funding request appropriations if necessary, and, after receiving certifications from County officers for base salaries of their deputies and certifying those base salaries to Auditor Dale Sunderman, the Board will act on determining the compensation of “other employees” (meaning those not currently under a bargaining unit of other employment contracts).

The meeting begins at 9-a.m. in the Courthouse Board Room. Also getting underway at 9-a.m., in Greenfield, is a meeting of the Adair County Board of Supervisors. Members of the Board will act on: a Transfer Resolution; Notice of Vacancies and Intent to Appoint; and, an update to the Personnel Policy. They’ll also hear presentations from: Jack Reed, with Iowa Negotiations Services, LLC, with regard to services offered to the County; and, David Knapp, with ACES, with regard to a Backup Presentation and/or bid.

This Thursday evening (June 21st) marks the beginning of 2012’s “Third Thursday” Summer Concert Series, in Atlantic. Entertainment will be provided by “Dirt Road Acoustic Rehab,”  in the Atlantic City Park, from 5:30- to 8:30-p.m. Dirt Road Acoustic Rehab, a local country, rock, and blues band, frequently performs in venues around Stuart, Boone, Adel, and Panora. The group will play free of charge.

Every third Thursday in June, July, and August will feature music, arts, and produce in the park for the series, organized by the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Audience members will need to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets to best enjoy the experience. Ready-to-eat meals will be available through local vendors. 

The Chamber says it is actively accepting applications from food producers and artisans who would like to set up shop during the events, an addition to the program for 2012. A partnership with the Cass County Food Policy Council, the sidekick effort is called Produce in the Park and will appeal to increasing numbers of health-conscious consumers, foodies, and sustainability enthusiasts.

On the roster for July is Travelin’ Light Band, a popular area rock ‘n’ roll group. August will feature a mix of local talents, headlined by hip hop artist Jesse Swanson (DJ Chaos), with a list of openers to be announced in July.More information on the concert series can be obtained through the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Iowa Master Gardener program is once again offering a series of summer webinars free to all local residents with an interest in gardening. The 2012 series is titled “Garden Goodness” and will be hosted by Iowa State University Extension county offices on the fourth Tuesday of each month, May through August. The Cass County Extension Office is a local host site.

Each session will provide information about vegetable gardening, from a variety of perspectives. The second presentation in the series is scheduled for Tuesday, June 26th. From 6:30-7:30 p.m. Angie Tagtow, environmental nutrition consultant,will discuss Food Gardening and Health. From 7:30-8:30 p.m. Denise Fikes, Mills County Extension horticulture assistant, will talk about Glenwood’s Giving Garden. Participants will watch the presentation live from campus, projected onto a large screen, and have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the topic with the presenter. There is no charge to attend the classes, and no requirements to attend the entire series. Local gardeners are encouraged to attend any session that catches their interest.

Upcoming dates, presenters and topics for the 2012 series are:

On July 24, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Linda Naeve will talk on the Peoples Garden Project and Working with Youth; from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Cindy Haynes will discuss Edible Ornamentals. Naeve is an ISU Extension value added agriculture specialist; Haynes is an associate professor in the Department of Horticulture and an ISU Extension consumer/urban horticulture specialist. The final session on August 28, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. will feature Angela Tedesco presenting the Top Ten Sustainable Gardening Tips from Turtle Farm. Tedesco is owner of Turtle Farm, an organic vegetable, fruit and herb CSA near Granger, Iowa.

The series, in its third year, is offered by Iowa Master Gardener program in response to requests for more Iowa gardening educational opportunities. The sessions are open to all interested gardeners; participants are not required to have completed Master Gardener training to attend, however the session will fulfill Master Gardener continuing education requirements.

Pre-registration is encouraged, but not required, to allow local staff to plan for appropriate accommodations. For more information, or to register, call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132, email keolson@iastate.edu, or stop by the Extension Office at 805 W. 10^th St in Atlantic.