The Atlantic School Board met Wednesday evening at the Schuler Elementary Building for their regular monthly meeting. During their session, the Board approved an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2017 Certified Budget in the amount of $545, 373. Board Secretary/Business Manager Mary Beth Fast explained the increase was necessary due to the purchase of the Cass, Incorporated building that wasn’t “Even on the radar,” when the Board was putting together its budget for 2017.

The Board agree late last March to purchase the building for $925,000, for the purpose of using it as a place to house the grades 6 thru 12 Behavioral Program students, Central Office staff and future, trades/technology programs, to name but a few of the options.

Jerry Purdy w/Design Alliance Architects

Jerry Purdy, with the Design Alliance architectural firm, told the Board Wednesday that the latest projections on the renovating costs are expected to be around $410- to $420,000, which is considerably higher than the original estimate of $360,000, but is based on new State Fire Marshal requirements and the uncertainty over bid estimate.

A Request for Bid Proposals is expected to be published by May 26th, with the deadline for bids June 1st. Purdy said the RFP must also be placed on a state website for contractors. In other business, the Atlantic School Board tabled until their next meeting, an Operational Sharing Agreement for Transportation with the Griswold School District, due to questions about how useful the service actually is to Griswold, based on the $32,500 cost they are paying to Atlantic for the service of Transportation Director Dave Eckles. Eckles said his time isn’t being well spent for that District.

He said he told Atlantic Superintendent Mike Amstein and Griswold Superintendent Dave Henrichs, that “He’s done about as much as [he] can do,” and helped them out with a few things. He said also it takes a lot of extra time and effort to travel to Griswold, and he doesn’t have anyone ready to step in to his position in Atlantic, while he’s gone.

The Board did approve the ratification of a Contract Agreement for 2017-2019 for the District’s Non-Certified Employees, but the Certified Employees contract remains up in the air. As part of the agreement with the Non-Certified Employees, the second year of the contract allows wages open for negotiations. The NCE’s Union has already approved the agreement as written.

And, the Atlantic School Board approved various Contracts, Letters of Assignment and resignations, the latter of which includes Ginger Bechtold, Middle School Student Council Sponsor; Katrina Hames, Para Educator; Emma Walker, Asst. Varsity Girl’s Basketball Coach; and Jessica Fincel, Technology Resource Integrationist.

In addition, Brian Ihnken’s transfer from Middle School Maintenance and Groundskeeper to the High School was approved, along with Jeremy Blake as Special Education Teacher at the High School. Lori Namanny and Angela Behrens were approved to serve the Summer Lunch Program, and Brielle Cervan as Homebound Instructor.

Steve Andersen was approved as Substitute Bus Driver, and Bryce Casey as Summer Grounds Worker.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of 47-year-old Mark Douglas Berggren of Red Oak on Wednesday at 3:15pm. Berggren was arrested on two Montgomery County Bench Warrants for Failure to Appear. He was taken into custody and held on $10,000 cash only bond on each warrant.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a Clarinda man has been found dead in a County park.  Montgomery County Sheriff’s Officials were joined by members of the Cass and Adams County Sheriff’s Departments and the Iowa State Patrol in conducting a search for a suicidal male subject in the area of Hacklebarney Park north of Villisca.  At 8:21am the male, 25-year-old Nickolas Appel of Clarinda was discovered deceased in the park by a Montgomery County Conservation Officer.

The original call came in to the Page County Sheriff’s Office. Villisca and Red Oak Rescue and Montgomery County EMA all assisted in the search and recovery.

The driver of a vehicle received multiple citations after running into another vehicle in Red Oak on Wednesday. Red Oak Police report they were called to the scene of the accident at Broadway and Cherry Street at 1:22pm. After investigation it was determined that three vehicles were traveling south bound on Broadway Street and approached the Cherry Street intersection. The first vehicle was turning right at the red light. The second vehicle was a 2016 Chevy Traverse driven by 58-year-old Elaine Marie Hollen of Red Oak and she slowed for the turning vehicle and then stopped. The third vehicle was a 2009 Ford F150 Supercrew driven by 50-year-old Kelly Kay Wilcoxon of Red Oak and she thought Hollen was also turning right at the red light. When Hollen stopped at the light Wilcoxon was too close to stop and struck Hollen’s vehicle. No injuries were reported. Damage to the Ford was estimated at $5,000 and damage to the Traverse was estimated at $2,000. Wilcoxon was cited for Following Too Close and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability. Both vehicles were able to be driven from the scene.

A representative with Rex Pharmacy contacted the Atlantic Police Department on Wednesday and informed them of a possible phone scam.  They were contacted by a member of the community that stated they had been contacted by an unknown person and told they had won a vacation trip courtesy of Rex Pharmacy. Rex Pharmacy and the Atlantic Police Department would like the public to know that if they receive a similar call that it is a scam call and not real. As always do not give out any personal or financial information over the phone to unknown callers.

Republican Governor Terry Branstad is calling on Iowa voters to “fire” the state’s Democratic attorney general. “There’s an election coming up in 2018,” Branstad said this morning. “…I think it’s time for a new attorney general.” Branstad’s been criticizing Attorney General Tom Miller for issuing an opinion last week that concluded Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds doesn’t have the authority to name a NEW lieutenant governor when she replaces Branstad as governor.

During an appearance at the Westside Conservative Club in Urbandale this (Wednesday) morning, someone asked Branstad why HE didn’t just fire Miller. “We can’t fire the attorney general. He’s openly elected. You can!” Branstad shouted as the crowd laughed and applauded. “…Let’s get a new attorney that will represent Iowa and the people of Iowa’s interests and just follow the law.”

Branstad, who has won six terms as Iowa’s governor, also mentioned Miller’s longevity in office as he urged fellow Republicans to defeat Miller’s expected bid for a 10th term in 2018. “He has been the attorney general since 1978, with the exception of four years of Bonnie Campbell,” Branstad said. Campbell is the Democrat who served as Iowa’s attorney general from 1991 to 1995.

Last week, Iowa’s current attorney general said Reynolds would have the title of governor when Branstad resigns to become U.S. ambassador to China, but Miller argues his read of the state constitution indicates Reynolds will have the duties of both governor AND lieutenant governor when Branstad leaves, so she can’t name a NEW lieutenant.

Branstad says that’s “convoluted” reasoning, since the constitution forbids the governor from holding another elected office. Miller told The Cedar Rapids Gazette today (Wednesday) that “despite all the rhetoric” his “thoroughly researched opinion is based on the law and not politics.” Miller says Iowa’s constitution should be amended to give a lieutenant governor the authority to name a replacement when a governor cannot serve his or her full term.

(Radio Iowa)