Conceptual image of Walnut Splash Pad

The Walnut City Council had a discussion about chickens during their meeting Thursday evening. City Clerk Terri Abel says the Council tabled a decision on the matter until more information was available. Able says a woman living on Walnut’s “main drag” wants to raise chickens. They told her to check with her neighbors to see if they would object to having the fowl within the city limits, and report back next month.

Able says it’s not like the woman wanted to build a large egg laying facility or anything. She says she just wants to raise a few chickens for their eggs.

In other business, the Walnut City Council heard an update on the $200,000 splash pad project, the size and scope of which is expected to make the only one of its kind between Omaha and Des Moines. Abel says the project is nearing completion, and it’s hoped they’ll have it finished in time for the Memorial Day weekend. A special event is planned to celebrate the grand opening.

The public is invited to attend a free barbeque in the City Park, and the kids will be able to enjoy the new water attraction.

She says the project has been in the works for the past three-years, and was funded by local kids, grants and other efforts. And, the Walnut City Council, Thursday, discussed and approved a Law Enforcement Services Contract with Pottawattamie County. No changes were made to the contract, but Abel says they also talked about the possibility of sharing law enforcement services with the City of Avoca, however, no action was taken on that idea.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – President Barack Obama has issued a disaster declaration for six western Iowa counties damaged by tornadoes and other severe storms last month.

Republican Sen. Charles Grassley says Thursday that the declaration triggers the release of Federal Emergency Management Agency funds to help Iowa recover from the storms on April 9-10. FEMA will provide assistance to Buena Vista, Cherokee, Ida, Monona, Pocahontas and Sac counties.

The agency will help state and local governments, and certain nonprofits. The money could also be used to rebuild damaged roads and bridges and cover the cost of emergency work and debris removal.

Gov. Terry Branstad asked for declaration on April 26.

State officials say the Small Business Administration is offering low-interest loans to help homeowners, renters and businesses in 14 Iowa counties recover from a rash of tornadoes that hit the state last month. There were at least 18 twisters in Iowa on April 9, including one that slammed into Mapleton.

Gov. Terry Branstad’s office says Thursday that the SBA has declared a disaster following Branstad’s request, which was originally made for Monona and Pocahontas counties. The declaration also makes assistance available in 12 other counties – Buena Vista, Calhoun, Clay, Crawford, Harrison, Humboldt, Ida, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Sac, Webster and Woodbury.

Disaster loans up available to businesses and homeowners to repair or replace buildings, equipment and homes, and to homeowners and renters to replace personal property.

Firefighters in Manilla didn’t have far to travel to fight a blaze late last night. That’s because it was right next door to the fire station at 533 Main Street, in downtown Manilla. The Irwin Fire Department was one of several area departments which responded to help fight the blaze.

The fire destroyed two buildings and caused extensive damage to the Manilla Fire station, located next door. Irwin Fire Chief Lynn Gaskill said the fire broke out just after 10:30-pm, Wednesday, in a vacant building next to the station.

He says two firefighters were driving through town and saw flames coming from a building next door. They ran into the fire station and grabbed their equipment, moved the trucks and ambulance, and made a call for help. At least seven area fire departments responded.

The abandoned building that caught fire was formerly a blacksmith shop. Gaskill says the shop located next door to the fire station held antiques. A second, nearby structure had served as a residence, but was unoccupied. It was also destroyed by the flames.

Gaskill estimated the fire station was a total loss as well. He says the steel beams in the building were warped, and several pieces of equipment, including the firefighters’ bunker gear, radios and more were destroyed or damaged beyond repair.

The State Fire Marshall was in Manilla this morning, assessing the damage. A cause for the fire has not yet been determined. uniforms and some equipment were lost in the blaze, but there were no reports of injuries. Firefighters were kept busy this (Thursday) morning as well, after the smoldering mess re-kindled.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers is inviting the public to attend a memorial service May 18^th designed to pay tribute to law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. The service will begin at 2-p.m. at the Clarinda Cemetery Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The event is being held in conjunction with National Police Officers’ Memorial Week, May 15^th through the 21^st. Sunday, May 15^th is National Police Officers’ Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor the 160 law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty in the U-S and its territories, in 2010. President Obama and Congress have directed all government and state flags to be flown at half-staff on May 15^th.

The event being held May 18^th in Clarinda, will feature a 21-gun salute performed by the American Legion Sergy Post 98. If there is inclement weather, the ceremony will be canceled.

The Atlantic City Council Wednesday evening approved an order to rescind a resolution approving an expired development agreement and tax increment financing with Boulders Inn and Suites. City Administrator Doug Harris says the council agreed to back away from the agreement because Boulders’ officials didn’t make good on their promise to the City.

He says they didn’t meet the requirement of getting the property on the tax roles by January 1^st and certification of that agreement, along with the minimum assessment that would be placed on the property. A required landscaping plan was also not signed by company officials. City Attorney Dave Wiedersteen recommend the agreement be rescinded and a new contract drafted.

Harris said there are some new “wrinkes or considerations” that must considered before any agreement is signed by both parties. He says there are proposals for commercial/industrial tax rollbacks which would affect the tax flow on the projects and the City’s ability to fund them.

Last May, the Atlantic City Council approved a package which included $125,000 in an up-front incentive payment (upon completion of the building), and $100,00 in tax rebates…$25,000 per year, for a period of 4-years, for the 1.5-million dollar, 32-room, four-suit hotel. Construction began last Fall. The hotel was expected to be completed and open for business this month.

In other business, the Council passed a resolution setting the date for a public hearing on an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget, for May 18^th, and, on a five-to one-vote, they approved their consent agenda which included a resolution authorizing bids for the 2011 Parks Improvement, Hot Melt Asphalt (HMA) and Portland Cement Concrete (or, PCC) paving and storm sewer improvement projects.

The opening date for bids was also set for May 18^th.