(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Assessor Mary Anstey reports the 2023 property assessments will be mailed to you by April 1, 2023. Almost all residential properties will see large increases in value. Iowa is a market value-based state, and the market is determined by the prices buyers are paying for houses. New construction or major remodeling on individual properties will affect the percentage of change differently than market indicated adjustments. For instance, if you added a new two-stall garage, your percentage of increase in assessed value will be higher than your neighbor that did not add anything new. Will your property taxes increase by the same percentage that the assessment increased? Anstey says “No, they will not.”

Anstey says there are two main reasons for the large increases for 2023. The first one being that the Iowa Department of Revenue requires every assessor to use the Iowa Cost Manual. There had not been an update of this manual since 2008, until 2020. Cass County implemented the 2020 Iowa Cost Manual beginning January 1, 2023. As you all know, construction costs have seen steep increases over the course of that 12-year period.

The second reason goes back to Iowa being a market value-based state. The Code of Iowa states that residential and commercial property must be valued at market value in odd numbered years. This will be happening throughout the entire state of Iowa in 2023. Based on sales of residential properties throughout Cass County in 2022, we learn how much we need to increase values and what areas need larger increases than others, to stay at market values. Currently the residential sales ratios in Cass County indicate that there needs to be an increase in value of 26%. Based on current commercial sales those properties classified as commercial will not see a drastic increase. It is important to note that if assessors do not increase values when the data shows that they should have, the Iowa Department of Revenue will increase them in the fall of 2023. If the Iowa Department of Revenue increases the values instead of the assessor, all properties will receive the same percentage increase. This is not fair to those areas that did not need that same high-level increase. It would also lead to a much higher increase in the future for those that need a higher increase.

Agriculture values are set by the State using a 5-year productivity formula. For the January 1, 2023, assessment, the five crop years of date include 2017-2021.

“To summarize,” Anstey says, “there are two substantial drivers for these valuation increases. The first being the conversion to the state mandated 2020 Iowa Cost Manual and the second being increased property sales prices. Remember, your property taxes will NOT increase by the same percentage as your property assessment.

You will not pay taxes on your new value until September 2024 and March 2025. You can research your property value by going to the assessor’s website at: beacon.schneidercorp.com.

If you have any questions, feel free to stop in or call the Assessor’s office. Office hours are 8:00a.m. – 4:30p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number is 712-243-2005.

ELK HORN, IOWA — Residents of the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton Community School District approved both a voted Physical Plant & Equipment Levy and a Revenue Purpose Statement on Tuesday, March 7. As a result, the district will be able to prioritize the most urgent and required repairs throughout its school buildings. These include updating facilities, roofing repairs, safe and secure entrances, technology, transportation, and more.

The PPEL is a levy that generates funds the district can use only for infrastructure and equipment repairs, purchases and improvements. On March 7, voters renewed the PPEL that had been in place for the district over the past 10 years. The Revenue Purpose Statement, meanwhile, will enable Exira-EHK to use statewide one-penny sales tax dollars (through a program called SAVE) toward construction projects.

Both measures passed with more than 86 percent approval. Neither will result in a property tax increase for the community. Superintendent Trevor Miller said “We would like to thank our community for their overwhelming support of these two important items that were on the ballot March 7.

The fact that they were both approved means we will be able to repair systems and facilities throughout our schools, thereby helping us ensure a safe and secure learning environment for our students. We appreciate the incredible engagement and great questions we received from our community throughout this process.”

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood report three men have been arrested on OWI/1st offense, charges. 51-year-old Brian Kelly, of Glenwood, was arrested Thursday. Nate Mohr, of Glenwood, and 39-year-old Benjamin Haynes, of Plattsmouth, NE, were arrested today (Friday), also for OWI/1st offense.

Kelly posted a $2,000 cash or surety bond. Mohr and Haynes each posted a $1,000 c/s bond and were released.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak have cited and then released a woman for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 18-year-old Hannah Marie Dahlberg, of Red Oak, was found to be in possession of paraphernalia Thursday afternoon, at the Red Oak High School. Officers transported her to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center. She was issued a citation at around 8:45-a.m. today (Friday), in violation of Iowa Code.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Arts Council is encouraging all Iowans involved in building creative communities, including artists, filmmakers, and cultural organizations, to attend its grant information sessions this month. Iowa Arts Council staff will make stops in Cedar Falls, Creston, Ottumwa and Storm Lake to visit with community members about current grant funding opportunities ahead of a May 1, 2023, application deadline for most programs.

During the one-hour workshops, staff will highlight important points and share tips on how to strengthen applications. Attendees are also encouraged to bring ideas to share and discuss with staff. There is no cost to attend, but advanced registration is highly encouraged.

The schedule for the grant workshops follows:

• March 21, Noon, Witter Art Gallery, 609 Cayuga St., Storm Lake
• March 22, 11 a.m., Bridge View Center, 102 Church St., Ottumwa
• March 23, 11 a.m., Creston Arts Center, 411 W Adams St., Creston
• March 28, 11 a.m., Hearst Center for the Arts, 304 W Seerley Blvd., Cedar Falls

As a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, the Iowa Arts Council invests in projects that positively impact the vitality of the arts, demonstrate public value and excellence, and help Iowans across the state create cultural vibrancy in their communities for residents and visitors. Funding for Iowa Arts Council grant programs is provided by appropriations from the Iowa Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, to the department.

In addition to the workshops, the Iowa Arts Council has shared informational grant webinars on the department’s YouTube channel and is offering applicants the opportunity to schedule a meeting with program managers before May 1. More information is available at iowaculture.gov.

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  The Atlantic Rotary Club reminds seniors graduating from the Atlantic High School, of the opportunity to apply for scholarships sponsored by the Rotary Club.  The Atlantic Rotary Club will award two (2) $1,000 Scholarships to graduating seniors from Atlantic High School who will be attending a Community College, Vocational or Technical Institution.  The Club will also be awarding two (2) $1,000 Scholarships to AHS graduating seniors who will be attending a 4-year University or College.

The applications are available to students on the Atlantic High School website.  Scholarship applications and all supporting material must be postmarked no later than March 30, 2023.

CRESTON, Iowa – March 10, 2023 – If you are driving on U.S. 6 in Cass County in the coming weeks you may notice some construction work taking place on the bridge over the East Nishnabotna River, 2.6 miles east of Iowa 48 near Lewis. Beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday, March 13, weather permitting, construction crews will begin bridge deck overlay work. This will require reducing traffic to one lane on the U.S. 6 bridge with temporary traffic signals until the project is completed on Thursday, July 27. A lane-width restriction of 11-feet-4.5-inches will be in place during this project.

Help keep everyone on the road safer. Drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, you should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

The latest traveler information is available anytime through the 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide).

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has unanimously voted to set new rules to prevent prescription drug switches that aren’t done for medical reasons. This would NOT apply to substituting a less expensive generic drug for a brand name medication with the same active ingredients. Representative Gary Mohr, of Bettendorf, says it’s about insurance plans denying coverage or requiring a higher co-payment in the middle of a health plan’s year.  “Increasing the cost of the drug on the covered person when the individual is stable on the drug and their health care provider continues to prescribe that same drug,” he says.

Mohr says insurers and patient advocates have been working on the legislation for the past six years, and came up with a compromise. Representative Megan Srinivas, of Des
Moines, says the bill would protect patients.  “As a physician I see the implications of having medical switches that are not necessary or even good for my patients every single day,” Srinivas says. “This bill fixes that.”

As other states have debated similar moves, insurance companies have argued the switches let them offer patients alternatives when pharmaceutical companies raise the price of a drug in the middle of an insurance plan’s year. Medicare, the government health plan for seniors, prohibits midyear changes unless the federal agency that oversees the program authorizes it.

(Creston, Iowa) –  A woman from Story County was arrested at around 3:10-a.m. today (Friday), in Creston. According to Creston Police, 20-year-old Addisyn Julie Vorm, of Nevada (Iowa), was arrested at a residence in the 300 block of N. Spruce Street.  She was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Vorm was cited and released on a Promise to Appear.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A little less than a year after he took over the lead role as Atlantic Middle School Principal, Scot Aden is leaving for a district closer to where his roots are. He’s leaving the District for a position as Principal in the Carroll School District.

Aden grew up in the Lidderdale area, and accepted the position to be closer to family. Aden came to Atlantic after leaving his position with the Cherokee Community School District. He took over as AMS Principal on July 1, 2022, and succeeded former Middle School Principal Josh Rasmussen, who accepted the job of shared Superintendent for the Adair-Casey-Guthrie Center School Districts.

Mr. Scot Aden

The Atlantic School Board will act on accepting Aden’s resignation during their meeting March 29th.