***UPDATE 10/4/23: The appeal request has been withdrawn. Therefore, the Oct. 5 special meeting / hearing has been cancelled.***

(Griswold, Iowa) – The Griswold School District’s Board of Education will hold a special meeting Thursday evening in the Conference Room at 20 Madison Street, beginning at 6:30-p.m. According to the agenda, the meeting is being called to conduct a hearing on “Imposed disciplinary action of a patron,” and includes action on a motion to “Affirm or overturn [the] Administration’s Disciplinary Action imposed on a patron.”

Griswold School District Superintendent Dave Henrichs told KJAN News the incident sparking the disciplinary action occurred during a football game on Sept. 22nd.

Henrichs didn’t want to elaborate prior to the School Board’s meeting on what the patron allegedly did to warrant the disciplinary action, so as to not influence their discussion, but he did speak with regard to his decision to implement the punishment for it.

Henrichs didn’t wish to comment on whether or not the Board with affirm or overturn his decision.

He was asked if this was the first time such action against a patron has place against a Griswold School patron.

The public is welcome to attend Thursday evening’s meeting, since it is not a closed session. Looking ahead to the Board’s next – regular- meeting on Oct. 16th, Dave Henrichs said they should receive information on the Griswold School District’s certified enrollment numbers that will be submitted to the State.

(Creston, Iowa) – A Union County woman was arrested Monday evening. Creston Police report 42-year-old Megan Marie Brown, of Creston, was arrested in the 100 block of Manor Drive, at around 5:15-p.m.  Brown was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Persons Ineligible to Carry Dangerous Weapons, and Driving while Barred. She was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $3,300 cash or surety bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue is scheduled to appear before the City Council during their meeting at 5:30-p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 4th). Chief Hogue will update the Council on his department’s plans to address junk vehicle violations. In other business, the Council will act on a Resolution “Approving the dedication of [the] Redwood Subdivision to the City of Atlantic.”

During their meeting in April, 2022, the Council approved the preliminary plat for the subdivision, with the final plat having been approved in June of 2022. Both plats created nine new lots for low-density residential, single-family homes, and extended a cul-de-sac (East 20th St.) with utility service and right-of-way (ROW), west of Redwood Drive. A stipulation of the preliminary plat states “The public infrastructure improvements (streets, sewer, storm water & water main) shall be dedicated to the City of Atlantic.” The Resolution will complete the transfer of the ROW and improvements within, to the City.

Other Council action is expected with regard to “Approving the Transfer of Funds for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2023-24,” which City Administrator John Lund says is a routine transfer of money for the City’s 63 separate funds, and is a critical component of making the City’s budget work effectively. It also reconciles accurate cost-accounting with the desire to create transparency on what is being spent in each line item in each fund. The transfers, Lund says, are always in accordance with State Law.

In the past, Lund notes, the City simply followed the budget on the transfers as sufficient documentation of activity, but the auditors are now requiring that a separate resolution be passed as the transfers occur.

The Atlantic City Council meeting takes place in their Chambers at City Hall.

DANBURY, Iowa (KCAU) — A state investigation has led to an arrest warrant being issued in Woodbury County. According to the Iowa State Auditor’s Office, more than $177,000 of improper disbursements were made by former Danbury City Clerk Stacy Rockdaschel, between March 1, 2020, and May 31, 2022. Following the release of State Auditor Rob Sand’s investigation, Woodbury County authorities issued an arrest warrant for Rockdaschel on charges of ongoing criminal conduct and first-degree theft.

Rochdaschel resigned from her position as city clerk on May 15, 2022. The auditor’s report outlines hundreds of improper disbursements for clothing and accessories, as well as thousands of dollars in improper charges involving PayPal, social media vendors, Venmo, and Amazon. Sand also identified $26,500 of estimated undeposited collections. The auditorsaid reform is needed in order to deter people from stealing from local governments.

Stacy-Rockdaschel-Booking-photo

Right now, there’s no mandatory minimum for officials who embezzle funds from city or county coffers. Additionally, Sand is recommending the city implement procedures to ensure the city’s internal controls are strengthened.