(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors heard from individuals opposed to the Sumitt Carbon Solutions pipeline project that’s expected to take place in the western third of the County. Persons who spoke in opposition to the pipeline had two minutes to voice their concerns. Among those who spoke, was Maggie McQuown, from Red Oak, who is also a member of the County’s board of adjustment. She said while they aren’t likely to “pump the brakes” on the pipeline project, the County does have jurisdiction over land use and siting.

She said Summitt continues to try and take away those jurisdictional powers throughout the State. McQouwn said “We need to fight hard to be able to say we we think a structure should be sited, and what the allowed use of the land is.”

A man from Imogene whose property borders Montgomery County, spoke about the “poor information” and “scare tactics,”with regard to the price of corn, if the carbon pipeline isn’t built. He called the information “Highly suspect.” Supervisors Board Chair Mike Olsen, became noticeably irritated over those and other comments, with regard to what the County can and cannot do about the pipeline project.

Barb Nelson said “No one is here saying we can stop the pipeline, but we can make it safer for everyone involved.”

The Board and audience also heard from Riley Gibson, Relationship Manager with Turnkey Logistics – representing Summitt Carbon Solutions. TurnKey Logistics provides logistics planning and execution for energy and infrastructure projects. Gibson they are still waiting for a final date for their appearance before the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) before action can be expected on approving the pipeline route through Iowa.

He said it appears that may take place sometime in October. He said also, since he last appeared before the Supervisors in February, Summitt has partnered with two ethanol plants – one in Iowa and one in South Dakota. Summit Carbon Solutions is partnering with more than 30 ethanol plants across a five-state region that includes Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Their plan is to capture carbon dioxide from the fermentation process of biorefineries such as ethanol plants, compress the captured CO2, and channel it to North Dakota where it will be permanently stored in deep underground storage locations.

Gibson said they currently have 75-percent voluntary easement acquisitions from Montgomery County landowners, which is up from the 58-percent. He said “So far in the County we’ve made $4.6-million in easement payments.” He then proceeded to address some “misconceptions” and questions, with regard to the project and other DOT projects in general, including concerns over regulations. The Iowa Utilities Board and DNR are among the entities that regulate such energy projects.

In other business, the Montgomery County Supervisors received a report and quote with regard to tuck-pointing for the courthouse and clock tower.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies Tuesday (today), arrested 29-year-old Levi Oathoudt, of Griswold, on a Controlled Substance Violation warrant.  Oathoudt was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

And, last Thursday (June 8), Deputies in Cass County arrested 27-year-old Matthew Paulsen, of Adair, on the charge of Driving While Barred.  Paulsen was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

(Cass County, Iowa) – In an update to our earlier post and report, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday), said a man from Adair suffered from apparent minor injuries, when the dump truck he was operating rolled over Monday afternoon, near Anita. The accident happened at around 4:41-p.m. in the area of 76oth and Fairview Road.

An investigation determined a 2019 Volvo dump truck operated by Walter Starkey, of Adair, was traveling west on Fairview Road, when the vehicle got to close to the edge of the road, and slid down a ditch before rolling onto its side in an adjacent property. Starkey was alert and conscious following the accident. He was taken to a local hospital to be checked-out and treated as necessary.

Photo courtesy Cass County Emergency Mgmt. Director Mike Kennon.

AMES, Iowa – June 13, 2023 – The Iowa Transportation Commission approved the Fiscal Year 2024-2028 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program at its meeting today (Tuesday). The program documents investments in Iowa’s multi-modal transportation system covering aviation, public transit, railroads, trails, and highways. The transportation system you use every day is constantly being evaluated and data is collected and analyzed to determine how to best invest your tax dollars into making the system even better.

Each year, based on guidance and direction from the Commission, the Iowa Department of Transportation prepares a detailed list of transportation projects to be accomplished in the next five years. This list, called the Fiscal Year 2024-2028 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program, was approved today by the Commission. The program provides details about proposed investments in Iowa’s multi-modal transportation system covering aviation, public transit, railroads, trails, and highways.

The program includes specific highway and bridge projects anticipated to be constructed over the next five years on the state highway system made up of all Interstate, U.S., and Iowa-signed routes. All other roads in the state are under the jurisdiction of individual cities and counties and each local jurisdiction develops its own program of highway, road, street, and bridge construction projects.

Program overview

The highway and bridge projects included in this program are funded with approximately $4.3 billion of state and federal funding forecast to be available over the next five years. Projects included in the program are consistent with the goals and objectives of the State Long-Range Transportation Plan and are determined by using safety, traffic, congestion, condition, and other data. This assures the projects are those necessary to provide modern, safe, and efficient transportation of goods and the traveling public.

The cost to construct roads and bridges has continued to increase significantly over the last year. During the same time, the money available to fund those construction projects has largely remained the same. Because of the cost increases, the Commission had to take steps including proposing to delay several projects by no more than one year to keep the program balanced. Through these actions, the Commission was able to develop this year’s program without removing any projects from last year’s program.

When reviewing the projects, the Commission prioritizes projects that improve the safety and condition of existing state highways and bridges, and this program includes more than $3.5 billion of investments in that area. Significant investments in bridges have been made over the last 17 years, dropping the number of poor-condition bridges on the state highway system from 256 in 2006 to 26 in 2023. This program includes more than $1.3 billion of additional bridge investments.

The interstate system connects all transportation systems in Iowa and facilitates the efficient movement of freight within, to/from, and through Iowa. This program includes projects to add lanes for more vehicles where necessary, replace major river crossings, and modernize interchanges to improve safety and handle future traffic demands such as:

• I-80 Middle Road Interchange reconstruction in Bettendorf
• I-80 Mississippi River bridge replacement
• I-35/80/235 Southwest Mixmaster modernization in Polk County
• I-380 widening from 120th Street to U.S. 30 (including Wright Brothers interchange reconstruction) in Linn County
• I-35 bridge replacement and widening at the U.S. 30 interchange in Ames
• I-35 widening between Ankeny and Iowa 210
• I-29 Madison Avenue interchange reconstruction in Council Bluffs
• I-29 interchange construction in Woodbury County
• Addition of more than 100 truck parking spots

Projects in this program that address safety and improve the way the roads function include:

• Iowa 21 near Belle Plaine and Iowa 333 in Hamburg to improve access during times of flooding
• U.S. 75 north of Sioux Center to the south junction of U.S. 18 to replace aging pavement
• Iowa 149 Des Moines River Bridge to Woodland Avenue in Ottumwa to replace aging pavement
• Iowa 12 Gordon Drive Bridge in Sioux City to replace an aging viaduct
• Iowa 58 Greenhill Road Interchange in Waterloo to replace an existing at-grade intersection
• U.S. 151 Interchange with Linn County Road X-20 at Springville to replace an existing at-grade intersection
• U.S. 30 Interchange at 610th Avenue at Nevada to replace an existing at-grade intersection
• Super-2 improvements on U.S. 63 in Tama County to provide more passing opportunities
• Iowa 9 Mississippi River Bridge replacement at Lansing

The Program is posted on the Iowa DOT’s website https://iowadot.gov/program_management/Five-Year-Program.

(Griswold, Iowa) – Griswold Rescue and Cass EMS crews were dispatched to a two-vehicle accident this (Tuesday) morning, in Griswold. The collision occurred at the intersection of Highwaya 92 & 48. The crash happened at around 8:24-a.m. One person was said to have suffered unknown/possible injuries. Additional details are currently unavailable.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Auditor of State Rob Sand today (Tuesday) released a report on a special investigation of the City of Cumberland for the period covering January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2021. The special investigation was requested by City officials as a result of concerns regarding certain financial transactions processed by the former City Clerk, Grace Thomsen.

Sand reported the special investigation identified $58,532.27 of improper disbursements, $30,214.56 of undeposited, uncollected, and/or unbilled utility charges and fees, and $3,308.60 of unsupported disbursements. However, because City records were not sufficiently maintained, it was not possible to determine if additional undeposited, uncollected, and/or unbilled utility transactions existed or if additional amounts were improperly disbursed.

Sand reported the $58,532.27 improper disbursements identified includes:
• $26,877.58 of payroll related late fees and interest to Internal Revenue Service, IPERS, Department of Revenue, and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.
• $18,837.17 of unauthorized payroll and reimbursements issued to Ms. Thomsen.
• $10,207.80 of unauthorized payroll and reimbursements issued to other City officials and employees.
• $971.86 of improper disbursements to other vendors, and
• $1,637.86 of late fees and finance charges to other vendors.

Sand also reported the total undeposited, uncollected, and/or unbilled utility charges identified includes:
• $4,248.70 of undeposited and/or uncollected payments for the utility account held by Ms. Thomsen and her spouse,
• $2,325.20 of unbilled utility charges for the utility account held by Ms. Thomsen and her spouse,
• $17,993.57 of undeposited collections for other selected utility accounts held by City residents,
• $3,767.09 of unbilled utility charges and late fees for other selected utility accounts held by City residents.
• $1,180.00 of undeposited miscellaneous collections, and
• $700.00 of cash withheld from deposit.

The $3,308.60 of unsupported disbursements identified is composed of transactions for which the City could not provide supporting documentation, including reimbursements to Ms. Thomsen and other City employees and purchases made to other vendors. During an interview, Ms. Thomsen admitted she had either not billed or not paid her utilities until March 2021. In addition, Sand reported several credit memos were processed on various resident accounts to adjust the account balances for payments which had been posted but subsequently deleted.

Sand recommended City officials implement procedures to ensure the City’s internal controls are strengthened, including segregation of duties, performing utility reconciliations, reviewing timesheets and/or calendars for payroll, and ensuring all disbursements are properly supported, approved, and paid in a timely manner. Copies of the report have been filed with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Cass County Attorney’s Office, and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office. A copy of the report is available for review on the Auditor of State’s website at Special Interest Reports.

RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee, Monday, announced her Small Business of the Week: Precision Optical Group of Union County. Throughout this Congress, Ranking Member Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.

“Precision Optical Group is a thriving small business with a local impact and a growing global footprint, reaching thousands of customers with their unique product. As a Southwest Iowa native, I’m proud to see the long-lasting success of another family-owned and operated small business,” said Ranking Member Ernst.

Precision Optical Group is the country’s largest independently-owned wholesale optical lab serving customers across 48 states and exporting globally. Headquartered in Creston, Iowa, the team maintains 140 employees amongst three labs and makes 1,700 lenses per day. In 2022, Precision Optical Group celebrated their 30th anniversary

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department says officials with Dog Gone Rescue reported on June 7th, that two bags of donated shoes were stolen off a front porch. The loss was estimated at $30.00. The incident happened sometime between 4-and 4:30-p.m. on June 7th.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Members of the Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will meet in a regular session that begins at 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, in the High School Media Center. On their agenda is action on accepting the resignations of Transportation Director Mark Weis, HS ELA Teacher Jumar Sadsad, and Head Varsity Girls Soccer Coach Dan Vargason.

The Board will also act on Superintendent Steve Barber’s contract recommendations for several individuals, including:

Casey Pelzer, Middle School Principal; Mary McBride, a transfer to 4-8 Therapeutic Classroom Teacher; Oren Perkins, 9-12 Link Center Teacher; Jeremy Blake, Special Education Teacher; Nolan Williams, HS Paraeducator; Joe Brummer & Matt Best, Summer Weightlifting Coordinator’s, and Ashley Mosier, Asst. HS Cross Country Coach.

Other action items include the 2nd Reading of 500 Series Board Policies, pertaining to Student Personnel. It should be noted that NONE of the polices deal with the rights of students to protest on school property, which the ACLU has said would be unconstitutional. The Board will also act on TLC Contracts for 11 individuals serving as Instructional Coaches, in an Instructional Support Capacity, and as Mentors.

The Board will take action on a request by Atlantic Activities Director Andy Mitchell, for permission to send Band and Choir students on a field trip to Florida during the Winter/Spring of 2024 (Feb. 29-March 4). The costs are not expected to exceed $1,500 per student if they are transported by a charter bus. Flying would cost at least $1,700 per student.

The Atlantic School Board will also act on a District Developed Special Education Plan, iJAG Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and an Employee Handbook update.

(Radio Iowa) – Former Iowa Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls, of Coralville. says Senate Democrats voted him out of his leadership position because he fired two longtime staffers. Senate Democrats met late last week and voted to replace Wahls and have Senator Pam Jochum of Dubuque be their floor leader.

Wahls did not issue a public statement then, but he’s written a blog post this week. Wahls says the two employees of the Senate Democratic Caucus that he fired did not share his vision for change and he stands by that decision because Iowa Democrats desperately need a new direction and leaders who will chart that course.

Wahls won reelection last November to a four year term and he will continue serving in the state senate. Wahls says it’s critical for the well-being of the state to get more Democrats elected to office and he’s pledging to work with his fellow Democrats to accomplish that goal.