The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department officially has two new members. Prior to the start of their regular meeting Monday evening, Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones recited the oath of office to incoming members Erin McFadden and Charlene Beane, who were elected to the Board during the November 5th City elections.

Erin McFadden (left) and Charlene Beane (Center) are sworn-in by Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones.

The new board then got down to business by electing their officers for the next two-years. It turns out there was no change, with Stuart Dusenberry having been re-elected as Chair, Mary Strong, Vice Chair, and Jolene Smith as Secretary.

During their meeting, Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring reported a fish kill can be expected soon in Lake number 1 at the Schildberg Recreation Area. Last month, Brian Hayes, Fisheries Biologist with the DNR reported to the Board the Gizzard Shad has overpopulated the lake and stunted the growth of other game fish.

Gizzard Shad fish

Hayes said to deal with the menacing Gizzard Shad, the DNR will have to administer a dosage of Rotenone. Herring warned the Board that the DNR will be treating the lake possibly within the next week, or before the first ice freeze at the very least, and the result will be visually shocking to the point where the Board can expect calls from the public.

He said there will be a “sizable fill kill out there,” and will result in a lot of fish floating on top of the water. The media will be notified 48-hours in advance of the kill, which is designed to improve the fish population. While the floating fish carcasses might be a bit disturbing, Herring says Brian Hayes told him there is a plus side, in that the fish will attract predatory birds. That means there may be several Bald Eagles drawn to Atlantic. The rotenone will be in such small concentrations, that it will not harm the animals or birds that eat the fish which were killed by the chemical application.

In other business, the Atlantic Parks and Rec Board approved for remittance to the City Council, a draft of the Tobacco Free Policy for Sunnyside Park, with a slight modification. It was created using the City of Adel’s Ordinance which says tobacco use is prohibited in designated areas of City parks, trails, and outdoor recreational facilities, and all public building grounds at all times. Designated park areas include: restrooms, athletic fields and in the spectator areas of athletic fields during a sporting event; tennis courts; disc golf courses; playground areas; recreational trail rest areas; and any pavilions; shelters and benches located in a park or on a public ground.

Atlantic’s version would add the basketball court, but remove the disc golf course from the list of areas where the use of tobacco products would be prohibited. It would also be submitted as a proposed ordinance instead of a “Policy.” Herring said the police department is recommending it be submitted as an ordinance because it would be more enforceable than a “Policy.” The final version will be written by the City Attorney and presented before the City Council at a future meeting for their approval.

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Board of Directors will meet Monday at the new Parks and Rec Maintenance Building at 1200 Sunnyside Lane, beginning at 5-p.m., with the swearing-in of new Board members, and the regular meeting at 5:15.

During the Board’s session, they will elect Board Officers for a two-year term (2013-2014 & 2014-2015). They’ll also receive an update on Schildberg Lake #1 with regard to Fishery development, and review the Tobacco Free Policy and ordinance for Sunnyside Park. Other business includes: An update on the Schildberg Recreation Area (SRA) Campground; the setting of a date for the Park Maintenance Building Open House; An update on the boat ramp and Buck Creek Dog Park projects, and recent fundraiser for the dog park; and an update on the Bike Rack Project and Atlantic Walking Path.

Discussion items near the end of the meeting will include the future of the older metal buildings at Sunnyside Park, and Sunnyside Park Closing dates.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Farmers and agribusiness professionals are invited to the Omaha Ag Outlook event in December. The event is scheduled for Dec. 6 and 7 at Embassy Suites in Omaha’s Old Market district. Organizers are offering sessions focused on livestock marketing, estate planning and international agriculture.

The event will also include a banquet to discuss the U.S. farm bill, and a discussion on the outlook for grains and oilseed. Pre-registration is required. The meeting is a joint effort of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Iowa State University.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office has rescinded a ban on outdoor burning in Audubon County. The ban, which went into effect On August 31st due to the dry condition, was lifted effective 1-p.m. today (Friday).

The Watershed Improvement Review Board (WIRB) recently approved ten applications totaling more than $2.3-million in grants to support projects that will improve water quality or reduce flooding in the state. Among the projects is the Adair Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) covering Adair and Cass Counties, which will receive $298, 562 for the West Fork Middle Nodaway River. And, the West Pottawattamie SWCD will receive $279,811 for the Mosquito Creek Project in Pottawattamie County.

The grant funds will be matched by recipients, who will provide over $6.5-million in funding from the local communities to support these projects. As a result, $8.8- million will be going to support conservation work in priority watersheds throughout the state.

The approved projects have already completed watershed assessments that identified critical water resource areas and will focus on implementing specific water quality or flood reduction improvements. The projects will start after a grant agreement is signed between the applicant and the Watershed Improvement Review Board. Soil and water conservation districts, public water supply utilities, counties, county conservation boards, cities, and local watershed improvement committees were eligible to apply. Individual projects could request up to $300,000.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey says “These projects are a partnership between federal, state and local organizations that are committed to improving Iowa’s water quality. By supporting projects that address runoff and drainage, sedimentation, urban stormwater, livestock runoff, streambed and bank stabilization and a number of other issues, these projects are focused on issues that directly impact the state’s waterways and water quality.”

WIRB received a total of $3 million this year and at least half of the funds must be used to support voluntary, science based water quality practices referenced in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

Andrea Farrior and Chris Parks discuss the latest information from the Atlantic Animal Shelter at 309 Sunnyside Lane in Atlantic.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (3.4MB)

Subscribe: RSS

w/ Dr. Keith Leonard

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (3.8MB)

Subscribe: RSS

w/ Denny Heflin

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (8.0KB)

Subscribe: RSS

w/ Kate Olson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.8MB)

Subscribe: RSS