A public hearing will be held tonight (Thursday) in Walnut, with regard to the progress, budget, and status of, the 2009 Housing Rehabilitation Program. That, along with a public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Budget, will take place during a meeting of the Walnut City Council, which begins at 5-p.m.

The Council will also act on adopting the FY 2012-2013 budget following the hearing, and consider the adoption of a resolution setting the date for a hearing on an economic development agreement, along with other matters.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Atlantic City Council Wednesday evening adopted a resolution expressing the City’s intent to enter into General Obligation (G-O) loan and Bond purchasing agreements with Ruan Securities, in the amount of $4.95-million. The move came during a special Council meeting, and followed public hearings on both issues. Chip Schultz, with Ruan Securities in Des Moines, acts as the City’s Bond Counsel. Schultz said the agreement with the City of Atlantic is exciting, because the timing is perfect, considering the current interest rates. Schultz said “It’s pretty spectacular that (the City) can borrow almost $5-million at just over 2% interest.” He said the bond issue covers the City’s planned Street and Storm Water Improvements, as part of the 2011 projects, Building and Park improvements and equipment acquisition, which the City has previously accomplished through an arrangement with Atlantic Municipal Utilities.

Schultz said the payment structure plan works out to 15-years, and includes Bond Issuance’s for 2013 and 2014. He says that makes for “A manageable Tax Levy, going forward.” He says interest costs on the bonds amount to $828,000, which is less than 20% of the issuance itself. Schultz said when started in the business 13-years ago, an interest cost less than one-half the amount par amount, or $2.5-million in this case, you thought you’d be getting a pretty good rate on your bonds.” But the City’s paying 18%, is advantageous.

Schultz says the City will have about 30% of its Debt Capacity remaining, or $4.9-million of legal debt capacity, after the new bond issuance is in place. Additional debt capacity will be made available after principal payments are made on June 1st. In previous years, the City ran it’s Debt Capacity at 45-to 50%, so being at around 70% is “getting up there,” according to Schultz, but since the City will be paying-off almost $2-million in debt through June 1st, 2014, that will make the capacity more reasonable. Schultz says the City of Atlantic currently has a Standard and Poor’s bond rating of A+, which is in the upper eschelon of the “A” category.The highest bond rating is “AAA,” next is “AA,” followed by “A”. Atlantic is in the latter category. Anything with a BA+ or worse, would be considered a “junk bond.”

During the Council’s meeting on March 7th, they’ll act on authorizing the issuance of the 2012 G-O Bonds, which will include authorizing the redemption of 2007 G-O Bonds. That takes place on June 1st, and will save the City $45,845 in interest costs over the next five-years. Schultz said funds from the 2012 G-O Bonds will be delivered to the City on Wednesday, March 28th. The bonds will be cull-able, on June 1st, 2019, if the City desires.

A Red Oak man faces Willful Injury and Violation of a Protection Order charges, following his arrest Wednesday night. Officials say 28-year old Brandon Scott Boydston was taken into custody at around 7:30-p.m., after Red Oak Police were called to a report from the City View Apartments, of a woman screaming for help. An investigation determined Boydston allegedly struck the unidentified woman with a baseball bat. The victim was treated for her injuries at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital.  Boydston was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond.

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – An economist who oversees a monthly economic survey of nine states in the Midwest and Plains says the economic recovery has spread to more industries. The Mid-America Business Conditions Index rose last month to 58.4 from 55.9 in January. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the region’s growth had been limited to agriculture and energy sectors. He says the February survey indicates the growth has spread to most industries, except construction.
 
The survey of supply managers and executives uses a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say that any score above 50 suggests growth while a score below 50 suggests decline for that factor. The states are Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Authorities in Montgomery County are investigating a non-injury accident that took place Wednesday morning, just west of Red Oak. Officials say a semi driven by David Ficke, of Pleasant Dale, NE, was attempting to make a left-hand turn off of Highway 34 onto Boxelder Avenue, at the same time a car driven by Martha Morton, of Hopkins, MO, was attempting to pass the semi.

As the 2003 Peterbilt semi driven by Ficke turned onto Boxelder, it came into contact with Morton’s 2004 Pontiac Grand Am. Both vehicle came to rest in the intersection. The accident happened at around 10:30-a.m., Wednesday.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Republicans in the Iowa House and that lone Democrat also voted for a bill that would give Iowans the right to use “reasonable force” to stop a crime in a public place. Representative Matt Windschitl, a Republican from Missouri Valley, is the chief sponsor of that bill.
“The basic intent is to provide Iowans the upper hand in their own self-defense,” Windschitl said.

Under current law, Iowans may use “reasonable force” — even “deadly force” to defend themselves in their home or place of business. This bill would extend those legal protections to a person’s vehicle when it comes to using a weapon as self-defense or to prevent a crime. Critics like House Democratic Leader Kevin McCarthy suggest the proposal would make Iowa the “wild, wild west” again. “Maybe loading groceries in the back of a car in the Walmart parking lot, you look over, somebody’s taking a sack out — boom!” McCarthy said during debate, yelling that last word to signify a gunshot. A couple of hours later, Windschitl responded.

“I trust Iowans,” he said. “I believe in them. Let’s give them an opportunity to defend themselves without the fear of frivolous prosecution.” This bill and the proposal for a constitutional amendment focused on gun rights now go to the Senate, where passage is not likely.

(O. Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)