The “Iowa Competitiveness Index” compiled by a group of the state’s largest businesses shows no change in four of the five measures of the state’s economic outlook, and the fifth moved from “improving” to “no significant progress.” Iowa Business Council executive director, Elliott Smith, says the results show an economy that’s idling in place.  “We’re really at this juncture seeing no significant changes. We’re kind of stuck in an area where there may be efforts underway and we are making some progress, but relative to all the states, were not seeing to consider ourselves out ahead of the curve in most respects,” Smith explained. The index looks at: economic growth, education and workforce readiness, governance and fiscal matters, health and well being, and workforce demographics and diversity. While there’s not much movement in the index, Smith says it’s not an indictment of the total system.

He says there are some good things in workforce education and readiness in terms of A-C-T scores and the percentage of the population that’s getting a high school degree. “But on the other hand the percentage of our population that’s getting bachelor’s degree is quite low,” Smith says. “And those are the sort of things that employers are concerned about.” While the index shows things aren’t changing, there are efforts underway to try and make some changes — such as the governor’s education reform plan. “We’re supportive of the efforts by the governor and the legislature to make progress in that area, it seems as though that’s always just a very hard area to affect any significant change,” Smith says. He says the I-B-C is hopeful the effort to improve the reading ability of third graders succeeds along with the effort to get more students more proficient in science and math. “That’s going to be critical,” he says. Smith says the I-B-C wants to keep the focus on the need to improve.

“We’ve identified some of the problems, there are some initiatives out there which have just sort of launched and we’re anxious to see how early results go, the healthiest states initiative being one of those,” Smith says. “It’s good to just try and create an awareness right now.” You can see the complete index on the I-B-C website at: www.iowabusinesscouncil.org. The Iowa Business Council’s 24 members are the top executives of 20 of the largest businesses in the state, the three state university presidents, and Iowa’s largest banking association.

(Dar Danielson/Radio Iowa)

Gail Steward receives the Guy Powell Award

An Adair County man is the winner of Midwest Partnership’s “Guy Powell Award.” Gail Steward, of Orient, was presented with the award during the Midwest Partnership for Economic Development’s annual dinner meeting on January 26th, in Panora.

Steward was nominated by several individuals for his ability to inspire others with his vision for the future in his community. He’s volunteered for many projects in the community and donated countless hours to organizations and projects he believes in. Officials said Steward is an outstanding leader with the Development Corporation of Greenfield and has worked hard to bring new business into the area.  He also has been involved with the Adair County Health Foundation, the Greenfield Chamber/ Main Street, the E. E. Warren Cultural Center and the Hotel Greenfield restoration project.
The family of Guy Powell was also present at the dinner to assist in honoring Gail.  This is the third year the award has recognized the economic development contributions of an individual in the Midwest t Partnership EDC region, which covers Adair, Audubon, Greene, and Guthrie counties.

The Guy Powell Award was established in honor of the late Guy Powell of Greenfield, who served as president of the Midwest Partnership EDC board of directors and was an active volunteer in several other community organizations.  It is intended to recognize excellence in leadership and passion for economic development in the Midwest Partnership EDC region, taking into account vision, leadership, courage, and impact.

Brian Hamman, Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator, says due to abnormally warm temperatures and several months of below normal precipitation, Montgomery County rural areas are extremely dry. In the past few weeks, area fire departments in Montgomery County as well as surrounding counties have responded to numerous grass and wildland type fires. The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency has polled all Fire Chiefs as to implement a burn ban for Montgomery County.

All departments were in agreement to the ban and the ban has been approved by the Iowa State Fire Marshalls Office in Des Moines.
Effective 10-a.m. Wednesday, February 1st, 2012, all open burning will be banned within the rural areas of Montgomery County until further notice under Chapter 100 of the Iowa Code. An application to your local fire chief can be obtained to allow a permit for an open burn if your local Fire Official believes it is safe to do so. After approval of the permit, several entities within Montgomery County are informed to lessen the danger of false alarms.

This is a dangerous situation. The conditions are currently favorable for a fast moving wildland fire that can destroy property and be life threatening if uncontrolled. If adequate moisture is received, a revocation of the ban will be considered by all Montgomery County Fire Officials.

The Atlantic City Council is set to meet Wednesday evening. During their 5:30-p.m. session at City Hall, the Council will hear a report from the Cass-Atlantic Development Corporation (CADCO), and act on a Resolution supporting an Affordable Housing Development proposal for the Southern Heights second- and third-additions. City Administrator Doug Harris says developer Cohen-Esrey has requested the City’s financial support for their proposed 16-unit affordable housing project, which would consist of 16 three-bedroom, 12-hundred square-foot, single-family houses. The houses would cost $100,000 each. The City’s Finance Committee has met twice to discuss the request, and is expected to recommend the Council approve the resolution, along with a level of financial support, not to exceed $160,000. The contribution would lower the developer’s operating costs, and allow them to meet the requirements for Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Low Income Housing Tax Credits. Harris says if the Council passes the resolution, and the developer is awarded the tax credits, the Council can place requirements on the project, through the development and minimum assessment agreements, which can be negotiated prior to the approval of any development incentives.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will hold the first reading of an ordinance amending the posted speed limit on 22nd Street, from Highway 71 to Olive Street, and from Chestnut Street to Highway Six. Police Chief Steve Green has recommended reducing the speed limit on 22nd Street from 45- to 35-miles per hour, citing the hilly terrain, which tends to hide residential driveways from view, until motorists approach them. Green says the average speed on 22nd Street is 37-miles per hour, but people often exceed the 45-mile per hour limit.

The Council will also hold the second reading of an ordinance amending the City’s Traffic Control ordinance, by adding a stop sign on Pine Ridge Road, at 22nd Street. At the end of regular business, the Council will enter into a closed session to discuss collective bargaining strategies.

With abnormally warm temperatures and several months of below normal precipitation the rural areas of Pottawattamie County are extremely dry. In the past few weeks several rural fire departments in Pottawattamie County have responded to grass and wildland fires. This week Emergency Management polled the rural fire departments of Pottawattamie County after several Departments inquired as to a burn ban in the County. All rural Departments agreed to the ban and the ban was approved today (Tuesday), by the State Fire Marshall in Des Moines.

Effective 8-a.m. Wednesday, February 1st, all open burning will be banned within the rural areas of Pottawattamie County until further notice, under Chapter 100 of the Iowa Code. An application to your local fire chief can be obtained to allow a permit for an open burn if your local Fire Official believes it is safe to do so. After approval of the permit, several County entities are informed to lessen the danger of false alarms. This is a dangerous situation and officials say they are relying on the public to assist them in enforcing the ban. The conditions are currently favorable for a fast moving wildland fire that can destroy property and be life threatening if uncontrolled. If the area  begins to receive adequate moisture, a revocation of the ban will be considered by the rural Fire Chiefs. A violation of the burn ban is a simple misdemeanor offense.

A man from Ute, in Monona County died this (Tuesday) morning in Crawford County, when the car he was driving rear-ended a semi. The Iowa State Patrol says 29-year old Benjamin Randall Monk was not wearing a seatbelt, when his 1989 Mazda 929 ran into the back of a 2001 Peterbilt semi, as both vehicles were on Highway 141, about two-miles west of Charter Oak. The accident happened at around 7:45-a.m.

Officials say the car and the semi were headed east on 141, when the semi, driven by 37-year old Justin Charles Hansen, of Ute, stopped to wait for cross traffic before making a left hand turn into a farm drive. Monk was pronounced dead at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital. Hansen was not injured in the crash.

As of 12:55-p.m. today (Tuesday), Atlantic was 58-degrees. That ties a record high temperature for this date set 12o-years ago (1892)! There’s still a chance we could break the record this afternoon.

A Union County woman suffered what were described as “incapacitating” injuries during an accident Monday afternoon, southwest of Macksburg, in Adair County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 34-year old Hidie Lemon, of Creston, was traveling north on York Avenue near 320th Avenue at around 3:30-p.m., when she lost consciousness due to a medical condition.

The Patrol says Lemon’s 1998 Chevy CRS entered the east ditch. Lemon was transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston. Her car sustained about $1,500 damage during the accident. No citations were issued.

Cass County Zoning Administrator Rich Hansen told the Board of Supervisors during their meeting this (Tuesday) morning, that the Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on February 9^th with regard to a request by John Dvorak to rezone a part of his property on the outskirts of Atlantic, from General Ag to Light Industrial. The property is located off Olive Street, across from the Little League Diamonds. Dvorak wants to rezone the 4.5-acre area so he can have a tire repair and car service business. The Zoning Commission will try to iron out some parking issues, and submit its recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for their approval, following the public hearing. The hearing will likely take place at around 7 or 7:30-p.m. on February 9^th. The exact time, though, has not yet been set.