The Cass County Board of Supervisors held a session that lasted about 30-minutes this (Wednesday) morning. The brief session was due to a lack of new business. The Board tabled until next week, action on a contract with SWIPCO, because the agreement was not ready. It would provide for services necessary to carry out the formal adoption of a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) for rural Cass County and the eight cities within the County. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon said some questions remain about the date the contract would end, as well as other matters.

Kennon said SWICO’s due date was six-months after the County’s due date to have a current plan put into effect. The previous plan adopted by the Board 5-years ago was sent on to FEMA, and there is a 7-month lag before it becomes effective. Kennon wants the due date to be pushed up from 2017 to late 2015 or 2016 at the latest. Auditor Dale Sunderman said with the time frame facing the County, it would be preferable if the contract went into effect by Sept., 2015.

In other business, the Board set Feb. 12^th as the date for a public hearing on the vacating of three County Roads. The hearing for Golden Lane in Section 5 of Lincoln Township will be held on the 12th, along with 644th Street in Section 14 of Grove Township, and a portion of 700th Street, lying between sections 2 and 3, Grove Township. No one has objected to the vacating of those sections. Sunderman asked the Board to hold a hearing for the five other sections of recently proposed roads to vacate, on Feb. 19^th. They include: a portion 740^th Street lying between Sections 4 and 5 in Lincoln Township; A portion of Liberty Lane in Section 34 of Washington Township; A portion of 765^th Lane in Section 34 of Grant Township; A portion of Quebec Lane in Section 27 of Massena Township, and a portion of 540^th Lane between Section 30 in Cass County and Section 25 in Pottawattamie County.

Engineer Charles Marker reported to the Board he is working on a 28-E agreement between Cass and Adams County for the maintenance and cost-sharing of the maintenance of roads located along the County line. Marker said in the past, there has typically been a “Gentleman’s agreement” as to which county would foot the bill for repairs and maintenance, as needed. However, a 28-E has to be on file with the State in order for the legalities to be covered. The sticking point which Marker says he will work out with the Adams County Engineer, is with regard to “Major Maintenance.” Adams County wants a $500 limit on any kind of maintenance structure – such as culvert installation – before cost sharing kicks-in. Marker says he would like to see that limit increased to somewhere between 2- and 3-thousand dollars.

While it’s been cold the past few days, forecasters say even more frigid weather is headed toward Iowa. Meteorologist Brad Small, at the National Weather Service, says it appears northwest Iowa will get the worst of an approaching cold front, but the whole state will soon have bone-chilling temperatures. “There is a Winter Weather Advisory out for a combination of things,” Small says. “We’ve got that northwest wind will be increasing to 15 to 30 miles an hour, gusts could be as high as 40, and there could be some snow showers move through.”

Also, a Wind Chill Warning is posted for much of the state’s northern half from 6 P-M tonight (Wednesday) through noon on Thursday.  “We’re looking at widespread temperatures below zero, single digits as well as the teens below zero toward the Minnesota border,” Small says. “That’ll drop wind chills from 25 to 35-below.” Some areas may even see 40-below overnight. High temperatures tomorrow (Thursday) may not even get above zero in some Iowa cities, though highs Friday should be back in the 20s and 30s.

(Radio Iowa)

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (9.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (7.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

A tractor-trailer parking lot on Commerce Street in Atlantic will remain closed, following a motion passed Tuesday night by the Community Protection Committee. The Committee, comprised of Councilpersons Bob Cord, Ashley Hayes, and Chris Jimerson, along with Mayor Dave Jones, met at City Hall to discuss the future of the site. City Administrator Doug Harris was also in attendance.

The committee concluded it would be better to have the lot utilized by the City and County governments until such time as the need for a City-owned truck parking lot is expressed more, by those it was originally intended to serve. Doug Harris agreed a cooperative agreement between the City and County would be in the best interest of both entities, if the County is willing to agree. Harris said the City should approach County Engineer Charles Marker and ask if they have a need for storage on the lot, or take a small portion of the lot and allow the metal recycling company next door to use some of the lot for expansion, with the provision some sort of a screen be put in place to shield it from view of the Schildberg Recreation Area.

Mayor Jones suggested that while the lot could be used for the storage of some City and County-owned equipment in the short-term, nothing permanent be established or installed. That would leave the option of using the area for truck parking again, if a need is demonstrated by those who might need it, in the future. The City wouldn’t charge the County for use of the land, if the government resources could be shared.

No one from the public objected to the Committees decision. The issue of truck parking arose several years ago when the City received complaints about semis parked on City streets. The City poured a concrete slab and allowed the trucks to temporarily park there, but the site soon became an eyesore, with trailers being left for long periods of time and the area becoming more like a junk yard. The City cleaned-up the site and then closed it off until a decision could be made on its future. Meanwhile, other, private entities have stepped-up and offered to rent lots for truck parking. The Mayor has said the City should not be in competition with those individuals if the need is being filled.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — West Des Moines police arrested a man suspected in a bank robbery after a witness photographed the man’s vehicle. Police say in a news release that they were called to a robbery at First Bank in West Des Moines just before 2 p.m. The suspect had fled, but a witness photographed a minivan he climbed into and then followed the vehicle for several miles and directed police. Officers finally stopped the minivan at a motel parking lot and arrested a man.

TIPTON, Iowa (AP) — An environmental commission has rejected an Iowa pet cemetery owner’s request to throw out a $10,000 fine over controversial horse burials. The Des Moines Register reports the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission recently rejected Steve Johnson’s appeal. Johnson’s attorney, Jeff Bittner, says he will appeal the decision in district court.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has received big campaign contributions from Iowa business leaders, special interest political committees and from celebrity businessman Donald Trump. Branstad filed his campaign finance report for 2013 yesterday. It shows that he has about $4.1 million in cash on hand for his re-election campaign.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A consultant for Jack Hatch’s gubernatorial campaign has been reinstated to practice law after a brief suspension for failing to respond to an inquiry from regulators. Chief Justice Mark Cady signed an order yesterday reinstating Des Moines attorney John Hedgecoth, whose license was temporarily suspended Jan. 16.

Two public hearings will be held Wednesday evening during a meeting of the Atlantic City Council. The first hearing is with regard to an Ordinance pertaining to the Sunnyside Park Tobacco Free Policy. The second pertains to the rezoning of a property at the southwest corner of 7th and Olive Streets from Residential to Commercial.

With regard to the Tobacco Free Ordinance, the Atlantic Park and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors approved the policy at their meeting on Nov. 18th. The ordinance was drafted by the City Attorney and modeled after a similar ordinance in Adel. If approved, the ordinance would prohibit the use of tobacco  “In designated areas of Sunnyside Park: the trails, the outdoor recreational facilities, and all public building and grounds restrooms, athletic fields, spectator areas of athletic facilities during a sporting event, tennis courts, basketball courts, skate park, pavilions, and within 25’ of the playground equipment areas and picnic shelters.”

Violations would be punishable as follows: For a first violation, a monetary penalty not to exceed one hundred dollars. For a second violation within one year, a monetary penalty not to exceed two hundred dollars. For each violation in excess of a second violation within one year, a monetary penalty not to exceed five hundred dollars for each additional violation.

Afterward the public hearing on the tobacco free policy, the Council will hold a hearing on an amendment to the Zoning Map to reclassify a section of land at the southwest corning of 7th and Olive Streets, from R-3 (High Density Single Family) to C-1 (Highway Commercial). The Planning and Zoning Board approved the rezoning request from Plummer Investments during their meeting on Jan. 14th, even though the City Comprehensive plan shows that the area in question should be zoned medium density residential. The Board said “The rezoning proposal conforms to the Comprehensive Plan.”

It’s still not clear what Plummer Investments plans to do with the lot once a 133-year old home sitting on the property they own, is demolished. There are concerns about whether the house would be removed in a timely manner, and whether or not new construction would “improve the general condition of the neighborhood. Safety at the heavily traveled intersection, is also a concern that will need to be addressed.

The Atlantic City Council meeting will be held in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, beginning at 5:30-p.m., Wednesday.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the opportunity to spend the summer in an Iowa state park is available for individuals who serve as campground hosts. Campground hosts receive free camping at a designated site while they help state parks staff by assisting campers, explaining park rules, helping with registration and serving as an impromptu local tour guide. Hosts help park staff to keep the park clean and with light maintenance.

Hosts are needed for the season at Clear Lake, Geode, Lake Wapello, Nine Eagles, Pikes Peak, Pleasant Creek, Prairie Rose, Springbrook, Viking Lake and Wapsipinicon. The camping season is April 1st to October 31st. Applications are available online at www.iowadnr.gov/volunteer then click on the campground hosts link in the column on the left.  Or, call 515-242-5704 to have an application mailed.

Applicants will have a federal criminal history and drivers’ license check as part of the process. Officials say the would like to get hosts placed in parks by mid-March so they are ready to go in April.