The Atlantic City Council is set to consider a resolution during their meeting Wednesday evening, to approve the 2012 Budget for Atlantic Municipal Utilities. The proposed budget for the Electric and Water Departments for Calendar Year 2012 totals nearly $10.8-million, which is an increase of nearly $665,000 or 6.6% over the current year re-estimate.

The increased cost is being offset with increases in AMU’s electric rates of 10-14% that went into effect last month. City Administrator Doug Harris says AMU’s proposed budget calls for a $360,000 transfer to the City, in lieu of paying property taxes…something Harris says is a common practice, as a private utility would pay property taxes, and be subject to a franchise fee of up to 5%. AMU’s contribution amounts to about 3.3% of their revenues, which is designed to offset AMU’s utility charges to the City. 

In other business, the City Council in Atlantic will act on a motion to direct staff to advertise the sale of nearly 13-acres of City-owned land adjacent to the old Delong Building, by means of a public auction. The Council Finance Committee is recommending a public hearing be held and consideration be given to selling the two parcels, which total 12.93-acres. The City has advertised for bids on the agricultural lease of the two parcels, and may act Wednesday on awarding the three-year agricultural lease, during their meeting. 

And, the Council will act on a Resolution amending City policy, for the expenditure of public funds for observances which include events such as the Christmas Party for City Employees. Monies for the event have come, in the past, from pop machine profits and donations. Under State Code, those types of expenditures should be included in the City’s policy that authorizes those types of observances. Harris will recommend to the Council expenditures be allowed for the Christmas Party, with a limit not to exceed $400.

The City Council meeting begins at 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, December 7^th.

Members of the CAM Community School District’s Board of Education met Monday night in Anita, to hear a report from Superintendent Steve Pelzer about an opportunity to become involved with a company which provides students a free, online learning experience. Pelzer told KJAN News the district has been involved in discussions over the past week or so, with a national, full-time online K-12 learning company, talking about a possible partnership that would create a free, online K-12 full-time learning school in Iowa.

Pelzer says Monday night’s meeting was an opportunity to share with the board what he’s learned about the company, Connections Education, based in Baltimore, Maryland. He says a representative from Connections is scheduled to appear before the board during another special meeting Thursday, Dec. 8th, at the High School Media Center in Anita. During the 6:30-p.m. session , the Connections Rep will present additional information on their program. Pelzer says the board was interested enough during the previous meeting to hear more about the school. He says Connections Education is part of Pearson Learning. The company has already partnered with Departments of Education or Schools in more than 20 states.

He says an online K-12 School is a brand new, and interesting concept in Iowa, and something that may be worth pursuing in the future. A school district in eastern Iowa is exploring a similar online program, but with a different company. Pelzer says if CAM went with Connections Education, it would likely result in a completely new school in the district, and it would benefit CAM students, by allowing them access to certain classes online that they would otherwise not be able to take. Students would take the classes from home. Pelzer says the company wants to involve parents in the process.

The reason the full-time program would be free, according to Pelzer, is that it would follow the state’s Open Enrollment laws, in that students from across the State would have the opportunity to meet all the timelines and qualifications for Open Enrollment to open enroll into an online academy. The fees would be funded by the respective resident school district.

Pelzer says no decisions have been made with regard to the program. He says the CAM District is only “Looking to explore possibilities that would benefit our district and benefit our kids.” Learn more about Connections Education at http://www.connectionseducation.com/connections-education/home.aspx

The Iowa Farmers Union says Representative Jack Drake, from Griswold, was awarded the 2011 “Friend of the Family Farmer Legislator Award,” during the organization’s Annual Convention held over the weekend, in Ames. Drake, who represents House District 57, serves as chair of the House Agriculture Committee. He’s served in the Iowa House of Representatives since 1992. 

As the chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriation Subcommittee, the IFU says he was instrumental in ensuring the structure and funding was present for the Local Food and Farm Plan.  The groups says Drake’s knowledge of the need for expanded agricultural markets in Iowa aided tremendously in the passage of the bill’s language. Iowa Farmers Union President Chris Petersen said at the convention “The Iowa Farmers Union is proud to honor Representative Jack Drake’s contribution to Iowa’s rural communities and promotion of a healthier local food system this year.”

Nearly 100 Iowans gathered for the event, which was co-sponsored by Iowa State University’s Sustainable Agriculture Student Association. They discussed the state and federal policies that affect farm operations and rural communities.  The awards ceremony recognized nine individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary efforts in support of family farms, local food and the growth of sustainable agriculture in Iowa over the past year.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will act Wednesday morning, on an annual Resolution pertaining to Livestock Facility Construction Evaluations. The Resolution needs to be approved in order for the County to submit to the DNR, its recommendations, if any, with regard to the approval or disapproval of a confinement feeding operation, based on the scoring that facility has received using the Master Matrix.

The Supervisors will also discuss maintenance and operation of the Southlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery, and possibly act on revisions to the County’s Indigent Burial and Cell Phone Policies. The Board is also scheduled to receive a report and Fiscal Year 2013 Funding Agreement from the Cass County Library Association.

Their meeting begins at 9-a.m Wednesday, in the Supervisor’s Board Room at the Courthouse in Atlantic.

w/ Ric Hanson

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A truck driver from Illinois missing since last Friday was found dead in his still running semi Monday evening, in Pottawattamie County. Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Dwayne Richie says 58-year old Terry Ross, of Monmouth, IL, was found by deputies after a fellow trucker located Ross’ semi along an Interstate 80 rest stop near Minden, which was under construction. Ross worked for Liberty Trucking, in Burlington, Iowa.

Riche told KJAN News the trucking company notified law enforcement agencies along Ross’ route that he hadn’t been responding to their calls. One of the agencies which was notified, was the Des Moines Police Department. Riche says an officer with the Des Moines P-D called the Sheriff’s Office to inform them of the situation.

He says Ross’ cell phone had been “pinged” and an approximate location was given of 385^th Street in Pottawattamie County. The officer also gave a description of the truck. Riche says an officer was dispatched at 7:05-p.m., but was unable to locate the semi.

The semi was still covered in snow when it was discovered by Liberty Truck driver John Gatton, of Cole Valley, IL.  Gatton called 9-1-1 after he knocked on the cab of the running semi, and received no answer. Sgt. Riche says the cause of death remains under investigation, but no foul play is suspected.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports an Atlantic woman was arrested Friday on a charge of OWI/2^nd offense. 61-year old Patricia Jean Kinkade-Dorsey was brought to the Cass County Jail and released Saturday, on $2000.00 bond.

The Sheriff‘s Department reports also, they are investigating the theft of a motorcycle from rural Atlantic. Authorities received word on November 30^th a blue and yellow 2006 Honda CVR 1000 track bike was stolen. The cycle has no mirrors, no turning signals and no passenger pegs.

The Cass County Sheriff’s office encourages anyone with information about the incident to please call the Cass County Crimestoppers number at 800-233-3336. Callers can remain anonymous. A reward may be available for any tips leading to the recovery of the stolen item.

A new report suggests Iowa’s construction industry is recovering. An analysis from the Associated General Contractors of America compared October of 2010 to October of this year. It found a four percent increase in construction jobs in the state Iowa. The Quad Cities market saw the largest increase, with a 12 percent jump in the number of construction jobs this fall compared to last fall. There was a four percent bump up in the Des Moines-area construction industry, but just a one percent increase in the Cedar Rapids area. The Omaha/Council Bluffs metro saw a three-percent decline in the number of construction jobs this October compared to October of 2010.

Go to www.radioiowa.com to see the full report.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A new director has been named for the Department of Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System. Dr. Marci Mylan has been associate director at the VA Health Care System in Minneapolis. She will replace Al Washko, who retired March 31 after holding the Nebraska-western Iowa post for more than seven years.

The system serves more than 161,000 veterans who live in 104 counties in Nebraska, western Iowa, and portions of Kansas and Missouri. Mylan holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and a master’s degree in health care administration. She takes over in Omaha on Jan. 15.