The City of Atlantic has received an audit report from Gronewold, Bell, Kyhnn and Company P.C.  City Clerk Barb Barrick says the report shows the City’s receipts for its governmental funds totaled $12.176-million dollars for the year ended June 30th, 2016. They included:

• more than $3.57-million in property tax,
• $42,296 in other City taxes,
• $891, 112 in Local Option Sales Tax (LOST),
• $143,310 in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) collections,
• $1.134-million from intergovernmental sources,
• $92,793 from use of money and property,
• $77,177 from licenses and permits,
• $326,607 from charges for services,
• $1,432 from sale of assets,
• $2.272-million from debt proceeds,
• a little more than $2.015-million from proceeds of refunding bonds, and
• $1.146-million in miscellaneous revenues.

The City’s receipts for its proprietary funds totaled $4.059-million, of which $4.039-million was from charges for services.

Disbursements for its governmental funds totaled $12.372-million, and included:

• $3.684-million for Public Safety,
• $2.175-million for Public Works,
• $6,483 for Health and Social Services,
• $1.439-million for Culture and Recreation,
• $626,534 in Community and Economic Development,
• $1.009-million in general government
• $2.22-million for Capital Projects
• Nearly $1.21-million for Debt Service.

Disbursements of the City’s Propriety Funds totaled a little more than $1.98-million, which was attributable to its business-type activities. The report contains recommendations to the City Council and other City officials. The City has responded that corrective action is being taken for each item.

A copy of the Audit Report is available for review in the Office of the Auditor of State, and at the City Administrator’s office, at City Hall, in Atlantic.

(12-p.m. News)

(Updated 12:57-p.m.) — The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education met for a brief session this (Friday) afternoon to vote on approving a one-year Superintendent contract.

Atlantic Board of Education announces new Superintendent (Chris Parks/photo)

The person they selected for the position Steven H. Barber, Superintendent at George-Little Rock Community Schools in George (Iowa) was offered the job earlier this week, and has accepted. Barber has worked for the George-Little Rock District since 2013.

Bruckner said appeared to the selection committee and School Board to be a “Genuinely nice guy. A good guy.” She said also there was a consensus among the constituent groups that allowed him to “Rise to the top,” and that it was “Important that the teachers and administrators have a say in who was going to be their next boss.”

Prior to becoming the Superintendent at GLR, Barber was a Middle School Administrator with the Spencer Community School District (2004-2013). He also served in a Secondary Administrative position at the East Union Middle and High School in Afton (1999-2004), and as a Science Teacher and Coach (for both Academic and Athletic teams) at the East Greene High School in Grand Junction (1991-1999). While there, he coached the varsity cross country and boys track teams, and was an assistant boys basketball coach.

Steven Barber’s education includes: a Specialist Certification from ISU in Ames in “Superintendent Licensure in Advanced Studies;” A Master’s Degree in Education from ISU in Ames; A Bachelor of Science degree from Bemidji State University in Bemidji, MN; and an Associate of Arts degree from Worthington Community College in Worthington, MN.  He and his wife Debra have two grown daughters.

There were three finalists for the position, after months of meetings and planning for the interview process. In addition to Mr. Barber, Dr. Joe Potts, Ph.D, an Iowa native who resides in Kent, WA., and serves as High School Principal for the Kent Community School District; and Dan Dierks, who has served Superintendent for the Oelwein Community School District, since 2015, were interviewed for the job.

Steven Barber will succeed Dr. Michael Amstein, who is retiring at the end of the current school year, after having worked for the District since 2010.

(Noon News)

The Glenwood Police Department reports a man was arrested today (Friday), on drug charges. 36-year old Tyler Blakely, of Glenwood, was arrested on two counts of Possession of a controlled substance, and possession of Drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $2,300.

One person died and another was injured during a collision early this (Friday) morning, in eastern Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol says a when pickup truck driven by 38-year old James C. Grassi, of Coralville, crossed into the path of a 2017 Mack semi driven by 56-year old Hobee Hansen, of Cedar Rapids, the vehicles collided head-on. Grassi died at the scene of the crash, that happened on Highway 148 at around 12:40-a.m.

Hansen was transported by ambulance to Trinity Hospital in Muscatine, for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Both men were wearing their seat belts. The accident remains under investigation.

Governor Terry Branstad may resign as soon as the last week in April in order to serve as President Trump’s ambassador to China. Branstad expects a U.S. Senate confirmation hearing on his nomination to happen about five weeks from now. Branstad was in Washington, D.C. last weekend and through the beginning of this week for a National Governors Association meeting. He also met with Trump Administration officials to talk about his hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“I spent about three hours with the state department, with some of their staff and, basically, they indicated to me it’ll probably be around the first week in April when I’ll come up,” Branstad said.

The governor will be flying back to D-C “a few more” times THIS month to meet personally with each member of the committee. During one of those trips, Branstad also will be put through what’s called the “murder board.” It’s a state department drill to simulate what may happen at the confirmation hearing. “Ask you the tough questions,” Branstad says. “See how you handle it. Give you advice.”

Branstad says he’s gone through the same kind of preparation for press conferences and campaign debates. Branstad has a good guess now about when his nomination to be ambassador will be voted upon by the full U.S. Senate. “I’m thinking it’s going to be late April, maybe early May,” Branstad says. “But as soon as I am confirmed, then shortly thereafter it would be my intention to resign and be sworn in as the ambassador and then the lieutenant governor would, of course, become the governor.”

Branstad sat next to First Lady Melania Trump and the governor’s wife, Chris, sat next to President Trump at the dinner the Trump’s hosted at the White House Sunday night for the nation’s governors.

(Radio Iowa)

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports a phone scam that circulates every year at about this time, is making the rounds again. Sheriff Todd Johnson says his office has received numerous calls from citizens saying they have received a phone call or had a recording left on their phone, from someone claiming to be from the IRS.

Johnson says with new technology, scammers can use their number as showing up as the IRS or Department of Treasury. The scam has been around for a number of years, but Johnson says it seems to be hitting Audubon County harder this year.

The caller claims to be from the IRS, and threatens to take legal action. Johnson reminds citizens, that THE IRS DOES NOT CALL TO DEMAND IMMEDIATE PAYMENT, not will they call about your taxes without first mailing a bill.

NEVER GIVE OUT YOUR PERSONAL or FINANCIAL INFORMATION to a person or agency you did not call!