The Shelby County Board of Supervisors approved the fiscal year 2014 budget. In a meeting this (Tuesday) morning, the Supervisors held a public hearing during which there were no comments from the public on the proposed Budget. In other business, the Supervisors gave an update on the Hotel/Motel Tax Dollars.

The fiscal agent, the Shelby County Auditor, received the remaining dollars, almost $56,500, from the Shelby County Chamber. The Supervisors also approved the hiring of Williams and Company to expand an analysis of the hotel/motel tax money from September 30th, 2012 through February 14th, 2013. The City of Harlan had hired Williams and Company for the previous audit of tax dollars and found no discrepancies.

Discussion about the audit centered around how the Supervisors planned to pay for it. Dawn Cundiff, Shelby County Chamber Director said an audit is not for tourism. She said“It is an audit. It is not directly, according to you guys, it’s used for 100% of tourism. That is an expenditure that is not geared toward tourism. That was your big thing with us on the 20% was not a tourism expense.”

Shelby County Auditor Marsha Carter contacted the Department of Revenue and indicated an audit would be a valid expense out of the tax money. The board approved the analysis. Afterward, Cundiff told the Board the Chamber did get legal council because their questions were not answered. Tensions mounted when it was mentioned that the Chamber did not receive their 20 percent administration fee from the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2012. ” You have acknowledged through your representation on the old committee on the 20 percent. You made a statement that pretty much you accused us of absconding with this money. Okay, my opinion,” said Cundiff.

Supervisor Schmitz told Cundiff they will not be receiving funds for those quarters. County Attorney Marcus Gross said the administration fee was found to be an improper expense and therefore stopped. Cundiff said the issue will have to go through the attorneys. At that point, a frustrated Supervisor Steve Kenkel chimed-in to ask the group to move forward and do what’s best for the people of the County.  He said “It is a negative cloud on the whole damn community. It is not just one entity. We all have to take ownership. If we have winners and losers, the whole county loses. It is time we move forward and work cooperatively together. I have a huge issue with the lack of cooperation. This whole county was built around working together and that is not what is going on now. It is very frustrating. As a group we have to move forward. It seems we take one step forward and then three steps back because someone else throws something else out there. We are trying to provide grants and good things for the whole community. That’s what this should be all about. And when I mean county, I don’t mean the supervisors and what we represent. I mean the people and what we stand for in this county.”

No other board action was taken on the matter.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County report the arrest on Sunday, of 36-year old Ezra Sedina, of Atlantic. Sedina was taken into custody at around 8-p.m., on an Audubon County warrant for OWI and Failure to Maintain Control. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office assisted in making the arrest.

The charges against him stem from an investigation into an accident which occurred on January 25th, in the 1600 block of 320th Street in Audubon County. Sedina was brought to the Audubon County Jail. He posted a $1,000 bond on Monday, and was released from custody. No court date has been set.

The second of two public hearings and votes on a change to the Cass County Zoning Ordinance will be held Wednesday morning, in Atlantic. The action takes place during a regular meeting of the Cass County Board of Supervisors, and would allow an indoor shooting range and/or a gun sales and service shop to be located within the County. The amended ordinance was unanimously approved during the first reading held during the Supervisor’s meeting, last week. Kevin McCunn, of Massena says he plans to open an indoor shooting range and gun sales/service shop near Massena this Spring, if the ordinance is adopted.

In other business, the Board will act on approving four applications:  Two for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Multi-family Unit Production-New Construction Program, Round 5 grants; One for a CDBG Multi-family Unit Production- Round 5 grant; and one for a CDBG Multi-family Housing Application project Round 5 grant. The grants are being made available through 2008 Disaster Recovery Funding, and if approved, be administered through the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO).

The Cass County Supervisors will also act on a Resolution to approve an application for establishment of an enterprise zone, and on appointing a member to the Cass County Local Food Policy Council. Their meeting begins at 9-a.m., Wednesday.

The Harlan Community School District’s Board of Education offered a counter-proposal to the Harlan Education Association (HEA), Monday. The HEA made its initial proposal at a meeting with the school board two-weeks ago. During that meeting, the association had asked for a 5% wage increase and some policy changes, with regard to personal leave, the adding of duty free recesses for teachers at the Primary and Intermediate buildings to work with students, and early retirement.

During Monday’s meeting, Harlan Superintendent Justin Wagner made a few changes to the contract proposal, including one pertaining to realignment. Previously, the rule stated an employee would have first priority to a vacancy in the district. However, the new proposal says an employee may apply for the vacancy and be considered for the position before the district seeks an applicant from outside the bargaining unit.

Also in the realignment, the school district added, “After a teacher has been realigned at their request, the teacher will not be eligible for any other voluntary realignment until they have completed 3 full years in the new position.” And, with regard to compensation, the Harlan School board proposed a 2.05% increase for the teacher’s total package. The Education Association will have a chance to review the counter-proposal before further meetings will take place between the HEA and the school board. The subsequent meetings will take place in closed session.

And, as we reported Monday, Harlan Superintendent Secretary/Board of Education Secretary Terry Cox is retiring from her position. Cox has been the board secretary since 1999 and has been with the district a total of 32 years. She told the board she has seen many changes at the district over the years, but the goal has always been the same: To educate the kids.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)