December 2, 2024 (DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has announced more than $43 million in awards to help transform 10 underutilized historic buildings. The awards were made through the Historic Preservation Tax Credit program.

“Historic buildings are tangible symbols of a community’s past, and repurposing these gems creates such character-rich spaces for new opportunities,” said Debi Durham, director of IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority. “In addition, these projects often serve as a catalyst for the redevelopment of a block, a street or a district.”

The Historic Preservation Tax Credit program provides a state income tax credit to projects that rehabilitate underused or vacant historic buildings while maintaining the historic character-defining features that enhance neighborhoods and communities. Work completed on buildings must meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

The most recent application round opened in January with approximately $43 million available for awards. IEDA received 13 applications requesting more than $63 million in tax credits. Projects are scored based on readiness, financing and local support and participation. This round of awards will help to enhance historic buildings across the state including:

• Des Moines — The first 15 floors of the Financial Center, a 25-story downtown skyscraper that once was Iowa’s tallest, will be renovated, with office space converted into 190 apartments. The ground floor will offer a restaurant, café, lobby, mail and bike storage areas, while a business center, skywalk access, a fitness center, a clubroom, a rooftop deck, pool amenities and a dog park are planned for the second, third and fourth floors. Level 2 charging stations will service at least four electric vehicles.
• Dubuque — Constructed in 1907 as the second location of Roshek Brothers Co. Department Store, this four-story building will feature commercial space on the first floor, with 36 market-rate residential apartments on the upper floors.
• Muscatine — KENT Corp., headquartered in Muscatine, is expanding into the former McKee Button Co., a three-story brick structure that was once known as the world’s largest freshwater pearl button factory. McKee Plaza will include 27 offices, 60 open offices, six meeting rooms, a research kitchen, a presentation kitchen, collaboration and lounge areas and an employee fitness area.
• Sioux City — East High Lofts will redevelop the century-old East Junior High School building into modern, energy-efficient apartments. One- to four-bedroom units are designed to serve individuals and families with low to moderate incomes, with five units set aside for those at risk of homelessness. In addition, shared spaces will include a community room, a fitness center and outdoor recreational areas.

Download a spreadsheet with today’s awards here.

The Historic Preservation Tax Credit program is administered by IEDA. The next application round for large projects opens in June 2025, with applications due September 16. For more information on the program, visit iowaeda.com/historic-preservation-tax-credit/.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and 16 other Republican governors are urging congress to act now on the Farm Bill. The governors are not only calling for congress to reauthorize the Farm Bill this month, but for immediate assistance for farmers who’ve been hit by severe weather that’s destroyed crops and killed livestock. The current Farm Bill expired two years ago, but congress passed an extension in 2023 — but hasn’t yet taken action this year. The 17 governors, in a letter all have signed, say they are concerned for the future of rural America. The governor say if meaningful support is not provided soon, the governors say the well-being of the nation is at risk.

The U-S House Ag Committee approved its version of the next Farm Bill last spring. Two weeks ago, the Democrat who’s the chair of the Senate Ag Committee released a Farm Bill proposal. A new Farm Bill is unlikely to emerge by the end of this month, but congress must vote before the end of the year to extend the policies of the 2018 Farm Bill or federal farm payment programs revert to rules established in 1938 and 1949.

You can read the full letter here.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report four people were arrested Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 28th). Three people were arrested on separate charges of Operating While Intoxicated (OWI)):

At around 12-a.m., 46-year-old Lacey Lynn Fowler, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. A little before 1-a.m., 22-year-old Daniel James Merrit, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. And, just before 2–a.m. Thursday, Creston Police arrested 21-year-old Olivia Grace Hagen, of Creston, for OWI/1st offense. All three of those individuals were released after posting a $1,000 bond, each.

Thursday night, 19-year-old Jayson Lee Shimer, of Creston, was arrested at his residence. Shimer was charged with Harassment 2nd Degree – Threaten Bodily Injury. He was taken to the Union County Jail and later posted a $1,000 bond.

(Creston, Iowa) – A woman from Ringgold County was arrested late Saturday morning in Creston, on drug and other charges. According to the Creston Police Department, 44-year-old Theresa Marie Marcione, of Mount Ayr, was arrested at the Creston Walmart at around 11:30-a.m., Saturday. Marcione was charged with Driving While Barred, Disorderly Conduct, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Poss. of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana-2nd offense, and Assault. She was booked into the Union County Jail and later released on her Own Recognizance.

And, Sunday night, 47-year-old Han Mei, of Creston, was arrested at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center, and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault. She was being held without bond in the Union County Jail.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A Public Hearing will take place Tuesday morning (Dec. 3rd, 2024) in Atlantic, with regard to an application for a Zoning Change by LANDUS Cooperative, from General Ag District to Heavy Industrial. The meeting begins at 9-a.m in the Supervisors Board Room at the courthouse. The change pertains to property in the Pymosa Township, which was previously approved by the Cass County Zoning Commission.

At their meeting on November 19th, Cass County Zoning Commissioner Mike Kennon explained LANDUS is moving their operations to the former Wickman Chemical site just off Highway 71, northeast of Atlantic. LANDUS purchased the company this past summer. Assuming the change is approved, one of the features of the site will be a 72-thousand gallon anhydrous ammonia tank. Following the public hearing, the Board will act to approve the application as presented.

The Cass County Supervisors will also act on passing the Second Reading of an ordinance “Imposing a Local Option Surtax for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) at a rate of One-percent on the State Individual Income Tax for 15-years” (in accordance with the Iowa Code), following the measure’s approval by voters in the General Election on November 5th, 2024. On a related note, the Board will acknowledge the receipt of the EMS Advisory Council Annual Recommendation of an EMS Levy, as required by Iowa law. Public input on the matter will be allowed during the Supervisor’s meeting on Dec. 17th.

The Board is expected to act during their meeting Tuesday morning, on a resolution “Amending the Secondary Roads Five-Year Program,” by moving a bridge project from 2027 to 2025, a the result of a funding change from Highway Bridge Program (HBP) to Farm-to-Market (FM).  They’re also expected to act on approving the hire of an Equipment Operator 1 position for the Anita District (Secondary Roads Dept.)

Weekly reports are scheduled to be heard or otherwise received, from Engineer Trent Wolken, Debbie Schuler (County Community Services/Mental Health Advocate), and a special presentation from Ryan Berven, with regard to County Employee Health Insurance renewal for FY 2025-26.

(Radio Iowa) – Everything from computers to power tools now contain lithium batteries and that has created a sometimes explosive situation for waste haulers. Ames Resource Recovery Plant assistant superintendent Mark Peebler says it is very dangerous to throw lithium batteries into the regular garbage. “There’s several different cells in there, and each cell is separate. When those cells get exposed and exposed to each other, we’ll say if it gets broken or cut in the center, that causes that to create a thermal reaction,” he says. Peebler says the batteries get cut by the compactors in garbage trucks and the thermal reaction sets the trucks on fire. He says the batteries may no longer run your weed wacker, but they aren’t out of power when you toss them.

“I think a lot of people, when they throw those batteries away, they think that the battery is just dead. That’s not generally the case,” he says. “Generally, there’s still 80 percent of the original energy still stored in that battery. It’s just on and it’s just not enough to power that device that you’re using.” He says the batteries have been developed to deliver more juice, which makes them more dangerous if properly recycled. “Everybody wants them to be more powerful and to last longer, and by doing that, it increases the thermal reaction and the energy that’s stored in a smaller space,” Peebler says. “So then that, it makes it harder, harder to recycle them. And technology is constantly changing. So that’s one of those things on the recycling side that we have to make sure that we keep up with and that they get disposed of the right way.”

Peebler says they keep containers at their plant where people can drop off the lithium ion batteries for recycling. The Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency was just awarded up to four million dollars in federal funds to construct a new battery recycling and collection hub at its planned customer convenience center. Agency Administrator Ken Miller says lithium batteries have caused expensive fires in their garbage haulers’ trucks. He says the batteries can also cause dangerous fires in the landfill. “When our heavy equipment runs over the battery, not knowing it’s in there, then that causes the same reaction as it would if it came inside, into contact with the mechanized system within the garbage truck,” he says. He says all the garbage in the trucks and landfill provides fuel so the battery fire can quickly grow. Miller says employees sorting the batteries can also be injured if one starts on fire. The new facility gives them a warm safe place to separate and sort the lithium batteries. The batteries are then sent off to be recycled.

“There are specifically designed battery recycling facilities that will then recycle those materials to recapture the metals and stuff. This is a lithium so they can be reused again. It just depends on how the battery comes into us. Loose batteries we ship to one processor. Battery containing devices go to our electronics recycler.” Miller says. He says some agencies are developing high-tech systems to battle the fires that start from lithium batteries, but prevention is a better idea. “Using A-I camera technology and water cannons to be able to suppress, detect and suppress the fires as they begin, rather than, you know, waiting until the whole building is engulfed,” he says. “But the idea is to not have to utilize those systems by keeping them out of the waste and recycling, you know, the curbside waste and recycling streams altogether.”

Peebler and Miller says you can help by keeping lithium batteries out of the garbage and checking with your local waste hauler for lithium battery recycling options.