The Cass County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday morning in their boardroom at the Cass County Courthouse and discussed a wide range of issues.

The board set public hearing dates for vacating a portion of Pella Road and a zoning change recommendation in Brighton Township for June 27th at 9:00 a.m. The zoning change would allow Russell Lange to conduct business on a small piece of property that would change from general agricultural to light industrial in zoning.

The board had much discussion on certifying wages for deputies from County Recorder, Treasurer, Auditor, and Sheriff for Fiscal Year 2024. They also discussed setting annual base salaries for Deputy Sheriff positions. Cass County Attorney Vanessa Strazdas commented that she felt there should be a wage bump of 8% for Delinquent Fines Coordinator Eva Jensen. She felt her wage is really on the low end and said her office budget would cover the increase. Her annual salary would go to up to $48,136. The Supervisors were in agreement on the increase and eventually approved the non-exempt salary list.

The board also approved setting the annual salary of County Engineer Trent Wolken at $131,000. Discussions between the board and Wolken found that to be a competitive salary for the position in similar counties.

In their committee reports Supervisor Wendy Richter discussed the retirement of Kenner Baxter as head of the Tourism Committee. She said they are looking for someone to appoint to lead that group now and are open to suggestions. The board had some side discussion in regards to the value of potentially paying for someone to coordinate tourism or tourism and wellness combined in the county.

The board is set to meet again on Tuesday, June 27th at 9:00 a.m.

The 831st Engineer Vertical Construction Company (EVCC) recently received deployment orders for Operation Spartan Shield in U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), a region which encompasses 27 countries including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, among others.

The 831st EVCC will deploy from Middletown, Iowa, with approximately 150 Soldiers mobilizing in fall 2023. Their primary mission will be to conduct critical infrastructure improvement missions as well as various construction projects throughout CENTCOM.

Most recently, the 831st EVCC mobilized to Cedar Rapids in 2020 to assist county and state emergency management departments in the Derecho storm clean up. The unit was last activated into federal service in 2005 in support of the global war on terrorism.

A send-off ceremony for the 831st EVCC will be announced at a later date.

Left to Right: Bailey Smith, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce; Kenner Baxter, Cass County Tourism and Wendy Richter, Cass County Board of Supervisors

The Cass County Tourism Committee hosted a morning reception on Monday, June 19, 2023, to celebrate the retirement of long-time president, Kenner Baxter. Baxter has served as a volunteer for Cass County Tourism for over 20 years. During her time of service, Baxter has helped enhance and promote Cass County at a regional and state level. The County Supervisors and Tourism Committee express their sincere gratitude for her advocacy for Cass County and wish her well in this next chapter.

At this time, the Tourism Committee is looking for an individual that is passionate about local and regional tourism to step into a role working alongside community leaders and local organizations to promote tourism in Cass County. If you are interested in learning more, contact Bailey Smith at 712-243-3017 or email bailey@atlanticiowa.com.

The Atlantic City Council is set to meet on Wendesday, June 21st at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.

Among the items on their agenda is consideration of a request to close 6th Street between Chestnut and Poplar on September 9th from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the Nishna Valley YMCA’s Community Appreciation Event.

The council is set to hear from CADCO’s Jennifer McEntaffer on industrial development progress and Atlantic Chamber’s Bailey Smith on commercial development progress.

A second reading of two separate ordinances will take place with regard to discontinuing the Cable Television Commission and Community Promotion Commission.

They are also set to discuss a revenue purpose statement for natural gas service franchise fee and discuss entering into a non-exclusive twenty-fiver year franchise with Interstate Power and Light Company to supply natural gas to the city.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors are set to meet for their regular session on Wednesday, June 21st at 9:00 a.m. at the Adair County Courthouse Boardroom.

On their agenda is Sheriff Jeff Vandewater discussing Sheriff Vehicle Funds. Gwen Johnston with County Veterans’ Affairs will discuss a VA Commissioner Appointment. County Engineer Nick Kauffman will discuss a secondary roads benefit policy and sign a contract and performance bond for W14 Jefferson Bridge Project. He’ll also deliver his regular maintenance report.

The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest of an Omaha man on Monday. Officers arrested 48-year-old Robert Mukka of Omaha for Felony Eluding, Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Reckless Driving. He was also issued several traffic citations. Mukka was taken to the Mills County Jail and held on $11,600 cash or surety bond.

The Creston Police Department reports two arrests on Monday, June 19th.

At 8:28 a.m. 36-year-old Jeffrey Michael Donald Drake of Creston was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a Union County Warrant for Violation of a No Contact/Protection Order. Drake was taken to the Union County Jail and held on no bond until seen by a Magistrate.

At 10:34 a.m. 22-year-old Blaine Tristan McIntosh of Orient was arrested the Creston Union County LEC and charged with Enticing a Minor under 16-Sexual Purpose and Lascivious Acts with a Child- Solicit Child for Sexual Activity. McIntosh was taken to the Union County Jail and held on no bond until seen by the Magistrate.

The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is hosting a clinical trial for a vaccine that promises to protect senior citizens against the respiratory disease known as R-S-V. Dr. Patricia Winokur, executive dean of the U-I Carver College of Medicine, says many of the trial’s participants are grandparents.

The Centers for Disease Control is expected to meet this week to make recommendations on the usage of the G-S-K and Pfizer vaccines. Both were approved by the Food and Drug Administration for adults 60 and older last month. Winokur says the vaccine might be best for seniors who have underlying conditions.

During the past few winters, the U-S has experienced an unusually high amount of respiratory virus activity driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. The vaccine could be available as soon as this fall.