Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones has announced he is accepting the names of people who may be interested in being on a committee that will set the groundwork on how the City determines which businesses and/or individuals would be eligible for Tax Increment Financing incentives. He says he wants to see those individuals hash out what’s worked for the City in the past, and what hasn’t worked. He doesn’t want to take a “cookie cutter” approach, using other cities’ methodology, just a program developed that is good for the City.

The citizens would provide input to the Community Development Committee. The matter of who gets a TIF has been a bone of contention for the council in the past. Most recently, the issue popped-up with the Boulders Inn and Suites project, which received a $166,000 grant and tax rebate incentives package. Some current business owners in Atlantic have complained they weren’t offered or were turned down for a TIF for their recent projects. Every time the issue comes up, the Council says its going to determine some ground rules to provide a more fair assessment of who is eligible, but to date, no such rules are in place.

The Mayor also indicated he wants to gather a group of citizens who will work on plans to develop the City owned portion of the Schildberg Quarry Recreation Area.  He says the City lost grant monies a couple of years ago because a solid plan wasn’t in place to develop and promote the area. Members of the committee would provide their input to the Atlantic Parks and Recreation Board.

Jones also urged property owners to “clean up their properties,” commercial and private, so the City looks good to the throngs of Ragbrai riders who will be coming through town at the end of July. He says John Lund, Assistant to City Administrator Doug Harris, has already send out letters to some residents and/or businesses, warning them to get rid of the junk in yards, and to mow their overgrown lawns.

After a public hearing as well as much discussion and explanation, the Atlantic City Council Wednesday evening, approved by a vote of 5-to1, a Resolution approving a development agreement between the City and Boulders Inn and Suites, for Tax Increment Payments and the pledging of certain tax increment revenues. The Council also passed a Resolution authorizing an internal advance and loan, to fund a $125,000 incentive grant for the completed $1.5-million project on the City’s west side. The hotel opened for business, last month.

City Administrator Doug Harris said the City couldn’t offer the developer the same offer as last May, because it was based on a full tax assessment, rather than a partial assessment being in place as of January 1st. In addition, the City incurred additional legal costs associated with the delay. But in the end, he said the TIF savings to the City will amount to more than $48,000, and the tax rebates will be $41,000 spread out over nine years rather than $100,000 in four years.

During a public hearing on the Resolution, Atlantic resident, Dr. Keith Swanson said the reasoning behind the City paying an incentive after the hotel was finished, has not been fully explained and doesn’t make any sense. He says he thought an incentive was given to bring a business to town, not something paid out after they have arrived and built a business. Councilman Shaun Shouse said the development agreement was reviewed and approved by the Finance Committee, who thought that it was in the best interests of both parties.

Councilman Kern Miller said the City shouldn’t have to live up to its agreement, since Boulders’ officials failed to sign the original agreement over the course of the past year. He said it also brings into question the council’s judgment on this and other, similar matters.   Councilperson Kathy Somers said the City has an obligation to live up to its commitment, and failure to do so would set a bad precedence. Miller — who voted against the resolution — said he would agree, if the contract had been signed to begin with.

AMES, Iowa – June 15, 2011; 2:30 p.m. – The Iowa and Missouri departments of
transportation have now officially closed Interstate 29 from exit 10 (Iowa 2) in
Iowa to the U.S. 136 interchange (exit 110) near Rock Port, Mo. This is expected to
be a long-term interstate closure.
For current updates on road conditions – 24 hours a day, visit www.511ia.org or call
511.

AMES, Iowa – June 15, 2011; 1:30 p.m. – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is reporting the closure of southbound Interstate 29 at exit 10 (Iowa 2) due to flooding. The southbound I-29 closure extends to the U.S. 136 interchange near Rock Port, Mo.

Traffic from southbound I-29 is being directed to Iowa 2 east to U.S. 275 north back on Iowa 2 east to U.S. 71 south through Iowa into Missouri and U.S. 136 west to I-29 in Missouri.

Northbound I-29 is open between Rock Port, Mo., and Iowa exit 10 (Iowa 2). However, the Iowa and Missouri departments of transportation are working closely to monitor this very volatile situation. Northbound I-29 will be kept open as long as possible for local and emergency traffic. Other traffic is urged to find an alternate route around the flooding in southwest Iowa and northwest Missouri.

Alternative routes for northbound I-29 are as follows:

To reach destinations south of Council Bluffs, continue from U.S. 136 in Missouri to U.S. 71 north to Iowa 2 west to I-29 north. (I-29 north is closed north from exit 55 in Council Bluffs to exit 71 (U.S. 30 at Missouri Valley)).

Persons traveling to Sioux City can continue on U.S. 71 north to U.S. 20 west to Sioux City.

Persons traveling to Council Bluffs/Omaha should stay on U.S. 71 north to Iowa 2 west into Council Bluffs.

To avoid the impacted area of the I-29 corridor, the Iowa DOT is requesting interstate travelers use I-35 north in Kansas City through Iowa to I-90 west in Minnesota to I-29 south back into Iowa.

AMES, Iowa – June 15, 2011; 2 p.m. – Amtrak services on two of three disrupted routes in the Western U.S. will be restored, starting this Wednesday, June 15. Passengers with questions about travel plans on these routes should call Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL for additional information.
Empire Builder (Trains 7/27 & 8/28)

Amtrak service for the complete route will resume following BNSF Railway Co. track restorations between Devils Lake and Rugby, N.D., and between Sandpoint, Idaho, and Libby, Mont. This resumption is effective on Wednesday, June 15, with the originations of Train 8 from Seattle, Train 28 from Portland and Train 7/27 from Chicago.

California Zephyr (Trains 5 & 6)

Amtrak service for the complete route (except Omaha) will resume effective with the originations of Train 6 from the San Francisco Bay (Emeryville, Calif.) on Wednesday, June 15, and Train 5 from Chicago on Thursday, June 16.

Because of temporary levees built over BNSF Railway Co. track to help protect the cities of Omaha and Bellevue, Neb., these trains will not directly serve Omaha, but alternate transportation will be provided between Lincoln and Omaha (eastbound, Train 6) and between Creston, Iowa, and Omaha (westbound, Train 5).
Southwest Chief (Trains 3 & 4)

Amtrak service remains temporarily suspended between Newton, Kan., and Albuquerque due to wildfires near BNSF Railway Co. tracks in New Mexico. Daily Southwest Chief service between Chicago and Los Angeles is maintained using a detour route through Texas and Oklahoma. Missed stops in western Kansas, southeastern Colorado and northeastern New Mexico will be served by chartered motorcoaches or local commuter trains, as available (except Trinidad, Colo., and Raton & Las Vegas, N.M.).

Also temporarily suspended are Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach Routes 8603 & 8604 between Raton and Denver, along with the Lamy (N.M.) Shuttle.
Amtrak regrets any inconvenience. This information is correct as of the above time and date. Information is subject to change as conditions warrant. Passengers are encouraged to call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com for schedule information and train status updates.

AMES, Iowa – June 15, 2011 – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) will hold a public meeting Tuesday, June 28, to discuss proposed culvert repair and replacement along U.S. 59 north of Denison to Schleswig in Crawford county. The meeting will be held at the Schleswig Fire Station, 206 Date St., from 5 to 7 p.m.
This public information meeting will be conducted utilizing an open forum format. No formal presentation will be made. Iowa DOT staff members will be present to discuss the project informally.
For general information regarding the proposed improvement or public meeting, contact Shane Tymkowicz, assistant district engineer, Iowa DOT, District 3 Office, 2800 Gordon Drive, P.O. Box 987, Sioux City, Iowa 51102-0987, telephone 712-276-1451 or 800-284-4368, or e-mail shane.tymkowicz@dot.iowa.gov.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Two riverboat casinos permanently moored along the Missouri River in Council Bluffs are dealing with floodwater. Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan says parking lots on the wet side of the levees at Harrah’s and Ameristar are flooded. He says they were expected to flood because of their locations. Other parking lots are free of water.

Hanafan says both casinos have engineers on staff to monitor the integrity of the floating casinos as the river rises. He says that if a problem is detected, the casino will be emptied. The river is rising as water is released from upstream reservoirs to deal with heavy rains and snowpack. The river is expected to crest above flood stage in Iowa and Nebraska this week, but the water will remain high into fall.