The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), voted 4-to 1 in favor of a Resolution giving consent to the City Massena, to exercise Urban Renewal Powers. The dissenting vote came from Board Chair Mark Wedemeyer, who wanted the CAM School District to give its blessing on the TIFing of 38 wind turbines located within a two-miles radius of the Massena City Limits, and because he wanted more public input.

Approving the Resolution does not mean the City will be able to institute Tax Increment Financing on the turbines. SWIPCO (Southwest Iowa Planning Council) Executive Director John McCurdy says it does set the ball rolling for future discussion involving officials with the CAM School District, City officials in Massena, the County, and SWIPCO. McCurdy offered to facilitate a meeting of the concerned parties.

Massena Mayor Linda Reinecke and McCurdy plan to appear before the CAM School Board during their meeting next week, to try and iron out the details of where and when such a meeting might take place, and to garner an iron clad position from the District, on how the TIF funds should or should not be used. Supervisors Gaylord Schelling and Mark Wedemeyer stressed the importance of having the CAM School Board’s voice heard on the matter.

Right now, all the Supervisors have is a spoken acknowledgement the CAM School Board is in favor of Massena using TIF monies for their sewer relining and street rehabilitation projects, which are expected to cost in the millions of dollars. In other business, the Board approved motions abating the taxes for Fiscal year 2014 on a parcel of abandoned land owned by the City of Anita, and the FY 2014 taxes owed by the Iowa DOT, for three parcels of land it acquired for a right of way. Both abatements are allowed under Iowa Code.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has issued a report on recent arrests. Officials say on Tuesday (Aug. 6th), 31-year old Ryan Michael Paul, of Eagle Grove, was arrested on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Delivery of a Controlled Substance. Paul was taken to the Cass County Jail where he is currently being held on $10,000 bond.

On Sunday (Aug. 4th), deputies arrested 21-year old Joel Alan Gronewold, of Red Oak,  on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Gronewold was taken to the Cass County Jail where he is being held on $10,000 bond.

And on July 31st, deputies in Cass County arrested 19-year old Cody Benjamin Carrol Johnson,  of Stanton,  on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Johnson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Wednesday) released more information about an accident which occurred August 2nd in a construction zone, near Anita. Officials say at around 9:54-a.m. on that date, deputies responded to a report of an individual being struck by a semi on Highway 83 west of Anita in a construction zone. A 2008 Peterbilt driven by 22-year old Dylan Dennis Newell, of Anita, was eastbound in the construction zone on Highway 83, when a construction worker, David Christianson, made contact with the trailer of the semi. Christianson suffered cuts and bruises, and was transported to Cass County Memorial Hospital by Anita Fire and Rescue. No citations were issued.

Officials with the Atlantic Police Department report the arrest on Tuesday of 18-year old Skylar Breeling, of Atlantic. Breeling was taken into custody on a Polk County warrant for felony Possession with the Intent to Deliver/Marijuana. The warrant was issued August 2nd, and was based on his failure to complete a PreSentence Investigation interview. Breeling was booked into the Cass County Jail and held without bond.

The A-PD reports also, a large group of keys has been turned into the Atlantic Police Department. If they are yours, you may call or stop by the P-D to identify and claim them.

Authorities in Montgomery County are investigating an incident of burglary which occurred at the Villisca Swimming Pool. Officials say the burglary happened sometime between 9-p.m. Tuesday and 7:30-a.m. today (Wednesday). The Sheriff’s Department says about $140 in candy was taken, and the buildings’ locks sustained $57 in damage. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.