The Atlantic City Council is expected to hear a request during its meeting Wednesday evening, for the abatement of the fee for a building permit pertaining to the Cass County Fairgrounds. The Cass County Ag and Ed. Association, commonly referred to as the “Fair Board,” is asking the City of waive the building permit fee of just under $3,100, for the construction of a Cattle Barn on the Fairgrounds.

Cass Co. Fair Cattle Barn schematic

Zoning Administrator John Lund, will not be present to explain why he feels the fee was exorbitant for what he calls a “Glorified carport,” but City Administrator Doug Harris will speak on his behalf. City Attorney Dave Weiderstein has also indicated he has similar thoughts on the matter. Doug Harris says while Lund has reservations on a complete abatement of the fee due to precedent and fairness (as no entity is exempt from building permit fees outside of the City itself and AMU/Utility companies for basic infrastructure), he has sympathy for an entity that exists purely on donations, and provides an educational and enjoyable experience for all Cass County residents and visitors while remaining free to the public.

The Cattle Barn building is funded through donations from both individuals and businesses around Cass County. Construction on the 86-foot wide, 120-fott long all steel, clear-span structure is expected to begin within about  30-days. It will have open sides, with steel sliding doors on the ends and a dirt floor. The building is expected to cost nearly $84,300.

Regardless of the Council’s decision on approving abatement of the fee request, Lund has indicated he will likely present the matter before the Finance and Personnel Committee, so they can determine if the ordinance Lund must follow is flawed, and ways in which they can be improved to reflect a fair and logical pricing system for everyone.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region VII office announced today (Tuesday) that the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station public meeting and emergency response exercise, scheduled to take place this week near Fort Calhoun, Nebraska has been postponed until further notice. High wind speeds reaching approximately 90 mph were reported during a severe thunderstorm this morning, and power was lost. The power has since been restored and there are no safety concerns.

The states of Nebraska and Iowa along with Washington County in Nebraska and Pottawattamie and Harrison Counties in Iowa will work with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), FEMA and the Omaha Public Power District to reschedule the exercise for a future date to be determined. The exercise is a biennial requirement to determine the adequacy of the state and local radiological emergency preparedness and response plans. It tests the abilities of the state, the utility company, and participating counties to protect the health and safety of the public living and working in the vicinity of the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station.

The exercise requires the activation of emergency facilities operated by state, county and local units of government, all of which generating response activities that are evaluated by the FEMA Region VII Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program. Concurrently, the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station on-site performance is evaluated by officials from the NRC.

Members of the public will be informed when the exercise and the public meeting outlining the full-scale response exercise process, has been rescheduled.

The Harlan Police Department reports the arrest of 32-year old Ian Leib of Harlan on July 30th. Officers were called to the 300 block of Market Street for an intoxicated person that would not leave an open garage. Leib was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with Trespassing and Intoxication in public, which were enhanced due to four prior convictions.

Also on July 30th, the Harlan P-D took a report of a Troy Built weed eater that had been stolen from Renee Parrot of Harlan in the 1800 block of 7th Street. Police are following leads and the case remains under investigation.

On August 4th, Dillon Wells of Harlan reported that his 16 GB iPod had been stolen from Burger King, his place of employment. This case remains under investigation.