The Atlantic City Council, Tuesday, held public hearings on an Amendment to the North Urban Renewal Plan, and a Development Agreement that includes Tax Rebates. Both matters pertained to United Steel Erectors (USE). Following the hearings, the Council passed a Resolution which approved the expenditure as an Urban Renewal Project, and authorized payment, with the stipulation it be included in the December 1^st, 2012 certification to the County.

City Administrator Doug Harris explained a new State Tax Increment Financing law went into effect in July 1^st, 2012. The new TIF law has several new requirements that have affected the agreement with USE, that the council had hoped to approve last June, and, last minute changes were necessary to eliminate any conditions related to job creation. Those elements caused an adoption of a TIF agreement to be postponed until Tuesday night’s meeting.

The Council then voted to approve a Resolution for the Development Agreement with United Steel Erectors, along with Tax Rebate payments between the City and the USE. Harris said the agreement calls for a 45-percent tax rebate for five-years, not to exceed $35,000.

The Council also approved the Final Plat for the Namanny Commercial Development project on the City’s west side. The nearly eight-acre parcel zoned Light Industrial, will be divided into four lots, two of which will be used for commercial buildings along Highway 6.

And, Mayor Dave Jones reminded residents of the City about their responsibilities when the snow falls. He said keep your shovel handy and get ready to shovel your sidewalks, to keep them clear and safe.Keeping sidewalks cleared of snow is required under the City’s Code of Ordinances.

Authorities in Council Bluffs have released the name of a man who was found dead in a hole Friday, as 34-year old Sasha Padowinikoff, a transient whose last known address was in California. His body was discovered in a hand-dug 4-foot deep hole in a wooded area just east of the 1600 block of North 15th Street. Officials say it appeared that he had been digging a hole for shelter or storage of his belongings, when he fell in as he tried to retrieve some items, and became trapped. Foul play is not suspected.

Officials say Padowinikoff had been staying at Mohm’s Place. His family members from Idaho were located and informed of his death, on Monday.

One person escaped serious injury during a rollover accident Tuesday morning, north of Villisca. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department says 51-year old Mary Lynn Kuzemko, of Villisca, lost control of her late model VW Beetle on a gravel road near the intersection of Union Avenue and 242nd street. The accident happened as her car was topping a hill.

Officials say the car slid into the ditch and rolled over before landing on its wheels. Kuzemko refused medical treatment at the scene. No citations were issued.  The car was estimated to be a total loss.

Authorities in Montgomery County say a Villisca man was arrested on Missouri drug charges Tuesday afternoon. According to the Sheriff’s Department, 25-year-old Jessie Bruce Fitzwater was taken into custody around 1:30 p.m., on a warrant from Nodaway County, MO., charging Fitzwater with possession of marijuana up to 35 grams.  The man was being held without bond in Montgomery County, pending extradition to Missouri.

Members of the Exira and Elk Horn-Kimballton School District’s Boards of Education will gather Monday night in Exira for a joint Board meeting. During the 7-p.m. session in the Media Center at 105 East School Street, the Boards will discuss and possibly take action on Reorganization of the two districts, including: Whole Grade Sharing versus Reorganization; Reorganization Timelines – which includes approving a petition to reorganize and possibly setting a vote on the matter for April 9^th; and, approve Joint Committees for SIAC (the School Improvement Advisory Committee), Pre-School, the District Leadership Team and Teacher Quality.

Special guests at the Joint Board meeting Monday night, include Area Education Agency (AEA) representatives Paula Vincent and Lane Plugge, who will answer the Boards’ questions about the reorganization process.

State transportation officials are encouraging motorists to consider driving during “off peak” times to increase their chances for a safe holiday travel period. Dennis Kleen, with the Iowa Department of Transportation, says this (Wednesday) evening, tomorrow (Thursday) morning and Sunday afternoon and evening will likely be the busiest times on Iowa’s roadways and the added traffic can increase the risk of a crash.  “It’s a lot more crowded…a lot more traveling during those certain parts of the holiday weekend,” Kleen said. “If you don’t have to travel during those times, we’d prefer you didn’t.” If traveling during an off-peak period is NOT possible, Kleen suggests allowing a little extra time for the trip.

“This isn’t one of the easiest things to change. Sometimes, you have to be at a certain place at a certain time…but if you don’t have to, we’re trying to get people not to do it then,” Kleen said. And of course, drivers should watch their speed, avoid using cellphones, and be careful not to drive under the influence of alcohol. Last year in Iowa, there were 180 confirmed injuries and four deaths from car crashes over the Thanksgiving weekend. That was down from eight traffic deaths during the same period in 2010.

(Radio Iowa)