The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday, approved two new hires, a promotion, and an appointment to the Board of Health. They approved employment contracts for:

• LaJean Fajen-Webb, Jailer (Starting wage $19.64/hour)
• Christian Kinzie as an Engineering Technician ($24.70/hour)
• and the promotion of Dennis Vogl to Senior Engineering Technician. ($28.50/hour)   – Both positions are in effect as of May 10, 2021.
• The Board approved the appointment of Dr. Elaine Berry as a member to the Cass County Board of Health (term ending 12/31/2023).

County Conservation Director Micah Lee presented 3rd quarter FY21 report of activity at county recreational sites (including maintenance at Cold Springs, West Nodaway Area, T-Bone Trail, Hitchcock House, Indian Creek, Troublesome Creek and Outdoor Classroom) and naturalist’s environmental education activities: 58 programs to 664 persons.

Veteran Affairs Executive Director Mitch Holmes gave report of 3rd quarter FY21 activity.  During the quarter 141 veterans were assisted: Federal VA benefits and/or local general assistance.

The Audubon School District’s Board of Education, Monday, set Friday, May 21st 2021 as the last day of school for the current school year. Superintendent Eric Trager said on that day, students will be dismissed at 2:15-p.m.

In other business, the Audubon School Board approved a contract with the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool.

The pool allows the district to pay its natural gas service purchases through their management fund. It’s the third year the district has participated in the program. The District also approved a renewal of a contract with SU Insurance, that allows the district to turn-in break-down insurance when computers need repairs, kitchen equipment breaks down, etc. The Board also added a service agreement with Studio Melee, the district’s facilities renovation project architect.

The Audubon School Board approved a “Quit Claim” Deed for Christiansen Trust, which is of an historical note of sorts.

The Board chose to deed the property back to the land owner who’s been farming it for many years. And, the Board was notified the District would receive a little more than 1.2-million dollars in COVID Relief Funds they will try and figure out how best to use them.

In other news, the Audubon School Board approved 2.5% raises for those employees who are not represented by a collective bargaining unit, and they renewed Superintendent Eric Trager’s contract for another three-years. They also approved the hiring of: A P.E/At risk teacher; A Special Education Teacher and a new Custodian. Trager said they’re working hard on the hiring process, but the supply of interested and qualified applicants is drying up.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A Judge has handed down a sentence of 11-years in Federal Prison for a Kansas City, MO., man, convicted of distributing methamphetamine, carrying a firearm in relation to drug trafficking and knowingly in possession of a firearm as a felon. Judge John Jarvey issued the sentence for 26-year-old D’Ante Decarl Dirks, Monday, in Council Bluffs U-S District Court. In addition to the 11-year sentences, for which there is no parole, Dirks was ordered to serve four years of supervised release to follow his prison term, and pay $300 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

On July 7, 2020, the Iowa State Patrol conducted a traffic stop on a car driven by Dirks. As the Trooper attempted to issue a citation, Dirks sped off. In an effort to elude law enforcement,
Dirks drove in excess of 100 mph, drove into oncoming traffic, and passed on the shoulder of the highway until he was forced into a ditch in rural Mills County. Dirks ran from the scene and threw a loaded handgun into a nearby cornfield. A search of the car Dirks was driving located marijuana, synthetic marijuana, powder cocaine and cocaine base (crack cocaine). Further investigation revealed Dirks intended to sell the drugs found in the car. Dirks pleaded guilty on December 4, 2020, to the gun and drug charges.

This investigation was conducted by the Iowa State Patrol, Mills County Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States
Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting via conference call, Wednesday morning. The Board had planned to allow up to 21 people in their Boardroom/courtroom in Greenfield, but the Clerks of Court Office said the courtroom will NOT be available. Those wanting to attend by conference call, should call-in by 9-a.m. Wednesday, to (605)-313-6157, and enter access code 526272#.

On the agenda for the Adair County Board of Supervisors:

• Is a report from County Auditor Mandy Berg, with regard to a Redistricting Commission.
• County Treasurer Brenda Wallace will discuss a Postage Meter Agreement
• Neil Hyde, with Infomax will talk about IT – Complete Cloud Solution.
• County Attorney Melissa Larson will talk about the Solar Panel Decommissioning Plan and an Ordinance pertaining to Solar Farms
• and, Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman will present an award of contract for and N34 Richland Road Bridge Project; a Heartland Divide II Road Use Agreement; and a report on Maintenance and Activities.

The Adair County Supervisors will move into a Closed Session (as allowed by the Code of Iowa) near the end of their meeting, to discuss the Engineer’s Contract.

(Des Moines) – Auditor of State Rob Sand today (Tuesday) released an agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Walnut, Iowa, for the period July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. The agreed-upon procedures engagement was performed pursuant to the Code of Iowa. Sand reported eight findings related to the receipt and disbursement of taxpayer funds. They are found on pages 7 through 9 of the report.

The findings address issues such as a lack of segregation of duties, the lack of a depository resolution, utility bill forgiveness in violation of Chapter 388.6 of the Code of Iowa, and disbursements exceeding budgeted amounts. Sand provided the City with recommendations to address each of the findings.

Seven of the eight findings discussed above are repeated from the prior year. The City Council has a fiduciary responsibility to provide oversight of the City’s operations and financial transactions. Oversight is typically defined as the “watchful and responsible care” a governing body exercises in its fiduciary capacity.

A copy of the agreed-upon procedures report is available for review on the Auditor of State’s web site at https://auditor.iowa.gov/audit-reports.

The Creston Police Department reports two men were arrested on separate charges, Monday. Officials say 33-year-old Clay Brammer, of Afton, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear on an original charge of Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense. Brammer was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, while awaiting a bond hearing.

And, 38-year-old Hoby Gatson, of Creston, was arrested Monday for Violation of a Protection Order. He was also being held in the Union County Jail, pending a bond hearing.