Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

After nearly 30-minutes of discussion and a tweaking of the wording, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, passed a resolution establishing a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Policy, which has been in the works for months. Councilman Shaun Shouse, said the process involved input from a Citizen Task Force, the Community Development Committee, suggestions from the City Attorney and Bonding Attorney, along with local developer Don Sonntag. Shouse said Bond Counsel Bob Josten suggested the City specifically state in the policy that preference be given to the use of property tax rebates when considering TIF projects, since that results in lower costs to the City by eliminating the bonding process. He said it doesn’t prohibit the City from doing “up-front” grants bonded, or otherwise.

Another suggestion puts the burden on the developer to demonstrate financial assistance is necessary in the amount as warranted, based on “public benefit.” He says that refers to a “Cost-benefit analysis” type of reasoning being used for the TIF. It means people need to be aware that not everyone who requests TIF will receive the maximum amount, and that the City will consider whether the project warrants public input, and that the amount requested is reasonable, considering the benefits back to the City and its residents.

Josten also suggested the City be very clear in how it words “Incremental Taxable Value,” so that any future rollbacks would not result in modifications to the wording to account for that. Instead, the City would consider increased taxable value. There was also a section on what is classified as “Qualified Expenses.”

After the Council unanimously approved the resolution, Mayor Pro Tem Steve Livengood said the fact they were able to come up with a final policy was “amazing,” considering how long the process took, and the amount of paperwork it involved that was reduced to just a few pages at the end of that process. Developer Don Sonntag commended the Council for establishing the policy, which he said might be used in the near future to develop a property subdivision for rental and for-sale homes that would come in two phases, and result in the construction of some 40 homes. The homes that would be offered for rent, would be priced at about $750 per month.

The project, if it comes to fruition,  would cost anywhere from $1.4-to $2-million, and would be built in the vicitinity of East 22nd Street, near the Sundance Apartments. In order for the project to be viable, Sonntag said he would likely need a TIF of up to $250,000. He said there are a lot of hoops to go through before he approaches the City with a TIF request, however.

The City of Atlantic is still under consideration as a possible stop for a high-speed, Chicago-to-Omaha passenger rail route. City Administrator Doug Harris told the City Council during their meeting Wednesday evening he spoke recently with Amanda Martin, IA DOT freight and policy coordinator and Liaison to the Iowa Passenger Rail Advisory Committee. He says Atlantic is still in the running as one of the communities the train might pass through, but Martin wanted to know if the City was given further consideration, would the Rock Island Depot, which currently serves as the Chamber of Commerce’ Headquarters, be available as a possible stop?

Harris said there would have to be further discussion among the various entities, such as the group responsible for restoring the depot, the Chamber, and others, before a firm answer could be given. He said it was “exciting that they’re not only looking at this as a rail line, but also as a possible stop.”

A two-million dollar study is underway, to evaluate potential route alternatives, evaluate levels of service and ridership, analyze environmental impacts, and determine a preferred Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha passenger rail route alternative for intercity regional passenger rail service.  The study includes a Tier 1 Service Level Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).  Half of the funds used to pay for the study is coming from the State of Iowa, with another million matched by the federal government. Open house public hearings on the Draft Tier 1 EIS are anticipated to be held in December. Online meetings are available from now through January 2013.The next steps would include submitting the final Tier 1 EIS to the the Feds, in order to be considered for approval.

Among the routes that were initially being considered, were those that ran from Chicago through: Dubuque, Waterloo and Ft. Dodge; Clinton, Cedar Rapids, and Ames; Cedar Rapids and Huxley; Moline, Iowa City, Des Moines, and possibly Atlantic; or, through Burlington, Osceola and Council Bluffs, which is essentially the existing AMTRAK route.

Voters in western Iowa will head to polls again in December. Polling sites will be open on December 4th for a special Iowa Western Community College Bond Election. The Public Measure asks:  “Shall the Iowa Western Community College (Merged Area XIII) in the Counties of Adair, Adams, Audubon, Cass, Crawford, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby, be authorized to remodel, erect and equip buildings at the main campus and other enrollment locations, contract indebtedness therefor, and issue its school bonds in an amount not exceeding $22,500,000 for that purpose?”

In order to keep the costs of conducting the election down, the minimum number of voting places will be opened for this election. Any voter who will not be going to the designated voting place on election day may request an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots should be requested as soon as a person decides to vote using this process.

IN CASS COUNTY, ONLY FIVE VOTING CENTERS WILL BE USED FOR THIS ELECTION:

1. The two VOTING CENTERS for the ATLANTIC COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT are: No. 1: Voters living in Wards 1, 4 and 5 of the City of Atlantic will vote at Heritage House, 1200 Brook Ridge Circle in Atlantic. No. 2: Voters residing in the remainder of the Atlantic Community School District, being those voters residing in Audubon and Pottawattamie counties; Bear Grove, Benton, Brighton, Cass, Franklin, Grove, Pymosa and Washington townships of Cass County; the City of Marne; the City of Wiota; and Wards 2 and 3 of the City of Atlantic will vote at the Atlantic Public Library (507 Poplar), Atlantic, Iowa.

2. The two VOTING CENTERS for the CAM COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT are: No. 1- in ANITA: Voters residing in that portion of the CAM Community School District lying in Adair and Audubon counties; Benton, Franklin, Grant and Lincoln townships of Cass County; the City of Anita; and the City of Wiota will vote at the ANITA COMMUNITY CENTER (805 Main St). No. 2- in MASSENA: Voters residing in that portion of the CAM Community School District lying in Adams County; Bear Grove, Edna, Massena, Noble, Union and Victoria townships of Cass County; the City of Cumberland; and the City of Massena will vote at the MASSENA PUBLIC LIBRARY in Massena (122 Main St).

3. The VOTING CENTER for the GRISWOLD COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT is: In GRISWOLD- Griswold Community Building, 601 2nd St, Griswold and all voters of the School District will vote there.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Friday, of 32-year old Walter Douglas Brown, of Corning. Brown was taken into custody on charges of OWI/2nd Offense and Carrying a Weapon. He was arrested following a traffic stop, and transported to the jail in Atlantic before later being released on $3,000 bond.

Last Thursday, 44-year old Fletcher Lee Nichols, of Anita, was arrested on a warrant out of Polk County pertaining to an Assault without intent/causing serious injury charge. Nichols was taken into custody and was transferred to Polk County later that day.

Last Saturday, 23-year old Ted Allen Mills, of Cumberland, was arrested in Cass County on a charge of OWI 2^nd Offense. Mills was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

And, on Tuesday (Nov. 6th), 34-year old Michael Lee Moller, of Griswold, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Parole Violation. Moller was taken to the Cass County Jail where he is being held without bond.