Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones, Wednesday, read proclamations recognizing two City Council members who will not be returning to City Hall in January as servants to the community.

Councilperson Pat Simmons receives a plaque for her years of service to the Atlantic City Council from Mayor Dave Jones.

First up was 3rd Ward Councilperson Pat Simmons, who Jones said served on the Council from 1992-to 2000, and from 2004 until the end of this year, or a total of 16-years. Jones says she has also attended over 384 meetings of the City Council plus numerous committee meetings as a Council liaison various boards and committees. He said her considerable experience along with her “quiet nature” demonstrated the importance of good listening skills and emphasis, of using a few chosen words to make a point. Simmons jokingly said afterward, she was “Going to miss all those midnight phone calls,” from persons in her Ward.

Jones also recognized 1st Ward Councilman Kern Miller, who  served on the City Council since 1999, for a total over 12-years. Miller has attended over 300 meetings of the Council, as well as numerous Council committee meetings, also as a liaison to various boards and committees. The proclamation honoring Miller mentioned his ability to make sure the Council served the citizens of Atlantic as watchdogs for their tax dollars, and made light of his ability to draw attention to the Council proceedings when they were televised on the local cable access channel. He said Miller is “Independent in questioning the nature of, and challenging, the status quo part of fellow council members.” The proclamation said he “Often provided an alternative vision that sparked lively debate, and enriched the positive difficulties that undoubtedly increased the Channel 18 viewing audience.

Councilman Kern Miller receives his plaque from the Mayor.

Afterward, Miller expressed his appreciation to the residents in his Ward for allowing him to serve. Simmons and Miller received a plaque for their years of service. In January, newly sworn-in Councilpersons Ashley Hayes and Chris Jimmerson will take Simmons’ and Millers’ seats, respectively.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Electricity bills for Alliant Energy customers will increase in February as the utility passes along higher rates it’s paying to a transmission provider. Utility spokesman Scott Drzycimski says the increase in the transmission rates will result in about a one-quarter percent increase to a customer’s overall bill. That amounts to about a $1 a month increase for residential customers. Drzycimski says the increase could be partly offset by falling costs for natural gas to generate electricity.

The CAM Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a special meeting Friday, December 23rd, at 11-a.m.  The Board will discuss and act on a request for a waiver exemption from the Department of Education.

Superintendent Steve Pelzer said because the administration is not sure if a vocational program offered through “Connections Education” online would satisfy the accreditation requirements of the State, they are requesting a waiver for the January 1st deadline which precedes the school year for which a waiver would be requested, which in this case, would be the 2012-2013 calendar year.

Friday’s meeting will take place in the Media Center at the CAM High School, in Anita, beginning at 11-a.m.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety said today (Wednesday) a complaint was filed in Crawford County charging 41-year old Michael McKinnon with Theft in the First Degree, a Class C Felony, and Felonious Misconduct in Office, a Class D Felony.  McKinnon, is a former Chief of the Denison Fire Department. The criminal charges are the result of a lengthy investigation conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the State Auditor’s Office.  McKinnon is scheduled for an initial appearance on Friday, December 30, 2011 in Crawford County.  The Iowa Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting the case.

McKinnon served as Chief of the Denison Fire Department from January 18, 1999 to January 3, 2010.  He left his employment as fire chief amid questionable purchases made by him and questionable payments made to him for training and equipment.  It was then that the DCI was contacted to conduct an investigation. McKinnon currently resides in the state of New Mexico.

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To view the Criminal Complaint filed against McKinnon, click on the following link:

Criminal Complaint