The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, is expected to discuss a report from the Community Development Committee, with regard to the creation of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Policy. Councilman Shaun Shouse, Chair of the Committee, has been working with City Attorney Dave Weidersteen and the Committee, to come up with a draft TIF policy for the Council to review.

The City of Atlantic currently does not have a TIF policy in-place for commercial and industrial development. The result has been inconsistencies in how the funds have been awarded, and complaints about how those funds are distributed for some projects and not for others. City Administrator Doug Harris says without a TIF policy, the use of TIF funds are subject to abuse and waste. Among the many questions a TIF policy needs to address, according to Harris, is: What projects should be eligible? And, how much of the incremental tax revenue should be used as an individual development incentive, and how much should be used to fund needed public improvement projects which benefit the community as a whole, and help minimize future property tax requirements?

Mayor Dave Jones established a TIF Task Force to develop a fair and uniform policy to answer some of those questions. The task force in-turn, met with the Community Development Committee, which considered the task forces’ input in the development of the Committee’s recommendations, which may be adopted by the Council, in the form of a resolution.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will consider a proposal by Syngenta crop products, to develop an advertising campaign with the City, to promote its “Agrisure Viptera” corn seeds, for local farmers. Advertisements would be placed in store front windows, on street lamps, park benches and other such locations. As part of the company’s public relations campaign, Syngenta would include Atlantic in advertisements targeting local farming communities. The City would work with the company to promote town events, living and other attractions, as part of the campaign.

And, Atlantic resident and businessman Jim Tyler, will address the Council during the Public Forum segment of their meeting, to talk about the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources, and his property at 100 West 2^nd Street, which has been classified as a contaminated site, under Iowa law.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports his office received a call for assistance Monday at Rapp Park, north of Shenandoah. The call came from Iowa Department of Natural Resource Enforcement Officer Deb Howe.  Officer Howe was at the park with several individuals suspected of Iowa Code violations.  Deputies from the Page County Sheriff’s Office responded. Those Deputies handled violations of the Iowa Code that did not deal with Fish and Game violations. After an investigation, Deputies issued 35-year old Aaron E. Howell of Shenandoah,  a citation for improper use of registration.

Also on Monday, Page County Deputies responded to a report of a motor vehicle in the ditch on East Washington Street just east of the West Nodaway River Bridge.  After an investigation, it was determined that 37-year old Tabatha Louise Hawk, of Clarinda,  was driving a 2004 Chrsler Sebring registered to Dennis Hamilton also of Clarinda.  The car was westbound on East Washington when it went off the shoulder and then into the ditch on the north side.  When it entered the ditch, the car sustained front end damage.  Hawk was cited for Failure to prove security against liability (no insurance) accident related and Operation of a vehicle without a valid driver’s license.  There were no injuries reported.

Rescue crews from Anita and Wiota Fire and Rescue have been called to the scene of a personal injury accident on Interstate 80 in Cass County. The accident was said to have taken place at around 12:50-p.m. between the 70- and 71-mile markers in I-80 Eastbound. No other details are currently available.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Animal control workers have removed a total of about 50 cats and carcasses from a house in Sioux City.  Cindy Rarrat, of Sioux City Animal Adoption & Rescue Center, says conditions inside the house Monday were unbearable and unfit for humans or animals.  Law officers executed a search warrant around 4:30 p.m. Monday, and workers started removing the animals. No one was home.  Neighbors say no one has lived in the home for a couple of months.  The hungry, thirsty cats were taken to the rescue center.