(Griswold, Iowa) – The Griswold School Board met Monday evening, and acted on a handful of resignations and a full-time contract. Superintendent Dave Henrichs….

The Board chose to activate the district’s retirement policy for both certified and classified staff members.

Henrichs said Early Retirement applications will go to the board for action during their meeting on January 15.

In other business, the Griswold School Board established their 2023-2034 Board Goals. The goals are the same as last year. They include establishing strategies for attracting, hiring and retaining quality staff. Their other goal was developing a strategy to reducing net open enrollement-out.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday (Today), received an annual report and funding request from West Central Community Action (WCCA) Executive Director Wendy Mueller, and a weekly report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken. They also voted to deny a probationary period performance-based pay raise for an employee of the Cass County Treasurer’s Office. In her report to the Board, Wendy Mueller said WCCA is asking for the same amount of funding the County provided for their services, last year.

The Board took the request under consideration.

Wendy Mueller

Mueller said for Fiscal Year 2023 West Central served 582 households in Cass County, consisting of over 1,200 individiuals, which was a small increase (32) over last year.

She said 53-percent of the households they serve in Cass County, rent their home. West Central, she said, provides many services in the County, including Head Start, which promotes school readiness for children ages 3-to 5 for low income families, by offering a variety of services.

They also have Early Headstart, which provides support to low income infants, toddlers and pregnant women and their families. They also offer a home-based option in Cass County. Over the past year, WCCA served a total of seven children in Early Headstart. The organization also offers Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R),

She acknowledged there has been a continued loss of child care programs in the area. Nine-percent, she said, have been lost over the past 5-years in Cass County alone. That trend is nationwide, as well. Other programs WCCA handles include the Child and Adult Care Food Program (197 children were enrolled in the program over the past year in the County), and Weatherization for low income households to help increase energy efficiency and reduce fuel costs. Eight homes were weatherized, which was double the number from last year, at a cost of $272,000 worth of services. For more information on West Central Community Action, see this LINK.

The Board discussed at length, approving a wage change for Cass County Auditor’s Clerk Hannah Richter. The proposed increase, which Auditor Kathy Somers and the Board agreed in a prior meeting, would be $1.00, from $19-to $20, following a probationary period and positive performance evaluation. The Board, Tuesday (Today), made several motions, including one to give her a 3% raise now, and a 3% raise on July 1, 2024, and, a proposed One-dollar increase on that date, instead of now.

Supervisor Mark O’Brien said he was opposed to the “Tiered probationary period…needs to go away.”

Kathy Somers said…

The Board voted 3-to-2 to delay the raise until the start of the new Fiscal Year on July 1^st. Supervisors Wendy Richter and Steve Green were opposed to that action.

Des Moines, Iowa – Nov. 21, 2023 – If you drive near the Interstate 35/80/235 east systems interchange you need to be aware of an upcoming construction project that may slow down your trip.

Nighttime construction work to place bridge beams for the new bridge at the I-35/I-80/I-235 east systems interchange will require closing westbound I-80, the ramp from westbound I-80 to westbound I-235, and the loop from eastbound I-235 to westbound I-80 on Thursday, Nov. 30 from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Grimes Construction office.

While work is taking place you will follow a marked detour route that will take you north to the Corporate Woods interchange and then back south to continue on westbound I-80 or westbound I-235 (see map).

Help keep everyone on the road safer. Drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, you should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.