Passage of a property tax relief package will not alter Iowa’s overall tax “climate” for businesses in 2014 according to a national group that issues a yearly ranking. For the second straight year the Tax Foundation — a conservative Washington, D.C. “think tank” — ranks Iowa 40th out of the 50 states in terms of how taxes in the state will impact businesses. That’s the “11th worst business tax climate” according to the Tax Foundation.

The group evaluates over a hundred different kinds of taxes states collect and ranks Wyoming as having the most positive tax climate for business, followed by South Dakota in the number two slot. An economist for the Tax Foundation says some states improved in the rankings because governors and legislators made their state tax codes simpler, so businesses aren’t forced to navigate “complex” tax laws.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors Wednesday, approved the employment of a jailer, and the appointment of two persons to the County Compensation Board. Dorothy Bartlett was hired as jailer, retroactive to September 30^th, with a union scale wage of $13.65/hour. And, Maynard Hansen and Phyllis Nichols were appointed to the Compensation Board, with their 4-year terms retroactive to July 1^st, 2013.

In other business, the Supervisors authorized Chair Mark Wedemeyer to sign the release of mortgage for properties in Glenwood, Council Bluffs, Essex and Anita, whose owners have satisfied the conditions of their 5-year forgivable loans with the “Jumpstart Disaster Recovery Program,” which is administered by SWIPCO (the Southwest Iowa Planning Council), and the funds for which flow through the County.

Cass County Engineer Charles Marker also updated the Board on current road and bridge projects. Marker said a couple of paving projects on the secondary roads are nearing completion by Henningsen Construction. He said G-43 (Lewis to Hwy 71) needs to have the shoulder rock and centerline painting finished. County Road M-56 from a feedlot to the airport road has one lane which remains to have surface work completed, but that is expected to be finished yet this week.

The road will also need centerline striping and shoulder rock. And, as far as bridge projects are concerned,  Murphy’s Bridge over the Nishnabotna River by the ISU Research Farm, some paving has to be done on the east side of the bridge, and concrete poured for the concrete. That work is also expected to be completed this week.

Crews have worked to reopen on a Pony Truss-style wood-deck bridge from the Highway 92/71 intersection east to near Schuler Manufacturing and a mile south. Marker said they removed the wood deck and welded in steel corrugated metal decking. Dirt and rock was then placed on the decking.

Work is expected to get underway by October 15th on the Boston Road bridge (located about a mile east of Highway 71), where a box culvert will be installed under the bridge. Gus Construction is in charge of the project. In other business, the Board of Supervisors approved an intergovernmental Federal Aid agreement between the County and Iowa Department of Transportation, for County highway bridge program projects that will cost an estimated $360,000. The County’s share of the cost from the Farm to Market Fund is 20-percent. Work on the #83 bridge on 560^th Street, located near the Griswold Golf Course, is expected to begin next Spring.

The State Fire Marshal Division, along with the Woodbine Police Department, has been investigating the cause for the fire that occurred on Thursday, September 26th, at Ellen’s Flower Shop located at 413 Walker Street, in Woodbine. The fire was reported at approximately 3:29 p.m. The fire completely destroyed the building housing the flower shop and caused structural damage to an adjoining building to the north and water and smoke damage to two or three other buildings located along Walker Street.

The investigation has revealed that the fire may have been intentionally set to the west wall of the flower shop adjacent to the alley that runs north and south behind the building. The exact manner of how the fire was set is being withheld to preserve the ongoing investigation. Information has been obtained that indicates a white male subject was in the alley approximately two minutes prior to the first smoke being observed.

Investigators are requesting the public’s help with the investigation. Anyone who was around the south end of the alley near the flower shop at approximately 3:25 p.m., who may have observed someone walking out of the valley, is asked to contact investigators. Witnesses may contact the Iowa State Fire Marshal Division at 712-308-3977, the Arson Hotline at 800-532-1459, or the Woodbine Police Department at 712-647-2345.

This is Fire Prevention Week, and among the area departments with activities planned, or those which have taken place, is the Atlantic Volunteer Fire Department. Captain Tom Cappel says the week began with a great turnout Sunday for their donation breakfast. Other activities include visits to area schools, which is supported by the donation breakfast.

Still to come is the Annual Fire Prevention Week parade. The event takes place on Saturday, beginning at 6-p.m. Cappel says the event honors not just local firefighters and those who support them, but the cooperative spirit all the area fire departments share. It’s also a chance for the departments to showcase some of the new and antique fire trucks.

Cappel says it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come in firefighting equipment, when you consider how primitive the technology was. He says looking back at some old photos, fires used to be fought with a horse-drawn wagon and pumper. Firefighters back in the day had to contend with smoke inhalation as they fought the flames in close proximity, but crews these days have self-contained breathing apparatus, flame resistant gear, and tools that can detect a victim trapped in a structure, not to mention high-volume pumper trucks that can dispense fire retardant foam or pressurized water.

The Fireman’s Parade starts at 2^nd and Walnut in Atlantic on Saturday, and proceed down Chestnut Street. The Shriners will lead-off the parade, which will be telecast on KJAN.com.