(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors met this (Tuesday) morning in their regular weekly session. At the beginning of the meeting, Board Chair Mark Peterson moved to strike from the agenda, discussion with regard to a Wind Turbine Ordinance. Prior to the Board discussing the subject of the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline, they heard from Jan Norris, who was appointed in the meeting and in separate business, as the County Representative to the Red Oak Library Board. Norris applauded the Board for agreeing to hire a local inspector, but suggested – based on persons knowledgeable about the process – the Board research and interview potential inspection companies.

Jan Norris addresses the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors (6/28/22) – Ric Hanson photo

She said there are some questions that should be asked….

Three months ago, the Montgomery County Supervisors agreed to send a letter to the Iowa Utilities Board, objecting to the use of eminent domain to acquire land for the pipeline. Norris said if they should decide to pursue that course of action, they would not be alone.

Norris said also, “Landowners are making it clear: they are not eager to sign-over their land.” Supervisor Donna Robinson suggested the Board hold-off until additional information is available.

The Board moved to table any further discussion until their meeting on July 12th. In other business, the Board set July 19th at 8:45-a.m., as the date and time for a public hearing on a revised Montgomery County Solar Ordinance. They approved also: a Business Associates Agreement with Nishna Productions; the renewal of a Tobacco Permit, for Cubby’s in Red Oak, and they passed a Resolution Supporting State Recreational Trails Program.

Jenna Ramsey, Stanton Community Development Director explained they are applying for a grant with regard to the project, which requires a match from the City of Stanton. The City is striving to have a trail around the community, and eventually to Viking Lake State Park.

She said because Phase Two of the project within the Stanton City Limits is currently out for bids, they should be in a better position to obtain grant funds through the revised application.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (June 28, 2022) – The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) recently announced the recipients of the 2022 Silver Achievement in Quality Award. Creston Specialty Care (Creston, IA) and Pleasant View Care Center (Whiting, IA) were recognized by AHCA/NCAL with this award.  The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program honors long-term and post-acute care providers that have demonstrated their commitment to improving the quality of care for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

“Reaching the Silver Award level successfully while also compassionately protecting and caring for Iowa’s elderly and most vulnerable during these ever-changing times is remarkable,” said Brenda Irlbeck, vice president of quality improvement and regulatory affairs for the Iowa Health Care Association. “The resiliency and dedication of these facilities for continuing their quality improvement journey is admirable and a wonderful testament to the quality of care provided by Iowans to Iowans in long-term care facilities.”

Out of the 46 total award recipients in 24 states, 40 were skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), three were assisted living (AL) facilities and three had combined AL/SNF programs.

The National Quality Award Program is a rigorous process, made up of three levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold – that is reviewed and judged by trained experts against a set of nationally recognized standards for organizational excellence. The Silver Award is the second of three distinctions possible through the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program. At the Silver level, members develop and demonstrate effective approaches that help improve organizational performance and health care outcomes. Silver recipients may move forward in developing approaches and achieving performance levels that meet the criteria required for the AHCA/NCAL Gold Excellence in Quality Award.

The awards program is based on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, which also serves as the foundation for the metric-based AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative. The Baldrige framework helps organizations among different business sectors improve organizational effectiveness and achieve strategy-driven performance.

Winners of the 2022 Gold Excellence in Quality Award will be announced in August.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department say a woman was arrested Monday afternoon, for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense – Causing Bodily Injury. 53-year-old Lisa Ann Hoffman was arrested at her residence, in Creston. She was taken to the Union County Jail and later transferred to the Adams County Jail. Hoffman was being held without bond until seen by the magistrate.

And, at around 11:17-p.m., Monday, 36-year-old Shane Curtis White, of Creston, was arrested for Driving while Barred. He was cited and released from the scene.

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon School District’s Board of Education will meet in a Special Session at 7:30-a.m., Wednesday (June 29th). Their meeting takes place in the High School Board Room. During their session the Board will act on approving End of Fiscal Year Expenditures. Afterward, they are expected to receive an update on their facilities project.

The Board’s next REGULAR meeting is 7-p.m., July 18, 2022, in the High School Board Room.