Sheriff’s officials in Harrison County say two people were injured during a two-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon, about two-miles east of Missouri Valley. Authorities say a 2011 Ford Fusion was traveling east on Highway 30 at around 2-p.m, Wednesday, when the car crossed the center line of the road and hit a 1991 Honda. The driver of the Honda, 54-year old Jennette McGraw, of Magnolia, suffered life threatening injuries, and was transported by LifeNet helicopter to the trauma center at Creighton University Hospital, in Omaha.

The driver of the Ford Fusion, 31-year old Kerri Collier, of Woodbine, was transported by ambulance to Alegent Hospital in Missouri Valley. The crash resulted in Highway 30 being closed for about 2-hours, while an investigation was conducted and the vehicle removed.

The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Iowa State Patrol, Missouri Valley Police Department, and Missouri Valley and Logan Rescue squads.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones and the City Council surprised City Clerk Deb Wheatley Field during the Council’s meeting Wednesday night, by passing a Resolution in Honor of her more than two decades of service to the City. The Resolution expresses the City Council’s appreciation to Field for her service to the City over the past 30-years. The Mayor then brought out a large, rectangular cake, which he and the Council served to members of the public who attended the meeting.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council passed the first reading of an ordinance amending the speed limit on 22nd Street, from Highway 71 to Olive, and from Chestnut Street, to Highway 6. The ordinance, when approved after the 3rd and final reading, calls for the speed limit to be reduced on that stretch of road, from 45- to 35-miles per hour, following concerns over the hilly terrain and reduced visibility of residential driveways.  And, the Council passed the second reading of an ordinance establishing a Stop sign at the intersection of Pine Ridge Road and 22nd Street. The Council waived the third reading and adopted the ordinance as written.

They also received an annual report from Cass Atlantic Development Corporation (CADCO) Executive Director Russell Joyce, who mentioned the unemployment rate in Cass County is 4.8%, which he says is much lower than in previous years, and better than in some surrounding counties. He says local manufacturers are keeping busy, and the other sectors appear to be doing as well as can be expected. Joyce says having a diversified employment field in Cass County has helped to keep the local economy moving.

After a lengthy period of discussion, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, passed a Resolution of Support for the development of an affordable housing project on the City’s south side. The City’s Finance Committee has discussed the matter twice, and recommended the Council approve the resolution, which does NOT commit the City to any financial package or incentives, but will serve to lower the developers’ operating costs, by allowing them to qualify for Low Income Housing Tax Credit through the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA). Councilpersons Kathy Somers and Shaun Shouse are the Council’s liasons on the Finance Committee. Somers said last night, the developer, Cohen-Esrey, has lowered the construction costs of its planned single-family homes in the area of 22nd and Olive Streets, to $100,000, including the land. That means the homes would cost approximately $88,500, wih an assessed value of $85,000.

The original proposal called for the City to offer, in the developers’ application to the IFA, a level of financial support of up to $160,000, but the Council voted to have the amount of $65,692 written into its resolution, which equates to about $4,105 per unit. The resolution also calls for a 10-year, $65,000  Tax Increment Financing proposal, instead a 17-year Tax Rebate, as originally proposed. A number of hoops remain before the City actually commits any funds for the project, including: public hearings, a minimum assessment agreement, and completion of a development agreement.

Cohen-Esrey says if their IFA application is approved, they will move forward with plans to build 16, 3-bedroom, 12-hundred square foot, single-family homes. Somers says studies have shown Atlantic could use some more Low Income Housing.  Councilmen Dana Halder and Steve Livengood expressed concern about the quality of the homes…their energy efficiency and the types of studs used, for example…especially in light of how much they will sell for. Many questions still remain about the details of the construction elements, but one thing is known: the homes will be built on concrete slabs, and will not have basements, because of water drainage issues in the area.

Somers said the idea behind the project is that the homes will be rental properties for 15-years, but at the end of the 15-years, the homes will be sold. The renters will contribute $50 each month toward a maintenance fund/downpayment on home ownership. In 15-years, the renter could buy the home for about $65,000.