DES MOINES – Governor Reynolds today (Thursday) announced that 23 communities have been awarded a total of $9 million in grants to advance water quality projects. Among those communities is Farragut, Harlan, Mondamin, Shenandoah and Treynor. (See a link to the complete list at the bottom of this report) The funding is made available through the Wastewater and Drinking Water Treatment Financial Assistance Program, which was created as a part of Senate File 512, the first legislation signed into law by Governor Reynolds in January 2018.

The 2022 program received 60 applications requesting more than $24 million in water quality grants. A committee consisting of designees from the Iowa Finance Authority, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship judged the Wastewater and Drinking Water Financial Assistance Program applications based on the program’s priorities.

Priorities for grant awards include: Disadvantaged communities; Projects that will significantly improve water quality in their watershed; Projects that use alternative wastewater treatment technologies; Communities with the highest sewer or water rates; Projects that use technology to address nutrient reduction; and projects to address improvements to drinking water source waters.

The program receives a portion of the tax on metered water and had more than $9 million available for allocation in 2022. Grants will be awarded through the program on an annual basis through 2039. The Wastewater program has assisted a total of more than 50 communities through a total of nearly $18 million in water quality grants since the first awards were granted in 2019. The program is expected to have approximately $6 million in available funds in 2023 based on the portion of tax that will be allocated to the program.

The award list is available HERE.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) — A structure fire Wednesday night in Council Bluffs resulted in the death of a man and a dog. According to Council Bluffs Fire Investigator Dan Roberts, firefighers were called to the scene at 114 Blackhawk Street at around 8:50-p.m.  Roberts says upon arrival, fire crews found smoke and fire coming from the house. They were informed that someone could be trapped inside.

Firefighters who made quick entry into the house to conduct search and rescue and extinguish the flames, found a deceased male victim and a dog.

The incident remains under investigation. The victim’s identity will be released following confirmation during an autopsy.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — Jan. 26, 2023 – The Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 4 office reports east- and westbound West Broadway will be closed Saturday morning through early Monday morning, Jan. 28-30, at Interstate 29 for bridge demolition work. The closure will begin at 5 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, and will remain in place until 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 30, weather permitting. Contractors will be working throughout the duration of the closure. However, the noisiest demolition operations will only occur between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Iowa DOT is in the process of reconstructing I-80, I-29, and I-480 in the Council Bluffs metropolitan area as part of the Council Bluffs Interstate Improvement Program. This comprehensive interstate redesign will modernize the highway system and improve mobility and safety of approximately 18 miles of interstate.

Iowa DOT is working hard to keep the public informed of construction impacts and actively seeks opportunities to update the public. For more information or to sign up for alerts, visit the program website at www.CouncilBluffsInterstate.IowaDOT.gov. You can also contact the program office at 712-216-3339 or info@CouncilBluffsInterstate.com.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to 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, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School District’s Board of Directors heard from District Transportation Director Mark Weis, during a Work Session, Wednesday evening. Weis spent a portion of his report on “The Heart of the Transportation Department,” those who work in the department. He says their licensure is one of the most important aspects of the department. That list includes everyone from the mechanics and secretaries, to route drivers.

Most of the Department’s personnel hold regular jobs, yet they still make time to drive routes. Retired drivers also play a role in getting students and staff to where they need to go. In addition to bus drivers, there are personnel who hold a Class-D Chauffeur’s License to drive cars and vans in the district’s fleet. He was asked about turnover in the department.

Weis said his department is currently understaffed, but that’s where substitutes help take up some of the slack and fill-in when necessary.

He says they make it work the best they can.They have enough vehicles, just not enough people to drive them, which is the case in a lot of school districts. Mark Weis said with regard to the vehicles, a State Inspector will inspect the fleet next week, with the exception of Bus 10.

ACSD Transportation Director Mark Weis (Snapshot from Zoom session)

Weis told the Board they’ve made a lot of improvementss to the bus garage (Bus “Barn”), including the addition of a tool to help control the amount of rust the buses have.

The Atlantic School Board also heard a lengthy presentation from Schuler Principal James Northwick, Middle School Principal Scot Aden, Middle School Counselor Angela Sieh, and others, with regard to social and emotional learning support in the district.

(Lenox, Iowa) – The Griswold and Lenox Community School District Boards of Education have approved contracts with Superintendent Dave Henrichs. The Boards met Wednesday evening at the Lenox High School. Mr. Henrichs said their first action item was to approve a shared Superintendent Agreement between the two districts.

The second action item was for the Lenox School Board, only, and Henrichs’ individual contract with that district.

He explained the reason for a one-year only contract with Lenox.

Henrichs says there’s a clause in his contract with regard to insurance, that says if he has coverage through his spouse, then he would get cash in lieu of that.

He says “At the end of the day, when you compare total dollars for all expenses associated with my position, it’s a total package decrease of nine-percent.

He calls the agreement a “win-win” for both parties.