(Radio Iowa) – House Speaker Pat Grassley says Republican lawmakers are working on another round of state income tax cuts. “We’re having good conversation around the tax policy that’s still floating around here,” Grassley says. “I feel confident we’ll be able to achieve speeding up the tax cut before we head home.” Tax cuts approved in 2022 will shrink the state individual income tax to a single rate just under four percent by 2026.

In January, Governor Reynolds suggested going lower, to three-point-65 percent (3.65%) and making that rate retroactive to January 1st of THIS year. Grassley says House Republicans are developing a plan. “I don’t think it’s been settled what that will look like,” Grassley says, “but I feel pretty confident that we’ll be able to find resolution on that.” Tomorrow (Tuesday), is the 100th day of the 2024 legislative session. It’s a target date for adjourning the Iowa General Assembly and the last day legislators get expense money in addition to their salary, but there’s no legal deadline for concluding the session.

Later today (Monday), the House Appropriations Committee will meet to consider six different bills outlining state spending plans for the budgeting year that begins July 1st. The Iowa SENATE has released a tentative schedule for debating nine bills today (Monday).

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular, weekly meeting Tuesday morning (April 16th). Here’s their agenda:

1. Call meeting to order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll call of members
4. Approval of Agenda – Order at discretion of Chairman
5. Read minutes as presented. Chairman to call for any additions/corrections to said minutes.
6. Board chairman will ask the audience for any comments, limited to two minutes per person.
7. Supervisors: Weekly committee/assignment updates
8. Secondary Roads Update
a. Approve the Title VI Non-Discrimination Agreement IDOT and Montgomery County, IA and Non-Discrimination Policy Statement
b. Approve The United States Department of Transportation Standard Title VI/Non-Discrimination Assurances
c. 8:45 a.m. Public Hearing for Proposed Vacation of Alley in the Unincorporated Town of Stennett located in Sections 27, T73 N, R38W located between East Depot Street and Wayne Street, lying between lots 22-30 to the north and lots 31-42 to the South.
d. Public comment (Must state your name and address when addressing the Board. Limited to two minutes per person.)
e. Approve/Disapprove Resolution 2024-13 To Vacate an Unimproved Alley
f. Approve/Disapprove Resolution 2024-14 To Quit Claim Deed Alley Property
9. New Business
a. Approve schedule change of the Regular Board of Supervisors meeting to Wednesday June 5th at 8:30 a.m. due to the Primary Election on Tuesday June 4th.
b. Discuss/Approve Montgomery County Personnel Handbook Changes
c. Personnel Evaluation- Montgomery County Maintenance Director-Anticipated to be Closed Session pursuant to Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(i) and action as necessary
10. Discuss and start agenda items for next meeting
11. Announcements – The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 23, 2024, 8:30 a.m.
12. Adjournment
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(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold a regularly scheduled meeting beginning at 9-a.m. Tuesday, April 15th, at the Cass County Courthouse. Their agenda is posted below:

1. Call to order
2. Approve Agenda
3. Approve minutes from the March 26, 2024 Public Hearing on Proposed Property Taxes for Fiscal Year 2025
4. Approve minutes from the April 2, 2024 regular board meeting
5. Public Comments
6. Quarterly report by Micah Lee, Cass County Conservation Executive Director
7. Monthly report by Jotham Arber, Executive Director of Cass/Guthrie County Environmental Health
8. Discussion/action on Cass County Condemnation in Eminent Domain Proceedings being referred to as Cass County Eminent Domain Compensation Commission to clarify the purpose of the commission as outlined in Iowa Code 6B.4
9. Approve Resolution 2024-10, Allocating ARPA Funds to Replace a Drone for the Sheriff’s Department in an amount not to exceed $14,000
10. Approve Resolution 2024-11, Allocating ARPA Funds to Purchase a Radio System for Secondary Roads in an amount not to exceed $100,000
11. Report by County Engineer Trent Wolken
12. Set the Date of Public Hearing to Vacate Chicago Road west of 770th Street for April 23, 2024 at 9:15 AM
13. Approve Resolution 2024-12 Vacating a Non-Traveled Portion of Lyman Street
14. Discussion/action on using Local Option Sales Tax (betterment) to fund the Anita Food Pantry Parking Lot’s concrete in an amount not to exceed $25,000
15. Monthly report by Debbie Schuler on General Assistance and Mental Health for the month of March
16. Accept resignation of Tonia Larsen as Brighton Township Clerk, and appoint her as Brighton Township Trustee effective April 16, 2024
17. Appoint Kathleen Pace as Brighton Township Clerk effective April 17, 2024
18. Accept resignation of Duane Ortgies as Victoria Township Trustee effective April 16, 2024
19. Appoint Alice Williams as Victoria Township Trustee effective April 17, 2024
20. Appoint David Williamson to the Cass County Eminent Domain Compensation Commission effective April 16, 2024
21. Supervisor Committee Reports
22. Filed Reports: Clerk of Court, Treasurer’s Quarterly Report
23. Approve claims
24. Adjournment
25. Next Meeting: A public hearing and special meeting Tuesday, April 23, 2024

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(Atlantic, Iowa) – A public hearing on the adoption of the FINAL Fiscal Year 2025 City of Atlantic Budget will be held Wednesday evening. The hearing takes place as part of a regularly scheduled meeting of the Atlantic City Council.During their session, Mayor Grace Garrett will administer the Oath of Office to Atlantic Police Officer Kelby Smith. Afterward, the Council will hear a presentation from local Trees Forever representative Dolly Bergman, with regard to a recent award. The Mayor is then expected to sign an Arbor Day Proclamation.

In other business, the Council will act on:

• A resolution “fixing the date of meeting for a public hearing on the receipt and approval of proposals for the disposal and development of certain City-owned Real Property in the Southeast Urban Renewal District.”
• The first reading of an Ordinance pertaining to RAGBRAI commercial and non-profit vendor booth permits, clean-up deposits, electrical service and the use of motorized vehicles in event venue areas. The Ordinance, when passed, would be in effect until 5-p.m. July 23rd, 2024. The event will take place in Atlantic July 22nd and 23rd.
• A Resolution “Setting the date for a public hearing on a proposed Ordinance, vacating the street located between 3009 Palm Street and 3101 Palm Street.
• A Resolution “Adopting the wages for Seasonal/Part-Time Parks & Recreation and Airport Employees”
• and a Resolution “Setting Salaries for Appointed Officers and Employees of the City of Atlantic,” for the Fiscal Year that runs from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.

The Council is also expected to act on approving Orders pertaining to a Grant Management Services Agreements and a Development Agreement – with SWIPCO – for an Upper Story Rehab Grant for 300 Chestnut Street, and a Community Catalyst Grant for 207 Chestnut Street. They are also expected to hold the first reading of an Ordinance Amending the City’s Ordinances, with regard to the “Abatement of Nuisance[s] by Written Notice of Collection Costs,” followed by a waiving of the second reading, and a holding of the third and final reading.

They will also review, and then likely act on approving, the contract and bonds for the Sunnyside Park Splash Pad Project.

A PDF of the Council’s meeting packet is available here: City Council Agenda Packet Attachments 04-17-2024-min

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two men from Nebraska were arrested on separate charges over the past few days. On Sunday (April 14), 29-year-old Mauricio Davila, of Bellevue, NE, was arrested in Mills County for Public Intoxication. Davila was arrested at around 7:08-a.m. in the area of 221st St. and Barrus Road. His bond was set at $300.

And, at around 11:25-p.m. Friday, Mills County Deputies arrested 58-year-old Jerry Lee Combs, Sr., of Omaha, NE, following a traffic stop on 180th Street. Combs was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense, and Reckless Driving. His bond was set at $1,300.

ELDORA, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) reports that at around 5:27-p.m., Sunday, Police in Eldora and Hardin County Sheriff’s Deputies, responded to a 911 call from the 800 block 12th Street in Eldora. The caller reported someone had been shot. Upon arrival, officers placed a 12-year-old male into custody. A 13-year-old female was found deceased at the residence.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was called to assist and the investigation remains ongoing. Upon completion of the investigation, all information will be forwarded to the Hardin County Attorney’s Office for review.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department says there were two arrests over the weekend, and one reported theft. Saturday evening, 30-year-old James Dean Michelson, of Woden, Iowa, was arrested at Creston Union County LEC. Michelson was charged on a Polk County Warrant with Escape from Fort Des Moines, a Department of Corrections Warrant for Escape Fort Des Moines, and two counts Possession of Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine 3rd Offense. He was being held in the Union County Jail, awaiting extradition to Polk County.

A little after 2-a.m., Sunday, 25-year-old Emanuel Artistides Cisneros, of Texas, was arrested at 303 W. Adams, in Creston. Cisneros was charged with OWI 1st Offense. He was later released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Sunday, night, a woman from Creston reported to police that someone entered her unlocked vehicle while parked behind her residence in the 800 block of W. Mills Street. Her purse, with $100 cash was stolen, as well as two debit cards, her car keys, and a cellular device. The loss was estimated at $300.

(Waterloo, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections, Sunday, said 20-year-old Daeonnis Gates, who was convicted of Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon and Willful Injury in Black Hawk County, failed to report back to the Waterloo Residential Correctional Facility as required, Saturday. Gates stands six-feet tall and weighs 188-pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on March 12th, 2024.

Persons with information on Gates’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Daeonnis Javir Gates (I-DOC photo)

For more information on the state’s work release program, please see Iowa Code 904.901-904.910

(Elk Horn, Iowa) – The Danish Windmill is continuing its It Takes A Village fundraiser. All tour admissions generated on Sundays in April will be donated to local daycare facility, Kids in the Village. General admission is $5.00 per person for those ages 13 and up, and free for kids age 12 and under. Tour the windmill for a good cause. View ther new exhibits and see the windmill in action. If there is enough wind, we will even be grinding.

The Windmill has partnered with local businesses to ensure food options for each Sunday. On April 21, Master Griller’s food truck will be down at the windmill from 11 – 2 selling brisket and pulled pork sandwiches with cheesy potatoes and baked beans. On April 28, Spartan Pizza’s food truck will be at the windmill from 11 – 5 serving their signature wood-fire pizzas and their limited special, the Viking! Enjoy a great meal outside with the windmill turning in the breeze.

In addition to tours of the windmill, there will also be some Vikings giving tours and demonstrations in the Vikinghjem. Axe throwing kits will be out there, too. All that and more, on Sunday April 21 and April 28. Come tour the windmill and help raise funds for “Kids in the Village,” a vital organization in the Danish Villages.

(Radio Iowa) – The W-N-B-A Draft is tonight (Monday) at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City. There has been much speculation that Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is expected to be the first selection of the draft by the Indiana Fever. Clark became the all-time leading scorer, man or woman, in college basketball this season and set several more records. The draft begins at 6:30 p-m Central time and will air on E-S-P-N.

Clark made an appearance this weekend on Saturday Night Live on N-B-C. She sat at the show’s “Weekend Update” desk and lampooned a cast member who’s told several jokes about the W-N-B-A — and this year’s N-C-Double-A women’s basketball tournament.