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Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council is expected to act Wednesday, on passing a Resolution “Approving [the] Schedule of Adoption Fees for the Atlantic Animal Shelter. The State of Iowa is currently requiring animal shelters to not only vaccinate all animals in their care, but also to spay or neuter them. That means an increase in costs to the Atlantic Shelter, which are being passed on to prospective pet owners. Currently, the cat adoption fee is $10, with an additional $55-$130 for veterinary fees. For dogs, the current adoption fee is $25, with an additional $60-$265 for veterinary fees. Under the Resolution, the fees move to a flat rate of $100 for cats and $200 for dogs.
City Administrator John Lund says the City’s fees will still be low compared to other animal adoption agencies in the region, which typically range from $60-250 for cats, and $100-500 for dogs. Lund says a secondary component of the fee schedule, is that Animal Shelter will allowed discretion on the reduction of prices on a needs-based sale of pets, that may otherwise be euthanized. Euthanization costs the City money, Lund says, and negatively impacts the Animal Shelter during a review by State officials. “High euthanizing rates are frowned upon by the state,” he says. This discretion he adds, “Will allow us to save an animal, lower costs, keep the state happy and allow those with limited means to own a pet.” The City’s Personnel & Finance Committee reviewed the matter during their meeting last week, and have unanimously endorsed the proposals.
In other business, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, will act on passing a Resolution approving the job description, FY 2022 compensation, and authorizing the posting for, the Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Position. Upon review, the Personnel & Finance Committee proposes compensation for the position be a salary of $41,600; 2,080 per year; $20/hour equivalent. The Council will receive an annual presentation by Library Director Michelle Andersen, and, act on approving the second reading of an Ordinance pertaining to volunteer firefighter appointments. A section of code requires the City to approve such appointments, but it has never actually been done. The Council passed the first reading of the amended Ordinance during their previous meeting, which strikes the section requiring City oversight, and leaves such matters to the Fire Chief, instead.
The Council is also expected to act on an Order re-appointing Keith Harlan to the Airport Commission. Their meeting begins 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20th, in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.
(Radio Iowa) – “Help Wanted” signs have hung in the windows of many Iowa businesses for months and the competition is strong to snap up entry-level workers. Randy Leasure, owner of a chain of Iowa house cleaning businesses, says the pandemic forced his company — and his industry — to make drastic changes and they’re just now starting to bounce back. “We’ve obviously struggled like every business in the country is right now for staffing,” Leasure says. “As far as the client side, we’ve got plenty of leads and we’re actually turning quite a few people away and keeping our schedule very full, so we’re looking to hire so that we can grow.”
Leasure owns MaidPro outlets in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, all three of which are looking for new workers. He says 95% of the work is in individual homes. “We lost clients or people paused on us and our employees weren’t looking to go into homes during the pandemic,” Leasure says, “so we just naturally whittled down over that time and we’ve been trying to rebound with employees since.”
No experience is necessary and Leasure says he’s seeking workers with a valid driver’s license and a reliable vehicle who can pass a criminal background check. The pay with bonuses is 14 to 15-dollars an hour, plus tips, and it’s all weekday work with no nights or weekends. MaidPro also offers incentives for employees who stay with the company longer than 90 days. “We have a great training program in place,” Leasure says. “It spends the first two weeks going through training. We don’t just put anybody out there right away.”
He says it’s predicted the cleaning industry will see 53% growth between 2020 and 2024 and MaidPro is planning to hire more than 2,000 employees nationwide in the next few months to help meet demand.
(Radio Iowa) – Congress passed a short-term appropriations bill to keep the government funded through December 3rd. That has briefly delayed the discussion on President Joe Biden’s Trillions of dollars of proposed spending. Iowa Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra says there needs to be a discussion about cutting the spending. “Frankly, I look at it and say we’ve got to figure out a way to start looking at our debt. We are talking 30 TRILLION dollars of debt. I look at it, raising debt and say what are we doing to get back to what Iowa does to having a balanced budget,” Feenstra says.
He says he wants that balanced budget discussion is key for him to support any debt ceiling increase. He says inflation is already creating what he calls a new tax on Americans. “It’s an extra tax for everyone. Right now everyone is paying from seven cents to 11 cents. On gas you are paying an extra 40 cents — that’s a tax to everyone. When you buy your goods at the hardware store, grocery store, that check that you have that money you are making just doesn’t go as far,” Feenstra says. “I think inflation now if five-point-eight percent — and it’s not transitory — it’s going to be here a long time.”
One element of the Democrat’s spending package that Feenstra says is a non-starter for him is having all personal bank deposits of 600 dollars or more reported to the I-R-S. “The reason they are going down that path is they believe that you can catch over 500 BILLION dollars of people doing stuff illegally,” Feenstra says. “To me, it is a complete overreach, it’s against my first amendment, government encroaching into what I am doing.I don’t see it in this bill anymore — we’ve made a lot of noise about this.”
Feenstra made his comments following a tour of the 185th Air National Guard Refueling Wing in Sioux City.
The South Dakota Coyotes built an early lead and held on for a win over the UNI Panthers 34-21 on Saturday at the UNI-Dome. The Coyotes built a 24-0 lead by halftime behind two touchdown passes and one on the ground.
UNI scored the first two touchdowns of the second half with a Vance McShane 62 yard run and a 28-yard hookup from Theo Day to Sam Schnee. The Coyotes would counter back though with 45 yard field goal and a Nate Thomas touchdown run to lead 34-14 by the end of the third. Theo Day hit Sergio Morancy for a 20 yard score with 3:37 left to tally the final margin.
UNI outgained USD 393 to 314 but the Coyotes had a 13 minute advantage in time of possession. The Coyotes took advantage of two big turnovers and a botched punt by the Panthers to aid in their victory as well.
South Dakota improved to 5-2 on the season and 3-1 in the Valley. UNI falls to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in MVC play.
Next up for UNI is a road trip to Brookings, SD to face South Dakota State next Saturday. That game has been set for a 2:00 p.m. kickoff and will be available on ESPN3.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet 9-a.m. Tuesday in their Board Room, at the Courthouse. On their agenda is an update from Sheriff Darby McLaren, followed by action on a Resolution “resetting the number of deputies and assistants” in the Sheriff’s Office.
The Board is also expected to receive a Quarterly report from Cass County Veteran’s Affairs Coordinator Mitch Holmes, and a regular report from County Engineer Trent Wolken. They will resume ongoing discussions with regard to the future of the Willow Heights County-owned facility and land, as well as potential uses for American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding for COVID relief.
(Update 3-p.m., 10/18: The report from Mitch Holmes was postponed until Oct. 29th because the VA Commission postponed its meeting).
(Atlantic, Iowa) – Members of the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will meet in a special session 8-a.m. Tuesday, in the District Office (temporarily located at the Achievement Center). On their agenda is discussion with regard to the scope of the Atlantic Middle School Restoration Project, and action on approving the scope of the project.
During last Wednesday’s School Board meeting, Superintendent Steve Barber said the report was under review by the District’s insurance company, in preparation for work to begin on restoring the building, the interior of which sustained heavy damage during a fire in July, that started on the roof.
The Board of Education for the Griswold and Exira-EHK School Districts will hold their separate, regular meetings, Monday evening. The Griswold School Board will meet at 5:30-p.m. in the High School Conference Room. On their agenda (including a closed session to consider a personnel matter), is information from Superintendent Dave Henrichs, with regard to the District’s Certified Enrollment numbers, which were submitted to the State on Friday.
Previously, Henrichs has stated 79-students were opening enrolling out, the same as one year ago, and 22 students are open enrolling in, an increase of three students from the previous year. A lack of a daycare facility was one reason given for an increase in the number of students whose chose to open enroll out. Plans are in the works, however, for a daycare facility to open next year on land near the school bus barn. That includes efforts to raise funds for the project, which is estimated to cost around $2-million.
The Board will also consider the activation states of an early retirement policy, a contract adjustment, and approval of a Washington, D-C trip. Members of the Exira-EHK School Board will meet 6-p.m. Monday, in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn Building. On their agenda is discussion with regard to the Certified Enrollment numbers, and approval/action on:
Proposed hires include:
And the Board will act on the resignation, of Deb Graham – Para Educator.
(KCRG) Moline, Il. — Reports show John Deere CEO John May sold $72,473 company stocks a few days before the strike began. Earlier this week, more than 10,000 John Deere workers went on strike after negotiations between United Auto Workers and John Deere failed.
The majority of union workers rejected a contract that would have delivered 5% raises to some workers and 6% raises to others. According to documents acquired by KCRG, the Security and Exchange Commission reported on Tuesday that May began selling stocks in March 2021. But the SEC requires the documents to be filed within two business days after the transaction.
KCRG reports the John Deere stock decreased by 6.3% in the last month and 3% in the last five days. John Deere has not responded to KCRG’s request for comment.
(KCCI/Des Moines, Iowa) – Three people were injured during a shooting incident early this (Sunday) morning, in downtown Des Moines. According to Des Moines Police, the shooting happened around 2 a.m. at 3rd Street and Court Avenue. Three people were shot and taken to the hospital. One person was shot in the abdomen, another in the shoulder. A third person, shot in the elbow, was also dropped off at the hospital. None of the injuries were life threatening, according to Police.
The incident was at least the fifth shooting in the area this year.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Red Oak woman early Saturday morning. At approximately 2:23 a.m. Deputies conducted a traffic stop at 200th Street and Boxelder Avenue. After investigation the driver, 32-year-old Brynn Elizabeth Darby of Red Oak, for OWI 1st Offense. Darby was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.
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