The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday), passed a motion to proceed with an economic development proposal that could bring upwards of 30 jobs paying $18-to 22-dollars per hour. Supervisor’s Board Chair Steve Baier said he met with Allen Williams, Advanced Manufacturing, Foreign Direct Investment Coordinator with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), who explained that the as yet, unnamed East Coast Light Industrial manufacturer, is looking to move into a rural area similar to that found near the Atlantic Industrial Park, off Glacier/Echo Road.

Other details of IEDA project AW2247 include the need for:

• At least a 4 acre site;
• A 40,000 sq ft facility, with a peak height minimum 30 feet, and sidewall minimum 26- feet;
• Paved parking
• 480 volt, 3 phase electricity, 5000 amp transformer
• 1,000 gallons of water/ day primarily for cooling as well as water and sanitary sewer for staff needs.

The company, as mentioned, would like to locate in a rural county with a population center of about 7,000. They also want to be within 10 miles of four lane highway system, within 60 miles of major airport, and a local airport that could have a private jet. Rail access would be also be a plus. Baier said unlike other prospective employers, the company is NOT SEEKING TIF (Tax Increment Financing) or standard financial incentives, but they do expect some commitment from the Cass County or agencies to make the project happen.

He said it’s not known if the company is looking at other sites in Iowa. Supervisor Mark O’Brien said “I don’t think so, but I’d have to assume so.” The reason there are so few other details available, is because the County is working with IEDA, and not the prospective employer. The County will submit its proposal on Wednesday, stating its ability to meet the requirements of the project to Allen Williams at IEDA. Baier said that gets us into the “pool” of prospective communities and the possibility of meeting and discussing the details of the project with company executives. He said the project would fit in nicely with the RISE (Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy) requirement. Supervisor John Hartkopf said it means a potential increase in our tax base, if the project comes to fruition.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 43-year old Michael Lee Butcher, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Monday afternoon at the Pott. County Courthouse. Butcher was arrested on a valid State of Iowa warrant for Probation Violation. He was turned over to Pott. County Corrections staff, at the jail. 19-year old Jeremy Zuehlke, of Underwood, turned himself-in to the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office, Monday afternoon. Zuehlke was wanted on a warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree. He was booked into the jail and held on a $300 bond. And, 33-year old Kristine Nicole Freeman was transported from the Pottawattamie County Courthouse to the Pott. County Jail, Monday. Freeman was wanted on a warrant for Burglary in the 3rd Degree-Motor vehicle/1st offense.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(A-P) — A stretch of Interstate 680 in western Iowa will be renamed Interstate 880 to end confusion that officials say often occurs during flooding. There are two stretches of I-680: a 3-mile portion that runs east to Interstate 29 from Mormon Bridge connecting Iowa to Nebraska on the north end of Omaha. That low-lying portion has been closed by Missouri River flooding several times this year and before.

The other stretch of I-680 is 10 miles north. It runs east for 16 miles to connect with Interstate 80. It will be renamed Interstate 880. Iowa Transportation Department spokesman Scott Suhr says the confusion arises when people read or hear that I-680 has been closed by flooding. They assume both sections are closed when actually only the low-lying, 3-mile stretch is affected.
Roadway signage will be changing in coming weeks, as will changes to online navigation and mapping systems.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports a Union County man was arrested last Friday, following a traffic stop in the 1700 block of Highway 71, or about three- miles north of Clarinda. During the traffic stop 20-year old Beau Ethan Boswell, of Afton, was arrested for OWI-drugged/1st offense. Boswell was transported to the Page County Sheriff’s Office where he was held on $1,000 bond. He was also cited for Operating a non-registered vehicle, and Failure to have insurance.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Creston Police say two men were arrested on separate charges, Monday morning. 23-year old Richard Lee Leingang, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for OWI/1st offense. Leingang was later released on his own recognizance. And, 25-year old Thompson Lee Jones, of Creston, turned himself in at the Creston Police Department. Jones was wanted on a warrant out of Polk County for Possession of controlled substance – Marijuana/1st offense. He later posted a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Sioux City has taken its first formal step to lift its ban on pit bulls in the city. The City Council voted 4-1 on Monday for an ordinance that would remove the ban adopted in September 2008. It came after pit bulls or mixes accounted for a high number of dogs in the city that had been declared vicious or at risk.

The current ordinance describes a pit bull as an American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier or any dog that looks like or has characteristics of being one of those breeds. Two more readings and votes on the new ordinance are required for the new policy. City staff research says animal control regulations across the country are moving away from breed specific provisions.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A trial has been delayed for a man accused of killing an Iowa high school student almost 40 years ago. The trial had been scheduled to begin Monday for 65-year-old Jerry Burns, of Manchester. Burns has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. Police arrested him Dec. 19, 39 years to the day after 18-year-old Michelle Martinko was killed. Her body was found the next day inside her family’s car at a Cedar Rapids mall. She had been stabbed in the face and chest.

Burns’ attorney Leon Spies had sought the delay. He says the new tentative starting date is Feb. 10, but that could change if Burns were to request moving the trial out of Linn County. Police say investigators matched a blood sample from the crime scene with a sample taken from Burns.

(Radio Iowa) — Members of Iowa agriculture sector are finding hope in the tentative trade deal announced between the United States and China. President Donald Trump says China has agreed to buy between 40 and 50 billion dollars in U-S agriculture products, if the deal goes through. Iowa State University economics professor Wendong Zhang says that’s significantly more than any single-year of U-S exports to the Asian giant. But it’s not clear whether the new number reflects an annual promise. “The Chinese probably left more wiggle room-there’s a really big number but there’s no time frame tied to it,” he says.

Zhang says tariffs that could have been imposed this week will not go into effect. That’s some relief, but now farmers and others will wait to see whether the threat of December tariffs is also lifted. Zhang welcomes what he calls important first steps as the two sides each still angle to come out ahead. “The trade war has been elevated so much, I think in the end both countries need to find a way, that, in some respects, both leaders need to go back and say we won the trade war, somehow,” Zhang says.

Zhang says a shallow agreement on big issues like technology transfer and intellectual property protections is likely. But significant increases in Chinese imports of U-S corn, ethanol and beef could also be part of the deal.