The Atlantic City Council has a full slate of business in store for their meeting 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, at City Hall. Among the matters to come before them, is a Resolution adopting a 28-E (Cost sharing) agreement between the City, Cass County Health System (CCHS) and the County, to jointly finance Emergency Medical Services within the City of Atlantic and rural Cass County. The three entities will split into thirds, the cost of the service. Currently, the City employs Medivac to provide ambulance and EMS service. That contract will expire on June 30th.

City Administrator John Lund says there has been a consensus among first responders and medical professionals, that the scope of EMS needs to expand in order to reduce the risk of service limitations during peak demand, and to promote quality improvement. Lund says while they are satisfied with Medivac, it is also understood that a $92,000 service for a single ambulance covering a county of 12,930 people and over 565 square miles, was not going to be sufficient. Proposals were received from Medivac and Midwest Medical. Lund says the proposal from Medivac could not be financed between the parties without severe budget cuts. Therefore Midwest Medical was determined to be the best option.

With the agreement, Midwest Medical would assign two Advanced Life Support (ALS) Ambulances which will be staffed 24/7. ALS ambulances will comply with Iowa Dept. of EMS regulations and maintain proper certification(s); ALS ambulances must be fully capable of responding to 9-1-1 calls for service within the County, including CCHS, and the ambulances must be marked with logos as designed by the City, County and Hospital, if those entities so desire. Following action on the 28-E agreement, the Council, Wednesday, will act on a Resolution Approving an Ambulance Services Agreement with Midwest Medical.

In other business, the Council will hold the first reading of an Ordinance amending the fee the Atlantic Animal Shelter charges, under an order from the Iowa Dept. of Agriculture & Land Stewardship that requires all animal shelters, pet shops, rescues and similar facilities to vaccinate all animals with age appropriate vaccinations if those animals are not proven to have already been vaccinated, once the facility takes ownership of the animals. For the Atlantic Animal Shelter, that means those animals over six-months of age that are not claimed by an owner within three days of arrival at the shelter, must be vaccinated against the Parvo Virus, Distemper, and Rabies. Animals under six-months of age will need everything except a rabies vaccination. No animal shall be adopted, returned to its owner or transferred to another facility without age required vaccinations, under the State Order. The cost for vaccinations can vary from $13 to $60 and more. Those expenses are passed on to the adoptee. If the City fails to follow the required action, and fails to provide proof of compliance, the shelter will be closed.

The Atlantic City Council will also hear a report from Police Chief Dave Erickson with regard to Vehicle Code Enforcement and a number of complaints the City has received with regard to property violations and vehicles. 21 of the complaints are with regard to vehicles. Code Enforcement Officer Kris Erickson will also provide a report on Junk and efforts to enforce the City’s lawn mowing (Grass Code) Ordinance, including 55 complaints on those matters. And finally, Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones is expected to announce a Fireworks display will take place Friday, July 3rd, but the Flight Breakfast will not be held this year. The City is working with the Rotary on financing for the Fireworks. If the event should need to be postponed due to COVID-19, or the weather, the make-up date will be the Friday before Labor Day.

If you wish to join the meeting via Zoom, use this link, and mute your microphone during the session unless you wish to speak during the public forum portion of the meeting.

Officials with Pottawattamie County Public Health, Monday, confirmed 22 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, May 30th, four new cases on Sunday, May 31st, and nine new cases on Monday, June 1st, for a total of 35. Of the newly reported cases, two individuals are from Treynor, two are from Carter Lake, and one from each Neola, Oakland, McClelland, and Underwood. Those individuals were tested between May 15th ad 30th.

PCPH says so far, 3.278 Pottawattamie County residents have been tested for COVID-19, and a total of 307 have tested positive. An additional nine people have recovered, bringing the total (as of Monday), to 161. At last report, eight individuals are hospitalized, and 123 are self-isolating. A total of 88 Pott. County COVID-19 cases are the result of community spread, according to contact tracing investigations.

UPDATE:  Both juveniles were located and returned safely to Children’s Square.

Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department, Monday evening, said that at around 5:42-p.m, staff with Children’s Square reported two juvenile males missing from the shelter. The two juveniles are Andrew RICHER, an 11 year old Hispanic male, who last seen wearing a red shirt and black shorts, and Tattum ABITZ, an 8 year old male, last seen wearing a black shirt and gray sweatpants.

Anyone with information on their whereabouts please contact the Council Bluffs Police at 712-328-5737.

Police in Red Oak were dispatched at around 5:33-p.m. Monday (6/1), to the area of 8th and Joy Streets, for a reported fight in progress. Upon investigation, officers cited two juveniles into Juvenile Court, on charges of Disorderly Conduct.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted Red Oak Police in handling the incident.

The Atlantic Police Department issued a statement Monday evening with regard to a threat Atlantic Walmart officials say they received. Store representatives said they would be taking precautions immediately to ensure the safety of their business and employees. The store was closed at 5-p.m. in response to the threat. The Atlantic Police Department and Cass County Sheriff’s Office have followed-up on the information given to authorities, and have found NO DIRECT THREAT was made to the local store.

Information was shared on a social media platform warning Atlantic residents to be weary of the possibility of an incident occurring. That information authorities say, was taken from a generalized post that has been circulating around social media outlets about protests and riots moving from the cities into the suburbs. Atlantic Police said the Atlantic Walmart Store will continue to be closed for the evening, and local law enforcement agencies will be on alert and diligently respond to situations, should they arise.

The Council Bluffs Police Department said Monday afternoon, three interstate exit ramps are now closed. Authorities previously thought there were only going to be two closed. The closed exits are: West Broadway from I480, 9th Avenue from I29 southbound and Nebraska Avenue from I29 southbound. If you need to travel in this area, please consider an alternate route, such as South 24th Street or Avenue G to reach your destination. Click here for more info: https://hb.511ia.org/….

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson has confirmed the Atlantic Wal-Mart Store closed early today (at 5-p.m.), due to threats alleging possible damage from a riot. Erickson stressed however, that the threats are being investigated at this time, but that he DOES NOT believe they are credible. The store closure is being taken as a precaution.

The Audubon School Board will hold a Special Meeting 6-p.m. Tuesday in the High School Board Room and virtually, via Zoom. During the meeting the Board will act on considering sealed bids that were opened and reviewed earlier in the day by Superintendent Eric Trager, the Board Secretary and Travis Squires, Managing Director/Financial Advisor from Piper/Sandler.

Afterward, the Board will act on a Resolution Directing the sale of bonds, and a Resolution Authorizing the Redemption of Outstanding General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2013, dated April 22, 2013, and Directing School Notice be given.

The final (possible) action item, is with regard to the sale of a duplex in Washington State that was bequeathed to the district from an Audubon graduate. If the sale is approved, the district would place the money into its General Fund as “Miscellaneous” income.

The Board Room meeting will be limited to 10 participants, with preference going to School Board members and others deemed necessary to conducting the meeting. Members of the public are strongly encouraged to attend via Zoom. You can request the link by emailing Superintendent Trager at etrager@audubon.k12.ia.us.  The link will be sent out Tuesday morning.

DES MOINES — Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education today (Monday) announced the state has received $26.2 million in federal relief to ensure education continues for students of all ages impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Iowa’s grant is part of the nearly $3 billion Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The GEER fund allows governors to determine how to best meet the needs of students in public and non-public schools, postsecondary institutions, and other education-related organizations.

Better enabling remote learning for K-12 and postsecondary students is the goal of Iowa’s GEER application. It focuses on providing and expanding broadband access and improving access to technology in other ways. That could include providing Wi-Fi hotspots and devices. Funding also may be used to offer professional development related to remote learning to educators in school districts and non-public schools as well as in public and private colleges and universities.

Gov. Reynolds said “These resources will equip Iowa schools and educators to pave a pathway for student success in the growing digital classroom and future workplace.” Iowa Dept. of Education Director Ann Lebo says “Superintendents told us better connectivity is what they need most to provide high-quality learning for all students during the pandemic. “We have students without access to the technology they need and Iowa’s GEER grant is an important step toward solving that problem. I am so proud of the work school leaders and teachers are doing, and that we can help support it in this way.”

The Iowa Department of Education in collaboration with the State Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) is conducting a statewide survey regarding barriers Iowans face to remote learning, including broadband access. The household survey targets families with K-12 students but also asks about college students. The intent is to prioritize areas of the state with the greatest need based on the survey results.

These GEER funds are in addition to the $71.6 million Iowa received in federal relief for PK-12 schools through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund within the CARES Act. The Iowa Department of Education will provide more information soon about how the GEER funding will be allocated.