WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao announced today (Tuesday), that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $70,467,304 in airport aid to 79 airports in Iowa to help respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The historic grant funding is part of the Trump Administration’s newly created Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Airport Grant Program, an effort to provide unprecedented and immediate relief to American families, workers, and businesses. 

Locally, some of the airports receiving funding include (but are not limited to):

• Atlantic, $30,000.
• Audubon, $1,000.
• Carroll (Arthur N. Neu, $30,000
• Clarinda (Schenck Field), $30,000.
• Council Bluffs Municipal Airport, $69,000.
• Greenfield Municipal Airport, $30,000

The funding will support continuing operations and replace lost revenue resulting from the sharp decline in passenger traffic and other airport business due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The funds are available for airport capital expenditures, airport operating expenses including payroll and utilities, and airport debt payments.

View a list of Iowa airports receiving funding on an interactive map, along with funding for all U.S. airports on FAA’s website.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ Tuesday press briefing on COVID-19. We will plan to have live audio on KJAN as well at about 11:00 a.m.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met today (Tuesday) in a combined electronic/in-person session. 2020 U.S. census representative Kelly Campbell discussed the 2020 census process as it relates to Cass County. Cass County’s self response rate is nearly 55%. The response rate (So far) breaks down to:

• Marne has a 70%
• Anita nearly 62%
• Atlantic 54.8%
• Massena 52%
• Wiota 50%
• Cumberland 42%
• Lewis 44%
• Griswold 48%.

Campbell said those who have yet to respond to the letter asking you to enter your information online, a paper form will be coming in the mail. The census is important, he says, because $675-billion comes back to states, cites and counties across the country, and it determines how many representatives each state has in Congress. Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken presented a 28-E agreement between Cass and Guthrie Counties for the Board to sign, with regard to for a bridge in each county. The “Cooperative Agreement for a Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP) Project” includes a Cass County bridge on Boston Road (estimated Cost $400,000), and a project for Guthrie County). The Guthrie County Board has already approved moving forward with the agreement. Guthrie County will be the lead administrator for the projects, including financing and coordination.

The Board unanimously approved the agreement. In other business, the Cass County Supervisors moved to adopt a Resolution pertaining to the Appointment of Maureen Doherty as Assistant-Victim Advocate. The Cass County Attorney has applied for and received a grant which will be used to partially fund the cost of Doherty’s appointment to the position. Her salary of $40,000 is effective retroactive to March 31, 2020.

And, the Supervisors acted on approving a recommendation by County Weed Commissioner Dennis Vogal to adopt a Weed Control Program.(The Resolution text is posted below)

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Cass County Resolution No. 2020-011 WEED CONTROL PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of each County’s Board of Supervisors to enforce the provisions of Chapter 317 of the Code of Iowa as amended with regard to the destruction of weeds, and WHEREAS, under Chapter 317 of the Code of Iowa each county Board of Supervisors may each year prescribe and order a program of weed destruction to be followed by landowners, tenants, and other persons in possession or control of land, and WHEREAS, it has been determined by the Cass County Board of Supervisors that a program of weed destruction for the year 2020 is necessary, NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Cass County, Iowa: that each owner and each person in the possession or control of any lands in Cass County, including right-of-way of County trunk roads and local County roads, shall cut, burn or otherwise destroy all noxious weeds thereon, as defined in Chapter 317, at such time each year and in such manner to prevent said weeds from blooming or coming to maturity, and shall keep said lands free from such growth as shall render the streets or highways adjoining said lands unsafe for public travel. Noxious weeds shall be cut or otherwise destroyed on or before the following dates and as often thereafter as is necessary to prevent seed production throughout the year: Group 1: May 15, 2020 Musk Thistle, Multiflora Rose Group 2: May 20, 2020 Leafy Spurge, Smooth Dock, Sour Dock, Sheep Sorrel Group 3: June 1, 2020 Canada thistle, Buckthorn, Wild Mustard, Bull Thistle Group 4: June 15, 2020 Wild Carrot, Teasel, Poison Hemlock Group 5: July 1, 2020 Perennial Sow Thistle, Cocklebur, Wild Sunflower, Shattercane That in the case of substantial failure to comply with the foregoing order, the Weed Commissioner may impose a maximum penalty of ten dollars ($10.00) fine for each day up to ten (10) days or may give notice to the landowner by certified mail to the last address as ascertained from the last tax list in the county Treasurer’s Office. The Weed Commissioner, including his employees, may enter the land without consent for the purpose of destroying noxious weeds (5) five days after delivery of notice, which time shall be computed from the date of mailing. The expense of said work including cost of serving notice and other costs, if any, shall be assessed against the real estate plus an amount equal to twenty-five (25) percent of all sums expended.

The Exira-EHK School District’s Board of Education held a meeting Monday evening. Superintendent Trevor Miller told KJAN News there were no comments about the budget during a public hearing, and the budget as presented was approved later on during the session. Miller said there is a four-cent decrease in the property tax asking, from $12.04/per $1,000 assessed valuation, to $12.00/$1,000. Miller said they managed to drop the levy four-cents, even though they’ll still be paying on their bond. He recommended, and the Board agreed, to pay their Classified Staff and other personnel not only through April 30th, but through the closure of their contract year.

He said “There’s enough uncertainty going on, and we wanted to make sure that our staff’s taken care of and have one less thing to worry about….As a school district we value our employees  and we want to make sure they’re taken care of so we keep them, and they’ll be back in the fall.” Mr. Miller said also, the Exira-EHK Board approved Certified Teachers, Support Staff and Administrative salaries. The total package increase, including insurance, was 3.5-percent.

The Board also approved Amanda Nelson as School-Based Interventionist, and acted on other personnel matters, including Katie Boehm, who will transfer from 2nd Grade to 5th Grade. Jen Petersen and Connie Jessen will switch from teaching to TLC full-time instructional coaches. Along with that, Irene Blazek was hired as Special Education Instructor, and Cami Bruck was hired as a 2nd Grade teacher.

Trevor Miller said also, the district continues to serve meals to students during the COVID-19 pandemic. He says they handed-out 66 meals the first week. Yesterday (Monday) they were up 126. The meals cover the whole week. The district’s updated, voluntary Distance Learning (Online) plan started Monday. Everyone (Students/teachers/parents) is encouraged to participate in the program.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports several arrests took place from April 9th through the 13th. On Monday, 30-year old Alicia Marie Maxwell was served with a warrant for Assault without intent, Causing Bodily Injury or Mental Illness. She was served with the warrant at the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office and transported to the jail. Saturday night, 32-year old John Phillip Fry was arrested for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order, following a call in Council Bluffs, about an intoxicated subject.

Friday night, 26-year old Kaitlynn E. Schmidt was arrested for OWI/1st offense, following an investigation into an accident on I-680, whereby her vehicle drove off the road and came to rest in an area just north of the exit ramp at mile-marker 1. Friday morning, 32-year old Garrett Duane Hanika, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Hanika was already in the Pott. County Jail when he was served with the warrant. His bond on all applicable charges was set at $7,195 altogether.

Thursday night, 36-year old Joseph Antonia Martinez, of Neola, was arrested in Council Bluffs, for Harassment in the 3rd Degree/threatening bodily injury. And, Thursday morning, 33-year old Manuel Hernandez-Munuz, of Oakland, was arrested in Hancock, following a traffic stop for speeding. He was clocked at 97 mph in a 55 mph zone. Hernandez-Munuz’ vehicle was pulled over at 380th and Mahogany in Pott. County. He faces charges that include Speeding, Providing False information for a driver’s license or ID, and Forgery.

The Iowa Transportation Commission today (Tuesday) approved several RISE grants during its video conference meeting. Among the cities/counties receiving a grant, was:

• Mills County: Up to $2,525,000 from the county share of the RISE Fund was approved for a Local Development grant to assist in the paving of approximately 2,400 feet of Applewood Road, construction of approximately 4,100 feet of 182nd Street, passing/turn lanes on County Road H-10 and Bunge Avenue and overlay of approximately 11,700 feet of Bunge Avenue located south of Council Bluffs. This project is necessary to provide improved access to seven lots totaling more than 680 acres for industrial purposes. This project is anticipated to be completed by July 2021.
• Pottawattamie County: Up to $580,670 from the county share of the RISE Fund was approved for a Local Development grant to assist in overlaying of approximately 2,050 feet of 192nd Street, and construction of approximately 926 feet of Portland Avenue and 687 feet of North 193rd Circle located south of Council Bluffs. This project is necessary to provide improved access to fourteen lots totaling more than 28 acres for industrial purposes. This project is anticipated to be completed by May 2021.

The RISE program was established to promote economic development in Iowa through the construction or improvement of roads and streets.  Iowa cities and counties are eligible for funding in the form of a grant, loan, or combination thereof.  Projects must involve construction or improvement of a public roadway.  There are two RISE project types: 1) Immediate Opportunity, and 2) Local Development.  More information is available at https://iowadot.gov/systems_planning/Grant-Programs/Revitalize-Iowas-Sound-Economy-RISE-Program.

The Iowa Transportation Commission also approved more than  $7 million in funding for 73 new public transit vehicles that will replace vehicles past their useful life. Funds are granted through the Federal Transit Administration’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Formula Program as well as the Federal Highway Administration’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program. Vehicle replacement projects were approved for 20 different public transit systems. In southwest/western Iowa:

• Region 12 (Based in Carroll) received $425, 252 for bus or mini-van video surveillance systems and related vehicles.
• Region 13 (Based in Atlantic) received $79,405 toward the 93,418 total cost of a Light Duty Bus. The local share is $14,013.
• and Region 14 (Based in Creston) received more than $427,000 for mini-van/light duty buses and surveillance systems.

Council Bluffs received $1,037,981 in grants from the Bus and Bus Facilities Formula Program. The complete list of funded vehicles can be found at https://iowadot.gov/transit/Funding-programs-and-applications/funding-programs.