Members of the Cass County Conference Board, Thursday evening, approved County Assessor Brenda Nelson’s FY 2021 Budget. The Budget, which includes $74,000 in an Unreserved/Designated Fund, amounts to $696,599, which is an increase of $85,144 over the Re-estimated FY ending June 30, 2020 Budget. It also includes a two-percent increase in wages over the current fiscal year.

The Board, which is comprised of representatives that include mayors, school boards and the Board of Supervisors, held a public hearing on the Budget, prior to holding a vote to approve, with only one No vote (from Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones).

During the hearing, concerns were raised about $74,000 in the budget which was initially designated to begin a fund to help pay for a re-appraisal project, presumably through the use of Vanguard Appraisal Services, out of Cedar Rapids. Former Supervisor Mark Wedemeyer was concerned about what he thought was a $1-million price tag for Vanguard’s services.

Conference Board Chair Steve Baier said emphatically, “No, there is not a million dollars in this budget” (for the service). Assessor Brenda Nelson said Vanguard’s cost for their service could be split-up over the course of 10-years, which would equate to the line-item on the budget for $74,000. Montgomery County, she said, budgets $60,000 every year for their appraisal service.

She said she included the funds in the budget, “Just in case we do the project, it is in there, and we’re not trying to scramble two-or three-years down the road, trying to make up that difference. It’s definitely well within the guidelines of the budget limitations.” Following a lengthy discussion, the Conference Board unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Steve Green, to leave the $74,000 in the fund, NOT to contract with Vanguard at this time, and to instead conduct more research over the next year, and to hold Nelson accountable for making her office more efficient in the interim.

There were also concerns addressed during the meeting, about the time Brenda Nelson spends out of her office, and that she is not available when she’s needed. Nelson said she attends numerous meetings each year, court cases and other official business. She said “I don’t not goof-off. If I’m not in the office I’m either out with (Her new staff) training them…” and if anyone questions her time in the courthouse, there are cameras that record her presence. She asked anyone who has issues with her, to call her, or make an appointment to discuss their problems or concerns.

The Conference Board suggested she purchase something along the lines of a white board, which would show when Nelson and her office staff are going to be out of the office – for what reason(s) – and when they will return.

One person died during a collision between a semi and a car Thursday afternoon, in northwest Iowa’s Cherokee County. The Iowa State Patrol reports the driver of a 2006 Chevy Impala, 26-year old Alexa Lee Brewster, of Cherokee, who was wearing her seat belt, died from her injuries at a local hospital.

Authorities say the woman was stopped heading southbound on Highway 143 at the intersection with Highway 3, but then attempted to turn east bound from the stop sign, when her car was struck by a westbound 2007 Peterbilt semi. The accident happened at around 3:45-p.m.

Following the collision, the car came to rest in the north ditch, while the semi, driven by 52-year old David Allen Ten Napel, of LeMars, stopped in the eastbound lane of Highway 3.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 2:50 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has passed a resolution that would amend the Iowa Constitution to declare there is no right to an abortion in the state. The measure passed 32-18 with only Republican votes. It says the Iowa Constitution “shall not be construed to recognize, grant or secure a right to abortion or to require the public funding of abortion.” It must pass in the House this year and the legislature again in 2021 or 2022 before it goes to a statewide vote. If voters eventually approve, the amendment would make it easier for lawmakers to pass abortion restrictions in Iowa.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The National Weather Service says there’s an elevated flood risk along the eastern Missouri River basin this spring. That’s because the soil remains wet and significant snow is on the ground in North Dakota and South Dakota. Communities along the lower Missouri River already were bracing for the prospect of more flooding this spring because many of their levees remain in poor shape after last year’s massive flooding. Nearly everywhere that flooded last year in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri is at some risk to flood again because of the extensive damage to levees.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A prosecutor told jurors on the opening day of a murder trial that they were going on a journey in time to learn about an Iowa high school girl who was slain more than 40 years ago. Testimony began Wednesday in the trial of Jerry Burns. He’s accused of fatally stabbing 18-year-old Michelle Martinko at a Cedar Rapids mall. A prosecutor says Martinko’s lungs and aorta were pierced and she lost about a third of her blood. The prosecutor also says DNA shows that Burns’ blood was found at the crime scene. But defense attorney Leon Spies told jurors that evidence will show Burns isn’t guilty of first-degree murder.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A child psychologist who was formerly the top administrator at a state hospital in Kansas is facing a federal lawsuit in Iowa involving sexual arousal experiments on residents at the Glenwood Resource Center, a state facility for people with intellectual disabilities. Jerry Rea conducted similar research in Kansas while running the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center.

The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services says its initial investigation of sexual arousal research in Kansas suggests ethics guidelines and proper protocols were followed. Six former employees filed the federal lawsuit Monday, alleging they were fired or forced to resign because they questioned Rea’s activities.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has passed a resolution that would amend the Iowa Constitution to declare there is no right to an abortion in the state. The measure passed 32-18 with only Republican votes. It says the Iowa Constitution “shall not be construed to recognize, grant or secure a right to abortion or to require the public funding of abortion.”

It must pass in the House this year and the legislature again in 2021 or 2022 before it goes to a statewide vote. If voters eventually approve, the amendment would make it easier for lawmakers to pass abortion restrictions in Iowa.