The Atlantic City Council is, for the most part, opposed to giving new and current local downtown businesses City-funded grants for improvements. City Administrator John Lund noted that the Council has pledged $100,000 from the EDR (Economic Development Revolving) Loan Fund to act as a source for business improvement loans in Atlantic.

The City is also in the early stages of exploring opportunities for downtown façade restoration, through a CDBG (Community Development Block Grant). That form of grant requires matching funds from the City, based on whatever the grant amount is that’s applied for and received. There was also talk of a separate, “Simple” City-funded grant.

During their meeting Wednesday evening, Councilman Dick Casady said he was “Totally against it” (establishing a City-funded grant). He said “We give money away for tourism, to get people to come to Atlantic through the CPC (Community Promotion Commission) Program, and the beautification of Atlantic. But businesses, no. I can’t approve that.”

Councilperson Ashley Hayes said “A CDBG would have a similar affect as what the CPC does.” “It’s proven that when the façade for your business area looks nice, or returns to more of a historic view, people are more likely to want to come see it. So it would increase revenue in LOST [Local Option Sales Tax] more than likely, so I think it’s a good idea.”

Councilman Gerald Brink said (with regard to a City-funded grant) “It’s the financing of the whole situation that kind of worries me at the moment.” He said “It’s probably time that we do need to take a look at our store fronts downtown. I would not be opposed to sending this thing to committee, at least to look into it a little further.” But he said until all the financing options that are available are made known, I don’t think I’m ready to say yes or no.”

Councilperson Kathy Somers said she would be against the “Simple” grant, because “People in town get mad when one business gets a loan at low interest through CADCO or whatever, someplace. Competitors get mad so I don’t see that you could possibly be fair about giving out grants to businesses. There’s always going to be one competitor who feels they’ve been slighted.” Somers said she would rather go the CDBG route, with regard to the facades.

The CPC has a financing meeting set for June 27^th, with at least 33 business owners who plan to attend. A CDBG may be included as part of the discussion. The Council’s opinion Wednesday evening, according to the Mayor, was that a “Simple” grant from the City was a dead idea.

Court records indicate a fired Denison police officer will be paid nearly 350-thousand dollars to settle his lawsuit against the city for wrongful termination. Brad Wendt, who runs a gun shop in Denison, also worked as a policeman, but was fired in 2017, after it was learned numerous hunting violation charges had been filed against him in Dec. 2015, by DNR Officers in Cass County. Wendt was on unpaid, administrative leave when he was terminated.

According to court documents received by KJAN, Wendt filed a lawsuit in November, 2016, against the city and former Denison Police Chief John Emswiler. The lawsuit alleged Wendt was a victim of retaliation for disclosing a file of inappropriate images on Emswiler’s computer to Brad Bonner, who was acting as mayor pro tem, and for reporting a search conducted by Emswiler to the Iowa Ombudsman’s Office.

The City of Denison’s insurance company will pay the largest share of the settlement, about 232-thousand dollars. The City of Denison is paying Wendt 65-thousand dollars for “emotional distress” and another 50-thousand dollars for “lost wages.” Wendt’s attorney will be paid about a quarter of a million, too.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports a couple from Hamburg were arrested Wednesday on two-counts each of (Felony) Child Endangerment by being exposed to methaphetamine. During an investigation, deputies determined two minor children in the care of 33-year old Eric Borrego and 30-year old Amanda Borrego, tested positive for exposure to methamphetamine.

The couple was being held at the Fremont County Jail without bond pending further court proceedings. The Iowa Department of Human Services and Project Harmony assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation.

Amanda Borrego

Eric Borrego

SCRANTON, Iowa (AP) — At least a couple of tornadoes have been spotted in Iowa as storms rake the state, including one near the west-central Iowa town of Scranton.

Des Moines television station KCCI reports that spotters captured video of a tornado Wednesday afternoon touching down in a rural area near Scranton. And the National Weather Service says law enforcement reported a tornado near Eldora in north-central Iowa.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. News of the tornadoes came as the service issued a tornado warning for the area. The service also issued tornado watches for a swath of the state from around Fort Dodge southeast to the Illinois border.

JANESVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in northeastern Iowa say a woman has been killed and her daughter injured when they were hit by a pickup truck as they walked on a rural road at night. The Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office says 52-year-old Kristine Martinson and her adult daughter were walking on a graveled section of Mark Road about six miles southwest of Janesville when the pickup crested a hill around 9 p.m. Tuesday and hit them.

Officials say Martinson was taken with severe injuries to a hospital, where she died. Her daughter suffered minor injuries when she was hit by a side mirror on the pickup.
Investigators say a 22-year-old Cedar Falls man was driving the pickup. The incident remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man has been injured in a fire at a northern Des Moines industrial park. The Des Moines Register says the fire broke out Wednesday at an area containing tanks of diesel and gasoline held by fuel and trucking company Keck Energy.

Des Moines Fire Department spokesman Brian O’Keefe says a man injured was taken to a hospital. No other information about the man, including his name or medical condition, was released.

The fire was quickly extinguished, but a small structure used to load and unload fuel and several vehicles were damaged in the fire. O’Keefe says an investigation has been launched into whether the company was at fault.

Two people were arrested on separate charges Tuesday, in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 38-year old Michael Thomas Manning, of Papillion, NE., was arrested for Disorderly Conduct by Loud and Raucous Noise, and Criminal Trespass. His bond was set at $600.

And, 22-year old Kayla Shae Richardson, of Glenwood, was arested on a warrant for Pre-Trial Release Revocation. Bond was set at $25,000.