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Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
(re-posted with proper formatting)
The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, set July 2nd as the date for a public hearing on the implementation of a City-wide Tax Abatement program. City Administrator Doug Harris said Mayor Dave Jones and the Community Development Committee recommended the council approve the program as described in the city’s Urban Revitalization Plan.
The plan includes a five year sliding scale tax exemption for residential and commercial new construction starting at 80-percent, 70-percent, 60-percent, 50-percent and 40-percent. Harris said residential rehabilitation would include a 100-percent tax exemption on the actual value added by the improvements. The improvements however, must increase the actual value of the property by a minimum of 10-percent. That also applies to all qualified real estate assessed as commercial property.
Eligible property improvements would include rehabilitation and additions to existing residential and commercial structures located within the Urban Renewal Area, new construction on vacant land, or on land with existing structures. Properties classified as “Commercial” effective January 1st, 2014, would not be included, but would instead be re-classified multi-residential, effective January 1st, 2015.
Individuals and business owners interested in participating in the program, if approved by the Council after the public hearing, will be required to file an application at City Hall. If the application for tax abatement is approved, it will be forwarded to the County Assessor’s Office for inspection once the project is complete, and subsequent assessment for valuation.
In other business, the Council approved: the sale of property at 405 W. 4th Street to Todd Knudsen, for $400; a request from the 1st United Methodist Church to close Cedar Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets, on August 10th from 3-to 7-pm (for the purpose of a community block party); and, they unanimously passed a Resolution approving a policy for the use of Public Funds for Observances. Seven years ago, the City established a policy setting the maximum amount to be paid for flowers, gifts, cards and plaques given in observance of City employees’ major events such as retirements, hospitalization and death.
City Administrator Doug Harris said he and Mayor Jones drafted an addition to the policy that would include recognition of citizens who regularly dedicate countless hours helping the community with events and perform other services for the City.
A Nebraska man was transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, following an accident Wednesday evening in Council Bluffs. According to Bluffs Police, 54-year old Brian P. Loye, of Omaha, was driving his 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle westbound on Interstate 80 at around 8:20-p.m., when he lost control as he was about to cross the state line into Nebraska. The cycle crashed into the southbound median. Loye, who was wearing a helmet, suffered incapacitating injuries during the crash and was last reported to be in critical condition at the hospital.
Witnesses told accident investigators Loye was traveling at a high rate of speed when something fell off his cycle. They said when he turned his head to look back, he lost control of the motorcycle.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — County auditors are opening their offices Saturday May 31 for voters who want to cast ballots early for the June 3 primary. Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz says voters not yet registered may register at their county auditor’s office using election day registration procedures and cast their ballot. The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is 5 p.m. Friday, May 30. Absentee ballots received in the county auditor’s office by 9 p.m. on June 3, are eligible for counting.
Schultz says his office also has developed a smart phone app that allows voters to check voter registration information, fill out the Iowa voter registration form, find the correct polling place, and request and track an absentee ballot.
The Iowa State Patrol says a teenager from southwest Iowa was injured during an accident Wednesday evening between his motorcycle and a pickup. 16-year old Payton Montana Casteel, of Coin, was flown by Mercy One helicopter to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha following the collision, which happened at around 6:25-p.m. in the Page County town of Coin.
Authorities say a 1998 Dodge pickup driven by 47-year old Patricia Cherie Wray, of Coin, was traveling eastbound and slowing to turn left into a residential driveway at 608 Main Street. When Casteel attempted to pass on the left side, the 1989 Honda motorcycle he was driving hit the left side of the pickup. He told authorities he was not wearing a helmet.
Page County Sheriff’s Deputies and Coin Fire and Rescue assisted the State Patrol at the scene.
Iowa has dropped a few spots in an annual ranking of the states on the health of adults aged 65 and older. The United Health Foundation’s report places Iowa 13th in the nation for senior health, down from 7th last year. Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) medical director Dr. Patricia Quinlisk says there’s plenty of positive news in the report, such as Iowa’s best-in-the-nation influenza vaccination rate among seniors.
“This means we do a pretty good job at protecting our seniors against one of the top 10 causes of death and that’s influenza and pneumonia,” Quinlisk says. The report shows just over 70-percent of Iowans 65-and-older got the flu vaccine last year. Nearly 30-percent of Iowa seniors are listed as being obese, placing the state as one of the worst in the nation in that category.
“This is an issue, obviously, because obesity can lead to other issues like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and other things that can very significantly impact our seniors and their health,” Quinlisk says. She notes the IDPH has several programs in place that are designed to improve older Iowans’ health. “We have quite a few programs that are trying to encourage people to get out there and move,” Quinlisk says. “Movement is basically anything that gets you up and off the couch, so you’re moving. It could be anything from walking around the block to gardening. It doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym, wearing workout clothes, and things like that.”
Volunteerism among Iowa seniors ranks 6th in the nation, according to the America’s Health Rankings Senior Report. You can view the report in its entirety at www.americashealthrankings.org/senior
(Radio Iowa)
Officials with the Connections Area Agency have announced that the state is continuing the Farmers Market voucher program for senior citizens. With this program, seniors meeting income requirements can obtain vouchers that they can use at participating area Farmers Markets to buy $30.00 worth of fresh, locally grown produce. If you have questions about eligibility, check with your local senior center. Applications for the vouchers will be available at your local senior center by May 28th.
Your completed application guarantees you a booklet, but there is a limited number, so contact your local senior center if you are interested in this program. Once you have a completed application, you can return to your local Senior Center on June 9th or thereafter, to pick up your vouchers. Seniors (age 60 and older) in Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby counties will receive their vouchers through their local senior center.
Program Criteria:
· Must be at least 60 years of age or older
· Annual income must be less than
$21,590 Single
$29,101 Married
· Only one original application allowed per individual. No photocopies or duplicate applications allowed
Dates to Remember:
· May 28, 2014: Applications will be available at all local Senior Centers and in Council Bluffs at The Center, 714 S. Main
· June 9, 2014: Vouchers will be available for seniors with completed application forms at all local Senior Centers outside of Council Bluffs
· June 17, 2014: Council Bluffs Farmers’ Market voucher distribution at The Center, 714 S. Main from 9am – Noon for seniors with a completed application.
Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press
FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — Dozens of workers are readying a field in Forest City for a weekend country music festival featuring Brad Paisley and Toby Keith. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports the TreeTown Music Festival is set to begin Friday evening and continue through Sunday. Crews plan to set up the 106-foot-wide main stage today.
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A former Dubuque school board member has been given two years of probation for getting into an argument with a bus driver in a country club parking lot. The Telegraph Herald reports Dubuque District Court Senior Judge Lawrence Fautsch sentenced 51-year-old George Davis yesterday to probation with a deferred judgment. Davis was accused in October 2012 of pounding on the hood of a bus at the Dubuque Golf and Country Club. He later apologized for the confrontation.
CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Charles City man faces federal weapons charges in connection to a high-speed chase in April. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports 21-year-old Franklin Foster faces multiple state charges in connection to the April 12th chase that cut through the city of Waverly. They include assault on a peace officer and trafficking stolen weapons.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A task force established by the Environmental Protection Agency to curtail farmland pollution that flows into the Mississippi River has reached an agreement with 12 universities, including Iowa State. The EPA says the agreement announced Wednesday brings additional expertise to develop farm runoff reduction strategies.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge has granted a temporary injunction to two Christian colleges in Iowa and Michigan that halts a federal mandate requiring them to provide insurance coverage for certain contraceptives.
U.S. District Judge Mark W. Bennett’s ruling Wednesday is in response to a lawsuit filed in October by Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, and Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The schools argue the mandate violates their religious freedoms.
Gregory S. Baylor is an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian law group representing the schools. He says in a statement that Christian colleges should “remain free to operate according to their defining beliefs.”
The Justice Department has said the lawsuit is meritless and an attempt to prevent female employees from obtaining coverage.
In addition to approving a $2.2-million budget amendment during their special meeting Wednesday evening, the Atlantic School Board approved recommendations for new personnel, and resignations. Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein said High School Principal Heather McKay recommended the hiring of Marcus Upchurch to fill one of the existing openings in the English Department.
McKay also recommended CCEOC/Special Ed teacher Karen Vogl for the eight-day Summer Program working with the CCEOC (Cass County Educational Opportunity Center) students, which allows them to earn credit. She also recommended Lori Parrott to facilitate the ALEKS Math Program (Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces). The program is used extensively at the EOC, and will serve as a “Math Recovery” program for the summer.
District Technology Coordinator Roger Warne requested the Board approve Kyle Beemer as an assistant to fill vacancies created by an employee who is scheduled to have knee surgery, while another is on vacation. Kyle has worked with the district in the past in a similar position.
Maintenance Director Russell Peck, recommended recommend the hiring of Craig Lukehart for a summer groundskeepers/maintenance position. Washington Principal Stacey Hornung recommend the Board approve Marsha Vonseggern. She would be utilized in a junior Kindergarten position.
Resignations approved by the Board include Schuler Para-Educator Linda Shafer, and Kathleen Blake, Central Office Secretary to the Business Manager. High School Social Studies Teacher Trace Petersen is resigning from the Assistant Varsity Basketball Coaching position. Daniel Vargesen is resigning as Assistant Freshman Football Coach. Maria Oltmans, High School English Instructor is resigning to take a position in a school district closer to her family. There were also staffing changes in the Food Service Department.
Administrators in the district noted there are still some teaching and/or coaching positions left to fill in the coming weeks.
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