The leaders of several Iowa farm groups say they’re worried the E-P-A’s final draft of rules to curb pollution in small waterways and wetlands will subject farm ditches and farm ponds to federal oversight. Iowa Farm Bureau president Craig Hill says this final rule failed to address many of the concerns farmers raised after the E-P-A released a first draft of new Clean Water Act regulations last spring. “The penalties are so severe if you are found to be in breach of the Clean Water Act,” Hill says. “Those penalties can range up to $37,500 per instance. Jail is one of the penalty provisions.” Hill says it appears farmers will have to get federal permits for “normal farming practices.”

“The permitting process is very cumbersome, awkward and expensive,” Hill says. “And, according to what we read in this new rule, farmers will be required to get permits for things they’ve never been required to get permits for before.” E-P-A officials say the new rule covers about three percent more waterways in the United States that have a “direct and significant” connection to lakes and rivers that are already covered by the Clean Water Act. Hill says farmers still aren’t sure whether they’ll have to get permits for the ponds on their property.

“Every pond has an overflow. Well, the overflow is not exempt,” Hill says. “So when they say ponds are exempt it has no meaning because the water that comes out of a pond is, by definition, a water of the U.S.” The new rule failed to answer key questions farmers raised last spring, according to Hill, like what is a lawful grass waterway.

“We know what a grass waterway is in Iowa and farmers are installing those on their own accord. Every spring and fall we’re reshaping and trying to perform conservation, but we turn to NRCS — the Natural Resources Conservation Service — for an outline of what is proper and best management practice and so on,” Hill says. “Well, according to EPA, they will only consider a waterway lawful by their definition.”

The president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association says the E-P-A seems to be “restricting” farmers efforts to “voluntarily improve our environment,” rather than partnering with farmers to advance conservation measures. The chair of the Sierra Club’s Iowa chapter praised the E-P-A’s rule, arguing it is “a critical step toward protecting streams and wetlands that feed our drinking water supplies.” Experts offer conflicting opinions about the rule’s potential impact on the lawsuit the Des Moines Water Works has filed against three northwest Iowa counties.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic School Board, Wednesday evening, discussed at length, the placing of a measure on the September School Board Election ballot, a Physical Plant and Equipment (PPEL) Income Surtax charge, in addition to a renewal of the PPEL Levy. The Board decided to act on a Resolution to that effect during their regular meeting in June.

The levy may be used for, among other things: the purchase and improvement of grounds; construction of schoolhouses or buildings and opening roads to schoolhouses or buildings; purchase, lease, or lease-purchase of equipment or technology. District Business Manager/Board Secretary Mary Beth Fast said the current, voted PPEL incorporates an 85-cent/per thousand dollars valuation property tax rate.

She says the Income Surtax would be an added component to the PPEL so that both would raise money for repairs and facility needs. The District has used the surtax in the past, according to Mary Beth. Iowa Law says a school board may annually certify a regular Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) in an amount up to 33 cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation, which most of the schools in the Hawkeye 10 District have. Voters may authorize a voted Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (VPPEL) for a period not exceeding ten years and in an amount not exceeding $1.34 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation.

And, while the Atlantic Board of Education also has the option of raising the voted PPEL to a maximum of $1.34/per thousand, they weren’t in favor of stepping in that direction. They thought it would be best to leave the current 85-cent levy in-place. Fast said there is an option, where the Income Surtax is concerned. She says the Board can leave the income surtax percentage open to the maximum of 20-percent. It would be up to the Board to change that every year as they see fit, but it would also be dependent on the amount of property tax that was raised.

The Board was in favor of leaving the Surtax rate open when it comes to the Resolution they’ll act on next month. It’s a moot point though, if the voters fail to pass the measure in September. In past years when the Income Surtax was in-place, the rate was a maximum of 4-percent, which would have generated in the current year, about $280,000, if it had been in effect.  It’s dependent on two-years prior income tax because the calendar year 2014 data is not in yet, which means the money is also delayed a year.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, today (Thursday), approved a change of zoning classification from General Agricultural to a Light Industrial District, for a 1.32-acre parcel of land in Cass Township on property owned by Todd Leighton.
Rich Hansen, Zoning Administrator, and Assistant to Cass County Engineer Charles Marker, said the Zoning Board approved the request at an earlier meeting and recommended the Supervisors also approve the change. Hansen said Leighton wants to be a 60-by-100 foot cold storage facility for materials designed for the production of specialty tools he manufactures.

In other business, the Board approved the placement of outdoor warning sirens for the City of Lewis, on County-owned property just east of the Lewis School building and west of the road. Engineer Charles Marker recommended the request be approved, with a stipulation. That being the siren not be placed in a position where it would obstruct drainage in the area. Marker reported also, A-M Cohron has agreed to  delay for about a month, the start of construction on a bridge near the Griswold Golf Course. Work wouldn’t begin until August 3rd, under a Change Order Marker must submit and Cohron officials sign-off on. The delay is designed to allow the Golf Course be in operation without diverting traffic on unpaved roads, during the busiest part of the golf season.

The Board also moved to appoint Duane Weirich, of Lewis, to fill a Cass Township Trustee vacancy term through 2016, and they approved the appointment of Bruce Henderson, from Atlantic, as a commissioner to the Southern Iowa Regional Housing Authority, representing Cass County.

The 8-a.m. Newscast w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Police in Creston arrested a local man Wednesday morning on three counts of Simple Assault, and a charge of Disorderly Conduct. 21-year old Patrick Liams, of Creston, was taken into custody at around 9-a.m.  Liams was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on $300 bond.

The 7:07-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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A traffic stop in Red Oak early this (Thursday) morning, resulted in the operator of a motorcycle being arrested on alcohol and drug charges. According to Red Oak Police, a Suzuki motorcycle driven by 31-year old Marcus John Josephson, of Red Oak, was pulled over near the intersection of East Washington and North 2nd Streets, at around 1:50-a.m.

Josephson was arrested  on charges that include felony OWI/3rd offense, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, and Driving While Revoked. He was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $5,000 bond.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A South Sioux City man has been found guilty of selling methamphetamine by a federal jury. The Sioux City Journal reports 42-year-old Jose Orellana was found guilty Friday on one count of conspiracy to distribute 5 grams or more but less than 50 grams of methamphetamine.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sioux City, Iowa, said Orellana was involved in a conspiracy to sell the drug in Sioux City and South Sioux City, Nebraska, from September 2013 through May 13, 2014. Orellana faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been scheduled yet.

A public hearing was held Wednesday evening at the High School in Atlantic, with regard to amendments to the 2014-2015 District Budget. No one was present to voice any comments for or against the matter during the Atlantic School Board’s meeting. Business Manager/Board Secretary Mary Beth Fast said the amendment must be filed before May 31st, to allow time for anyone who wishes, to protest a decision to approve the amendments.

Fast explained to the Board there are some categories of the budget cannot be exceeded. The Instruction category is one of them. Fast reminded the Board the Certified Budget in April amounted to 10.45-million dollars. She asked for a budget increase of 2.25-million [$12.7-million total], which she said would allow for instruction across all funds, not just the General Fund, but the Management Fund [which includes Early Retirement], and Activity Fund. Salaries, Open Enrollment and Special Education tuition is also included.

The Board, without further discussion, approved the Budget Amendment as proposed. The Board also approved a Reduction in Force (RIF) list for Non-Certified staff. Superintendent Mike Amstein explained that in the budget reductions, the District eliminated a number of Para-educator positions, which means they are not able to offer those individuals employment for the 2015-16 School year.

Amstein says however, based on the 2014-15 Non-Certified Master Contract, the Board is required to approve the RIF list. Individuals on the list include: Tish Mendenhall [Transportation Bus Monitor], Jordan Vetter, Michelle Turner, and Alexis Lopez (Middle School Para’s], Oran Perkins, Dawn Walton and Julie Phippen (Elementary/Link Center Para’s) and Loretta Barringer [Transportation Bus Driver].

The reductions amount to about a dozen so far this year. One of those reductions came about when a pre-school bus route was eliminated, which impacted a Bus Monitor position. Based on current vacancies, Amstein said they were able to move some people into existing positions that weren’t impacted by the reductions.

The Board also approved the resignation of Middle School teacher Jeff Niederhoff, who taught Technology and 21st Century Skills. Amstein said that may open up the opportunity to hire a full-time Science teacher at the Middle School. The Board also approved the resignation of Schuler Elementary 5th Grade teacher Jill Miller, who has accepted a position with the CAM School District. They also approved the hiring of Emma Walker as a High School English teacher and head Volleyball Coach. Walker comes to Atlantic from the AHST School District. And the hiring of Faith McCunn as a 5th Grade teacher at Schuler Elementary, was approved by the Board during their meeting, Wednesday evening.

The Red Oak School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday night, approved the hiring of Tom Messigner as their new Superintendent. The vote to hire Messinger took place during a Special Meeting.

Messinger currently serves as the High School Principal in Burlington, a position he’s held for 11 years. He has also worked for the Eddyville-Blakesburg Community School District as High School Principal, Activities Director/Assistant High School Principal, and High School math teacher.

Tom Messinger received his Specialist and Master of Science Degrees from Drake University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics Education from the University of Iowa. School Officials say Messinger was selected from a very competitive field of applicants. Final interviews were conducted by four focus groups (administrators, support staff, classroom teachers, and parent/community members) and the Board of Education.

In a statement, Red Oak School Board President Lee Fellers said “The Board was very pleased with the selection process, the quality of applicants and from input received from our four focus groups. We are looking forward to welcoming Tom to the Red Oak Community and helping him with the transition in his new role as Superintendent.”