The Atlantic City Council meets this (Wednesday) evening at 5:30 in their Chambers at City Hall. During his presentation to the Council, City Administrator John Lund will report on a proposed Mandatory Garbage pickup to help offset costly issues at the Cass County Landfill. Lund says the original proposal made in August of 1997, was updated for tonight’s meeting. The City is not currently involved rate regulation or collection. Those rates are set by one of the three available private sanitation companies operating in town.

In 1997, it was suggested anywhere from 70-to 80-percent of households in Atlantic pay for garbage collection, with others taking their refuse directly to the landfill, and still others sharing a bill with their neighbors, dumping refuse in a commercial dumpster, or illegally disposing of garbage. The current proposal calls for the sanitation companies to remain independent businesses and existing customers would remain with them. The City would assume the role of fiscal agent, and AMU would manage billing and payments. New customers would be assigned to a hauler.

Mandatory collection was deemed desirable in the 1997 report, because less staff time would be spent dealing with nuisance properties with regard to junk and garbage, with better results. There was also a theory collection costs would decline because the costs would be spread over a wider customer base. In his report, however, John Lund says implementing a Mandatory garbage service has many negatives, including: the elimination of free-market competition and issues regarding any complaints filed by customers; The City would have no direct control over business costs or expectations; and it could result in disputes between the City Council/Administration and the three private businesses, along with overpriced service.

Lund says AMU officials have said they are not eager to participate in being part of the billing and surcharge process. And, if the system is to be fair to all customers, there would have to be a slight adjustment in the rates the three in-town sanitation services charge. Lund says a regular account would have to be charged $24.50, and Senior Citizen accounts $17.50. That means a slight loss in profits for one provider and a slight gain for the other two. Lund says “the haulers can’t stay in business with the proposed pricing system, and the most likely pricing structure would resemble that of Cherokee, which charges $30 across the board, and no Senior discounts.

He notes that Tommy Gaines, with Gaines Sanitation, has proposed that since the issue lies with rental houses, and when the City institutes its landlord inspection system, it could require those landlords provide proof of a garbage contracting service with one of the three haulers. That alternative, Lund says, possesses none of the risks of mandatory garbage service and should help the City address the core problem without the need to be integrated into the current, and well functioning private sector model for solid waste removal.

He concludes in his report, that Mr. Gaines’ proposal will cause no increase in the costs to residents and should address the problem of solid waste in alleys and elsewhere, that the Council wants to see resolved. No action is expected on the matter during tonight’s meeting.

The Exira-EHK School Board met Monday evening during a regular session. Superintendent Trevor Miller told KJAN News Tuesday, that the Board approved a contract with KPE Architects and Design. He said it’s the next step following the passage of a bond in September, to make sure all the designs and multiple bid packages are handled by one company, so those issues can be overseen by one firm.

He says they’re in the position now, of “Hurry up and wait” for the bidding and construction projects to begin. Miller said there’s a 45-day period for design, bids and financials. The plan moving forward is to have most the projects begin in the Spring or Summer, and have them completed before the start of the 2018-19 School Year.

He says he discussed with the Board what the savings to the district would be by sharing his duties with IKM-Manning. Miller is set to meet with IKM-Manning officials on Thursday to explain the savings to them, as well.

The Board also discussed a lighting upgrade for the Exira building, the Certified Annual Report and other required State reports. And, they approved a roofing proposal for repairs with R.L. Craft.

Authorities in northwest Iowa’s Plymouth County are investigating an accident that has left a pedestrian dead. The accident happened shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday near Hinton when a woman was walking along the side of a road and was struck by a passing pickup truck heading in the same direction. When emergency personnel arrived at the scene, the woman’s body was lying in a ditch. The driver of the pickup truck had remained at the scene. The woman was transported to a Le Mars hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The accident  is still under investigation by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office. No names of the accident victims have been released at this time.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Creston say one person suffered possible/unknown injuries following a collision Tuesday afternoon, in Creston. Authorities say vehicles driven by 72-year old Lawrence Charles Shimono  and 71-year old Mary Elaine Brown, both of Creston, collided at the intersection of Howard and Cedar Streets in Creston, at around 12:15-p.m., Tuesday. The accident happened as Brown was traveling east in a 2007 Chevy HHR, and Shimono was traveling north on Cedar.

Shimono admitted to Police that he did not make a very good stop, and tried to get through the intersection before Brown’s vehicle would hit him. Brown, however, didn’t have time to stop and broad-sided Shimono’s 2004 Buick LeSabre. Shimono was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop sign. Brown complained of pain and was transported to her home by her daughter.

Damage from the collision amounted to $9,000.