SHENANDOAH—Wednesday morning, officials with the Shenandoah Wastewater Treatment Plant reported a system failure at the treatment plant.

The system failed early this morning and city officials immediately diverted all flow of 25,000 gallons per hour to the storm-water clarifier before being discharged into the East Nishnabotna River.

Officials have contacted a company to repair the system. Until the repair is made, partially treated wastewater is being discharged into the East Nishnabotna River, via a drainage ditch.

DNR recommends anyone avoid contact with the East Nishnabotna River at County Road J32 (190th Street) west of Shenandoah from now until 24 to 48 hours after the discharge ends. Farmers downstream should find alternative sources of drinking water for livestock.

The DNR will continue to monitor the situation and provide technical assistance, and consider enforcement action if appropriate.

The official notice of the Cass County Board of Supervisors’ intent to fill the office of Cass County Attorney cannot be published more than twenty (20) days prior to Tuesday, January 2, 2018, the date on which the Cass County of Board of Supervisors intend to fill the vacancy of the Cass County Attorney by appointment pursuant to Code of Iowa §69.14A(2)(a).

However, the Board of Supervisors intend to fill the vacancy as soon as possible after the vacancy occurs on January 1, 2017.  To facilitate a speedy filling of the vacancy, the Cass County Board of Supervisors are taking applications now for the position.

In accordance with State law, after the official notice is published (on approximately December 12, 2017), the eligible electors of Cass County have the right to file a petition with the County Auditor requiring that the vacancy be filled by special election rather than by appointment by the Cass County Board of Supervisors.  They will also have the right to file a petition with the County Auditor requiring that the vacancy be filled by special election after the appointment.  If an appointment is made, the appointment is only until the position is filled by election in November of 2018.  The person who is elected in the November, 2018 General Election will serve out the remainder of the term ending January 2, 2019 and serve the full four (4) year term which begins January 2, 2019.

The Board plans to convene, in a regular session, at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, December 29, 2017 and during that meeting will consider all applications.  The Board will again convene, in a regular session, at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 to make the appointment and conduct its 2019 organizational meeting.  Both meetings will be in the Board Meeting Room of the Cass County Courthouse.

On January 2, all qualified applicants will be expected to make a public presentation of approximately five minutes and answer questions from the Board.  After the presentations, the Board will decide whom to appoint, make an appointment and the chosen appointee will be sworn in.

Interested eligible electors (or those who will become eligible electors) of Cass County who are licensed to practice law in Iowa are encouraged to apply.  Beginning on September 27, 2017 applications/with resume will be accepted via email at auditor@casscoia.us or, in person at the County Auditor’s Office, Cass County Courthouse, 5 West 7th Street, Atlantic, Iowa 50022. Completed applications are due no later than 4:30 p.m. on December 27, 2017. All applications are public record.  Application forms are available on the Cass County website: casscountyiowa.us

The City Elections in Adair County will be Tuesday, November 7, 2017.  Adair County Auditor/Election Commissioner Mindy Schaefer says the voter pre-registration deadline is 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 27, 2017.  The law now allows voters to register on Election Day, however, it is a lengthy process and takes extra time at the polls.  Although ID is not required, we encourage voters to bring ID with them to vote.  Voters may request an absentee ballot from the Auditor’s Office.  Voters may vote in the office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or they may request a ballot be mailed to them.  The deadline to request an absentee ballot be mailed is 5:00 p.m. Friday, November 3, 2017.  The last day to vote absentee in the Auditor’s Office is Tuesday, November 7, 2017 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  Polls will open at Noon on Election Day November 7, 2017.

Candidates who have filed papers for the City Election in Adair County are as follows:

City of Adair

City Council – elect 2:

• Richard A Hays
• Rick Stanley.

Mayor – elect 1:

• John M Larsen.

City of Bridgewater

City Council – elect 2:

• Douglas Miller
• Mark Yarrington.

Mayor – elect 1:

• Steven Frese.

City of Fontanelle

City Council – elect 2:

• Brody Warrior.;
• Jade Zimmerline.

Mayor – elect 1:

• Tyson J Sickles.

City of Greenfield

City Council – elect 3:

• Nancy Antisdel
• Brian Fox
• Suzanne Wagner

Park Board – elect 2:   No Candidate filed.

City of Orient

City Council – elect 3:

• Justin Boswell
• James Sitzman
• Matthew Swanson

Mayor – elect 1:

• Loretta Umbenhower

City of Stuart

City Council – elect 3

• Mick Askren
• Bryan Belden
• Neal Crawford
• Kristina A Renslow
• Theresa Wright Glass

Mayor – elect 1

• Dick Cook

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Members of 13 teacher bargaining units have voted to maintain their union affiliations under Iowa’s new collective bargaining laws.

Iowa Public Employment Relations Board staff counted the votes Tuesday. The Des Moines Register reports that of the nearly 1,300 eligible voters, more than 1,100 voted to maintain their units.

The new collective bargaining laws require public-sector unions to recertify every time they face a new contract negotiation. Previously they elections if one of their members petitioned for decertification.

Republicans say the new laws give local governments more budget flexibility and ensure that unions are held accountable to all their members. Labor leaders say the new laws are designed to reduce the number of unions and weaken their influence.

All of Iowa’s 1,200 public bargaining units will face recertification elections.