Here is the agenda for the 9-a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21st meeting in Guthrie Center, of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors:

Website: www.guthriecounty.gov

1. Call Meeting to Order, Pledge of Allegiance
2. Approve Consent Agenda

a. October 14, 2025 Minutes
b. Liquor License-5 Day-Old Fashioned Spirits

3. Public Comments: Board Chair will ask audience for comments, limited as described below.
4. Second Consideration of Resolution 26-10: A Resolution Declaring Emergency Medical Services (EMS) An Essential Service in Guthrie County, Iowa; Discuss/Action

5. Department Updates; Discuss/Action

a. Josh Sebern – Engineer

i. Annual Appointment of Weed Commissioner for 2026
ii. Annual Review and Approval of 2025 Weed Commissioner’s Report

b. Jamie Lindsay – Human Resources

i. County Health Insurance Effective Date

c. Brian Hoffman – IT Administrator

i. Guthrie County AI Policy

6. Supervisors Updates
7. Adjournment

Here is the agenda for the Montgomery County Board of Supervisor’s meeting at 9-a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21st, in Red Oak:

1. Call meeting to order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll call of members

4. Approval of Agenda – Order at discretion of Chairperson

5. Read minutes as presented. Chairperson to call for any additions/corrections to said minutes.

6. Board chairperson will ask the audience for any comments, limited to two minutes per person.

7. Supervisors: Weekly committee/assignment updates

8. Secondary Roads Update

9. New Business
   1. Approve claims payable for Wednesday October 22, 2025, in the amount of $322,959.76
   2. Discuss and approve Resolution 2025-26 A Resolution Adopting the Montgomery County Multi=Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
   3. Schedule the 1^st and 2^nd Tier Canvass of the 2025 City and School Combined Election

10. 9:15 a.m. Public hearing- Proposed Montgomery County Floodplain Management Ordinance
    1. Public comment (Two minutes per person and must state name and address when addressing the Board)
    2. First reading of Ordinance 25-02 and action as necessary
    3. Waive 2^nd and 3^rd Reading if necessary
    4. Resolution 2025-28 Montgomery County Resolution of Intent with action as necessary
11. Discuss and start agenda items for the next meeting:
12. Announcements – The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday October 28, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
13. Adjournment

*Please note, this is a public meeting; however, it may be conducted via ZOOM

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(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday morning, are expected to act on a proposal for Juvenile Court Services, following a presentation from Chief Judicial Court Officer Curtis Hamstra, with the 4th District Judicial Court Services, and with regard to facility options in Shelby County. Their meeting begins at 9-a.m. In the Supervisor’s Board room inside the Cass County Courthouse, and is viewable through Zoom.

After Hamstra’s presentation, the Board will resume discussions with regard to the possible use of the County-owned Willow Heights building, as a residential facility. Earlier this month, Supervisor’s Board Chair Steve Baier mentioned there was an organization that was willing to sign a lease for the facility, that would potentially be used as a new addiction treatment center for persons who voluntarily commit themselves, or who are court-ordered to rehab. It would not, according to Board Chair Steve Baier, be used for persons who have committed serious crimes.

Supervisor Wendy Richter stressed the facility would not be used for persons with mental health issues. The facility would initially serve 10, but no more than 40 clients at any given time. The Willow Heights building previously served people who have a mental or intellectual disability, substance abuse or other disabling condition. It had been in operation since 1886, but was closed due to federal and State requirements.

In other business, a Public Hearing will be held at 9:30-a.m.with regard to the vacating of a section of Keystone Road in Cass County, established in 1910, that is 40-feet wide and encompasses about 2.4-acres. At approximately 9:35-a.m., a Public Hearing will be held regarding vacating a portion of Jasper Road, established in 1872, that is also about 40-feet wide, and contains a little more than 1.2-acres. Both hearings will be followed by action on separate resolutions to vacate the respective Secondary Roads. The Supervisors will receive a regular report from Engineer Trent Wolken, and an Annual Report from the Cass County Library Association, as well as a Quarterly Report from Cass County Conservation Dept. Executive Director Micah Lee.

The Board will consider and act on approving: A promotion and pay raise for County Treasurer’s Clerk Stacie Linfor, and, a promotion/pay raise for County Treasurer’s Clerk Amanda Darrow, who had completed her probationary period with the office.

(Radio Iowa) – This is school bus safety awareness week. State Trooper Paul Gardner says drivers need to remember the buses are out there every week day through the school year. “Be aware of how frequent these buses stop. They’re obviously carrying precious cargo, so when you’re having children that have to cross the street to get on or off a bus, we really want to emphasize how important it is to stop,” he says. Gardner says be aware of the signals the buses are sending.

“Amber lights come on warning drivers that they are needing to stop. And once the red lights come on, it is in violation to be passed or go past the school bus. When you have those red lights flashing,” Gardner says. The Iowa State Patrol does the bus inspections for the state to look for any problems. “Make sure the red lights are working. Any kind of any kind of safety equipment such as first aid kits, fire distinguishers. Also things on the bus such as brakes, tires, anything that would become a safety hazard, we inspect those,” Gardner says.

National School Bus Safety Week is held during the third week of October every year.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Officials with theRed Oak Police Department report a woman from Mills County was arrested late Sunday morning on a federal warrant.

Officers arrested 38-year-old Derek Jo Barbour, of Malvern, around 10:45 a.m. Sunday in the 100 block of East Valley Street. She was taken into custody on a warrant from the U.S. Marshals Service for violation of probation.

Barbour was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held pending transfer to the custody of the U.S. Marshals.

(Story from Radio Iowa) – Organizers say there were rallies in at least 45 Iowa cities and towns on Saturday — part of a nation day of protest against Trump Administration policies. State Representative Rob Johnson of Des Moines greeted thousands at the state capitol in Des Moines.”In 10 years our children will look back and say, ‘You did something to protect our future, and I think thank you for it,'” Johnson said, to cheers. It was the second time this year a national coalition of progressive groups organized “No Kings” rallies.

“They told me that this wasn’t patriotic,” Johnson said, “but I’m here to tell you this is the most patriotic thing we’re going to do today,” Johnson said, to cheers. Renee Lietz is with Operation Grassroots, which helped organize a protest in Maquoketa that drew dozens of people.

There have been two ‘No Kings’ rallies at the Iowa Capitol this year.

“We’ve got our small group here and if you start getting a small group everywhere, pretty soon you’ve got a big group,” she said. Republican lawmakers criticized the gatherings. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the events “Hate America Rallies” and on Sunday during an appearance on A-B-C Johnson said if Trump were a king, the government would be open.

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(Atlantic, Iowa; KJAN) – Cass County Democratic Party Chair Denise O’Brien, Sunday issued a statement to the media, saying: “Saturday morning brought nearly 200 people together to celebrate their right to assemble and to free speech. People gathered at the Atlantic City Park on both sides of Hwy 6. There were also events in Red Oak, Creston, Clarinda, Shenandoah, Oakland and Council Bluffs. Southwest Indivisible, one of the sponsors stated that the number of protests increased from two in June to 7 on Saturday.”

O’Brien said also, “The No Kings protests took several weeks to plan and implement. Online training was provided covering topics of safety, know your rights and making sure that the actions were peaceful. Prior to the protest several news outlets and politicians stated that the attendees were paid protesters. Hamas, antifa, marxists and socialists. Most protests were peaceful, joyful and family oriented with people wearing costumes while marching through the streets. There were very few arrests and acts of violence during the October 18^th events.”

The statement quoted one participant as saying “We are not paid to be here today. We are concerned about the direction our country is taking. I was present at the June event and will participate in future gatherings if necessary. On my own time.”

O’Brien’s news released concluded by saying “The First Amendment of the Constitution protects the freedom of speech. The No Kings rallies across the United States was an expression of that right.”

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County, today (Sunday), said one person was arrested following an incident Saturday afternoon, in Villisca. Deputies responded at around 4:50-p.m. to an alleged assault in the 400 block of 5th Street, and following an investigation placed 62-year-old Eddy Lavon Keppler, of Villisca, under arrest for Assault – a Simple Misdemeanor, and Assault with intent to inflict serious injury–an aggravated misdemeanor.

Keppler was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

(Sioux County, Iowa) – A collision late Saturday night west of Boyden, in northwest Iowa’s Sioux County, left one person dead and another injured. The Iowa State Patrol reports an SUV driven by 21-year-old Enrique De Leon Martinez, of Sioux Center, was traveling east on Highway 18 at around 11:10-p.m., just west of Jay Avenue, when for reasons unknown, the vehicle crossed the center line and into the westbound lane, where it collided with a van driven by 63-year-old Brian Dean Bouma, of Hull.

Bouma – who was wearing his seat belt – died in the crash. Martinez – who was also wearing his seat belt -was injured and transported to the Stanford Sheldon Hospital by Sheldon Ambulance. The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene.

And, in eastern Iowa’s Marshall County, two people were injured during a crash early this (Sunday) morning. The State Patrol says a Honda Civic driven by 18-year-old Boe Meh, of Marshalltown, was traveling east at a high rate of speed on East Olive Street in Marshalltown, when the car went out of control at the intersection with South 12th Avenue. The vehicle struck a fairgrounds sign and rollover over. The accident happened at around 1:15-a.m.

Meh – who wore a seat belt – was injured and transported to the Marshall County Hospital by Marshalltown Rescue. A passenger in the car, 18-year-old Kiana Gricelda Zamora, of Marshalltown – who was not wearing a seat belt – was injured and flown by LifeFlight helicopter to the Methodist Hospital in Des Moines.

Marshalltown Police assisted at the scene. The crash remained under investigation.

(Des Moines) The latest gasoline price report from AAA (as of Oct. 19th), indicates motorists are seeing some relief at the gas pump. The average price of regular unleaded gasoline fell 10 cents per gallon from the week before, to $2.69 per gallon. Prices are now 30 cents lower than a year ago. The price of diesel in Iowa is average $3.47/gallon in Iowa, which is 4 cents cheaper than a week ago, and about two pennies less than a year ago at this same time.

The highest price recorded for regular, unleaded gas in Iowa was June 15, 2022, when Iowans were paying an average of $4.76 per gallon, according to AAA. The highest price at the pump for diesel was $5.44/gallon on June 22nd, 2022.

Nationally, the average price of unleaded gas is currently $3.03/gallon, down 9 cents from last week. AAA says the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline could reach the 3-dollar mark for the first time in 4 years. Several factors are behind the drop, including falling crude oil prices, lower gasoline demand, and cheaper winter-blend gasoline at the pump. The tropics have been relatively quiet, and storm activity hasn’t had an impact on gas prices.

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($4.64), Hawaii ($4.48), Washington ($4.44), Oregon ($4.05), Nevada ($3.87), Alaska ($3.86), Idaho ($3.45), Arizona ($3.43), Utah ($3.37), and Pennsylvania ($3.23).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Oklahoma ($2.56), Arkansas ($2.63), Texas ($2.64), Mississippi ($2.64), Wisconsin ($2.65), Louisiana ($2.67), Ohio ($2.67), Kentucky ($2.68), Missouri ($2.70), and Tennessee ($2.72).

(Winfield, Iowa) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a hog manure spill into a Louisa County creek near Winfield, following a pumping incident. According to a DNR news release, a crew from the manure application business Catnip Ridge was applying manure to a field Thursday when a break in a line caused an unknown amount of manure to spill into a tributary of Roff Creek.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a hog manure spill into an unnamed tributary in Louisa County. (Photo courtesy of Iowa DNR)

DNR said the applicator team took “immediate action” to stop pumping and to clamp the line once the tear, which DNR later discovered was from friction against an iron fence post hidden in some vegetation, was discovered. The spill occurred in a road ditch northeast of Winfield at the intersection of Q Avenue and 65th Street. The Catnip Ridge crew placed dams in several areas along the tributary and plugged a nearby culvert to keep the manure from entering the creek, DNR reported.

Fresh water was added to the spilled area to help the crew flush the tributary and pump out the spilled manure. When DNR staff assessed the scene Thursday, initial water monitoring tests showed elevated levels of  ammonia, but staff did not observe any dead fish.

According to the release, when staff returned Friday morning to the site, “a small number of dead fish were observed” in the tributary, but the plugged culvert had prevented further downstream migration of the manure. The DNR said it will continue to monitor the cleanup efforts and investigate the incident to determine if further enforcement action is necessary.

It was the second manure spill reported the DNR reported last week, the first was also contained to an unnamed tributary in Carroll County.