Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports a Public Hearing will be held next week on the designation of a 2017 Cass County Agribusiness Urban Renewal Area, and on a proposed Urban Renewal Plan and Projects. The Hearing will be held Jan. 18th at 8:45-a.m., at the Cass County Courthouse.

The hearing is on the question of designating as the 2017 Cass County Agribusiness Urban Renewal Area (the “Urban Renewal Area”), pursuant to Chapter 403, Code of Iowa, the property situated in Cass County, Iowa described as follows:

Certain real property situated in Cass County, Iowa bearing the following Cass County Property Tax Parcel Identification Numbers as of January 1, 2017:

• Parcel ID: 180001556001000 – 3.55 acres;
• Parcel ID: 250000488001005 – 13.29 acres
• Parcel ID: 250000488001006 – 50.87 acres
• Parcel ID: 250000488004011 – 2.25 acres
• Parcel ID: 250000488004012 – 8.95 acres
• Parcel ID: 250000522001006 – 1.93 acres
• Parcel ID: 250000523002003 – 3.17 acres
• Parcel ID: 250000533001001 – 2.81 acres
• Parcel ID: 250000533001002 – 0.24 acres
• Parcel ID: 250000533001003 – 1.04 acres
• Parcel ID: 250000687003002 – 6.08 acres
• Parcel ID: 250000754001002 – 3.60 acres Parcel ID: 250000754003002 – 4.41 acres; and
• All of the right-of-way of Echo Road from and including its intersection with Olive Street on the east and continuing west to and including its intersection with Buck Creek Road; and
• All of the right-of-way of Buck Creek Road from and including its intersection with Echo Road on the north and continuing south to and including its intersection with Glacier Road; and
• All of the right-of-way of Glacier Road from and including its intersection with Buck Creek Road on the east and continuing west to the paved segment of Glacier Road.

(A More detailed description of the parcels is available from the Cass County Auditor’s Office) The subject matter of the public hearing will also include a proposed urban renewal plan (the “Plan”) and project for the Urban Renewal Area identified above, pursuant to Chapter 403, Code of Iowa, a copy of which plan is on file for public inspection in the office of the County Auditor.

The general scope of the proposed Plan, as more specifically described therein, includes the following:

• Increasing the tax base and promoting economic growth in Cass County by encouraging commercial, industrial and agribusiness development.
• The Plan authorizes certain initial urban renewal projects to be undertaken in the Urban Renewal Area consisting of (i) providing tax increment financing support to Elite Octane, LLC in connection with the planning, design and construction of an ethanol plant (the “Development Project”);
• and (ii) using tax increment financing to pay the costs of constructing certain road and greywater sewer system improvements necessary for the development of the Development Project.

At the hearing any interested person may file written objections or comments and may be heard orally with respect to the subject matter of the hearing.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A retired Iowa judge says a fraud charge filed against her former colleague appears to be “blatant retribution” for her efforts to criticize and sue the state. Retired Administrative Law Judge Bonny Hendricksmeyer says Susan Ackerman’s prosecution is a “malicious use of the criminal justice system” designed to give the state an advantage against Ackerman’s civil claims.

She says authorities must investigate whether their former agency, Iowa Workforce Development, is pushing the case to discourage employees from pursuing remedies for mistreatment. Ackerman surrendered last month on a felony charge alleging she lied on insurance forms to give her adult daughter health coverage. The state fired the 15-year judge over the same allegation two years ago.

Ackerman has denied criminal wrongdoing, saying she received permission from a human resources employee before making the change. Months earlier, Ackerman helped expose pressure that Workforce Development’s director was putting on judges to favor employers over workers in rulings on unemployment benefits. Hendricksmeyer also spoke out but had already retired.

Ackerman’s union is challenging her termination, and she’s filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the state.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold a Public Hearing Wednesday morning, in Atlantic, with regard to a change in zoning classification. The change affects parcels of land in sections 29, 31 & 32 of Pymosa Township, and section 6 of Grove Township, and pertains to a rezoning of the area from Agricultural to Light Industrial, for the Fagen Farms/Elite Octane ethanol plant project.  The hearing begins at 8:30-a.m., and will be followed by action on approving the zoning change.

The Supervisors will also act on allowing or disallowing family farm credits and to approve Ag land credits, in accordance with Iowa Code.

Police in Creston report the arrest Friday evening, of 37-year old Lela Ann Churchwell, of Creston. Churchwell was taken into custody at a residence in the 300 block of N. Pine Street, on a Union County Warrant. She was later released after posting $1,000 bond.

Creston Police said also, a resident in the 500 block of W. Buckeye Street reported last Wednesday night, that her purse containing her wallet, ID cards, medicines and other items, was taken from her car while it was parked in her driveway.  The estimated value of the stolen property is approximately $22.  It’s not clear when the theft occurred.  And, late Friday morning, a resident of the 1000 block of Cottonwood Street, in Creston, told authorities money was taken from his room while he was in residence. The loss was estimated at $143, and again, it’s not clear when the incident took place.

The area’s top news at 7:05-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Officials in Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa, are taking different approaches toward handling an expected infestation of an ash tree-killing insect. The Omaha World-Herald reports Omaha plans to treat up to 5,000 of its 11,000 ash trees and to remove the rest.

In Council Bluffs, officials plant to treat most of the 1,260 ash trees on city property, then evaluate the situation in 10 years. Crews removed 30 unhealthy trees last year and treated 200 trees. Workers will treat about 1,000 trees this spring.

At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, workers will treat about 10 percent of the 368 ash trees on campus. Officials must take action because of the emerald ash borer. Since being found in 2002 in Michigan, the insect has killed millions of trees across the country.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Republican legislator says he likely would re-introduce legislation requiring state and local governments to cooperate with federal immigration officials if Iowa City opts not to enforce immigration laws. Denison Rep. Steven Holt filed a bill during that last legislative session requiring local officials to work with immigration officers. Holt told The Des Moines Register he’ll feel compelled to introduce the bill again if the City Council in Iowa City approves a resolution preventing spending funds on immigration enforcement.

Iowa City Mayor Jim Throgmorton says the issue arose after the election of Donald Trump. The city attorney is drafting a resolution that will be presented to the council. Although Holt’s bill failed last year, Republicans now control both chambers of the Legislature. The session begins today (Monday).

The Iowa Corn Promotion Board is releasing a series of videos touting the state’s top crop featuring an actor known as the Iowa Nice Guy. Board president Larry Klever, of Audubon, says the videos are being posted on the Iowa Corn YouTube website. “We’re always looking for new ways to get our message out and we decided to team up with Scott Siepker and use his fun and energetic way of telling stories to help us out.”

Siepker made a name for himself several years ago with his snarky videos promoting the state of Iowa and catapulted onto national sports T-V programs with further commentary. Klever says the new videos will educate consumers about the different ways corn is used, from food to fuel. “We talk about what is E-15 and high-fructose corn syrup, how it’s similar to cane sugar,” Klever says. “Also, your lawns versus our fields, water quality and sweet corn versus field corn.”

There are five videos produced in the series so far. If they’re a success, Klever says there will be more coming.

(Radio Iowa)

The 2017 session of the Iowa legislature will officially get underway at 10 a.m. today (Monday). For the past six years, Republicans have had the majority in the Iowa House while Democrats controlled the Senate’s debate agenda, but no more. As of today, G-O-P lawmakers hold a majority of seats in both the House and Senate. Republicans like incoming Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix of Shell Rock are ready with a new agenda. “As we prepare to start this legislative session, we’re doing so with a high level of optimism and determination that we are going to change the way we do business in Iowa,” Dix says. Dix says “nothing should be off the table.”

Dix and the 28 other Republican senators have four items in line for quick action. They want to cut off state funding to Planned Parenthood, enact tort reform and they’ll propose amendments to the state constitution that ensure gun rights and enact new restrictions on state spending. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake is entering her second year as the legislature’s top Republican. “We’re excited about this opportunity,” Upmeyer says. “We’re excited about the energy in the building and look forward to getting started.”

Upmeyer says spending restraint is a top priority for House Republicans. Rob Hogg, of Cedar Rapids, is the new leader for minority Democrats in the state senate. “Our number one goal is to make sure that we do everything we can to prevent the legislature from dismantling or damaging or destroying parts of state government and the way our state has operated for decades,” Hogg says.

Mark Smith of Marshalltown is returning as the leader for House Democrats. “I like the saying about Iowans that we wear last year’s clothing and read next year’s books,” Smith says. “…Iowans will be watching everything that’s done in this legislative session.”

The last time Republicans held majority control of both the Iowa House and Senate — AND governor’s office — was in 1997 and 1998. The G-O-P’s major action back then was a 10 percent across-the-board cut in state income taxes. Republican Governor Terry Branstad approved those cuts 20 years ago, but Branstad says the state had a surplus back then. He will NOT recommend tax cuts this year.

There will be just 149, not 150 legislators at the capitol today. Jim Lykam — a former state representative — won December’s special election to serve out the remaining two years of a senate term. He replaces Senator Joe Seng, who died in September. Lykam will be sworn in as a state senator this morning. His house seat is vacant. The governor has not set a date for a special election in the Davenport district.

(Radio Iowa)