The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday) approved the abatement of taxes for a property owned by the City of Lewis, which Auditor Dale Sunderman said was procured in February, and for which taxes were owed. Sunderman said the structure was burned out and the City acquired it through the legal process, but doesn’t want to take care of it. He said when the City receives taxes that are due, they have a choice of whether or not to pay the taxes immediately, or not paying them. If the City chooses not to pay, according to Code, the Board of Supervisors “Shall abate the taxes.”

The taxes on the property were $1,130, but interest and costs through May amount to $1,219, which is the amount the Board voted unanimously to abate for a period of one-year. Sunderman said the City hopes to have a buyer for the property.

The Board also passed a resolution to add a locally funded bridge deck replacement project to the FY 2013 road construction program. The project was not originally in the current program. Engineer Charles Marker explained that his budget does not need to be amended because they are currently “under-run,” and, the County is currently under for the DOT’s budget. 

Marker said because the deck on Jackson Road, leading to the landfill, was badly deteriorated, the bridge was repaired and the deck surface replaced. In order to comply with DOT requirements, the project was moved up from the FY 2014 budget to the current fiscal year. Marker says there area also three local projects in the County’s construction program which the Secondary Roads Dept. will handle, but because they are working on culverts and not able to get to the other projects in the current fiscal year, they are currently under budget.

And, the Supervisors Wednesday voted four-to-one to appoint Atlantic resident Roger Carter to fill a vacancy position on the County Zoning Board of Adjustment. The position was left open by the resignation in March, of former Board member Forrest Teig. Carter, who will fill the remained of Teig’s term through Dec. 21st, 2015, was one of two applicants for the voluntary post. He spoke before the Board Wednesday, about his interest in the job, his civic involvement, and desire to become more involved in local government.

Carter, who has lived in Atlantic since 1984, is a former rehab counselor for Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services. He retired from that position in June, 2010.

Campers looking to reserve a campsite at an Iowa state park with electricity for Memorial Day weekend are nearly out of luck. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says to date, Clear Lake State Park has one site, Marble Beach has two and Pilot Knob has eight.  Officials say the Wilson Island State Recreation Area near Missouri Valley, is open for day use only. Once construction begins, the DNR expects to close the park completely.

Kevin Szcodronski, chief of State Parks Bureau for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says  the Memorial Day weekend has traditionally been the kick off to summer with campgrounds filled to capacity. Campers without sites should arrive as early as possible and may want to have a back up park in case all the sites are taken. He said also that campers should plan to go through their equipment before hitting the park to prevent any surprises. It’s also good to review campground rules and etiquette, like getting firewood locally, watching the noise level after quiet hours and picking up after yourself.

Tips

·        Keep track of the weather and have a plan in case of severe weather

·        Plan to arrive as early in the day to set up the site, look for potential problems and avoid those areas

·        Prepare ingredients for meals before leaving home for less time cooking and more time playing

·        Bug spray, sun screen and a basic first-aid kit are must haves

·        Check the registration kiosk for activities in the area

·        Don’t burn trash

·        Don’t bring fireworks

      ·        Be a good neighbor. Observe quiet hours and pick up after yourself

Firewood

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship requires all firewood sold or acquired in Iowa to have the county and state of harvest location on the label of packages and the delivery ticket for bulk firewood.  The rules were added to prevent the spread of invasive species. The rules only apply to firewood sold and acquired in Iowa.

The rule also requires the Iowa DNR to collect firewood from campers that does not have a label.

Park Updates are available at:

www.iowadnr.gov/Destinations/StateParksRecAreas/ClosureInformation.aspx

w/ Ric Hanson

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GRAND JUNCTION, Iowa (AP) – A 3-year-old Iowa boy who’d been enjoying a warm spring day at a lake with his mom and siblings has drowned.  Greene County authorities say Ransom Cummings was pulled from 5-foot-deep water just six feet from a dock at Spring Lake on Tuesday afternoon. Ransom had wandered away from his mom and two siblings on the beach at the Greene County lake.

Greene County Sheriff Steve Haupert says 911 was called about 1:15 p.m., and deputies, firefighters and medics were dispatched to Spring Lake State Park to join the search for the boy.  Haupert says Ransom had been missing for at least 40 minutes when a firefighter spotted the reflection from the boy’s sunglasses on the lake bed.  The boy was pronounced dead at Greene County Hospital in Jefferson.

The Atlantic City Council will discuss and act on the first reading of a 5.5-percent rate increase for sewer service during their meeting this evening, at City Hall. City Administrator Doug Harris says if approved on the third and final reading, the monthly base fee for usage up to 3,000 gallons will increase $1.50 per month, from $27.00 to $28.50. Additional usage above 3,000 gallons will increase 30-cents, from $5.50 to $5.80 per thousand gallons over 3,000.

Harris says the increase is needed to fund Debt Service and Operating costs of the new wastewater treatment plant. He says Fiscal Year 2014, which begins July 1st, 2013, will be the first full year of debt service payments and operating costs for the plant. The City’s debt service payments will increase by more than $76,961, which reflects the fact the City did not draw down all of its State Revolving Loan Funds (SRLF), or issue Revenue Bonds to finance the balance of the cost of the new plant until near the end of the current fiscal year. Another factor influencing the proposed rate increase, is an increase in the annual utility billings, which will jump from $3,370/year to $37,300/year.

In other business, the Council will hold a public hearing on the sale of a lot at 314 Walnut Street, followed by action on a resolution approving sale of the property for $30,000 to a local man, who wishes to build a restaurant/sports bar on the site, with future plans for office space and luxury condominiums on the upper floors.

And, the Council will act on resolutions approving the issuance of General Obligation Bonds for $2.7-million, along with a bond purchase agreement not to exceed $7.05-million, for Sewer Revenue Bonds. The Atlantic City Council meeting begins at 5:30-p.m.

Three people have been arrested on various charges, in Montgomery County. According to the Sheriff’s Department, 42-year old Keith Allan Currin, of Villisca, was arrested just after 1-a.m. today (Wednesday) in the 100 block of south 5th Street, on a Possession of drug paraphernalia charge. Currin was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

On Tuesday, deputies arrested 31-year old Bobbie Jo Kent, of Red Oak, on a warrant for theft in the 5th degree, and, 32-year old Cody Dean Franzen, of Stanton, was arrested on a warrant for Contempt of Court/Illegal Resistance to an Order or Process. Franzen was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond, while Kent’s bond was set at $300.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials are warning spring paddlers to be wary of cold water and debris piled on by full streams. The state Department of Natural Resources says the water may still be ice cold despite the warm temperatures. They encourage paddlers to have a wetsuit and a change of dry clothes until the water truly warms up.

Recent rains have also caused streams near bank full. Water is flowing fast, and high water has collected debris like trees and limbs. They’ve been deposited at the base of bridge pilings and the outside of tight bends in the river. Officials say good boat control skills and navigation is important to remaining safe while paddling.

A judge in Pottawattamie County has given a suspended sentence to a woman who encouraged her son to fight another boy, and then hit the other child when her son was being hit. The incident appeared in a video on the internet. The Daily NonPareil says 31-year old Alisha Hazen, of Council Bluffs was arrested in December, on suspicion of felony child endangerment, serious assault and contributing to the delinquency of a minor for her alleged involvement in a fight that took place at Kreft Elementary School in November. She plead guilty on Tuesday, to simple assault and aggravated misdemeanor child endangerment.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers have reached a compromise on the first budget of the legislative session. A joint committee of lawmakers from both parties and chambers settled yesterday on spending $41 million for economic development. The budget is $31 million under what Republican Governor Terry Branstad proposed.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Jury selection has begun in the murder trial of a Mason City man accused of strangling a woman to death. A panel of 32 potential jurors was called in Cerro Gordo County District Court from a pool of more than 50 people. Aaron Harris is charged with first-degree murder in the July 2012 death of Sarah Winters.

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — City crews were trying to quickly repair a brick sewer line in Ottumwa that collapsed beneath railroad tracks. The 4-foot brick sewer line collapsed yesterday morning. It forcing the BNSF railroad to close one track and divert trains onto another one. Public Works Superintendent Steve Edgington says the sewer line dates to the late 1880s.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Cedar Rapids says it is closely monitoring Cedar River nitrate levels because they have reached one of the highest concentrations ever recorded. Untreated river water is testing at 18.5 milligrams per liter. Drinking water tests at 7.6. City officials must inform residents if it rises above the EPA limit of 10 milligrams.