JOHNSTON, Iowa (Gray Television Iowa Capitol Bureau) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds addressed the ongoing flooding in the northwestern portion of the state at a news conference at the State Emergency Operations Center in Johnston Saturday afternoon. The Governor opened by noting parts of northwest Iowa have received up to 15 inches of rain over two days. The State Emergency Operations Center was activated Saturday morning and is up and running around the clock. A disaster proclamation has been issued for 22 counties, with Palo Alto County being the most recent. Homeland Security and DNR teams have conducted some 250 water rescues Saturday alone. More counties could be added as the water flows downstream. The Governor and members of her cabinet toured the floods from the air Saturday, calling the damage “severe and widespread.” 16 flood gauges reached record levels. It’s estimated about 1,900 properties have been impacted, along with agricultural land. The DNR says 10 water plants and 21 wastewater systems have been affected as of Saturday night. More than 1,000 Iowans were sheltered as officials continue evacuating residents. Reynolds said she has filed a request for an expedited Presidential major disaster declaration for federal assistance for nine counties. 22 more have been tabbed for public assistance.
SIOUX COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – The USDA announced another dairy herd has been infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Sioux County. This is the 9th case to hit a dairy farm in Sioux County in the month of June, and the 11th case to affect a dairy farm in the state. HPAI can travel in wild birds but is often fatal to domestic birds such as chickens and turkeys. Officials say that it is safe to enjoy poultry products. Consumers should utilize the proper handling and cooking of eggs and poultry products, including cooking to an internal temperature of 165˚F. There is no concern about the safety of pasteurized milk or dairy products. Pasteurization has continually proven to successfully inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The hallways at Garfield Elementary are typically quiet this time of year. But whether they will soon be filled with the sound of students, or apartment tenants will soon be up to the Cedar Rapids School Board. Up until recently, only one person seemed interested in buying it. Students from this school and Arthur Elementary will attend class at a new building this fall–Trailside Elementary. While the district has worked with residential developer Steve Emerson and his plans to buy the building for $160,000, Isaac Newton Christian Academy is making plans to bid on the property as well. A public input session on the matter is scheduled for Monday, June 24. According to a news release, Isaac Newton Christian Academy wants to buy the building for more than its sale price. According to the Cedar Rapids Assessor, its current value is nearly $380,000. Regardless of who buys the building, the money goes toward the district’s Physical Plant Equipment Levy, or PPEL fund.
FAYETTE COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – A report from the Iowa DNR gives a notice of violation to the Starmont Community School District after the district did not properly test its water quality for over a year. Iowa DNR officials say that false chlorine residuals have been submitted 18 times since March 2023. They say the operator submitted data for static and pumping water levels for both wells even though the equipment was “not functioning.” According to the Iowa DNR, the district is required to install new gauges and airlines on both wells, train a backup person to aid the operator, and determine if cross-connection control devices are present in either treatment plant before July 1. School officials are also required to submitted the water use annual reports for 2021-2023. The Iowa DNR says that due to the significance of the violations “the matter will be referred to DNR’s Legal Bureau for escalated enforcement.”
