Several contracts for employees in the Belle Plaine Community School District were approved at a special meeting Thursday night and school officials indicated that a tentative agreement has been reached with the teachers’ association on a new pact.

Contracts for board secretary Stacey Kolars, maintenance dirctor Rod Blount and transportation director Jan Kaplan were approved. Each will receive a 2.8 percent increase for the upcoming year.

Superintendent Bill Lynch indicated that a tentative agreement has been reached with the Belle Plaine Education Association and he indicated it could be on the agenda for board approval at next week’s regular meeting. Before the agreement was announced the two sides were heading for binding arbitration on the contract.

Following the contract approval, the board went into a work session to discuss the junior-senior high student handbook. Board members went over each page of the proposed handbook, making several changes in language and reviewing the good conduct policy and cell phone use policy.

With temperatures forecast to hit the 90 degree mark this weekend, organizers of the second annual Belle Plaine Ambulance Sweet Corn and Hog Roast Festival are hoping to draw a good crowd to lower Franklin Park.

The festival will run from 3-11 p.m. Saturday and feature plenty of food and beverages for all ages, music, kids games, a slow pitch men’s softball marathon tournament and a raffle.

Admission is $5 for adults, with those 17 and under admitted free. Included in the admission price is the entertainment and a raffle entry for several prizes.

Food will be available for sale and will include sweet corn, a hog roast, burgers and hot dogs. A special outdoor sales beer permit was obtained during a special meeting of the Belle Plaine City Council Thursday night, so there will be beverages for all ages available.

Music will be provided by Frank Burr from 5-6 p.m. and the Smooth Maneuvers Band from 7-11 p.m.

Proceeds from the event will go to help purchase a heart monitor for one of the ambulance units. Ambulance staff members indicated that the current heart monitor is out of date and a new one could cost up to $26,000.

“What will cash rental rates look like for the 2011 crop year?” has been a much-asked question recently. Setting cash rent in stable times is hard enough. Setting cash rent with volatile prices for corn and soybeans, input cost, and land values is even more difficult.

Iowa State University (ISU) Extension is offering Farm Land Leasing workshops on Thursday, August 12^th 9:30 am or 1:30 pm at the Clarion Inn 180 Exit 225, Amana.  Also Tuesday, August 17th, 7:00 pm at the Linn County Extension Office, 3279 7^th Ave., Suite 140 in Marion.

Jim Jensen, ISU Extension Farm Management Specialist, will be the presenter. According to Jensen, “The 2010 Extension Cash Rental Survey is out and will be discussed as well as the profit potential for tenants.” Cash rents typically reflect profitability the previous year.  Margins are getting tighter which will probably lead to a longer negotiation process.

Jensen will be discussing land values, leasing practices, and lead an interactive discussion on methods to calculate cash rent.   Jensen stated, “The most frequent stumbling block for setting a cash rental rate is determining the land quality of the farm”.  Rents on various quality soils and ways to determine land quality will be discussed.

The Farm Land Leasing workshop cost is $25 per person, and includes the 2010 Farm Leasing Arrangement booklet and copies of the presentation. To pre-register call the Benton County Extension Office at 319- 472- 4739. Registration cost can be paid at the door approximately 30 minutes before the workshop begins. For those that register after August 8^th (Amana) or August 13^th (Linn County) or at the meeting, a $5 late registration fee will be added.