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www.osceolaiowa.com
155 YEARS • NO. 35
OSCEOLA, IOWA 50213
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2015
SINGLE COPY PRICE: 75¢
Public confusion still remains concerning CCRC’s future plans By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor • ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
There are still questions. What’s the plan going forward from here? This was the consensus of public comment during Clarke County Reservoir’s (CCRC) meeting Thursday, Aug. 27. “Again, the commission in July said they were going to continue to negotiate with landowners and try to purchase land within the existing project,” said Dave Beck, project coordinator. However, there was more questioning on what happens when the CCRC gets to a landowner who doesn’t want to sell and “cries eminent domain.” “I think that’s something the commission needs to consider when we get there,” Beck said. “That’s kind of what they were advised last month and discussed last month. Then, they have some tough decisions to make. In the meantime, like I said, we’re working with our engineers to look at a possible alternative, and all.” CCRC board members cautioned the public the reservoir project is a slow process, and the meetings are always open to the public. The project CCRC is in the process of building a reservoir project located in northwest Clarke County, also known as the Squaw Creek Watershed. The reservoir is to provide a water supply for Osceola and Southern Iowa Rural Water Association (SIRWA) with an 816-acre lake, which could provide 2.2 million gallons of water per day. West Lake, the current water source, doesn’t meet the needs of Clarke County and SIRWA. However, there have
“Again, the commission in July said they were going to continue to negotiate with landowners and try to purchase land within the existing project.” — Dave Beck
Clarke County Reservoir Commission project coordinator
been many legislative setbacks, including the most recent one from July. CCRC is dealing with a change in Iowa law on eminent domain, which created language that changed the law on use of eminent domain for the creation of public water supply surface water reservoirs throughout the state. Eminent domain is the government’s power to take private property for public use by a state. However, this doesn’t stop the CCRC from purchasing land from willing sellers in the project area, which is currently going on. During the Aug. 27 meeting, the commission approved offers to buy real estate from: • George McDannell North • George McDannell South • High Prairie Farms Engineering task order As for more current progress from CCRC, the board is working to comply with an engineering task order. A presentation was made during the meeting. Please see CCRC, Page 4
Contributed image
This is a conceptual map for the Safe Routes to School Sidewalk project in Osceola. Officials are looking at the route in blue for next year’s section of the safe routes. The map includes soon-to-be trail plans, as well.
NEXT STEP
Osceola awarded $75,000 Wellmark grant for Safe Routes to School sidewalk project By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
Getting around town as a pedestrian is going to be getting a little bit easier. Recently, Bill Trickey, executive director of Clarke County Development Corporation (CCDC), announced Osceola received notification of approval for a $75,000 Wellmark Foundation grant for the next Safe Routes to School segment in Osceola. This is the second Wellmark grant Osceola has received for its Safe Routes to School Sidewalk project. “A couple of months ago, my board approved our share of $56,000,” Trickey said. “I think Trickey Wellmark likes the collaborative effort they see going on with the project in Osceola, and the fact that we said we were going to do it, and
“I think Wellmark likes the collaborative effort they see going on with the project in Osceola, and the fact that we said we were going to do it, and we did it.” — Bill Trickey
Clarke County Development Corporation
we did it.” Trickey said the city will get the remaining balance for the match grant. What is the project? The Safe Route to School Sidewalk project started as a committee in 2008. Efforts on the project were resurrected again in 2012. The first section of the project, through visual surveys conducted during school hours, identified Fillmore Street from the railroad tracks to Shaw Street and Jefferson Street near the downtown square to elementary school, as primary routes for students walking to and from school.
A 6-foot wide sidewalk was constructed specifically to accommodate heavy school traffic. Its goal was to also encourage more walking, bicycling and pedestrian recreation for children, as well as adults. Second portion According to Trickey, the next portion of the sidewalk project would be in the southeast side of town. Primarily, next year’s route will be on Highway 69. It will begin in the vicinity of Park Lane and go north to Fayette Please see SIDEWALK, Page 4
OST photos by AMY HANSEN
Salford: Left photo, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey looks at machinery during a visit to Salford Inc. Wednesday, Aug. 26. Salford specializes in agricultural soil preparation equipment.
Northey, a corn and soybean farmer from Spirit Lake, is serving his third term as secretary of agriculture. His priorities are promoting the use of science and new technologies to better care for air, soil and water and reaching out to tell the story of Iowa agriculture. Northey was on a tour of Iowa when he made a scheduled stop in Osceola. Right photo, Northey, center, takes a group photo with Salford employees. SINGLE COPY PRICE: 75¢
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Index Church Directory..........8 Classifieds............ 10-11 Editorial.........................4 Obituary........................3
Public Notices........ 9-10 Record..........................2 Sports........................ 6-7
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9/5
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Don’t Forget Farmers’ market
Clarke County Farmers’ Market is planned 8 a.m. to noon Saturday on the courthouse lawn.
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