The Grundy Register Serving Grundy County since 1928
Thursday, October 24, 2013
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Volume 89 – Number 43
County to move forward with condemnation proceedings By JOHN JENSEN
The Grundy Register GRUNDY CENTER — Grundy County will be moving forward with condemnation proceedings to acquire property for construction of a new county annex building. County Attorney Kirby Schmidt briefed the Board on the next step in the proceedings to acquire the property at 801 Seventh Street in Grundy Center, which is owned by Zenor, Inc. He said a chief judge will appoint a six-person commission consisting of two local property owners, two individuals who work in a banking-related field and two individuals who work in a real estate related field plus three alternates. Those individuals will determine the amount of money Zenor, Inc. is entitled to if the County goes through with condemnation. Schmidt said the respondent (Zenor) may challenge one commission member without a reason, leading to the need for alternates. Schmidt said he expects the commission to be appointed this week. He added that the judge cannot rule on whether or not the county is permitted to condemn the property. “You have the power to condemn for a valid public purpose,” he said. “That decision is made when this document is presented. The only way that can be challenged is if it’s not a valid public purpose.” Schmidt said it is possible for the County to receive the decision of the commission as early as November. IN OTHER BUSINESS, Public Health Manager Nancy Haren introduced Wendy Monaghan as Grundy County’s new public health lead. Haren said Monaghan could eventually fill her role when she retires at the beginning of next year and that a second person will be hired in the department. Haren presented the department’s quarterly report, noting that grant funds have been used to purchase 12 curb cuts and 11 bike racks in Conrad recently. She added that the home healthcare aide problems that plagued the County earlier this year have been resolved with the partnership with the Western Home Community. CPC Administrator Todd Rickert briefed the Board on funding issues that could force him to move some things around within his department. He noted that rules appear to be changing quickly and that when you think you have a handle on things, something else changes. The Board approved a utility permit from Windstream so that it may upgrade lines and improve Internet services in the Morrison area. The Board also received the Recorder’s quarterly report and approved the Annual Urban Renewal Report for Fiscal 2013. It also passed a resolution to terminate the Development Agreement between the County and Olderog Wholesale Tires, Inc. of Holland. The county’s agreement with the Olderog had been that it would receive Tax Increment Financing funds so long as it kept four employees. After tabling payment of the funds late last year, the company was found to be in violation of the agreement, leading to its termination.
Area Trick or Treat Times Grundy County Communities have announced dates and times for trick or treating. Communities not listed could not be reached Grundy Center Thursday, Oct. 31, 5:30 - 8 p.m. Beaman Thursday, Oct. 31 - 5 - 7 p.m. Conrad Thursday, Oct. 31, 6 - 8 p.m. Dike Thursday, Oct. 31, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. New Hartford Thursday, Oct. 31, 5 - 7 p.m. Parkersburg Thursday, Oct. 31, 5 - 7 p.m. Reinbeck Thursday, Oct. 31 - 5 - 7 p.m. Wellsburg Thursday, Oct. 31, 5:30 - 7 p.m.
What’s Happening Thursday, Oct. 24 Grundy Center Elementary Book Fair (Through Oct. 28) Saturday, Oct. 26 Sheila Cordes Benefit Oak Leaf Country Club, Reinbeck 4-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28 Grundy County Supervisors Grundy County Courthouse • 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29 YMCA Halloween Carnival Upper Elementary • 5-8 p.m
Grundy Center, Iowa
Wednesday, Oct. 30 Kling After school Time (KAT) Wed. October 23rd 1:30 - 3 pm Halloween Party! Thursday, Oct. 31
Halloween
Items for “What’s Happening” should be submitted by Monday, 10 a.m. to editor@gcmuni.net Items are printed free of charge and subject to editorial approval.
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Long road leads new pastor to Colfax By JOHN JENSEN The Grundy Register HOLLAND — Sometimes pastors get a call from the Lord that they at first do not understand. It is the kind of call that takes a pastor from his lifelong home in the South to a small, Midwest church located a few miles from anywhere. And sometimes that pastor could not be happier to be there. Just two short weeks ago, the Rev. Robby Grames began his new life as pastor at Colfax Center Presbyterian Church after serving in a similar role in Minneola, Fla for the past 6 1/2 years. “If you had to pick a place on the map where you thought the Lord would put you, this would probably not be it,” he admitted. “I’m a lifelong southerner.” Yet Grames said what he’s found in Holland and Grundy County is just what he and his family of six were looking for. All it took was a visit. “When we came to visit, our kids immediately connected with some of the other kids and (wife) Susie really connected with some of the ladies,” he said. “Just getting over the initial shock of the total cross-country move, I think that was relieved by just getting here and getting to know some of the people. It’s a lot to process, but I think, after being here, we both feel it’s confirmed that this is where the Lord has us and we feel called.” Grames said he first felt the call to the ministry while attending high school in Savannah, Ga. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi College he attended Samford University’s Beesom Divinity School and soon after began
Colfax Center Presbyterian Church’s new pastor, Robby Grames, is not only getting used to a new congregation, but also his first time living in the Midwest. (John Jensen/The Grundy Register photo) his ministry as a youth pastor at a small church outside Birmingham, Ala. After serving there for 5 1/2 years, including a stretch as the church’s interim pastor, he and his family moved to a church in a small town outside Orlando, Fla. “It was a great church, but Florida’s full of retirees so there wasn’t a community in the church,” he said. “People were driving 30 and 40 minutes to come on Sunday morning, but you didn’t see them a whole lot. Here (in Holland) everybody knows everybody and
there’s more of a community feel to it, so that was one of the things that was really attractive. “It was a good 6 1/2 years (in Florida), we got to know the people real well, we made some impact in the community,” he said. A big attraction to the Colfax Center Church for Grames was its 141-year history during which it has had only 11 pastors. The last of those, the Rev. Larry Hoop, served for 24 years before retiring earlier this year. “Sometimes you’re expected
to move around, but here there’s a climate of accepting the pastor and expecting him to minister — seeing your kids baptized, seeing your kids get married. That’s something very important to me.” Grames said. Before that happens, however, Grames, his wife and four children will need time to settle into their new home in Iowa. “There’s things that we’ve never seen — obviously in Florida we’ve never seen cold, winter, snow,” he See GRAMES page 2
City Council approves project to install new street, stop-and-go lights
By JOHN JENSEN The Grundy Register GRUNDY CENTER — The Grundy Center City Council gave the final go-ahead for new street and stop-and-go lights during Monday’s regular Council meeting. The project will be financed through a 10-year, $400,000 in general purpose bond purchased from GNB. Jeff Heil of Northland Securities told the Council that he looked at both purchasing the bonds through the bond market and from GNB, noting that the increased interest rate from GNB (3 percent) versus the bond market (2.6 percent) is offset by lower fees through the local bank. Five years of the bonds through GNB are protected while the other five years are callable. “I guess after looking at it, my recommendation is that you go with Grundy National Bank (GNB) at the 3 percent, that way you don’t have to do the continuing disclosure annual report,” Heil said. The Council approved the construction after a pair of citizens spoke during a public hearing. Steve Hinderhofer asked the Council several questions about the project, including how high a price level the lights will be compared to others available, whether the City could pay cash for the lights, whether the project will affect property taxes, whether the city can go without the stop-and-go lights at the corners of Sixth and Seventh Streets and how old the current lights are. Mayor Rex Van Wert said the current lights have been in place 20 years or more since being renovated, and at least a decade before that. He said the stop-and-go lights must remain in place, as they are on a state highway, and that the cost of the bonds will come out of taxes, but that much of the added cost will be offset from debt that is being retired.
Heil added that, even with the new bonds, Grundy Center will be at approximately 40 percent of its legal debt limit while most other cities its size run closer to 60 percent of the limit. Public Work Director Dan Bangasser said the lights the city is purchasing are in the middle to low price level while Councilman Dave Stefl explained to Hinderhofer that the city does not have enough cash on hand to purchase the lights without bonding. Bob Greany also spoke during the hearing, agreeing that there is a need for new street lights. He added, however, that the city has other pressing needs such as problems with the sewer system. “We’re not excited about (the expenditure for lights) either, but we are trying to look at that sewer project work that could be out there and some of this rainwater problem infiltrating the system,” Stefl said. “We’re having a study done refocusing on the problem spots, and then we know that we may have to be doing some repairs.” Greany also asked whether it was the city, and not Grundy Center Municipal Utilities, that owned the lights, suggesting that GC Muni be asked to pay for the replacements. Van Wert assured Greany that the city owns the lights while adding that the utility will also be contributing to the project as utility lines currently overhead are moved underground. The Grundy Center Police Department will likely be purchasing new body-worn cameras to replace out-of-date in-car cameras. Reserve Officer Brian Shimon, who is also the assistant police chief at the Meskwaki Settlement, brought a camera from the Meskwaki department to show the Council and sung praises of the system. “It’s worth its weight in gold as
far as liability is concerned,” he said. The cameras are activated by the officers and will record exactly what they see. Shimon said the camera also works as a public relations tool and helps keep his officers in check, as they know they are being recorded. Van Wert suggested that the City find a place in the budget to purchase the system, suggesting that Community Betterment Funds could be used. Shawn Weber addressed the Council about an ordinance that allows single-car driveways to be no more than 18-feet wide. He said he wishes to widen his driveway to as much as 26 feet and that several neighbors he has spoken to, including those on both sides of his driveway, have no objection. Van Wert said the ordinance restricting single driveways to 18 feet is old. He said he has spoken to Public Works Director Dan Bangasser and that both agree that there is no reason to restrict them to that width. He added that the city will look to amend the ordinance to allow wider single driveways. As the amendment would take time, and Weber said he hopes to get work done before winter, he asked if it would be possible to get a variance to allow him to complete the work before the amendment is passed. “I don’t see anyone at the table objecting to that,” Van Wert said while instructing Weber to work with Bangasser to get the proper approval. Council also approved the city’s open burning period for Oct. 21 through Nov. 29, noting that burning is not allowed in streets. INRCOG’s Colleen Simmons was on the agenda to speak to the Council about the Black Hawk Creek Water Trail but did not attend the meeting.
The Grundy Register, P.O. Box 245, Grundy Center, IA 50638 Phone: (319) 824-6958 • Fax: (319) 824-6288 • E-mail: publisher@gcmuni.net, registerads@gcmuni.net, editor@gcmuni.net
Angie Holloway
Holloway is new face of local economic development
By JOHN JENSEN The Grundy Register GRUNDY CENTER — Grundy County economic development has a new face. Angie Holloway took over a role that has been held by a variety of people in recent years last month and has been learning the ropes as program director with the Grundy County Development Alliance. It is a role, she said, that is slowly evolving. “In the past, there’s been somebody in this position who’s both worked for the city as maybe a chamber director and had this role as well,” she said. “What happened was the chamber took up 90 percent of this job and this job kind of took up the last 10 percent. I see this job as kind of the face to the Grundy County Development Alliance. What I see in my role is being that face that gets out there into our industry and our manufacturers and into our small businesses.” Holloway has a background in health care administration, having managed rural health care clinics and having worked human resources. After more See HOLLOWAY page 2