The Wright County
Monitor
Punt, Pass, Kick results on pages 14 and 15 Fireman’s Ball on page 20
144th year Number 47
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Official newspaper of Wright County
$1.00 per copy
www.clarionnewsonline.com
Clarion City Council hears report on Firemen’s Ball
by Kim Demory - The council approved the Ordinance #551 - Deleting Property egeagle@goldfieldaccess.net Facility Planning for Inflow and from the TIF for the Clarion Urban Greg Littlejohn and Rich Smith, Infiltration Reduction for a CDBG Renewal Area of the City of Clarion, Clarion volunteer firefighters, were grant. Tom Madden of Yaggy Colby Pursuant to Section 403.19 of the on hand at the Clarion City Council was on hand to answer questions. Code of Iowa. meeting held Monday, Nov. 18 to - Approved Amendment No. 1 - Approved Waiving of second give a report on the recent fireman’s to Owner-Engineer Agreement I and third reading. Approved ball. and S Group for the right turn lane adaptation of Resolution #13-53 - a Littlejohn stated that the event improvement project. public hearing on proposed CDBG went very well with more than 200 - Approved agreement for Housing Rehabilitation people in attendance and raising professional services I and S Group - Reviewed draft contract for over $10,000. for the traffic signal project on Hwy private development. The council “The City was very well 3. This will effect three locations: decided they would offer $30,000 in represented (at the ball),” Littlejohn Main Street, Fourth Street, and matching funds for 10 houses to try said. Second Street intersection. That and receive federal funding for the “I think everybody that was there includes pedestrians signals. After project. really enjoyed themselves,” said City the work, if a driver hits a green “We have some houses that need Administrator Rochelle Pohlman. light along the route, they should be to be rehabbed,” said Pohlman. Littlejohn added the entire Interested homeowners on “That’s going to help us department also appreciated the the southeast and southwest certificate of proclamation from protect the public all the better. portions of town will have the mayor and city council. That will help us a bunch,” to sign up and meet income “We will hang that up at our eligibility requirements. The Greg Littlejohn said. next meeting,” he said. matching funds will come out Money raised from the event of the 2014 budget. Approval will be used to purchase an air filter able to make it through Main Street or denial of funds is expected to compression system that is already stoplight, barring any unexpected come in April 2014. on the way. obstacles that slow you down. Home improvements don’t “That’s going to help us protect - Approved the Geotechnical necessarily have to be the whole the public all the better. That will Evaluations - additional soil house, it could just be new windows, help us a bunch,” Littlejohn said. borings for the proposed housing furnace, etc. The residence has to The department has decided since development was granted to Chosen be owner occupied and certified the first ball was such a huge success, Valley Testing, Inc. that owner will live in the house for they are going to try and make it an - Approved FYE 2013 Annual five years. Not eligible for rental annual event. Financial Report. properties. Clarion has 30 percent “It was really neat to see that - Approved Resolution #13-52 - population of low and moderate many people come,” said Littlejohn. Appropriating funds for payment of income home owners. Littlejohn also reported that six certain financial obligation Internal - Public hearing set for December members of the fire department Capital Funds - All TIF eligible 2 at 5:15 p.m. recently participated in a search and expenses go through here to simplify - Approved Resolution #13-54 rescue training day that was free of accounting - $300,000 will be put to set a date for a public hearing on charge. into that fund on top of the $194,000 proposed private development for “We’ve only had one fire call already there. Projects like the Dec. 16 at 5:15 p.m. since the last report,” Littlejohn said. current housing project are put into - Approved Resolution #13-55 The department is planning to this. to provide a guarantee of certain work with the hospital to make a - Approved the fiscal year end indebtedness of i2iClarion, INC. for plan to familiarize themselves with 2013 Annual Urban Renewal TIF Housing Development. They will the new layout of the hospital. They Indebtedness Report and authorized make payments with money from are planning for a tour in December. Rochelle Pohlman to certify to the the sale of lots. “It gives us some training county auditor. A 17 page report - Approved tax abatement request (opportunities) that we can do while was given to the council reporting for Ewing Funeral Home and it’s cold without freezing up our on TIF use from last year, spending certifying with the county assessor equipment,” Littlejohn said. $637,000. - Approved new Special Class In other council business: - Approved the first reading of C Liquor License (beer/wine) and
Members of the First State Bank and Town and Country Insurance are (left to right) Craig Nelsen, Denise Nelsen, Tiffany Lowe, Staci Schnittjer, Sherri O’Brien, Jodi Reed, and Myndi McCart.
Clarion FSB and Town & Country food drive will benefit Wright County families by Kim Demory egeagle@goldfieldaccess.net Thanksgiving is a time to take notice of all we have to be thankful for. It’s the start of the holiday season, and a time to share with others. First State Bank and Town & Country Insurance of Clarion are hoping to help those families make the season more merry and bright by sponsoring a Food Drive for Wright County families. As part of their Random Act of Kindness initiative, employees are bringing in nonperishable food and they’re asking the community to join them. According to Staci Schnittjer and Sherri O’Brien, two of the coordinators, they have already collected nearly 150 items since November 1. They will continue taking donations until November 30. This is the first time FSB and T&C have taken on such an endeavor, but they are excited to be a part of something so wonderful.
“It’s something I’ve been a part of other times,” said O’Brien. “Everyone is excited about it.” All non-perishable food items will then be delivered to Upper Des Moines Opportunity in Eagle Grove, who will add them to their limited supply of food items they have on hand. From there, they will distribute to families who come in for their monthly food assistance program. “(UDMO) seemed really excited to be the recipient (of the food to distribute),” said O’Brien. “We specified that all the food stay in Wright County,” added Schnittjer. FSB and T&C Insurance began the Random Acts of Kindness initiative just this past October, having donated Chamber certificates to every employee of Clarion Wellness and Rehabilitation. They also donated a stylus to every Clarion middle school student and staff member to use with their iPads. In addition to collecting items for
the Food Drive in November, they have also selected 10 area families to receive a certificate to Clarion Super Foods to receive a turkey, pan, and cooking bags at their time of choice during the holidays. Upcoming Random Acts of Kindness projects FSB and T&C Insurance employees will be focusing on include working with the Holmes Christmas Club, the Spirit of Giving Group in Clarion, and presenting every Clarion High School student with ear buds, microphone, and a pouch to carry and clean their new laptops. A project is also underway for the Clarion elementary school. If you would like to get involved in a Random Act of Kindness, won’t you please consider dropping off a non-perishable food item at the Clarion FSB and T&C Insurance office located at 714 Central Ave E by Nov. 30. A family you may never meet will be grateful you did.
Supervisors approve two separate box culvert projects
Staff members for the HOPES program are (left to right): Donna Pippal, Darcy Sisson, Gaylean Rutherford, Alexis Morgan. Not pictured is Denise Schumacher.
The Giving Tree
Offering the gift of HOPE
by Kim Demory egeagle@goldfieldaccess.net If there’s any time of year that offers the opportunity for hope, it’s Christmas. Alexis Morgan, and the entire staff of the HOPES program of Wright County, are looking for individuals or families who would like to help give the gift of HOPE to a child in our county this holiday season. A Giving Tree has been placed in the lobby of the Public Health
office, located at 115 1st Street SE, in Clarion. You are invited to simply stop in and select a tag from the tree. Your gift(s) may then be returned, by Monday, Dec. 9, to the Public Health office. Please have your gift placed in a gift bag with the original tag you selected from the tree attached. If a business or organization would like to adopt an entire family, you may do so by contacting Morgan directly at 515-532-3461. The same return date and instructions apply.
“We are trying to extend the Christmas spirit throughout Wright County,” said Morgan. HOPES (Healthy Opportunities for Parents to Experience Success) is a year-round program that offers support to parents who are in need of help, whether it be financial or emotional contributions. The idea is not for long term assistance, but to help them learn a better way that they can make a better life for themselves and their family.
By Les Houser back to the supervisors with those county to do road maintenance,” said The Wright County Supervisors recommendations. “No closures Clemons. “I was surprised, because received final plans for two separate are expected, but one will likely be the extra cost is not that much.” The box culvert projects at their meeting downgraded on its weight limit,” Board was fine with the plan. this week. Plans were presented by said Clemons, to which Roll added In other action the Board: County Engineer Adam Clemons that the bridge is already in the five- -received a brief visit from and assistant engineer Taylor Roll, year plan. employees representing McClure with Roll doing all the design work Yet another item from the engineer’s Engineering, including Brent on the structures. Both will be placed office team involved a proposal Johnson who is retiring this year. He at drainage district crossings. from the Iowa DOT during their has worked with the drainage district The first is southwest of Eagle Grove resurfacing of Highway 3 next year. trustees on many projects over in Section six of Troy Township. The According to Clemons, while the the past years, and the supervisors plan is for a 10x8 foot precast box state normally does only a 10-foot expressed their appreciation for his culvert to replace a 22x20 foot bridge run-out from the highway to connect quality work and wish him well in currently at that site. According with county roads they would like his retirement; to Clemons, this will solve width to extend all of those an additional -announced that negotiations issues for farm equipment using 40 feet. “This would be a six-inch will start on December 10 for that bridge. The second plan is for asphalt layer, and this (the extra bargaining with the Teamsters Local a bridge northeast of Clarion on length) will make it easier for the representing the Sheriff’s office; 150th Street in Section 36 of Norway Township. A twin 12x10 foot precast box culvert will replace a 26x25.5 foot bridge there. According to Clemons, both projects are eligible for 80 percent of costs The annual Thanksgiving free but you are urged to pick from Bridge Replacement Day Dinner sponsored by the up a ticket so the Clarion Funds, and both will be Clarion Ministerium will be Ministerium might get a let on February 18 of next Thursday, Nov. 28, starting at count to make their plans. year at the DOT office. noon at the high school. A free will offering will be Construction could start Tickets may be picked accepted but is not required. as early as spring of 2014. Clemons informed the up at Super Foods. They are Let us give thanks for Board that the newest the many blessings we have bridge inspection reports received as we celebrate with should be arriving in this thanksgiving. his office this week, and then he will report
Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner