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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016
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Buddy’s Buddies at GHV
You can catch ‘Buddy’s Buddies’ at the Winter School Dance Party at Garner-Hayfield / Ventura Elementary Gymnasium on Wednesday, Feb. 3 from 12.30 – 2 p.m, then at EB Stillman Auditorium, Clear Lake Middle School on Thursday, Feb. 4 from 1– 3 pm. Artists include Richie Lee and Tommy Allsup. There are now four musical scholarships given each year in Iowa alone, commemorating Ritchie Valens (at Spirit Lake), pilot Roger Peterson (at Storm Lake), Clear Lake (in honor of Barb and the late Jerry Dwyer who have been great supporters and ambassadors for the scholarship body). A new scholarship was inaugurated at Garner-Hayfield-Ventura in 2015. This honors 1959 Winter Dance Party member Tommy Allsup, an annual artist at the Winter Dance Party and longtime supporter of the scholarship body and it’s aims. Admission for kids is free. Admission for adults is $5. Proceeds go to the Winter Dance Party Musical Scholarships.
Community calendar Thursday, February 4
The Revenant
Youth give a voice at Youth Summit Emilie Jenson
Rebecca Peter | The Leader
Andrew Dornbier, Garner, a member of the FIRST Tech Challenge, “Team Blockheads”, gives the Garner City Council a close-up look at the team’s robot at the Jan. 26 city council meeting. Dornbier and fellow team members Dalton Hawe and Matt Barickman, gave a demonstration and told the council about the FIRST Tech Challenge program. Other members of Team Blockheads are Erik Goll, Jake Folkers and Reece Smith. FIRST Tech Challenge teaches junior high and high school aged youth skills in science, technology, engineering and math.
Council okays rec center refinancing agreement Rebecca Peter
gleadernews@qwestoffice.net
Lake Area Quilters Guild will meet at 7 p.m. at the Senior Citizens Center, 105 South 4th St., Clear Lake. Garner Pet Resort and Wash, 375 Hwy 18 W, Garner, is hosting its open house from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, February 6 Bill’s Family Foods in Garner is hosting a bake sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to benefit Christine Atwell. Monday, February 8 Iowa Caucus Hancock County Board of Supervisors meets at 9 a.m. in Board Chamber, Garner. Tuesday, February 9 Garner City Council will meet at 7 p.m. in Council Chamber, City Hall. Corwith Council meets. Kanawha Council meets at 6 p.m. Commission of Veteran Affairs will meet at 9:30 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors’ Room. Friday, February 12 Kanawha Public Library adult book club will meet at 10 a.m. to discuss “Foreign to Familiar” by Sarah Lanier. Sunday, February 14 Garner Evangelical Free Church (on Hwy 18) is hosting the movie, “War Room,” at 5:30 p.m. This is a free event, open to the public. Childcare and snacks will be provided. Sunday, February 21 Britt Church of the Nazarene, 195 2nd St. SW, is hosting the Dysart Family Gospel Singers in concert at 6 p.m. This concert is free and open to the public. A finger food fellowship will follow the concert. Saturday, February 27 Christine Atwell benefit will be held at the USDA Building in Garner. There will be a silent auction and bake sale from 2 to 7 p.m. A meal will be offered from 5 to 7 p.m., and a live auction is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Bethel Baptist Church in Britt is holding a “Compassionate Conversation about Suicide” from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, Saturday, March 4-5 IF:Gathering will be held at the GHV High School Auditorium in Garner. For more information, contact Mary Graham at 641-5126589 or go to m4grahamcracker@ yahoo.com. February 5-11
Emilie Jenson | The Leader
The law enforcement group shares what they appreciate about the local police and sheriff departments in their community.
Coming Feb. 12 Norm of the North PG
GARNER –The City of Garner will realize savings of about $124,000 by refinancing the $1.5 million loan agreement on the Veterans Memorial Recreation Center (VMRC). No comments or objections were heard during a public hearing on the refinancing, Jan. 26. The new rate for the general obligation bonds is 1.37 percent compared to the previous rate of 3.88 percent, said city administrator Randy Lansing. At the new rate of interest, the VMRC will be paid off in about sev-
Dalton Hawe and Matt Barickman demonstrate how their FIRST Tech Challenge Robot works.
en years, Lansing said. In a related matter, the council approved a limited disclosure dissemination agent agreement between the city and Northland Securities, Inc. of Minneapolis. Northland Securities is the dissemination agent of the bonds. RISE Grant Application The City of Garner has applied for $270,000 in RISE grant funding for road construction in Touchstone Energy Industrial Park. RISE funding is administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation. If approved by the DOT, the grant would fund 50 percent of the road project. The remaining 50 percent would be financed by the city in partnership with Cornbelt Power and Prairie Energy Cooperative. The road construction portion of the project has a total estimated cost of $540,000. Lansing expects to hear if the grant is awarded next April. The project will also include water and sewer improvements to the industrial park. A total estimated cost of the project (road, water and sewer) is $793,000. Storm Sewer Intakes City officials approved a construction contract with McKinness Excavating for $45,948 for the 2015 Intake Removal and Replacement project. McKinness submitted the low of four bids. The storm sewer intakes are located at West 6th St. and Center Ave, and East 6th St. and Maben. Rezoning Hearing The property at 120 E. 8th St. and the Hancock County Abstract Co. property at 130th E. 8th in Garner
was rezoned from Residential to C-1 General Commercial. Dan Kadrlik, owner, said by changing the zoning from Residential to General Commercial now aligns with how the property is currently being used. The council’s action was also in accordance with the recommendation of the city Planning and Zoning Board A lease with the Rockledge Holding Company to rent 475 State Street (the former Crown Point building) was approved. The building will be the temporary home for the Garner Public Library while the current library building undergoes remodeling this year. The council approved a contract for $3,700 with the Central Tank Coatings Inc. for replacement of a 30-foot section of exterior pipe on the South Water Tower. In other business, the Garner City Council: •Granted a request from the Garner Golf Course Foundation to spend $1,893.14 from their capital improvement fund to purchase a new grill for the clubhouse. •Approved the purchase of a new heater for the pool from ACCO Unlimited of Johnston for $26,787 from ACCO. •Hired Steve Goll as an equipment operator for the street department. •Appointed city administrator Randy Lansing to the Landfill of North Iowa Board. Councilman Dennis Drabek will serve as an alternate board member.
leadernews.map@gmail.com Youth of Hancock County were given the opportunity to share their opinions and have their voices heard on the issues they feel have an effect on them during a special event in Britt Thursday. The Hancock County Youth Summit, hosted by the Garner Asset Project (GAP) and Allies for Substance Abuse and Prevention (ASAP) organizations, was held at the Britt United Methodist Church, bringing together more than 60 area high school youth from both the West Hancock and Garner Hayfield-Ventura Schools. Youth were divided into focus groups where they discussed the topics of concerts, law enforcement, faith, community, school, businesses and parents, sharing their views of how they see the issues, and how they perceive school, church, law enforcement officials, community members
and parents to view them. The youth also shared their views on how each category affects or influences the use of drugs and alcohol. Parents, school administrators and board members, law enforcement, fair board members and pastors attended to hear the groups report to the community. The concert group focused on how concerts within the community can be made better by enforcement of alcohol usage and sales. Their group said they believe that teen and underage alcohol use was a problem at concerts and attribute the access of alcohol to factors such as fake ID’s, placement of areas where drinking is permitted and security. “We feel there is not enough security present to see if minors are getting a hold of alcohol,” the group said. “It’s a big problem if a lot of kids can get it, and that is kind of infuriating for us.” They suggested double fencing to prohibit youth from being able to SUMMIT to page 18
Ventura water system to be studied Rebecca Peter
gleadernews@qwestoffice.net VENTURA – The Ventura City Council hired an engineering firm to draft a water system study for the city. The council heard a proposal from representatives from Veenstra and Kimm on Jan. 25. Tim Moreau and Jason Petersburg discussed available services to do a study. Items to be included in the study were: source, treatment, storage, distribution and future needs of the city’s water system Tim Moreau noted that the study would also serve as a preliminary report for any future water improvements that may be considered. The council voted to accept the proposal from Veenstra and Kimm to SHOW TIMES Fri.-Sat., Mon.-Thurs. 7 pm Sunday 4 pm & 7 pm Adults $4 Children $3 (under 12) 3D + $2 Visa, Mastercard & Discover accepted
Avery Theatre 495 State Street, GARNER, Iowa www.averytheater.org 641-925-AVRY (2879)
draft a study of the water system at a cost of $9,800. City official were supportive of a resolution to participate in the potential formation of a Water Management Authority in accordance with Chapter 28E of the Iowa Code. In other business, the council approved pay raises for city administrator Else Taylor and public works director Bill Bredlow. Taylor’s hourly rate was increased to $25 per hour. Bredlow’s hourly wage was increase to $23. In his report to the council, Bill Bredlow discussed the following items: •Sub-drain proposal from L.B. & Sons. •Increase the inventory for water main repair clamps. •Replace broken hydrant pressure
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relief valve. •Price quote to replace street light bulbs to LED •Speed sign on South Main Street on stealth mode. •The library water heater issue was due to a defective breaker. In response to a question from Councilman Mike Thackery, Bredlow said that the local on the back door of the Ventura Community Center was repaired for the interim. However door replacement and a new lock system will be needed in the foreseeable future. Councilman John Quintus said the fire department is planning a fund-raiser event on Labor Day weekend next September. Proceeds will go toward new equipment for the Ventura Fire Department.
Submitted photo
Kennedy Kline and Melissa Wilson of Forest City, Justine Hejlik, Garner, and Jessa Loges, Forest City, give the thumbs up sign on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. They were part of a bus caravan from Iowa that was stranded for 24 hours on the turnpike during the record snowfall that blanketed the East Coast last month. The group was returning home from participating in the March for Life rally in Washington D.C., Jan. 22. See story on page 18.
NEXT WEEK IN WEATHER
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