Ida County’s Official Newspaper
Vol. 41, No. 11 Ida Grove, Iowa
w ww.idacountycourier.com
Wednesday,, March 16, 2016 Wednesday
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IG council discusses bridge projects, approves 2017 budget ❚ by BETHANY JONES
A public hearing was held on the iscal year 2017 budget during the March 7 Ida Grove City Council meeting. The 2016-17 budget is $1,303,451, a decrease of $68,903 from last year’s $1,372,354. Items under the general fund include: Public safety—$492,151 is budgeted, an increase of $29,031 from last year’s $463,120. Public works will see a $11,203 increase to $432,129. Health and social services remains the same at $4,958. Culture and recreation—the budgeted amount is $535,408, up $52,042 from last year’s $483,366. Community and economic development will see a $56,952 increase to $58,952. General government is down $2,066 to $200,029. Debt service—$260,458, down $13,344 from the current year’s $273,802. Capital projects—$1,124,750, down $1,712,250 from the current $2,837,000. Business type/ enterprises—$754,152 is budgeted compared to last year’s $1,087,524. Transfers out are $483,798, a $174,455 decrease from last year’s $658,253. The estimated 2017 levy rate per $1,000 valuation is $13.13331 on regular property and $3.00375 on agricultural land. The city’s estimated revenues are $4,407,661, a decrease of $1,956,480 compared to last year’s $6,364,141. Revenue and other inancing sources are as follows: Taxes levied on property—$945,929, down from the current year’s $957,118. Delinquent property taxes, special assessments and other inancing sources are all at $0, no change from the current year. TIF revenues will decrease $18,314 to $63,939. Other city taxes will see a $61,291 increase to $287,847. Revenue from licenses and permits is up $1,085 to $8,055. Use of money and property revenue will increase $2,225 to $56,515. Intergovernmental revenue decreases from $2,496,678 last year to $1,271,890. Charges for services will decrease $356,585 to $961,142. Miscellaneous revenues are down from $564,296 last year to $328,546. Transfers in—$483,798 is budgeted down $174,455 from last year’s $658,253. With no comments for or against, the council approved the budget unanimously. The board also approved the claims list, city clerk’s report, inancial reports and the minutes from the Jan. 26, Feb. 16 and 26 meetings. Discussion was held on the Fifth and Seventh Street bridge projects. The depth of the water mains was unknown at the time bridge construction started. The contractor found both water mains need to be lowered. According to the contractor, the concern has not slowed down work on the projects. The council approved adding supplemental
agreements to the original contract to lower the water mains at both bridges. Cost is estimated at $10,000 for each water main to be lowered. The council also approved a payment of $76,273 to Godbersen-Smith for partial payment number two, which includes some stockpiling of materials. Rita Frahm, Ida County Economic Development, was present to discuss current initiatives on which the group is working. One is the Skilled Iowa program. Frahm stated, “We are getting closer to reaching that bar for each of our communities, so we can try and get this initiative passed countywide. What this means is that it will get the county to attract more citizens, more businesses to our region. Ida Grove needs an estimated 70 more residents to take the Skilled Iowa online test to reach the requested threshold. I am a proctor for the test, as is the Iowa Workforce Development. I would like to work with the schools and businesses to get those exams taken.” Frahm continued, “The other program is the Home Based Iowa Initiative. That is where we use the State of Iowa to do the marketing for us. Businesses sign up to say that they will hire veterans. What does that do for our towns? The state does all of the marketing for us all over the United States to bring veterans to our communities to work. So, we are just trying to get the word out to the communities for these initiatives. “On another note, the housing trust fund has funds available for homeowners who meet income guidelines to do home improvements at no cost to the homeowner. We are looking for an applicant to step forward from Ida Grove to participate. They can contact myself or Megan Weaver from SIMPCO; we are more than willing to help the individual go through the process to get those funds.” Nathan Young, Iowa Flood Center, was present via phone conference to discuss updating loodplain mapping for Ida Grove. There will be some work for which the city would be responsible, including surveying and bridge engineering plans and providing historical information on lood events. The Flood Center would do lood-related research on Ida Grove. It will help people understand their immediate lood risks during a lood event. All of the data found during the study would be posted onto a website for anyone from the city to access and use. The study would also be used to develop new lood insurance rate maps that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) uses. The city would need to have a registered surveyer go out and make the measurements. That data would be sent to the Flood Center. The Flood Center would do all of their work cost-free, and then all of the indings would be sent to the FEMA contractor, who will roll all of the information in with the Ida County project on which they are currently working. Councilman Doug Clough gave an update on the King Theatre progress. It was noted that City Clerk Edie Ball submitted the Department of Natural Resources’ renovation grant on Feb. 26. Notice has been given to the city that the paperwork was received. It could take up to a month to hear back on an award amount. The grant would allow work to begin in June. (continued on page 2)
Severe weather week: The State of Iowa has recognized March 21-25 as severe weather awareness week. Here, a strong front moves through south of Ida Grove on June 28, 2014. While no tornado touched down that evening, the following night, tornadoes did touchdown in Hamilton, Shelby and Grundy counties. (Courier photo by Bethany Jones)
March 21-25 is Severe Weather Awareness Week ❚ by BETHANY JONES
With the upcoming spring season, you may be looking forward to the green grass, the flowers blooming and the warmer weather. But, with the increase in temperatures, risk of severe weather also increases as we say goodbye to the winter season. Iowa recognizes March 21-25 as Severe Weather Awareness Week. Each day, a focus will be held on severe weather, with a practice drill to be held on Wednesday. On March 23, a statewide tornado watch will be issued at 10 a.m., with a tornado warning being issued at 10:10 a.m., which will allow for testing of tornado sirens in communities across the state. Monday’s focus is on severe thunderstorms. A thunderstorm is typically 15 miles in diameter and can last an average of 30 minutes. Despite their small size, all thunderstorms have the capability of being dangerous. During the mature
stage of a thunderstorm, one can experience strong winds, frequent lightning, hail or heavy rain, and the clouds may have a black or dark green appearance. Tuesday is designated as warning reception day. There are many different ways of becoming informed about severe weather. This may be the most important part of severe weather awareness week. Becoming weather aware means you take the time to look at
forecasts for future weather, you pay attention to the skies on days when severe weather is predicted and you seek out information during severe weather events for your area. This can be done in many different formats, including television and radio media, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Aadministration weather radio or with social media. With the increased use of social media, weather reporters have gone to Facebook and Twitter to share updates on weather conditions during active weather events, along with reporting live on television and radio stations. Nationally-recognized storm chasing teams even have a livefeed where you can ride along via a dash cam streaming online (https://tvnweather.com/live). One Siouxland resident saw a need for a place where residents could share live reports in one, simple location. Jeff Robinson, Allen, Neb., created the Siouxland (continued on page 2)
Holstein council sets special election date, approves bond bid ❚ by DEB LOGER
Ridge View play: Ridge View High School presented “Donovan’s Daughters” March 10 and 11 in the Rosemary Clausen Center for Performing Arts. The play takes place in Seattle, Wash., in 1895, where there are 10 men for every woman in the territory, excellent odds for Shamus Donovan, an Irish fisherman with five daughters to marry off. From left—Hannah Feilmeier, Reuben De La O, Andrew Snyder and Trentin Moeller. (Courier photo by Deb Loger)
The Holstein City Council approved a special election date, bonds for the maintenance building and garbage rate increases at their March 7 meeting. During her report, city administrator Marlo Schoer discussed an email she sent to the council and mayor on March 1, which had additional information from the Iowa League of Cities and an opinion from city attorney Thad Cosgrove. Cosgrove agrees with the League that three members of the ire department cannot vote on matters of the ire/ambulance department. The budget, equipment purchases, appointment of ire chief, raising rates for ambulance and approval of the 28E agreement with townships are just a few topics that would be a con lict of interest for ire department members on the council; those members should abstain. With
three ire department members abstaining, that leaves two council members to vote. Two members do not make a quorum, thus creating an ineffective city council. Schoer reported a petition was received, calling for a special election for the seat held by Shontz. Councilmembers Rod Regennitter, Perry Venteicher and Robert Shontz all serve on the ire department. Shontz, newly appointed to ill the unexpired term of Shane Behrendsen, said, “ I think you are bullying me.” “I’m trying to uphold the law,” said Schoer. Shontz said, when he took the oath of of ice, he solemnly swore that he would “support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa and that I will faithfully and impartially, to the best of my ability, discharge all the duties of
the of ice of council member in Holstein.” Shontz reiterated that he would be impartial in his decisions. He also commented that this situation was childish and that maybe the council and administration are hiding something from the ire department. “I’m not going to do anything to hurt the community. I’m not going to take money from the library or community center for the ire department. I’m not that kind of person,” said Shontz. City Clerk Renee Leonard asked to address the council. She said, “Marlo’s job as administrator is to make you aware what the legalities are. She’s not saying she’s against you as a person.” Mayor Connie Ludvigson said she had read the information several times and wondered if there were different regulations for smaller towns. (continued on page 3)