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Mail carrier awarded

Falcons win 21-6

Raptors score 49-22

for 30 years experience

against Westwood

over Alta-Aurelia

Pg. 6

Pg. 8

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Ida County’s Official Newspaper

Courier Ida County

Vol. 42, No. 35 Ida Grove, Iowa

News GLIMPSE Page 3

Moorehead Mazathon runners Page 9

New Iowa license plate design Page 17

O-A/BC-IG, RV Fall Sports Special Sec on-Inside

Special Edition of the:

Courier Id da Coun nty

THE

August 30, 2017

Upcoming Events St. John’s Lutheran Church Free Fish Fry Monday, September 4 5-8 pm Ba le Creek Alumni Park

Omelet Brunch Sunday, September 17 10:30 am-1 pm St. John’s Lutheran Church, Ba le Creek

3-Day Forecast Wed 8/30

81° | 58° Sunny

Thurs 8/31

81° | 59°

Wednesday,, August 30, 2017 Wednesday

Ida Grove City Council discusses leaf pickup service, employee benefits package ❚ by DEB LOGER

O-A/BC-IG, RV new staff

w ww.idacountycourier.com

The Ida Grove City Council discussed a possible leaf pickup service and an employee bene its package during its meeting Aug. 21. At the council’s June 19 meeting, Justin Georg, owner of Ida County Sanitation, was asked to investigate costs to pick up compost and leaves in the fall. Georg was at Monday’s meeting with information. He said, “I’ve talked to equipment sales people for leaf collection equipment. A trailerstyle would cost $26,000 to $27,000. I’ve looked at renting a trailer but none are available. It’s a big cost for me with no guarantee that every resident would want the service.” According to Georg’s igures, a rough price estimate for a one-time pickup of any amount of leaves that are raked into a windrow by the street or alley (wherever is easiest for the homeowner and accessible for the leaf collection truck) would be $12,640, which is $16 per house to do the entire town. Ida County Sanitation would have to determine a pickup schedule and date(s). If a second collection time is needed, it would be $8,000 cheaper. Georg told the council his sister lives in Omaha and has three tubs—one for garbage, one for compost and one for recyclables. Another scenario is to have homeowners purchase a compost tub. Weekly compost pickup would cost $11.75. City Councilman Ryan Good-

man brought up an employee bene its package. He told the council, “While in the process of looking at wastewater applicants, I learned our bene its package, as a whole, is horrible. We have a fellow that wants family insurance, but the cost is prohibitive at $2,400 a month. I think we need to re-evaluate our employee health insurance and look at a cap on what an employee pays.” Goodman’s motion to cap the employee cost of family health insurance at $300 every pay period failed four to zero following a lengthy discussion. Councilman Scott Tomlinson said, “We need to know how many of our employees would take advantage of family coverage and what the actual cost would be to the city. We can’t go broke doing this. I’ve got to see the numbers. If we cover that cost, what do we cut?” “Are we catering to a person that isn’t even an employee yet? Are we doing a disincentive to our current employees? They couldn’t take advantage of a change until open enrollment,” said councilman Gregor Ernst. During the discussion, it was noted that, in checking with other cities, family coverage in some of those communities was $1,200 per month. The council approved hiring Shannon Hazelton as wastewater treatment plant operator on condition he passes the grade one and grade two (continued on page 2)

Photo Submitted by: Don Poggensee

Total eclipse: Don Poggensee of Ida Grove photographed the grand total Solar Eclipse on a private ranch southeast of Alliance, Neb. Aug. 21. He noted the total eclipse lasted two minutes and 30 seconds. See page two for another photo and more information.

Kenealy answers question on performance auditorium O-A/BC-IG Superintendent Terry Kenealy answers a question that arose recently, pertaining to the OABCIG facilities’ project. Question: The overall cost of the OABCIG facilities project at $16.4 million is a large number. Why did the performance auditorium get included in this project, and how did they determine the size of the overall project? A joint facilities committee that includes community members, staff members and board members from both school dis-

tricts began meeting to work on a joint facilities master plan in the late fall of 2015. The committee has continued to meet over the past two years. Last fall, the two school districts hired an architectural irm, HAILA ASP, Ltd., to work with the committee and the board members to develop more detailed information and cost estimates for the plan. In addition, the OdeboltArthur Board hired Estes Construction - ICAT to complete a facility evaluation of the build-

ing in Odebolt, which hadn’t been done for a number of years. With HAILA and Estes Construction, the two districts had architects, engineers and general contractors reviewing and evaluating the two buildings to better identify the facility needs of the two districts. That information was extremely helpful to the committee members and the board members in putting together their list of priorities. There is no question that $16.4 million is a big number. (continued on page 2)

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Fri 9/1

Ida RFL raises more than $42,700

80° | 62°

Teams of cancer survivors, caregivers, families, faithbased groups, co-workers and friends celebrated cancer survivors July 15, at the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Ida County at the Ida Grove City Park. In the months preceding the Relay For Life, teams organized fundraisers to raise money for the cause. Teams and sponsors together raised more than $42,700, bringing the American Cancer Society closer to its goals of helping people stay well, helping them get well and inding cures for cancer. Relay For Life is a volunteer-led event that honors cancer survivors and caregivers and works for a world free of the pain and suffering of cancer. Individuals and teams gathered at the city park for a

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Photo by: Mike Thornhill | Ida County Courier

BC concert: The Anthon City Band, under the direction of Art Ashley, performed a concert in Annie Laurie Park in Battle Creek Aug. 20. The 25-member band includes residents from nine area towns including Battle Creek and Holstein. Here, special guest vocalist Emma Endrulat, an O-A/BC-IG music student, performs a song she sang in the Bill Riley Talent Show at the State Fair.

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community meal and familyfriendly activities. Survivor chairperson Tiffany Lindberg opened the evening’s ceremonies as keynote speaker, preceding the celebratory survivor lap. The evening closed with the luminaries’ ceremony, a special time to remember those lost to cancer and honor individuals who have battled and won. Each lit luminaria represents a remembrance, a prayer of thanks or words of hope. “Relay For Life allows everyone in Ida County the opportunity to do something positive for the mission to eliminate cancer,” said 2017 event lead Ryan Goodman. “I am proud of Ida County for coming together to support one another and help inish the ight against cancer. (continued on page 3)

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Call C ll T Today! Tod day! 1-888-36 1-888-365-1241


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