Falcon bowlers eighth at state
Promotion names area restaurants
Pg. 8
Ridge View Dance Night Pg. 2
Pg. 4
Ida County’s Official Newspaper
Courier Couri Ida County
Vol. 43, No. 9 Ida Grove, Iowa
w ww.idacountycourier.com
Wednesday,, February 28, 2018 Wednesday
At OABCIG—
News GLIMPSE
Alexander verbally accepts superintendent posi on
Primary election filing Pg. 2
MidAmerican Energy presents donation to Holstein Fire Dept Pg. 3
County boards approve budgets, elect officers Pg. 3
Patty Lansink named superintendent for Catholic Schools Pg. 7
King Theatre caramel apple fundraiser
Photo by: Mike Thornhill | Ida County Courier
Pg. 7
Sheriff’s office receives donation Pg. 14
Father/daughter dance: Ridge View High School held its annual dance night Friday Feb. 23. The event included a father/daughter dance to conclude the evening. For more pictures, go to page two.
Bridal Guide Special Section-Inside
Table of Contents More of Courier’s front page .......... 2 Family & Friends.........................6-7 Puzzles .......................................... 7 Iowa Scene .................................... 9 Obituaries/Church Directory ........ 11 Public Notices .................. 12, 13, 14 Classifieds ................................... 15 Courthouse News .................. 14, 16
Upcoming Events Knights of Columbus Fish Fry Friday March 2 • 4:30 - 7 pm Sacred Heart Cath. Church Hall Ida Grove
Kiron Fire Dept. Pancake Breakfast March 18 • 7:30 am - 12:30 pm
3-Day Forecast Wed 2/28
38° | 23° Cloudy
Thurs 3/1
35° | 18° Partly Cloudy/Wind
Fri 3/2
44° | 29° Partly Cloudy
Let’s Get Social www.facebook.com/ GoingsOnInTheGrove @IdaCoCourier
$
1.00
IG council discusses roads, housing, Internet service ❚ by MIKE THORNHILL
Housing development, road repairs and a new Internet service were all part of the Ida Grove City Council agenda Monday, Feb. 19. As part of her annual budget request for Ida County Economic Development, Rita Frahm, Ida County Development director, reviewed some of the many ways funds were used last year countywide and goals for Ida Grove’s economic development. Among the goals for Ida Grove in 2018 are to have a more active Ida Grove Economic Development group, completion of the city’s comprehensive plan and identify housing development needs. In regard to housing development, Frahm noted she has been in contact with several housing developers who are interested in developing projects in Ida Grove. She noted one of the keys to advancing any development project is for the city to work with the developers on tax incentives that help lower the cost of housing to prospective home buyers to make homes affordable. Frahm said the developers she has met with have a variety of ideas, including a 10- to 12house development area, where the developer would buy land adjacent to the city for development. Other developers have expressed interest in building houses on existing empty lots in town, developing existing neighborhoods and construction of townhouses. “The priority for Ida Grove right now is housing,” said Frahm. “Right now, there are very limited places to live, in terms of affordability. We need to get the population in town to grow. Population is the number one thing. Everything else (economic development) will come with it.” On a related item, the council asked City Administrator Marc Dennison to contact Jan Hewitt about his proposal to develop housing on land he owns in the community. The council would like Hewitt to contact Frahm to discuss how his development might it in with any possible housing projects in the community. After hearing from Frahm, the council approved a $9,000 appropriation to Ida County Economic Development, which includes participation in Western Iowa Advantage, which
Kiron Fire Department
Annual Pancake Breakfast
FUNDRAISER F UND DRA D RAISER FFree-will donations accepted. Sunday, March 18 Raising R funds for replacement 7:30 AM -12:30 PM
Are A re You LUCKY ENOUGH to be in Johnson Propane’s Hands OF Comfort & Convenience? Call Propane Hank: 1-888-365-1241
of Firefighter Equipment.
TAKE-OUTS AVAILABLE Donations can also be mailed to: PO Box 100 Kiron, IA 51448
is a multi-county (including Ida County) effort focused on economic development. Cody Forch of JEO Engineering and Jeff Williams, Ida County engineer, approached the council relating to work to improve a section of Harold Godbersen Drive north of the railroad tracks north of Horn Memorial Hospital to Highway 59/175 owned by the county and a section of M15/240th Street from north of Father Dailey Drive to Keystone Avenue. The west half of the section of M15 is inside the city limits. The total estimated cost of both projects is $1,164,738. Williams noted the city’s share of the project for the portion of M15 in city limits is estimated at $164,237. He said the county is willing to inance the total project upfront. The city would be allowed to pay its portion of the project over a three-year period at 0 percent interest. Williams said bids on the projects will be let in March or April with a return date of early May. If all goes well, work could be begin this summer. He added, if the bids come in high, the county might rebid the project in October (when contractors may be looking for work) with an eye on completing the projects in 2019. The council’s main concern with the M15 project is the timeframe for repayment of the city’s portion of the project. It was noted the city budget for the next iscal year is pretty much set, and it would be dif icult to ind funding for the project if the irst payment was due in the iscal year that starts July 1, 2018. Williams said he didn’t think it would be a problem if the city wanted to start its payments with the iscal year that starts July 1, 2019. Because the matter wasn’t listed on the agenda as an action item, the council could not approve the project. Williams said he would have a 28E agreement drawn up for the council to consider at its March 5 meeting. Bob Bendixen, owner/operator of Xtreamair Wireless Internet, met with the council to discuss a contract to rent space on the water tower for antennas for a new Internet service. Bendixen said the contract drafted by the city looks “ ine” to him with exception of the (continued on page 3)
Henry H He Hen enry ry R R.. Jes Jessen Jessen seenn Owner Operator Owner Ope O p rat ratoor
Propane Heating and Cooling Inc.
SServing Se e vi er vin iinng yyour our our ou Community Since Comm Com ommunnity tyy SSi Sin nce 19 nce 11945 945 45
Check Ch he eck k outt our o website webs bsite www.propanehank.com www.prop pane ehank.com
he OABCIG Board has received verbal acceptance from Matt Alexander to be the next superintendent of the district. The board formally approved the superintendent contract Feb. 27. Alexander, who was born and raised in Ida Grove, graduated from Ida Grove High School in 1991. He has served the Atlantic Community School District in Atlantic for 17 years. Currently, he is serving as the assistant high school principal and seventh through 12th grade activities director. From August 2008 to July 2013, he was the Schuler Elementary principal, special education director and K-12 curriculum director. He began his teaching career at Atlantic Community School District as a math and social studies middle school teacher in the fall of 2001 to the spring of 2007. His educational background includes: a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, May 1995; a Bachelor of Arts degree in secondary education and minors in business education, American history and world history from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, May 2001; a master’s degree in PK-12 administration from
Photo Submitted
Matt Alexander the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., May 2008, and a certi icate of advanced study PK-12 Superintendent Certi ication from Iowa State University in Ames, June 2016. Alexander’s honors and activities include: “Excellence in Teaching” award for Atlantic Community Schools in 2005, Certi ied Public Accountant, active with youth sports coaching (basketball and football), Nishna Hills Golf club treasurer (1998-2011) and former Atlantic Chamber of Commerce treasurer.
Public hearing March 12—
Supervisors will hold public hearing on FY 19 budget The Ida County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on and approve the iscal year 2019 budget March 12. Expenditures in the budget are $7,949,157, an increase of $1,389,725 from 2018’s budget of $6,559,432. After transfers of $1,252,361, the total budget is $9,200,518, an increase of $1,443,428. The total 2017 budget after the
transfer of $1,197,658 was $7,757,090. Property taxes—general basic, general supplemental and rural basic taxes will increase for both city/urban residents and rural residents per $1,000 assessed valuation. The rates for 2019 are (last year’s igures are in parentheses) $3.70 ($3.50) for city residents and $5.15 ($4.90) (continued on page 2)
Ida Grove council seek comments on repeal of pit bull dog ban The Ida Grove City Council is again asking for public input on a city ordinance that bans pit bull dogs inside the city limits. In recent months, the city has been approached about eliminating the ban. The council asked for public comment at its Jan. 15 meeting, but no one appeared to speak for or against the ban. The council has again been asked to repeal the portion of the ordinance that bans dogs that have Staffordshire bull terrier or American Stafford-
shire terrier as a part of their breed. In an effort to resolve the issue, the council is again asking for public input on the ban. Anyone with an opinion, for or against the ban, is asked to attend the Monday, March 5, council meeting at 6 p.m. Comments will also be accepted at city hall by email at idagrove@netllc.net or phone call 712-364-2428. Phone calls will also be accepted after regular office hours.
Come Share the LORD! Sunday, March 4 Worship: 9:30 am
Holy Communion Sunday School & Fellowship: 10:40 am Battle Creek Presbyterian Church Everyone Welcome!