HMH receives deficiency-free State of Iowa survey
Falcon boys win WVC track title, girls are second
Ribbon cutting held for IG Family Dental and Gary’s Barbershop
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Ida County’s Official Newspaper
Courier Ida County
Vol. 43, No. 19 Ida Grove, Iowa
News GLIMPSE O-A/BC-IG FFA students earn awards Pg. 3
Ida County Board of Review holds first meeting Pg. 3
Take part in Ida Relay For Life Pg. 3
Girl Scout Troop hosts garage, bake sale Pg. 6
Carol Bresnahan joins UBI board
w ww.idacountycourier.com
Wednesday,, May 9, 2018 Wednesday
IG council considers promo ng Sweeden to city clerk posi on
F
ollowing a pair of closed meeting sessions last week to discuss the city clerk position, the Ida Grove City Council was scheduled to vote Monday, May 7, on a recommendation from the council’s personnel committee to promote current Deputy City Administrator Heather Sweeden to city clerk. The Monday, May 7, city council agenda states, “Recommendation of promoting Heather Sweeden to city clerk at $19.23 per hour until she completes clerk school in July, then discuss salary.”
Due to a Monday printing schedule, the result of the council vote was not available. Mayor Devlun Whiteing noted Sweeden has accepted the position, pending council approval. “She is excited about the opportunity and I believe she will do a good job.” If approved, Sweeden’s appointment will ill a void in the city of ice, due to the resignation of City Administrator Marc Dennison, which was effective May 1. The city received ive applications for the position. All ive applicants were interviewed in April.
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Raptor girls fourth, boys sixth at WVC track Pg. 8
O-A/BC-IG hosts golf tournament Pg. 9
Streets, utilities—
IG Council reviews draft improvement plan ❚ by MIKE THORNHILL
RV FFA attends state conference Pg. 13
Table of Contents More of Courier’s front page .......... 2 Family & Friends.........................6-7 Sports .................................. 8, 9, 10 Better Health................................ 11 Obituaries/Church Directory .. 12, 13 Public Notices .............................. 14 Classifieds ................................... 15 Courthouse News .................. 16, 18
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The Ida Grove City Council reviewed a draft of the city’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) during a special meeting April 30. JEO Engineering developed the CIP. The plan covers the city’s roadway, trail and utility (sewer and water) systems. Cody Forch, project engineer with JEO, reviewed the plan with the council. Forch noted the plan is only a draft, but it is 90 percent complete. He added the council needs to set some priorities for what it wants to accomplish in order to get close to a inal draft of a plan. “This (CIP) is a staring point to start discussions about what you want and to help guide you in the future. Once we know what the city wants, we can tweak the plan,” said Forch. Roadways JEO conducted a citywide inventory of all streets and the trail system to determine the overall condition of each street and the trail and made recommendations, including cost estimates, on what each system needs as far as reconstruction, rehabilitation and routine maintenance. The plan noted 66 percent of the city streets are in fair condition, 13 percent good condition, 7 percent in good to excellent condition, 3 percent in poor condition, 2 percent very poor condition and 1 percent fall into the failed condition category. The JEO report prioritized the streets into six categories, with priority one being the most in need based on condition rating and traf ic volume. The report also makes recommendations on the repairs that are needed to the streets, which range from reconstruction to sealing.
There are more than 130 street and trail sections listed in the report. At the top of the list is West Sixth Street from the city limits to Rohwer Street. The estimated cost to do a total pavement reconstruction, which JEO is recommending, is $1,419,550. The report states it is important that, as the city spends funds on reconstruction and rehabilitating roadways, it should also make an effort to spend funds for preventative maintenance projects on the highest priority projects and work down the list each year as the budget allows. By being proactive on spending money on preventive maintenance now, the city will see bene its of the pavement enduring a longer lifespan, which will delay the need for costly reconstruction and rehabilitation. While discussing the city’s priorities for roadwork, the subject of the Moorehead Avenue bridge and the west access came up. Forch reported Calhoun and Burns just recently released its report on the Moorehead Avenue bridge. Forch noted, when it comes to receiving federal funds to help pay for a new bridge or to make repairs, the bridge currently has a rating of 19. In order to receive federal funds, the bridge would need a rating of 23. He noted the bridge is probably two years away from receiving a 23 rating. If the bridge becomes eligible for federal funding, Forch said the city could receive up to 80 percent funding from the federal government. Forch said a main concern with the Moorehead Avenue bridge is the south side beam that is starting to show some corrosion damage. The bridge (continued on page 2)
e r an rne p o Pro k C n Ha
Mayy 23, 2018 • 5-7 pm •Firetruck Rides •Water Fights •Equipment Demonstrations
Photo by: Mike Thornhill | Ida County Courier
Demo day: Two buildings on Main Street in downtown Ida Grove were demolished April 28 to make room for an addition to United Bank of Iowa. According to “Second and Main, A History of Ida Grove,” the Ida Grove Exchange Bank constructed the building on the right in 1903. The bank failed in 1931. The Ida Grove Exchange Bank constructed the building on the left, known as the Smith building, in 1912. The Ida Grove Post Office was located in the building not long after construction. Both buildings housed several different offices and apartments over the years. Below, a section of one of the buildings is pulled down during demolition.
OABCIG teachers, board exchange contract proposals The OABCIG Education Association (OABCIGEA) and OABCIG School Board exchanged initial negotiation proposals May 2 in Ida Grove. The next negotiation meetings will be in exempt session. The union’s opening offer called for a $750 increase in the base salary ($74,644.88, a 1.71 percent increase), $75 to current Schedule D ($7,037, a 0.16 percent increase) and cost of district new FICA/IPERS, $19,053.61 (0.44 percent increase). The association’s proposal also calls for aging BC-IG staff, $31,050; placing O-A staff on current BC-IG salary schedule, $20,295; FICA/IPERS, $8,774 for a total of $60,119.86, or 1.38 percent increase. The association’s total proposed package calls for a 3.69 percent increase, or $160,855.36.
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The board’s offer was: “The initial base wage of an employee for the 2018-19 contract year shall be within a range of a minimum base wage of $33,350 to a maximum base wage of $39,950. In addition, the OABCIG board proposes a 1.5 percent increase in salary for each eligible OABCIG teacher that would be added to their 2017-18 salary, based on their placement on the relevant salary schedule from the 2017-18 BC-IG master contract effective with the 2018-19 contract year.” The district counterproposal calls for a 2.05 percent increase, or $89,090. The calculated “new money” that the OABCIG district anticipates receiving in fiscal year 2018-19 (continued on page 2)
MAY 13 7th Sunday of Easter
Mother's Day
Worship: W hi hip: p: 9:30 am Battle Ba B att ttle ttl le Creek Cre r ek ek Presbyterian Pres Pr e by byte teri rian ri n Church Chur Ch urch u rch ch
Everyone welcome!
Sunday Su S un un nday nd day yS School: ch hoo oll:: 10:40 110 0:4 :40 40 am am ((Last Las astt day day off Sunday da Sun nda day School Scho Sc hool hool ol until unti unti un till September Septem Se Sept pttem embe mbe berr 9). 9). 9)
Coffee C Cof offfe & FFellowship: of ll hi 10:40 0 40 am
"God "G Gooodd Bless our Mothers!" GGod