Ida County Courier
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
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Holstein council approves nuisance abatement proposal ❚ by DEB LOGER
The Holstein City Council approved a nuisance abatement/building inspection proposal and utility increases May 7. After discussion, the council approved an agreement with Absolute Inspection Services to conduct nuisance abatements and building inspections for a one-year trial at a rate of $50 per hour, plus mileage (53.5-cents per mile). City Administrator Kay Hanson introduced Dave Christensen and told the council that city hall is already receiving calls daily, concerning nuisances. “Last year, city hall staff spent 30 to 40 hours a week sending out letters, taking pictures and handling nuisance abatements. I contacted Christensen and asked him to present a proposal to do the service, but, ultimately, it’s up to you.” Christensen is licensed and stated they begin with identifying nuisance properties, taking pictures and documenting what needs to be abated with red marker on the pictures and send a letter with the highlighted picture, giving a time period to abate the nuisance. “I come back and, if nothing has been done, we send an of icial notice, citing the city code they are violating and giving them a deadline to clean up the property. If nothing is done, we ile a civil infraction. We have taken some cases to court. I am a tool for you to use. I have an 85 percent success rate with court cases. Approximately 60 percent of the recipients respond after receiving the irst letter. Of the remaining 40 percent, 70 percent respond after the of icial notice is sent,” said Christensen. Christensen said, once the community sees bad properties cleaned up, it’s usually an incentive for others to clean up their properties. According to Christensen, he’s been in business ive years and some of the cities he currently does nuisance abatement for are Salix, Sloan, Onawa, Pierson and Correctionville. Hanson noted $10,000 was budgeted for nuisance abatement for the coming year. Christensen commented that, if the city has expended that money, all they have to do is call him and he will cut back services. “One thing we need to do in the coming year is update our planning and zoning,” said Hanson. The second reading of ordinances 236, 237 and 238 were approved increasing city water, sewer and storm sewer rates. Ordinance 236 increases the water rate 9 percent as follows: irst 1,000 gallons—$6.54; gallons over 1,000—$3.55 per 1,000 gallons; capital projects fund— $5.81; meter charge—$1.09; water availability—$10.90;
outside city limits: irst 1,000 gallons—$13.08; gallons over 1,000—$7.10 per 1,000 gallons; capital projects fund— $5.81; meter charge—$1.09 and bulk water: $13.08 for irst 1,000 gallons, $7.10 per 1,000 gallons thereafter. Ordinance 237 increases the sewer rate 5 percent to $11.03 per month for 1,000 gallons. Additionally, each contributor shall pay the rate of $3.42 per 1,000 gallons in excess of the 1,000-gallon minimum. The third ordinance, Ordinance 238, increases the storm water drainage utility for each residential, commercial and industrial premise from $1 per month to $2 per month. Before inal adoption, the council must approve three readings of the ordinances. The council approved the Holstein Source Water Protection Plan (see separate news article). The proposed letter to be sent out about Service Line Warranties of America program. They will send it out to Holstein residents, explaining the policy property owners can sign up for at any time, for water service or sewer/septic lines’ repair/maintenance. Resolution 2018-11 supporting the continued funding of back ill was approved and will be sent to the Iowa League of Cities and then on to the legislature. In 2013, the Iowa Legislature created a reduction in property values, subject to taxation for commercial and industrial properties. They also established a reimbursement to local governments to fund property tax revenue reductions, known as “back ill.” The just- inished legislature threatened to phase out or possibly eliminate this funding. Hanover Street City superintendent Scott Niemeier discussed the condition of Hanover Street in his report. “I think it needs bumped up on our priority list; I think it’s time it was paved. We get a lot of complaints about the condition of this street. This winter, we couldn’t use the red truck to plow it, due to the crown,” said Niemeier. Hanson said the school asked the city to pave Hanover Street for children’s safety. Niemeier and Hanson will get estimates to pave the road. Niemeier wants to have the sewer lines televised before replacing the street. Niemeier reported one of the traf ic control lights has a bad loop. He is investigating options to get it repaired or replaced. City crews are busy getting the pool ready and sweeping streets. Proclamation Mayor Connie Ludvigson read and signed the Home Rule Proclamation, which was approved by the council. City Administrator Kay Hanson noted the City of Holstein uses Home Rule type of
governance, which provides lexibility to make decisions at the local level. 2018 is the 50th anniversary of Home Rule in Iowa. The proclamation reads: Whereas, Home Rule is essential to effective and responsive municipal governance in Iowa and provides lexibility to make decisions at the local level, where decisions are made closest to the people they impact and can be tailored to it local conditions, needs and concerns in order to better serve taxpayers; and Whereas, the City of Holstein, Iowa, supports Home Rule and the powers it provides to make local decisions that best re lect the residents of our community; and Whereas, the citizens of Iowa approved the adoption of Home Rule in the Constitution of Iowa on Nov. 5, 1968; and Whereas, this is the 50th year of municipal Home Rule in Iowa; and Whereas, Home Rule continues to be vital to the health and prosperity of all cities in Iowa; Now, therefore, I Connie Ludvigson, Mayor of Holstein, Iowa, do hereby recognize the 50th anniversary of municipal Home Rule in Iowa and proudly support its continued authority. Other business •Cigarette/tobacco permit renewals were approved for A&A Food and Fuel, Casey’s, Dollar General, Holstein Super Market, Holstein Travel Center and Spirits, Stogies and Stuff. •Drew Kistenmacher and Kim Fraser were appointed to the cemetery board. The appointment is for ive years but must be approved annually. •Hanson was directed to contact Bruce Full, who does appliance pick-up days, and set up a date for Holstein. Full picks up a variety of appliances at no charge. Residents will be sent noti ication of when and what can be picked up. •The utility committee met May 14 with Long Lines to begin negotiations on the proposed franchise agreement. •City staff is in the process of developing a volunteer policy and application, in particular for the community center and library. •Notices have been published in the paper and around town regarding city ordinances regarding blowing grass clippings into the street, lawn mowing and open burning. Open burning is currently allowed until Thursday, May 31. •Hanson reported she is working with an individual interested in annexing his property into the city limits and an individual interested in purchasing city land by Lohff-Schumann Memorial Community Center. •Mayor Ludvigson reviewed her activities for April. •The community center and taxi reports were reviewed.
Ida backs Woodbury on board at Rolling Hills The Ida County Board of Supervisors endorsed Woodbury County joining the Rolling Hills Governance Board for mental health services by a unanimous vote May 7. Ida County became the third of the four needed votes for the Woodbury measure to be approved effective July 1, 2019. Sac and Calhun County Board of Supervisors have also approved the request so the bid had ive backers to one nay vote from Crawford County. Carroll County had yet to vote on the 28E agreement. “It was important to the governance board that Woodbury County will double the size of the region, from 95,924 to 198,773, and that could assist us with achieving impending legislative mandates due to House File 2456 that has passed both the Iowa House and Senate. The legislation moves all of the intensive crisis services into the core service realm including access centers and assertive community treatment centers. Woodbury County may be a candidate to house one of these centers, which are reject-eject free. These would be very high-cost facilities,” said Dawn Mentzer, executive director of Rolling Hills Region.
“I support this and recommend that we approve it,” said Ida County Supervisor Creston Schubert. “If they (Woodbury) do not come up with the money, it is a no-go.” “The one county, one vote makes it all work,” said Supervisor Rhett Leonard. Schubert said there are safeguards in the 28E agreement despite the difference in population between Woodbury and other counties. These include: Woodbury County must meet inancial requirements of the Rolling Hills memorandum of understanding. Also, the Rolling Hills Region 28E agreement will be enforced; the majority of member counties would have to approve any change of membership; there is a one county-one vote rule and Rolling Hills Governance Board administration will determine staf ing needs, personnel and salaries. Woodbury had been part of the Sioux Rivers Region with Plymouth and Sioux counties, but voted to leave that region. But if a waiver is not granted from Department of Human Services, those three could be forced to stay together for another year via mediation. This could be decided by the state attorney general’s of ice, said Mentzer.
Photo by: Amy Forbes | Ida County Courier
Tree planting: The Ida County Conservation Board held a tree planting at Moorhead Park on Sunday, May 6. Fifty Black Hills spruce trees donated by the Ida County Pheasants Forever with a grant from the Audubon Society were planted north of the playground area. The Ida Grove Cub Scouts and their families assisted with the planting. Here, Danielle Bennett, Ida County naturalist, shows how to loosen the roots on the tree.
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(continued from front page) Van Houten ind grants for the project. The presentation on the Badger Creek Park also sparked discussion about developing small parks in other parts of the community, speci ically one on the north side of the Highway 59/175. No actions were taken regarding additional parks. Chelsea Gross, rec center director and pool manager, and Whitney Simonson-Frank, outdoor assistant pool manager, met with the council to discuss lifeguard reimbursement of fees to obtain their lifeguard certi ications. A proposal was brought up recently that would compensate the lifeguards for a portion of their costs if the lifeguards would work additional hours during holiday periods and late in the season in an effort to keep the outdoor pool open in late August up to Labor Day. In the past, the council has noted its displeasure with the staf ing of the pool during certain times of the summer season when lifeguards could not or would not work at certain times. Councilman Doug Clough noted the pool should be open on Memorial Day, Heritage Days, the Fourth of July and in late August. “We need to be an active town; a town where people want to be. We can’t close the pool at times when people want to be there. We need to make it (open on holidays and late summer) happen.” Councilman Scott Tomlinson added, “It (life guarding) is like any other job; if your boss says you work, you work.” Simonson-Frank said the reason for the pool closings were not the fault of the lifeguards. She said it was her decision based on several factors. She noted the pool was closed last year on Heritage Days because it allowed the lifeguards to be part of the celebration. The pool closed early on the Fourth of July due to a low turnout of swimmers. Also, the mid-August closings are due to lifeguards leaving for college and high school guards being involved in fall sports practices. SimonsonFrank added parents are also part of the decision to close the pool, as they don’t want
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their children working on holidays due to family events or in August due to school commitments. Simonson-Frank said this year the pool will be open on Heritage Days. She noted several activities are being planned at the pool to make the pool a part of the celebration. Clough said the pool staff should ind people who can keep the pool open longer. Simonson-Frank noted it is dif icult to ind people “out of thin air.” Clough said that is why it is important to ind some type of incentive, like paying part of the lifeguard certi ication fee, for people to work extra hours. No action was taken on paying the incentive. The council said at a minimum the pool should be open on weekends in late August and for a time each weekday for water walkers. “We need to do the best we can,” said Clough. Tomlinson noted the council doesn’t expect pool management to come up with a solution immediately. “It will take time to work out. We don’t expect this to be solved in a week. Let’s see what you can work out.” In other business •The council referred a proposal from Landus (formerly Farmers Cooperative) to move its truck scale facility across the street from its current location at the west end of First Street to the Planning and Zoning Board. The lot where the new scale station would be located will have to be rezoned from residential to commercial. •The council approved the city’s new comprehensive plan developed over the past several months. The plan was adopted with the inclusion of
the top priorities and implementation plan from a public hearing on the plan. The comprehensive plan is a listing of the community’s vision and goals for the future and is useful for grant applications and to leverage funding for community projects. •The council set a public hearing for Monday, May 21 on a budget amendment for the current iscal year. The amendment covers a variety of changes in expenses and revenue in the current budget cycle. There will be no change in tax levies. •Whiteing reported the city hall/community center renovation committee will hold its irst meeting May 22. The committee will include representatives of several community groups that use the building. •A bid of $1,000 from West Central Construction to remove a storage shed and concrete on East Second Street (across the street from the swimming pool) was approved. •A bid of $17,880 from Infra Tracks of Worthing, S.D. to clean and repair 157 foot of sewer line on Court Street was approved. •A payment of $350 to participate in the SIMPCO Highway 20 Corridor Economic Development study was approved. •Whiteing read and the council approved the mayor’s home rule proclamation supporting the concept of home rule adopted in the Iowa Constitution in 1968. This year mark’s the 50th anniversary of home rule in Iowa. Home rule allows local governments the lexibility to make decisions that best it local conditions. •The next council meeting is slated for Monday, May 21 at 6 p.m.
Friday, May 25 • 11 AM - 1 PM • Ida Grove Food Pride Fundraiser for Battle Creek Town Signs
pork tender sandwich brats • chips • pop
Sponsored by BC Women’s Club and Sign Improvement Committee
Battle Creek Tuesday, July 3, 2018 Battle Creek Presbyterian Church
Social Time: 5:30 pm Anniversary Class Photos: 6 pm Banquet: 6:30 pm
TICKETS: $ 14 $ 17 at door
Tickets available at First State Bank in Battle Creek & Ida Grove