1. NEXT MEETING: The next council meeting is September 8.
2. LEAN: Glen Cowan and I met with DMACC reps on the 20th to discuss the LEAN Program. In your packet is their power point presentation highlighting the process. They plan to develop a proposal based on the P&R Dept and will present it next week.
3. W HWY 92: The W Hwy 92 Committee met on the 19th to discuss the proposed project from “R” Street thru R-57 (see aerial). R.O.W. will be purchased in 2012 and grading/paving will occur in 2013 according to the estimated $11 million budget.
A staff meeting will be held next week in Ames that kicks off the project with some initial planning and I plan to attend.
4. ALLEY: With Steve Bonnett’s assistance, the east/west alley on the square’s west side was closed due to unsafe condition of the Warren County building (formerly People’s Bank). Community Development Director Chuck Burgin has an engineer’s report and the recommendation is to close it to public use.
5. TAXES: Warren County property tax bills are in the mail and they show Indianola as 29% of the entire bill. The school is 51% and county 18% in addition to very small portions for the county Assessor’s Office and Ag Extension office. Total taxes on a $150,000 home increased about $42 of which about $35 goes to the school.
6. RECYCLING: Jeff McCoy reports the price of a 96-gallon toter is about $50 and 4,300 would be needed for single-family dwellings in Indianola. The approximate $210,000 cost would raise our monthly rate from $2.15 to over $3.00 according to Jeff.
7. CONCRETE PLANT: A meeting is scheduled for August 26 to continue discussions on the plant relocation.
8. STRATEGIC PLAN: The P&R Strategic Plan cost just under $3,500 and included 2 one-day sessions with staff, a three-hour session with the Commission and another one and one/half hour session with the focus group.
9. NOISE ORDINANCE: A copy of the noise ordinance is in council packets.
10. STREET LIGHTING: Todd Kielkopf reports the Electric Dept. purchased 12 induction street lights that will be placed in the subdivision just south of the John Deere store. The fluorescent-type lights are reported to use 50% less energy and have a brighter appearance. Unfortunately they cost about 3 times more than standard bulbs. The 12 lights will be installed over the next week or so, and at least one will be metered to compare electricity usage.
11. NORTH Y STREET: Phase I paving is complete, as well as intakes, backfilling, and final grade. The majority of the grading on phases 2 and 3 is complete as well. Weather permitting; paving of phase 2 should be complete by Friday August 28.
