NEWS ITEMS
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: Tim
DATE: February 18, 2011
1. PRESIDENTS DAY: A reminder most city offices will be closed Monday the 21st in honor of Presidents Day.
2. INDIANOLA GO GREEN: The April 2011 activities planned by Chris Longer and Mindi Robinson include:
• Chamber of Commerce Breakfast will be held Thursday, March 3rd at 7:30 a.m. at The Village at 1203 North “E” Street. Chris Longer and Mindi Robinson will present all of the activities planned for the month of April.
• The city’s brush facility/hazardous waste collection and e-cycling drop off opens for the season on April 2nd. (Enclosed is the 2010 facility report)
• The Indianola Chamber Bike/Walk to Work Challenge runs from April 4th to April 29th. Leave your vehicle at home and bike/walk to work for cash prizes. Register with the Indianola Chamber each week by emailing the office at whatsup@indianolachamber.com. One name will be drawn each week for $25 cash!
• Simpson College students will be in the community on Wednesday, April 6th to assist local residents and organizations with “green” services.
• The Iowa DNR Mobile Education Exhibit will be at Hy-Vee on Wednesday, April 13th from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. The exhibit will demonstrate how household waste and habits affect Iowa.
• A free drop off of e-cycling products and appliances will be Saturday, April 16th from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Indianola Brush Facility located at the corner of Kenwood Boulevard and West Iowa Avenue. Used televisions, computers and other electronics and appliances will be accepted for recycling free of charge (same as last year).
• The city’s annual curbside cleanup program runs Monday, April 18th through Friday, April 22nd. Items will be picked up on neighborhood recycling days. Appliances will not be picked up from the curb and must be taken to the e-cycling facility on Saturday, April 16th for free drop off.
• Earth Day is Thursday, April 22nd. Residents will be encouraged to plant a tree, unplug an appliance and do something green to help protect the environment for future generations!
• The Indianola Sustainability Fair will be April 22nd from 11:30 - 1:30 p.m. at the IMU line shop at 110 South “B” Street. The event is open to the public and free lunch will be provided. “Green” vendors will be on hand to promote their green products and services.
• Indianola Park and Recreation’s Spring Fun Fest will be held at the Warren County Fairgrounds on Saturday, April 30th from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Committee members will be there promoting sustainability and fun activities for our younger consumers!
3. SOUTH Y: The meeting was attended by 28 residents and an overwhelming majority was there to support the project. Preliminary assessment schedules were provided along with voluntary assessment papers. The same were mailed and asked to be returned by March 2. The tentative project schedule follows:
March 7, 2011 Preliminary resolution for construction
Resolution fixing value of lots
Resolution adopting preliminary plat & schedule, etc.
Resolution of necessity
April 4, 2011 Public hearing on the resolution of necessity
Resolution adopting resolution of necessity
Resolution directing preparation of plans, spec, etc
Resolution ordering bids, approving plans, specs, etc
April 27, 2011 Receive bids
May 2, 2011 Public hearing on the adoption of plans, spec, etc.
Resolution adopting plans, specs, etc
Consideration of bids and resolution approving contract and bond
June-August 2011 Construction begins
September 2011 Project completion
Note that construction is scheduled for June thru August to minimize traffic from farm equipment, school buses etc. due to weight limits being placed on the temporary access road. Community Development Director Chuck Burgin has also contacted refuse haulers to provide temporary service during construction.
4. INFILTRATION/INFLOW: The Sewer Dept is getting ready to move into two I&I areas. The first is NW Service Area #5. It is a 35 home area that includes homes on Scott Felton, North G, and sections of Sunset Cir and Sunset Dr. The second area is NE Service Area #1. It is a 194 home/business area. It includes East Clinton, East Boston, a section of North Jefferson, and the north and west corner of the square. We will be holding the neighborhood meeting for both areas on Thursday, March 3rd, at 6:00 pm in the council chambers.
5. DEMO: Chuck Burgin sent “request for proposals” to 4 companies to remove the Cottage Inn and house immediately south. Quotes will be received on March 15 and the work must be complete by May 1. A recommendation will be on the March 21 council agenda.
The asbestos has been removed.
6. SAFETY REPORT: Mike Metcalf injured his foot during a recreational activity and is unable to appear at the council meeting to provide the quarterly report (see packet). The 1st quarter safety report will be presented with the second quarter’s report in July.
7. TRAIL: Just received word yesterday that the sub-committee of the Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Alliance scored the Jerry Kelley Trail (Phase 2) highest of the four projects reviewed. Formal certification by the CIRTPA Board will be on March 10. Funds will not be allocated until October 2011.
8. WINDFIED SOLUTIONS: In the packet is a letter from Winfield Solutions, 1601 N. 14th, that they are closing and moving their operations to Story City. Very unfortunate.
9. SOUTH SEWER LIFT STATION: In the packet is a letter from IDNR’s Dan Cook summarizing the site assessment for lead contamination (gun range). V&K is working with IDNR and Supt Dan Miers to complete the assessment and possible mitigation as soon as possible.
10. ONE STOP: There has been some discussion about the property where the One Stop business was located regarding options (pocket park, re-construction) for its use. The P&R Commission is considering the concept at their March meeting and will have a recommendation in several weeks for council consideration.
11. GUN PROHIBITION: This excerpt was taken from the Des Moines Register: “Johnson County, Iowa, has approved a ban on weapons in county-owned buildings and other facilities following the new state law that gives sheriffs less discretion in denying permits to carry guns”. The ban was unanimously approved on Thursday, and Board Chairman Pat Harney stated "the county isn't trying to take away someone's rights, but it is trying to make a safe environment. Harney says stickers and signs warning of the gun ban will be posted at county-owned buildings, facilities and parks." While some residents have argued "firearms have no place in government buildings," local gun rights groups "have threatened legal action if local authorities try to limit the scope of the law."
12. BEST PRACTICES CERTIFICATION: As part of the recognition for “Best Practices” the IMWCA (Iowa Municipal Workers’ Compensation Association) staff would like the City to host a small reception with employees and elected officials. We are therefore “planning” the event for Monday, March 7th at 5:30 pm (prior to council). Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. Refreshments will be served. An awards presentation will be part of the agenda that evening.
13. BRUSH FACILITY UPDATE: During 2010 the facility was open for 35 weeks and had 4,917 vehicles pass through the gate compared to 5,059 in 2009 (does not include free dumping due to storms). Over 2,370 different households used the facility for brush, garden waste, e-cycling or household chemical drop-off. Revenue generated was $15,239 compared to expenses of $19,289. The ending balance was ($4,050) compared to ($8,626) in 2009 even though there were free weekends due to summer wind storms. No changes in fees or hours of operation are recommended for 2011.
14. SEWER PLANT UPDATES:
• South Lift Station Pumps: We continue to have pump problems but have determined they are not related to electrical issues so the pumps will be repaired under warranty.
• The sewer treatment plant experienced higher flows on Sunday evening and the cold water temperatures resulted in a partial washout of solids in the treatment system creating higher effluent solids in the effluent sample. The plant therefore will not meet the total suspended solids 7 day average for this week. Supt Dan Miers called IDNR on Tuesday to discuss the issue and was told to note the issues in the Monthly Monitoring Report. The plant was adjusted to handle the flow on Monday morning and has improved settling.
• V&K initiated design on a new sewer main to serve 1107, 1103 and 1101 Ann Parkway (see map attached) to eliminate a shared service. Bids will be accepted in March and a recommendation provided in April.
• The televising camera became stuck during a point repair on the south side of East Girard and just west of North 12th street on the 16th. Vanderpool Construction was called and opened the main to remove the equipment. Staff reviewed the patch procedures and tested the camera system and found that when the heater is used in the van’s control room, there is a slight voltage drop (intermittent) which may have caused the camera to fail. The camera was used to make a second patch repair on the 17th and was successful. It will be monitored.
• The department is scheduling a neighborhood meeting with residents in NW Service Area #5 and NE Service Area #1. The meeting is scheduled for 6:00 pm, March 3rd at City Hall.
