Friday, March 23, 2012

News Items - March 26, 2012

1. J&K: Chuck Burgin will meet with the Warren County Fair Board March 27 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the proposed J&K Re-alignment project. (see memo & map).

2. NORTH PARK: Chuck is working with Susan Baxendale regarding possible park property acquisition North of Iowa off of North 9th Street (Lincoln Ridge Plat 6). The city is sharing the cost of an appraisal (city portion $1,375) of the approximately 15 acre site.

3. POLICE/FIRE STORAGE FACILITY: Police Chief, Steve Bonnett indicates the 425 ft. entrance to the police and fire storage facility will be asphalted for approximately $9,800 using drug seizure funds. As you know the facility was built last year with the same funds, approximately $119,000. Seizure funds can only be used for specific purposes related to public safety.

4. LETTER: Loren and Linda Meyer requested you receive a copy of their letter to the editor regarding street paving and gas franchise fees. Just to clarify, IMU does provide a payment-in-lieu-of-tax (PILOT) contribution to the city annually and amounts to 5% Electric and 3% Water revenues as set by Trustee ordinance.

5. WEST IOWA & 8TH STREET: V&K’s Forrest Aldrich provided an engineering services proposal in the amount of $4,800 for the West Iowa & 8th Street Drainage Improvements project scheduled for FY12-13. The property owners requested we start the project sooner than July 1 (see letter). The Street Department cleaned out the swale bordering the property and has agreed to check it periodically to make sure it remains clean until the project is complete. The stormwater budget could handle starting the project in May as opposed to July and I would like to at least start the engineering process considering the significant water issues at that location. Please let me know if you have any questions.

6. GIRARD: Received a call from a Girard Street resident last week asking if the city could clean out the debris in the beehive drains around the area. The street department cleaned out the drains and installed three rows of silt fence in the north lagoon and in the ditch running north to Iowa to stop some of the mud from washing down into the yards. The resident was very appreciative of the work performed.

7. REWARD: The police dept is offering a reward for information on the home burglaries in Indianola (see packet).

8. E-MAIL: In case you did not get a chance to view the e-mail from Bill Gross a copy has been provided.

Friday, March 16, 2012

News Items - March 19, 2012

1. STREET REPLACEMENT LETTERS: A copy of the letter (packet) to property owners regarding the elimination of assessments was mailed March 9, 2012.

2. RFP: A draft request-for-proposal for search firms for the city manager position is in your packet. The plan is to place on the March 26 council agenda. Please let Roxanne know if you have any suggestions.

3. CITY ATTORNEY: A copy of the city attorney’s job description/ordinance is in your packet. The discussion will be placed on a future study committee agenda.

4. SCULPTURE: In your packet is a design of the sculpture the committee (comprised of Indianola Park Friends, Fine Arts and Parks & Rec Commission members) has selected to be put at the Sesquicentennial Park. The Parks & Rec Commission approved it at their last meeting.

5. JET/VAC TRUCK: Dan Miers, Wastewater Supt. indicates the new sewer jet/vac truck will be delivered March 19.

6. NATURAL GAS FRANCHISE: I’m working with Mark Reinders, MEC on the franchise agreement/ordinance. Ivan Webber will review the ordinance for the city per John Hoyman. A public hearing will be set April 16 for May 7.

7. FIRE DEPT: Brian Seymour and Asst Fire Chief Mark McCurdy will be leaving May 1-16 for a mission trip to Zambia, Africa. It is a program to provide fire training services to the fire department and schools in Katete. Expenses are covered by the Children’s Burn Foundation, American Burn Association, Brian and Mark. Staff will report to Jamie Sauter, Deputy Fire Chief during this time period.

8. MOWING CONTRACT: Bids were received for the joint (Electric, Water, Parks & Sewer) mowing contract. It was decided to remain with Justin Woosley who has provided this service since 2008. Woosley was not the low bid, however based on continuity of service and the nominal difference in proposals ($75/yr) Glen Cowan and Mike Bowlin (Parks Supt) recommended remaining with them.

9. WELLNESS CENTER: Bids for the wellness center site work (not the building) will be received April 10 and a public hearing April 16. This is being bid separate to get the project moving along while design on the building is being complete.

10. NORTH “C” STREET: Forest Aldrich, V&K is reviewing traffic information for Buxton, Howard, “D” and Girard per the committee discussion March 12. Also Ivan Webber is reviewing code section 354.23. I will forward both pieces of information when received.

11. TAXES: In your packet are the general fund and debt service tax distribution at a 55.07% and 54.16% respectfully.

12. BRUSH FACILITY: The brush facility will open Thursday, April 5 for the season. Hours of operation will be:

Thursday – noon to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday – 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday – noon to 4:00 p.m.

Friday, March 2, 2012

News Items - March 5, 2012

YMCA/Wellness Center Update

The next Vision Iowa board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 14. Location information will be forwarded as soon as it is received.


Hwy 92 Update

On Tuesday, February 28th, Chuck attended an update and design meeting regarding the Highway 92 West reconstruction. This project includes construction of new urban design from the main entrance of the fairgrounds to R-63 Hwy. Rural design will complete this phase to R-57. Public sidewalks, storm sewer and a trail are part of the overall design.

Park

Chuck has been working with a property owner regarding land purchase of approximately 15 acres north of East Iowa Avenue for a new neighborhood park. The owner has agreed to split the cost of an appraisal. Total estimated cost is $3,500 for the appraisal.

Rezoning request

A rezoning request for R-5 zoning within the Sunset Terrace subdivision (North 6th Street) will be presented at the March 13th Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. The plat indicates two 16-unit condominiums and six four-unit structures to be constructed with a zero based lot line for row housing units.

2011 Sidewalk Repairs

The final claims for the 2011 sidewalk repair project are being sent to the Warren County Treasurer’s office this week. FYI – There were 200 sidewalk repair letters and 377 tree trimming letters mailed originally. All but 47 properties made the repairs and all but 19 paid for the repair work performed. The next sidewalk project is scheduled for 2013.

BRAVO

M.D. Isley and a BRAVO board member will be attending the May 7th council meeting to provide an update.