Thursday, March 14, 2013

City Manager's Blog March 18, 2013



Beautification Blowout
This April, the Indianola Sustainability Committee will be focusing its efforts on beautifying the City’s many trails, parks and Downtown Square. The committee has partnered with Indianola Parks and Recreation, Friends of Indianola Trails and the Keep Indianola Beautiful Committee to rally citizens to team up and participate in sprucing up the downtown square as well as miles of walking/bike trails that so many enjoy each summer. The event is taking place on Saturday, April 20th from Noon-2:30 p.m. and is open to any business/organization, civic group or family. This will be an excellent opportunity for an enriching team-building experience while helping to beautify our community. We encourage specific groups to proudly identify themselves by wearing team shirts, caps or jackets but don’t worry if you aren’t affiliated with any one group, we will have a team for anyone who wants to get involved! The event will begin with a rally on the east side of the downtown square where a free lunch will be served to all registered participants from Noon-12:30 p.m. From there, your group will be assigned an area that will be your BEAUTIFICATION BLOWOUT responsibility. Tasks will include removing litter, debris and dead limbs from the trails and parks and removing litter and sweeping debris from walkways around the square. Gloves and trash bags will be provided, but we strongly recommend that you bring any other tools that might make the tasks easier such as rakes, wheel barrows, wagons, push brooms, etc.

Police Candidate Testing
The Indianola Police Department (IPD) will be conducting testing to identify and rank police officer candidates to fill the new positions approved in the FY 14 budget this Saturday at 9:00 a.m.  The process includes both a physical agility and written POST test that will be scored by the Civil Service Commission. Interim Chief Hamell would welcome any Councilmember who would like to observe the testing to feel free to attend any part of the process your schedule allows.  You may contact him with any questions. The testing will begin at the Middle School cafeteria before moving to the Blake Field House for the physical agility portion. There are 90 applicants that have submitted applications to complete the exam. Based on prior searches for officer candidates, we anticipate 55-70 will complete the exam process.

Representative Ourth Visits City Hall
Representative Scott Ourth visited City Hall recently to discuss ongoing issues at the state capitol and the effects on communities throughout the state.  Key state issues that will impact Indianola depending on the final versions of the bills, if approved, range from proposed changes in the commercial property tax on the finance side to new waste water regulations on the environmental side.  Having an engaged member in the state capitol that communicates and understands issues facing communities as well as the impacts proposed legislation may have going forward is essential.  Representative Ourth is in Indianola on a regular basis and I encourage you to connect with him when you have the opportunity.


Employee Appreciation
As City Manager, I get a chance to witness firsthand all the time, effort, and investment it takes to keep things functioning during the winter months by our team of dedicated staff.  Their hard work is essential in ensuring our safety and mobility during the winter season.  From snow removal crews from multiple departments to water, sewer, and electrical plant operators to public safety staff; we are all fortunate to have the hard working men and women working for our city to ensure our lives continue moving forward without delay.  This is especially difficult during the unexpected storms that strike without notice like the storm that dumped 11 inches of snow the last week of February.  I want to take a moment to personally thank all the employees who make our community run and keep us safe no matter when or how long Mother Nature rolls into Indianola.