Archive for: August 2009

The city of Wellman Tuesday announced it received an additional $400,000 in grant funds from the USDA Rural Development agency to aid in the completion of the Parkside Activities Center and Sunrise Child Care facility.

“These grant funds are money that will not have to be repaid.”

“This is great,” said City Administrator Dave Ross, “since it’s money needed to finish off the facility and money we would not have without their assistance. These grant funds are money that will not have to be repaid.”
The grant is the result of several months effort by the city and the Wellman Area Foundation to raise the last $799,000 for the project. The remainder will be provided in a low interest loan from the USDA. A public hearing will be held on the loan issue.
Ross added that the Wellman Area Foundation “is continuing fundraising efforts so the loan will be repaid as soon as possible.”

Gary Alan Martin, son of Wilford and Laura Martin, Kalona, Iowa, was stillborn Wednesday, August 19, 2009, in Mercy Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa.
Graveside services were held Sunday, August 23, 2009, in the Haven Cemetery in rural Kalona. Yoder-Powell Funeral …

Attorneys Albion J. Young and Brandon L. Edgington announce the formation of a new law firm, Young and Edgington, LLC, which opens at the present site of Young’s Law Office September 1. [caption id=”" width=”300″ caption=”Brandon L. Edgington …

February 6, 1917 - August 23, 2009
Omer E. Flanders, 92, of Nevada, died August 23, 2009, in Nevada. There will be no funeral service. The body was cremated and a memorial service will …

Washington County Public Health and Home Care in Washington is sponsoring a Caregiver Support Group that meets on the second Wednesday of each month in the Miller Chapel/Blue Room at Pleasantview Home, 811 3rd Street, Kalona, at 2:30 p.m. All …

By Mary Zielinski
Asked to provide a 10 percent local match for the Washington School District to leverage a possible $2 million in Department of Education energy efficiency program loans, the Washington County Riverboat Foundation (WCRF) declined the request by a 9-4 vote.
The request for a mid-term WCRF grant, was discussed at the WCRF’s August 18 meeting. The district sought $100,000 match each for a possible two $1 million loans to pay for installing geothermal systems at its two elementary schools. Deadlines for the loan applications came before the regular WCRF grant application and awards cycle.
Board member Ed Raber outlined what the funds would be for, stressing that the grant would be conditional on the district receiving the DE funds and that the district probably will not apply for any further WCRF funds for some time.

By Mary Zielinski
The Kalona municipal pool’s repeated violation citing from the Washington County Environmental Health Department “will de addressed” Mayor Jerry Kauffman told the city council Monday.
In fact, he arranged for the Parks and Recreation Committee, two council members, city administrator Doug Morgan and Parks and Recreation Supervisors Todd Fitzsenry to be at the pool at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The pool inspection report that followed an inspection by Lori Swan of the Washington County Environmental Health Department August 3 was presented to the council Monday. Specifically cited were repeated violations for a broken pressure gauge,deficient chlorine levels in the pool and no soap in the men’s or women’s restrooms. Additionally, there were citations for deficiencies of no cold compress in the first-aid kit, chipped pain in the wading pool, deteriorating diving board surface and the pool’s water balance indicating water could be scale forming.
The council also received copies of previous reports, dating to 2005, showing other violations, and indications that they were addressed and repaired. In fact, Kauffman stressed that the violations noted in 2008 were rectified.

By Mary Zielinski
The Kalona council, at its Monday meeting, approved a release and settlement agreement with David and Joette Droz that has a $2,500 payment to the couple who had filed a petition in Washington County District Court to overturn a city board of adjustment ruling. The case had been set for a court hearing September 23.
The Drozes filed the petition after the board refused a request for a variance to permit construction of a deck over a city sidewalk on B Avenue. The deck was part of the design for a two-unit apartment addition to the Drozes downtown business building. The board, in denying the variance, said permitting it would violate city code.
When the Drozes sought a building permit, the plans included the front deck apparently was not noted when the permit was issued last September. The city later held that the deck could not be built because it violated code and the Drozes took legal action.

“We cannot use public tax money for private enterprise”

The settlement payment will not be covered by the city’s insurance, said City Administrator Doug Morgan. However, the agreement which was settled “with prejudice” (meaning no further action can be taken) was deemed far less costly than court costs and more legal fees for the city, regardless of eventually outcome. The city was represented by its attorney, William Sueppel Jr. and a second required by the insurance carrier.
Morgan said the Drozes will resubmit a plan for the front of the building, without a deck, that he expected would be approved.
In other business, the council discussed an earlier request from Reza Kargarzadeh for city assistance to pay for resurfacing the north parking lot at his Engineered Plastics Components, Inc. on Highway 1 in Kalona.
EPC had sought $54,000, the full cost of the work.
“I don’t see how we can pay for it,” said council member Ken Herington. “We cannot use public tax money for private enterprise.” He added that while EPC is a large employer, any other business could make the same request.

by Mary Coblentz
Monday, the Wellman City Council voted to approve the second readings and waive the third readings of two resolutions which will increase the water and sewer rates in the city. The new rates will go into effect after publication in The Advance and will be reflected in the September billing.
Water rates will increase $5 per month for the first 1,000 gallons to $19.45. This is part of the increase that will be needed to pay for the new water treatment system. The rates will eventually be raised a total of between $25 and $30 per month. The sewer rates will increase $1 per month to $15.45 for the first 1,000 gallons.
The council heard, during the public forum, from Julie Bontrager about the speed bump recently installed on Circle Drive. Bontrager said that the speed bump actually makes it more likely that someone will get injured because, after stopping, she now has to give her car more gas to get over the bump. Previously, she could “creep” forward to make sure the way was clear.
Bontrager said that if the speed bump was installed to prevent people from running the stop sign, “it seems to me this should be a law enforcement issue.” Bontrager said she was surprised the council approved installing the speed bump without consulting those who live in Circle Drive.

June 5, 1925 - August 15, 2009

Lyle D. McArtor, 84, a resident of Parkview Manor, Wellman, Iowa, died there Saturday, August 15, 2009.
Graveside services will be held at a later date. Burial will …

April 29, 1937 - August 11, 2009
James Victor “Vic” Bowen, 72, of rural Keota, Iowa, died Tuesday, August 11, 2009, near Rose Hill, Iowa.
A memorial services was Saturday, August 15, 2009, in Powell …

The first step toward a permanent building for the Washington County Public Health Department came at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting when the low bid for the first phase was accepted.
Winning bid was $2,000 from Solum Lang Architects of Cedar …