Archive for: August 2009

by Mary Coblentz
Monday, the Wellman City Council heard a report from Howard R. Green engineer Andrew Marsh on the city’s water improvement project. Because the reverse osmosis project will use state and federal funds, the environmental impact study was required.
Marsh stated that the Department of Natural Resources has concluded Wellman’s project will have “no significant impact” on the environment.
Marsh also noted that, with the economy down, this is a “very favorable” time for construction bidding. He said the sooner Wellman puts the project out for bids the better. Currently, the 90-day pilot project for the reverse osmosis system is nearly one-third completed, and it is expected to be finished in October. In order to put the project out for bids, first the pilot project must be done, and the reports on the pilot project must be completed and approved by the DNR. Marsh expects the project to be put out for bids this winter.

The Washington County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved hiring William J. Noth, an attorney with the bonding firm of Ahlers and Cooney, to aid in its dispute with the city of Riverside over the Infrastructure Finance And Development Agreement Riverside …

Incumbents Jim Hussey of Kalona and Jack Dillon of Wellman will seek re-election to the Mid-Prairie Board of Education. Angela Wasson of Wellman, who was a candidate in the last election, also had obtained nomination papers.
There …

By Mary Zielinski
Richmond residents Bill and Bonnie Knutson Tuesday asked the Washington County supervisors to reconsider options for a sanitary sewer system for the unincorporated town that has only had private wells and septic systems. Major concern was not only the installation costs but also on-going operation and maintenance fees.
Bonnie Knutson cited findings from small towns in western Iowa, using the proposed system for Richmond, where fees, per individual property owners, ran to $300 a month.
A plan to install a public system has been discussed since November, 2001 when the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued a citation when untreated wastewater was found running in a Richmond ditch.
By November, 2007, a preliminary report, including some eight options, was completed by Garden & Associates (G & A), consulting engineers, of Oskaloosa, and presented to the county. The firm was hired in 2003 by the county in cooperation with the Rural Utility Sewer Service (RUSS).
Tuesday, G & A had a final overview report with the aim of taking bids this fall for the approximate $1 million project.
A key factor in the plan is the use of treatment lagoons and the Knutsons said they and other Richmond residents questioned the possible site that is on land owned by Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Richmond.
According to Bonnie Knutson, the land was deeded to the church in a parishioner’s will with the stipulation it could not be sold for 85 years. She said the county would likely have to condemn the land to get it. Even more, the installation of a public system which Iowa code mandates all within 200 feet connect to it, would mean shutting down the current systems, including the new $23,000 one for Holy Trinity’s Parish Life Center. She added that property owners also will have “lost” the $8,000 to $10,000 they spent on installing their systems.

by Mary Coblentz
The Mid-Prairie School Board Monday accepted the adequate yearly progress report which was presented by Wellman Elementary and Washington Township principal Evan Parrott.
The report, which is required annually as part of the No Child Left Behind act, …

By Mary Zielinski
Angie Boyse of Wellman is the full-time director for Wellman’s Parkside Activities Center, due to open this fall. Boyse, who assumed the post last week, currently has an office at Buckwalter Motors where she is available Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. Once Parkside opens, she will be based at the Center.
A native of Lake City, Iowa, Boyse holds q degree in Exercise Science Health Promotion form Central College, Pella, and has 13 years experience as a group fitness instructor and also has been a personal trainer.
Boyse is part of the Washington YMCA which will operate the fitness/activites part of the Center. The childcare facility is a separate operation with a separate board. However, the building is city owned.
Boyse explained that from now until the Center has its grand opening this year, Charter memberships are being offered at special rates with a waiving of the usual one-time maintenance fee.
Even more, the Wellman membership is valid for the Washington Y facility, including use of its swimming pool.
“We sold our first membership last week,” said Boyse, “to Bob and Pat Freeman of Wellman.” The second and third went to Phil and Laura Conaway and Alan And Ranee Fladung, all of Wellman.

March 23, 1932 – August 7, 2009
Douglas Wayne Erwin, 77, of Keota, Iowa, died Friday, August 7, 2009, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. Mass of the Resurrection was Monday, August 10, 2009, at Holy Trinity Parish – St. …

June 9, 1947 – August 7, 2009
Carol F. Bendixen, 62, of Olin, Iowa, died Friday, August 7, 2009, in her home.
A celebration of life service was held Tuesday, August 11, 2009, in St. John Lutheran Church in Olin, with …

August 10, 1918 – August 1, 2009
Myra Vivian VanNostrand Schroeder, 90, of Washington, Iowa, died Saturday, August 1, 2009, in Halcyon House, Washington, following a brief illness.
A celebration of life service will be held Thursday, August 6, 2009, in the …

February 4, 1954 – July 30, 2009
Margaret Ann Roskup, 55, of Wellman, Iowa, died Thursday, July 30, 2009, in the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.
A celebration of life service was held Monday, August 3, 2009, …

By John Zielinski
During Monday’s Kalona council meeting Retiring City Administrator Doug Morgan, who is leaving September 30, said there are, to date, 38 applications for the position. One already has been interviewed, said Morgan, with a further series of interviews expected to be held next week. He added there will be first and second rounds of interviews as the applicants are narrowed to about four finalists.
Monday, the council reviewed a four-page job description for the position that is described as the city’s Chief Administrative Officer who supervises directly or indirectly all management of the city and and city employees, including hiring, conducting performance evaluations, recommending compensation changes, disciplinary actions, and terminations (when appropriate) responsibilities. Morgan said all prospective candidates were provided a copy of the revised, updated job description.

March 31, 1973 – July 31, 2009
James “Jim” Ingersoll, 36, of Riverside, Iowa, died Friday, July 31, 2009, in Mitchell, South Dakota, from injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, August 4, 2009, in the Stacy-Lewis Home …