Archive for: April 2011

by Elizabeth Beachy
Meeting at 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, the Wellman council learned from City Administrator Dave Ross about the preliminary assessment schedule for the city’s infrastructure replacement project as well as received a spreadsheet that marked estimated monthly costs for residents, and an update of work to be done on 6th Avenue and Golf View Drive. Ross proposed the council set a cap at $6,000 per household for a 10-year period.
“If capped,” said Ross, “no one would pay more, and it could be potentially regressive in nature. Those with larger lots pay less of a percentage overall. The Council would be committing to their original commitment, setting precedence for future projects.” According to this plan, the city would need to come up with another $41,000 or $4,100 per year over a 10-year period. “I’d be able to pull the $4,000 looking at other funds,” said Ross.
After studying the spreadsheet, Council member Marc Pennington said there were 15 homes that would be paying substantial amounts and with increased water rates, the council could face some opposition.
“$100-some per month is a lot of money for some people,” said Pennington.
Again, Ross recommended this was the reason for setting a cap at $6,000. “We won’t get as much done, but I think it will be fairer to everyone,” said Ross.

by Elizabeth Beachy
The council Monday was asked by Wellman resident Serenity Bailey, about a request to waive part of her water and sewer bill for February and March. According to Bailey, her water bill for February stated she had used 13,800 gallons of water, a very large quantity considering that since moving into the home in July 2009 the amounts were more typically around 3,000 gallons.
Bailey spoke with the city office several times, to find the problem. She was told she may have a leak, but Bailey also learned that her water meter was 15 years old and Monday told the council she began to wonder if the meter itself was the source of the problem, possibly producing inaccurate readings. Bailey reported that she never discovered any leaks or had anything fixed and in the next month the water bill was back to a lower amount. After changing the water meter, the water bill seemed to go down again. “The highest it has been since it was changed was 3,900 gallons,” she said.
However, the council also heard from Aaron Shoemaker,

[caption id="attachment_2324" align="alignright" width="360" caption="Bowden Brown, 2, of Washington and Shaysojka Moyer, 6, of Washington, were the winners of the golden egg prize at the West Chester Easter egg hunt Sunday. Pictured (From left) are Lucas Brown, Bowden Brown, Shaysojka ...

Willie Van Weelden, chairman of the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors and chairman of the Rural Utility Service Systems (RUSS) was charged March 9 with a fraudulent insurance submission.
A Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation complaint alleges that Van …

By Mary Zielinski
Aside from legal fees, cost of obtaining the ten acres for the proposed wastewater treatment lagoons in Richmond is $71,000, a figure provided Monday to the Washington County Board of Supervisors by Hattery Appraisals, Inc. of Davenport. …

Wind and cold were factors to be dealt with as the Mid-Prairie boys competed at the Kalona Golf Course Monday, April 18 against guests Regina, Vinton and Clear Creek.
Dylan Wertz led the Golden Hawks with 43 and Jared Gent and …

The Mid-Prairie girls soccer team garnered another win Tuesday, April 12 at the Wellman Rotarian Soccer complex, with a win over Washington Demons 10-3.
The Redlinger sisters set the tone of the game early on with two goals within …

The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks upset 15th ranked Monticello for their first ever win over a ranked opponent in Wellman.
The 5-2 win came Monday, April 18 at …

The IMS soccer team stepped onto the field on a cold blustery evening April 18 against a tough Columbus team and came away with a hard fought 1-0 win. …

Most people can relate to sporting events that reach the “State” finals because small schools revolve around athletics. It can be harder to relate to the events that are outside of the athletic arena, but they are just as incredible.
Taylor Troyer and Ryan Shellady achieved “All State” status in individual speech and performed at the University of Northern Iowa on March 28, 2011.
To make it to this privileged event, students must first pass level one of try- outs. They are chosen to perform again at the “State” level where the competition becomes much more difficult. If selected, speech students then are chosen to perform at the “All State” level in performing or non performing status.
This is the highest level of performance and places the student with about five hundred other students selected statewide to perform.

Starting May 1, the Washington County Recorder’s Office will accept passport applications by appointment only.
County recorder’s offices across the United States received a letter from Passport Services late last year, informing them that new requirements for dual facilities must be …

This column is prepared by the Washington County Genealogy Society. Questions should have an area connection–be kept to 50 words and be clearly typed or printed. Include your name and address because readers who can help you should reply to …