News

By Mary Zielinski

Public hearings and protests not withstanding, the Washington County Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously passed the first reading of the county zoning ordinance that has met strong opposition since last summer.
Chairman Jim Miksch noted that the issue has been reviewed considerably, including a special public hearing held last week. The supervisors discussed the provision for existing non-conforming situations, and agreed to adding “or more” in section 3.04C to permit multiple housing in an existing development after the owner questioned stressed that being told the provisions were “close enough” was not good enough.
Miksch also noted that enforcement of he zoning code will be a factor and “some money will have to be spent” on it. Part of the enforcement will be the hiring of a zoning administrator. There also will be a zoning board of adjustment to handle appeals and, as supervisor Adam Mangold said, if it continued it would be the supervisors, then district court.
During the meeting, county auditor Bill fredrick stressed that there has been a lot of commentary that “pits the larger farmer against non-farming individual (in the county” without the public realizing that the agriculture rules “are out of our control” that it is regulated by state law. However, many who had opposed the zoning question what exactly constitutes agriculture, noting that at present it can be as few as ten acres.
The second reading is set for the February 23 meeting. To date, the supervisors have indicated they will do a full three readings.
The supervisors also were unanimous in agreeing that the site for treatment lagoons for a general collection system in the unincorporated town of Richmond be the Holy Trinty Catholic Church property.
However, in order to get it, they will have to go through condemnation proceedings.

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A week after fire destroyed a 60×90 foot pole building and all its contents at 1962 140th Street, rural Kalona, cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
Kalona Fire Chief Steve Yotty said that an investigation has been made and a cause is suspected, but further at present it is still under investigation. He said there was no arson involved. He estimated the loss at $1 million for both the structure and its contents. He said that the owners, Kevin and Judy Christainsen had insurance.
The fire call came in at 10:38 p.m. February 8 and firefighters remained on the scene until 3:45 a.m. Tuesday. The fire rekindled at approximately 7:55 a.m. Tuesday and the Kalona Fire Department responded.
Kalona, as well as the Kalona First Responders, Wellman Fire Department, Riverside Fire Department, Washington County Ambulance, Washington County SheriffÕs Department, Alliant Energy and Washington County Secondary Roads were at the scene Monday.
The state fire marshal’s office is handling the investigation.

Classes for the 2010-11 academic year will start August 24, by which time the district should have made up all the snow days. The calendar was approved by the board at its meeting Monday. As of Tuesday, February 9, the district was looking at seven make-up days, if there are no more cancellations.
“But, with the weather, we don’t know if it will stay at seven,” said Superintendent Mark Schneider. Presently, the district is trying to conclude the 2009-10 academic year by June 4 at the latest.
“We have a few options,” said Schneider, referring to in-service days and possible extended hours.
Classes were cancelled Tuesday when the snow that started Monday continued well into Tuesday. Schneider, who with transportation director, Dick Durst, regularly checks the roads by 5 a.m., found roads not only slippery but in the case of one graveled road “I was not sure I would get out.”
Schneider is also the superintendent for the Keota School District and has found conditions for the two districts tend to be similar when it comes to the roads. The difference, though, depends on the county. Mid-Prairie is in three counties, Keota in two “and each county has different priorities in clearing roads.” Which is why at one point Keota ran buses on all roads and Mid-Prairie only on hard-surfaced.
In other business Monday, the board approved Schneider’s request to freeze his salary and benefits at the present level. Schneider cited economic conditions which have seen major state cuts in school funding for his move. It was a move he had noted last year when his position became a shared one with the Keota district.

by Mary Coblentz
The main order of business for the Wellman Council Monday was an appeal hearing regarding Mayor Ryan Miller’s order to have a dog destroyed or permanently removed from the city.
The dog’s owner, Deb Hall, listened to the hearing and participated in it via speakerphone. City Attorney Dan Kitchen and Hall’s attorney, Dennis Mitchell, conducted the hearing. Council members Doug Powell and Steve Slaubaugh were absent.
The dog, whose name is Survivor, is a Great Dane, weighing approximately 150 pounds, and is a service animal for Hall who purchased him when he was four months old and took him to seizure training. Survivor helps Hall detect seizures, remember to take her medicine, and helps her with mobility issues.
Two people addressed the council regarding incidents with Survivor.
Jesse Gingerich, Wellman city employee, related an incident that happened in August in which Survivor lunged at him and had his “upper left arm in its grasp.”
Gingerich stated that he was at Hall’s residence “working some bugs out” of the gas meter set with Rory White, another city employee. He put his tools away, preparing to leave. White and Gingerich both petted Survivor. When Gingerich then bent down to pick up his tool box, that’s when the dog lunged, Gingerich stated.
Gingerich made a formal complaint the following day. There was no broken skin, but there was bruising. Gingerich said he was not aggressive toward Hall or Survivor.
The second incident occurred January 9. Sharrie Groff told the council that she was returning a CD to Hall and was in Hall’s driveway speaking to David Brown who was shoveling snow from Hall’s driveway. Groff stated that Survivor came at her “lunging and growling,” knocking her down and biting her right shoulder. Brown pulled the dog off Groff.

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The new snow that came Monday added about two inches to the area snowfall, but the 40 mph wind (with even higher gusts) made it a whole different story. By mid-afternoon Monday, the wind created wipe-outs along highways, adding to the problems from the snowdrifts.
The conditions caused numerous cancellations of activities, including school events and sports, and in a rare move even the Mid-Prairie Board of Education cancelled its Monday meeting.
The more serious problems were on the roads, including an accident at 3:26 p.m. in the 2000 block of Highway 22 west of Kalona. Police reported that two vehicles were unable to stop for a school bus and both went into the south ditch, sliding into each other. One injury to a 15-year old male, was reported. He had difficulty breathing and was transported to Mercy Hospital, Iowa City. Police said he had to be extracted from the vehicle. He was later released from the hospital. The Kalona First Responders and Kalona Fire Department were at the scene as well as the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.
Another accident was reported at 4:20 p.m. at 2495 Highway 22, east of Kalona when a vehicle was rear ended by another, then side-swiped by a second vehicle. No injuries were reported and drivers exchanged insurance information, said police.
There was a report of a Mac truck going into the east ditch along Highway 218 north of G36, Ainworth at 12:25 p.m. No injuries.
Another accident, involving a truck and trailer on Highway 218 at mile marker 82, near Riverside, was received at 1:36 p.m. Again, there were no injuries. A third accicent on Highway 218, near 175th Street, Ainsworth, was reported at 1:50 p.m. when a vehicle went into the east ditch. No injuries.

by Mary Coblentz
In a seven-minute meeting Monday, the Wellman City Council approved a resolution approving Federation Bank, Hills Bank and Trust, and Iowa Public Agency Investment Trust as depositories for the city.
Federation Bank, Wellman, was approved for not more than seven money market accounts, one checking account, two savings accounts, and certificates of deposits not to exceed a total of all deposits in the amount of $1,250,000.
Hills Bank and Trust, Wellman, was approved for up to two money market accounts, two checking accounts, three savings accounts, and certificates of deposits not to exceed a total of all deposits in the amount of $1,250,000.
The IPAIT was approved for investment account for deposits not to exceed $500,000.
Also, the resolution authorizes City Clerk Donna Wade, Mayor Ryan Miller, and Mayor Pro Tempore Marc Pennington to sign for the accounts.
In other business, the council:

• appointed Don Randol to the Goodwin Senior Commission;
• noted that three streetlights are burned out on Main Street; replacement bulbs are on order; and
• noted that the open house for Parkside Activities Center was well-attended, and all the council members are pleased it is finally open.

The Mid-Prairie Board of Education Monday dealt with two major items that directly benefit students: buying two new buses and touring the new preschool facility.
The board approved the total bid of $159,178 from School Bus Sales of Waterloo for two new buses, prices at $80,939 each. The trade-in allowance for dropped the price to $159,178 from $161,878. The buses will be equipped with video cameras as are other units. Although there was lower bid from Hoglund Bus Sales, that would have totaled $151,050, there was an additional cost of $4,100 per bus to upgrade the engines to the required specs.
The preschool tour, which came at the end of the session, was at the new Parkside Activities Center which officially opens to the public January 18. The Mid-Prairie District arranged to rent space for its preschool program as part of support for the Parkside project last year. The preschool program, currently in Kalona, will move to Parkside Tuesday.
In other business, the board:

• held a second reading of board policies involving classified staff early separation, student honors (with board members Jim Hussey and George Schaefer opposed to having valedictorian and salutation awards)a and a first reading for graduation requirements;
• approved a Memorandum of Understanding to support the Race to the Top application. The Race to the Top is a federal competitive grant program that focuses on competency-based system for teacher and administrator preparation by making some $60,000 available over a four-year period. However, the state has to be approved for the grant before local districts are eligible;
• approved joining the Iowa School finance Information Service for $1,515;
• discussed and agreed to continue matching PPEL funds; and
• tabled a discussion of budget cuts criteria to the January 25 meeting.

By Mary Zielinski
The Kalona council Monday moved two steps further to making downtown revitalization a reality. The first was approval of the $212,800 Professional Services Agreement with MMS Consultants, Inc . of Iowa City that will, as City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh noted, “get us to bid letting”. The amount due from the city by January 14 is $53,200 which covers 25 percent of the total consulting/planning project.
Schlabaugh noted that the $12,000 fee wil be paid in sections and that the work includes construction management.
Council member Ken Herington, noting that Kalona hopes to obtain a Vision Iowa grant, asked what will happen if “we don’t get the funds,” asking “can we stop if we have to.”
Schlabaugh said, in that event, the scope of the project could change and if a portion is scrapped, the city would see about adjusting accordingly.
“I just want options in case there has to be changes,” said Herington.
Schlabaugh indicated that regardless of the outcome with VI, the project will “put architecturally out there what we have planned,” and that it could be continued later.
The total project cost is $2,844,259 which, said Schlabaugh, covers “everything” including MSS Consultants and the professional grant writer’s services.
The council unanimously approved the MSS contract.

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By Mary Zielinski
The Kalona council’s regular meeting Monday almost wasn’t. Meeting time is 7:30 p.m., but by 7:55 p.m. there were only two council members present. At that point, a call was made to council member Steve Lafaurie in California and he participated via conference call.
Other than minutes and bill approval, the main item was a Public Hearing for the re-zoning application from Grace Schumann and Ken Herington to re-zone their respective business properties on C Avenue from R-3 to C-3. There were no objections and following the brief hearing, the council approved an ordinance amending the Kalona Zoning Ordinace to change the designation.
The change was also recommended by the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission.
The other item of business, approval MMS Consultants, Inc. professional service agreement fee of $212,800 was tabled to the next meeting. MMS has done the downtown revitalization plan for Kalona, a project that will take the city to the bid stage for the work, most of which is expected to be done next year. The downtown revitalizaition committee was to meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Following the regular meeting, the council had a brief work session.

by Mary Coblentz
The Wellman City Council held a work session prior to Monday night’s regular meeting to discuss issues with SG Construction concerning the Parkside Activities Center, which is expected to be completed and open in January.

This was the hardest set of drawings that I’ve ever been involved with

The discussion centered around the possibility of liquidated damages for the delay of the opening, which was originally scheduled for August 1, 2009. In the contract with SG Construction, the city has the right to assess $500 per day liquidated damages after August 1. It is expected that the project will be completed approximately 160 days later than planned.
SG Construction co-owners Dan Massner and Ron Massner addressed the council regarding the delay.
Dan Massner noted that the weather had been very rainy and very snowy, with nearly 25 more inches of rain than average. Also, there were delays with getting the building drawings completed in a timely manner. SG Construction works with Butler Buildings, a company in Australia which designs and manufactures prefabricated buildings. Massner stated that he has had a very good working relationship with Butler over the years, and this delay was very unusual for the company.
The delay in getting the building drawings was nearly five months, and Massner explained that the suppliers and subcontractors had been planning on an earlier start date and some had other jobs lined up.
While working with Butler Buildings, Shive-Hattery architect Brian Gotwals said there was a lot of “back and forth” which took time, and several issues were discovered including a contradiction in the building code regarding occupancy.
Gotswald said, “This was the hardest set of drawings that I’ve ever been involved with.”
Council member Bob Goodrich noted that he and others in the community noticed that there was no work done “on nice days - Fridays and Saturdays.”

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The Mid-Prairie Board of Education was honored November 19 by the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB). From left, back, are Jack Hill, IASB president; Maxine Kilcrease, IASB excecutive director, M-P board members Randy Billups, Jeremy Pickard, Rob Stout, and Superintendent Mark Schneider, Front, from left, George Schaefer, Jim Hussey, M-P president, Jack Dillon, M-P vice-president and Stacia Bontrager. (Photo submitted)

The Mid-Prairie Board of Education is one of three honored by the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) during the 64th annual ISAB convention November 19 in Des Moines. The Making a Difference award also carries a $1,000 grant.
Mid-Prairie was honored for taking “sometimes unpopular but necessary risks to improve (student) achievement and those risks have paid off,” noted the ISAB.
One thing that stood out about Mid-Prairie during the selection process was the board’s push for a 4-3-3-3 graduation standards put forward by the Institute for Tomorrow’s Workforce and ACT, Inc. In addition to the unique graduation standard, M-P students are required to self-select if they think they will go to a four-year college, two-year college or join the workforce directly after high school. Their curriculum is then adjusted around that decision, with students taking AP courses and two years of a foreign language, six hours of community college credit or two 90-hour internships respectively.
“My reaction when I read this was: ‘Can we beg, borrow and steal?’” said Amy Jurrens, ISAB board member and of the George/Little rock School board who helped select award recipients. “What a great idea to prepare students for their individual paths. It makes students feel that no matter what path they choose, it’s valued, value for all skills and interests.”
Other achievements that weighed in for M-P:

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Forecast calls for harsh winter weather, with a strong chance of slips, trips and falls
According to this year’s Old Farmer’s Almanac, winter in the upper Midwest will be colder than normal,

We urge customers to do the right thing, not just for our letter carriers, but for everyone

with precipitation near - or slightly above - normal. Whether one can bank on the Almanac’s weather predictions is just part of the annual publication’s charm.
But ice and snow hold little charm for the letter carriers who deliver millions of cards, letters and packages through harsh winter weather.
“Snow and ice on sidewalks and front porches present a serious safety challenge for our letter carriers across the region,” said Gail Duba, manager of the U.S. Postal Service’s Des Moines-based Hawkeye District. The district covers most of the Iowa and the Illinois communities near the Quad Cities.
“Our employees take their jobs seriously and take pride in reporting to work - regardless of the conditions,” Duba said, “but if access to the mailbox is blocked by snow or ice, we remind them that safety is paramount to delivering the mail.”
The Postal Service is reminding customers to keep access to the mailbox clear. “Our carriers will battle freezing temperatures, ice and snow in many parts of the Midwest,” Duba explained. “We urge customers to do the right thing, not just for our letter carriers, but for everyone.”
By taking these safety measures, a prediction of fewer injuries due to ice and snow is one that everyone can bank on.