Archive for: May 2009

By Mary Zielinski
The city of Riverside is willing to meet with the county supervisors to discuss Riverside’s claim that its revenue sharing agreement with the county is “void and unenforceable.” The city, through its special attorney Dean Spins, proposes that two council members and two supervisors, with counsels, meet. It would not be a public meeting. Spina, in his May 11 letter, notes: “Council members and members of the Board of Supervisors have varying amounts of first hand knowledge regarding the events in 2005. Bill Poch, Mayor, and Tina Thomas, City Clerk, have the most first hand knowledge regarding the events in 2005 and they could be available for all or part of the meeting to answer questions from the supervisors.”
The letter also suggests that “Prior to such a meeting it would be benefical to receive an analysis of the County’s position regarding the constitutional debt issue.”
During the supervisors meeting Tuesday, May 19, County Auditor Bill Fredrick referred to the recent letter and also outlined what had occurred in 2005 that led to the Infrastructure Finance and Development Agreement between the city and the county. In essence an urban renewal, tax increment financing (TIF) district was established to encompass the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort to provide TIF revenue to pay for the needed water and sewer improvements for the $140 million project.

by Ranee Fladung

This was the best group of students, they spoke Spanish all the time and wanted to learn and experience new things

“It was so cool.”
“We didn’t want to leave.”
“This was the best group of students, they spoke Spanish all the time and wanted to learn and experience new things.”
Those were just a few comments made by Highland students and their teacher Margaret Guetzko Monday to Highland board members, thanking the board for allowing the student excursion to Mexico, specifically Merida, Yucatan. Lee Finke, Cassie Kasdorf, Brittany Steward, and Mollie Kloepfer talked about staying with host families and the bonds they made. The group visited museums, malls, the beach, a cinote, and Chichen Itza (Mayan ruins).
Russell Fox, maintenance director, presented the board with a summer projects list with a cost estimate of $41,000. Projects at Ainsworth include fixing the south sidewalk and replacing the steps, replacing four windows in the gym, adding railings to the bleachers, and replacing approximately 48 desks.

Riverside residents have been invited to attend a special screening of the new “Star Trek” film a day before it’s released nationwide.
It’s a fitting tribute …

by John Schulte
News of the new Star Trek movie has been all over lately. Everywhere
from the grocery stores, radio stations and of course the Internet.
Our local radio station is giving away 50 tickets as a promotional
item, and news from …

by Ranee Fladung
Since drainage repairs are at a standstill, council member Randy Sexton suggested placing barricades on the city right-of-way along River Street between Washington and Glasgow Streets to protect it from being “destroyed.”  The city has made attempts to obtain an easement from Ed Pechous, owner of Riverside Grain and Feed so the city can fix the drainage issues along Railroad Street.
City clerk Tina Thomas said Pechous responded to the city’s request by asking the city to pay $500 per year for the easement. Thomas said Pechous currently uses the city’s right-of-way to load out grain trucks behind its grain bins along River Street and the area is being destroyed. The council agreed to install barricades along the right-of-way.
During citizen time, Marge Schnoebelen voiced her concerns about the city’s lack of communication with the Ball Association after talking with several members who knew nothing about the city’s plans to concrete the area around the bleachers.  She said she had seen the concrete at the fields and wondered if it has been discussed with the Ball Association who had plans to put up a concession stand. The city’s action would limit what the association could do.  Sexton explained that the Ball Association had contacted the city more than two years ago to pay for the concrete and it would provide the labor.  Since that time, the money had been budgeted, and he and city workers had talked with Steve Musser and Brian Michels but nothing had happened.
“They failed to do it and so that’s when we stepped in and did it,” said Sexton.

By Mary Zielinski
The Washington County supervisors Tuesday approved the fiscal 2009-10 $19,943,200 budget that will see a $7.66420 per $1,000 levy for urban areas and a $10.51430 per $1,000 valuation for rural areas. The levy is a 4.28 percent increase and was criticized by Brian Hora, Ainsworth, as being a full one percent higher than last year’s.

We held it as tight as we could

Hora said, “It is not a wise time” to be seeking more money with property tax increases, especially with carryover money.
Chairman James Miksch said the board did not take it lightly to ask for more property tax and that the county’s fund balance is lower than that recommended by the state, despite “1.9 million may seem like a lot.”
Hora, referring to the county road situation, asked how the county would spend less on them. He suggested that more cuts should be made the budget “should be tighter.”
“We held it as tight as we could,” said supervisor Adam Mangold, noting that when it comes to road use funds that problem rests with the state, especially legislators and the governor.
County Auditor Bill Fredrick noted that a major consideration is relocating the Public Health Department, the first step of which is developing a plan for where and how to house the department for which $125,000 has been allocated. Fredrick explained that this is from carryover designated for Public Health.

submitted by Carol Riggan
Helen Popham, a resident of Riverside for 37 years, wanted to add her talent to the 25th Anniversary of Trek Fest by making commemorative crockery.  …

By Mary Zielinski
Bids for bridge replacement and concrete overlay on Vine Avenue (old Highway 218) came in April 21 $140,285 below estimate for the two projects. As a result, Tuesday, May 12, the Washington County board of Supervisors awarded contracts …

1931 - 2009
Robert Murdock, 78, of Conesville, Iowa, died Sunday, April 26, 2009, in the Lone Tree Health Care Center, Lone Tree, Iowa, following an extended illness.
Graveside services were held Wednesday, April 29, 2009, in the Conesville Cemetery. Rev. Linda Nicklin officiated. In lieu of flowers, a general memorial fund has been established. Sympathy notes may be left for Mr. Murdock’s family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.

1916 - 2009
Dorothy Louise Musser, 93, of Lone Tree, Iowa, died Tuesday, April 21, 2009, in the Lone Tree Health Care Center.
Funeral services were held Friday, April 24, 2009, in the United Presbyterian Church, Lone Tree. Pastor Debra Lind-Schmitz officiated. Burial was in the Lone Tree Cemetery. The Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services was in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be directed to the Lone Tree Fire and Rescue or Amenity Hospice of Cedar Rapids. Sympathy notes may be left for Mrs. Musser’s family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.

The Highland coed soccer team won its first game ever April 21, 4-2, in a shootout after two scoreless overtimes.
The score was 2-2 at the end of regulation. There was no score in two overtimes. In the shootout, Highland goalie …