Coldest Temperatures Since 1996 Cause Limited Problems
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The Grundy Register Thursday, January 9, 2014 Serving Grundy County since 1928 Grundy Center, Iowa Volume 90 – Number 2 www.TheGrundyRegister.com $1.00 Newsstand Price Riekena elected chair of Board Council bids farewell to Mayor Van Wert By JOHN JENSEN of Supervisors The Grundy Register By JOHN JENSEN GRUNDY CENTER — The new The Grundy Register shape of the Grundy Center City GRUNDY CENTER — The Council went into effect Monday, Grundy County Supervisors Dec. 30 and Monday, Jan. 6, with approved annual committee outgoing Mayor Rex Van Wert appointments and elected a new saying his goodbyes to Council chair and vice-chair during last members and city leaders, and new Thursday’s organizational meeting. Mayor Brian Buhrow being sworn Harlyn Riekena was elected into office. chairman of the board, replacing Jim Ross, while Mark Schildroth was The Dec. 30 meeting saw elected vice-chair. Council approvals of liquor licenses BRIAN BUHROW County Attorney Kirby Schmidt for the west Casey’s General Store presented the annual assessment of as well as Scotty’s Saloon and Funding cuts, County compliance of the Red Flag Johnny Ray’s, as well as acceptance Rule, which helps prevent identity of the November Treasurer’s and infrastructure theft, noting that he feels the County Investments Report. does not need a written rule to be Following business proceedings, issues concern in compliance. He added that the Van Wert swore Buhrow into county should continue to review office as mayor, Councilmen Dave new mayor this policy annually. Steffl and Chad Hamann into their By JOHN JENSEN The Board authorized Auditor positions and Dennis Westerman The Grundy Register Rhonda Deters to issue warrants in onto the Park Board. GRUNDY CENTER — vacation of the Board, designated Council members, Police Chief Upcoming state budget cuts and the County Engineer Gary Mauer upcoming infrastructure projects are Brock Gilbert and Public Works to approve Farm-to-Market the largest areas of concern for new construction projects, authorized Director Dan Bangasser thanked Grundy Center mayor Brian Buhrow Riekena to sign standard DOT Title Van Wert for his years of service as Members of the Grundy Center City Council presented outgoing Mayor Rex Van Wert with a plaque honor- as he enters his first term in office. VI Assurances and the Title VI mayor. ing his years of service to the city. Pictured with Van Wert are (left to right) Council members Chad Hamann, Buhrow, who was sworn into Non-Discrimination agreement The Jan. 6 meeting saw the Council Dave Stefl, Janetta Miller, Al Kiewiet and new Mayor Brian Buhrow. (John Jensen/The Grundy Register office last Monday, said tax cuts between the Iowa Department of approve mayoral appointments of photos) passed by the Iowa legislature a year Transportation and the County. Bangasser, Gilbert and City Clerk moved underground this year or ago could hit cities hard. Gale Petersen will was selected Kristy Sawyer. Sawyer had been whether only the portion of the “It’s going to create problems for to replace Iner Larsen on the acting as clerk since the resignation sidewalks affected by the work us making sure that our budget’s in County Compensation Board while of Rich Riesberg last year and has will be replaced. Hamann asked if line,” he said. Supervisors named The Grundy completed certification classes. businesses had expressed concerns Last year the legislature passed the equivalent of a 10 percent tax Register, (Conrad) Record and Council also discussed the about the project affecting their cut on commercial properties. Reinbeck Courier as its Official upcoming Grundy Center street customers, and Bangasser said he Newspapers and approved the list of Beginning in fiscal 2015, businesses lighting project. Bangasser said has yet to receive comments but that bank depositories that will be used will pay property tax on 95 percent of it is also still early in the process. for County Funds. there are some questions about their assessed value. In fiscal 2016, It also approved numerous sloping requirements on sidewalks Council spoke briefly about the that number drops to 90 percent. In appointments to County boards and so that the City complies with the vacancy created when Buhrow was addition, Buhrow said businesses committees. Americans with Disabilities Act. sworn in as mayor, noting that a that have a residential component, Supervisors also had a lengthy He said it is still to be determined public notice is being published this such as downtown businesses that executive session with Schmidt to whether entire sidewalks will be week announcing the intention to fill have apartments above them, will be able to apply the higher residential review condemnation proceedings replaced when the city street lights the vacancy by appointment at the Mayor Rex Van Wert swears Dennis Westerman into his position on the rollback to that portion of their for the Zenor, Inc.-owned property are replaced and utility lines are next Council meeting, Jan. 20. Grundy Center Park Board. at the corner of H Avenue and property. He said this will also affect Seventh Street. Following the businesses such as Arlington Place session, Supervisors passed a motion and the Pheasant Hollow apartment directing Schmidt to see if Zenor complex. Inc. was represented by counsel. Coldest temperatures since The new mayor said he hopes to overcome the loss of tax base Supervisors also presented without raising taxes, though he County Treasurer Brenda J. could not guarantee taxes will not Noteboom with an award for her 15 eventually go up. years of service to the county. “I don’t want to raise anybody’s The Supervisors did not meet 1996 cause limited problems taxes,” he said. “We have several Monday. By JOHN JENSEN said wind conditions moderated fixed-income people in town so we The Grundy Register enough by Tuesday morning that it don’t want to raise them. GRUNDY CENTER — was safe for students to be outside. “I don’t think we’ll see a huge Monday’s extreme cold snap was Monday’s day off was the first (budget) change for fiscal 2015, but What’s the most significant to hit the area in weather-related one of the school we’re going to have to start planning more than 15 years, though problems year and will be made up Feb. 17, for the future, “ he added. “Nobody caused by the temperatures were which is normally a school vacation wants to raise taxes but if we have to Happening somewhat limited according to local day for President’s Day. Murra said do it … “ officials. one more possible makeup day is on Before taxes are raised, Buhrow Official low temperature readers the school calendar in April before said each city department is Saturday, January 11 reviewing expenses to see what, if of 19 degrees below zero in Grundy days need to be added to the end of Grundy County Wellness Fair anything, can be trimmed. The city Center both Sunday and Monday the school year. has already made one change, opting Grundy County Memorial Hospital were the coolest since 1996 but Grundy Center Public Works 7-10 a.m. not to replace one employee who failed to reach record levels for featured a different problem left, instead using a part-timer to Monday, January 13 those dates, which were minus-27 Monday morning, the first water assist with snow removal. NICL Vocal Festival on Jan. 5, 1924 and minus-26 on main break of the season. A police Downtown streetlights will Gladbrook-Reinbeck High School Jan. 6, 1912. Wind chill values officer notified Public Works be replaced this summer, though 7 p.m. Sunday night into Monday reached Director Dan Bangasser of the Buhrow said he is unsure whether 45 degrees below zero at both the problem at approximately 5 a.m. the city will choose to replace all Board of Supervisors Marshalltown Municipal Airport Monday and it took much of the day of the surrounding sidewalks or Grundy County Courthouse • 9 a.m. and the Waterloo Municipal Airport to fix the issue. Bangasser said the only the portion that is torn up for Pulmonary Support Group according to National Weather break was challenging to fix not only The thermometer outside GNB in Grundy Center told the story Monday the project, which, in addition, GCMH Education Room • 5 p.m. Service data. because of the cold the workers had ... it was minus-5 in the sun! (John Jensen/The Grundy Register photo) will move overhead utility lines It was the wind chills that prompted to endure, but also because frost in underground. Timothy Christian School Dinner Grundy Center Community School the ground made getting down to the Emergency Department did not see Rouse said if people are having Finally, Buhrow said the city Wellsburg Community Building District Superintendent Cassi Murra broken main challenging. additional traffic due to the cold problems with their car starting in continues to explore issues with 4:30 - 7 p.m. to call off classes Monday and delay “We worked in shifts,” he said. weather and that there were no cold weather, it is likely due to an its water system as some residents them two hours Tuesday. “We had some vehicles out there that reports of frostbite. underlying problem such as bad have reported seeing rust in their Grundy Center water. The city hoped to smoke test American Legion Meeting “With wind chills between 40 and we could sit inside and take some Bangasser said a couple of spark plugs or a bad battery. 50 below and advisories out that you the entire water system last fall, Grundy Community Center breaks from the cold.” residents also reported frozen water “If they had their fall maintenance can get frostbite in a few minutes, The Grundy County Memorial pipes and that there were also done, they’re probably not going to though freezing weather hit before Legion Room • 7 p.m.