OCTOBER 6, 2020 VOLUME 1, NO. 5 City to fix intersection in Fairbank At the Sept. 14th Council Meeting, the City agreed to level the dips on East Main Street and Fourth Street North. The road work was awarded based on a $1,500 written quote from Kluesner Construction of Farley dated August. 14th. The project involves power sweeping, cleaning, and furnishing and placing asphalt to level the areas. In re- sponse to city staff comments, Kluesner Construction noted on the quote, “I think this will work better than milling along the edges. Milling will create a larger area for water to pond and (make it) more difficult to remove the snow.” City approves sharing police equipment The Fairbank City Council approved a sharing agree- ment for some police equipment “in the event Fairbank hired any police officers who are employed with Inde- There are many changes this year at the Wapsie Valley Junior/Senior High School, including this modern new look at the front main pendence …as authorized by Independence’s Chief of entrance.There Once are inside, many you will quickly changes notice a new this face on yearthe trophy at case the and a Wapsiestylish black and Valley gold lounge Junior/Senior area to the left. But it CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 doesn’tHigh stop there.School, Once you stepincluding into the gymnasium, this you willmodern notice all kinds new of updates. look So if you athaven’t the already front done so, makemain a pointentrance. to go out and seeOnce all the changes inside, . and watchyou the Wapsiewill Valleyquickly Warrior athletes notice in action. a They new are all havingface a great on season! the trophy case and a stylish black and gold lounge area to the left. But it doesn't stop there. Once you step into the gymnasium, you will notice allTHEY’RE kinds of updates. MAKING So if FAIRBANK you haven't already LOOK done GREAT so, make AGAIN! a point to go out and see all the changes . and watch the Wapsie Valley Warrior athletes in action. They are all having a great season! TrickTrick oror TreatTreat Fairbank will be having trick-or-treating for anyone Ted Vorwald recruited new help They'refor the Fall decorations who wants to take part. you seemaking around the town. Ted Hours will be 4:00 - 6:00 and Bob Bellis have done the decoratingFairbank for years, and this on Saturday, Oct. 31st year they had extra hands thanks tolook Mike Pint and NOTE: They'reJoe & Dianne Rubino. A big thankGREAT you to Doug and Janice Streets will be closed at the following makingMartins,again! and Neal Beck for intersections to provide a safe area donatingTed Vorwald the corn recruited shocks and new help for the Fall decorations you for the kids to walk: pumpkins.........andsee around the of town. course Ted and Bob Bellis have done the ~ Collins Rd. & Christians Trail FairbankTeddecorating Vorwald for for organizing! years, and this year they had extra hands thanks to Mike Pint and Joe & Dianne Rubino. A big thank ~ Sixth St. & Front St. youlook to Doug and Janice Martins, and Neal Beck for ~ Sixth St. & Forest St. donating the corn shocks and pumpkins.........and of course Ted Vorwald for organizing! GREAT again! Ted Vorwald recruited new help for the Fall decorations you see around the town. Ted and Bob Bellis have done the decorating for years, and this year they had extra hands thanks to Mike Pint and Joe & Dianne Rubino. A big thank you to Doug and Janice Martins, and Neal Beck for donating the corn shocks and pumpkins.........and of course Ted Vorwald for organizing! A2 - OCTOBER 7, 2020 FAIRBANK ISLANDER Birth Announcement THANK YOU Pastor Jacob Swenson and Special thank you to Jenna & Neil Beck his wife, Faith would like to for the bright pumpkins, and to Doug & announce the birth of their The City has added two parttime Police Officers son, Gideon Joshua. Gideon Janice Martin for the corn stalks that to our Police force. Mark Gudenkauf who currently was born at 11:07 PM, Sep- works full time for the Independence Police Depart- you donated for the decorations on ment and Drew Drish who works full time for the tember 1, 2020 at MercyOne DNR as a Conservation Officer. Along with Police Main Street. Hospital in Waterloo. He Chief Mike Everding, we plan to cover approximately Beck Greenhouses and Martin Farms weighed 7 pounds 15 ounces 50 hours of on duty police per week. We are happy to have helped us out for a number and was 21 inches long. welcome Mark and Drew to our Police Department. Gideon was washed into When my family moved to Fairbank in 1991, other of years to brighten up the waters of Holy Baptism Gideon Joshua Swenson than people working with the school, one of the first downtown Main Street. on September 13, 2020 at St. people to make me feel welcome was Pat Miller. It John’s Lutheran Church in Fairbank. didn’t take long to become friends. Over the years, We truly appreciate we officiated many events together including College your support! Thank you to everyone for your kindness as Pas- Football, Junior High and High School football, and tor and Faith welcomes this new bundle of joy! Junior High and High School basketball. I was hon- ored to be able to use one of Pat’s penalty flags at the football game I officiated in Riceville on September 25. There were some long road trips to get to games, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 and recommended amendments for the city to be but it was always fun having Pat along because of his compliant with the national flood insurance program great sense of humor. I cannot imagine how many Police” with verbal reference to Mark Gudenkauf, a and an ordinance update requirement from the Fed- hours I spent sitting on the bench in his store solv- part-time officer it hired last month who also works eral Emergency Management Agency. City Clerk ing world problems, or talking about something more part-time for the Independence Police Department. important like baseball. We played in golf tourna- Brittany Fuller told City Council she will input the Independence passed a 28e sharing agreement and ments together, including one this past summer. We suggestions into the 12-page ordinance for DNR re- were there to have fun and enjoy the camaraderie be- Fairbank City Attorney Heather Pendergast altered view before the council takes the needed readings and tween friends! About two years ago, we were the first the wording on the version before the council. votes to adopt the amended ordinance by Dec. 31st. two Friday morning breakfast customers for Costas The City doesn’t intend for the agreement to apply A flood map bearing a 2020 copyright crediting and from that meeting many others came in to join to firearms. The officer is actually using Fairbank’s USDA and Maxar Technologies is available on a geo- us. The community of Fairbank has lost a business gun and taser. The officer has been furnished with graphic information system (computer) overlay of man and friend. One who will always be remembered uniforms and none of the equipment will have the Google Maps at ifis.iowafloodcenter.org/ifis/maps, by his humor and love of life! Rest in peace my friend, word Independence displayed on it while being used I will truly miss you! under data. The GIS flood map shows Costa’s Sports by Fairbank. The agreement is termed to last a year Bar and Grill borders the 0.2% annual chance (500- and to renew automatically. It does not state signifi- year) floodplain. The 500-year floodplain also -bor cant monetary exchange, but leaves it open, noting ders on the parking lots of Don’s Truck Sales and Im- “for $1 and other good and valuable consideration” maculate Conception Church and up behind Woods and says Fairbank will repair or replace equipment Funeral Home, from locations marked on the map. damaged or destroyed by Independence officers How it varies from past maps was unclear. while serving Fairbank. The agreement will not in- “I was interested in why they said in the floodplain volve sharing of personnel such as if Independence you only had to have one foot above the 500 year needs help. The council adopted the item-sharing flood,” Councilman Ted Vorwald said. “That’s cutting agreement unanimously. it pretty close, could we change that if we wanted to? That’s probably standard.” “If you guys have any suggestions, otherwise just Fairbank updating letting you know what is happening,” Fuller said. “This will all get put into our ordinance and you’ll see floodplain ordinance that probably at the next meeting and we’ll go from Staff of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources t h e re .” looked over the city of Fairbank floodplain ordinance DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE ISLANDER IS OCTOBER 28 Tuesday, November 3, 2020 If you live in Buchanan Co. and your zip code is 50629, you will vote at: Fairbank American Legion If you live in Fayette Co. and your Woods Funeral Home zip code is 50629, you will vote at: Our family serving your family, since 1959 Oran Community Hall If you don't fall into either of these categories, 400 Lakeside Drive Fairbank you can find your polling place by going to: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/ 319-635-2207 pollingplace/search.aspx FAIRBANK ISLANDER OCTOBER 7, 2020 - A3 A Note from our Fairbank Island Queen by Melody Kayser I joined Kappa Delta Sorority and I Hello readers, have met some of the most incredible I am sorry for the inconsistency of people.