New Creations Fitness

Had a good time on Saturday at the open house at New Creations Fitness on Main Street in Roland. In case you were not aware, we have a new business on Main Street that can get you in shape. There are classes of various types, to get you in shape, improve your flexibility, or to burn some calories. I got to add some calories at the open house, by downing some hot dogs and chips.

The next set of classes start on November 7. Email owner Katie Helgeson for more details katie.newcreationsfitness@yahoo.com

Story on Britson Park Athletic Complex

A chili cookoff fundraiser is the kickoff for the start of the construction of the new Britson Park & Athletic Complex in west Roland. The Roland Park Board has developed plans for the new park which will provide a venue for fun and competition for years to come.
Britson Park was born in 2009 when the Britson family sold seven acres of land to the City of Roland for $13,000, which is substantially below the market value of seven acres of farmland. With that deal, the park was to be named for the Britson family. The park is just to the west of Britson Circle and to the southeast of the Roland Industrial Park.
The Britson family has been a part of Roland since before Roland was even a town. The Sjur Britson family was one of the original 12 families that settled what is now Roland back in 1856.
Jump ahead 155 years, and the Roland and Story City communities have seen a large interest in adult softball, and youth baseball, softball, soccer and football. Existing fields in the two communities have seen a large uptick in usage, and so the Roland Park Board decided to put the new Britson Park to use in relieving the strain on field time.
Initial conversations between the Roland Park Board and Roland City Council involved first using and grading the land to help prevent localized flooding during rain events. The City Council also authorized a new road through the southwest side of the park, which will provide quick access to the park, as well as providing an alternate outlet for the Logan Street neighborhood. In the spring of 2011, the land for the park was flattened, with a slope to a drainage swale.
In the meantime, the Park Board worked on the layout for the fields and playground equipment. Initially, the park will have two youth baseball/softball fields, as well as flat fields for use for soccer or football. There is also a concession stand/restroom and playground area. There will be parking for 25-30 cars on the north side of the park, with an entrance off Maple Street, and an additional parking area with an entrance off Arthur Drive.
The park will have two youth baseball/softball fields initially on the west side of the park, and there is room for a third, should usage continue to grow. With the two fields in Erickson Park on the east side of town, this also opens up the possibility of holding larger youth tournaments, and the crowds that accompany them.
The youth groups that will be using the fields have various amounts of money to help with completion of the park. The Park Board is also hopeful to obtain various grants to apply toward park infrastructure. But for the remainder, reaching out for donations and doing fundraising will finish off the job.
The Park Board hopes to start on parking lot work yet this fall, with field construction beginning in the spring of 2012. This will lead to availability of soccer and football practice in the fall of 2012, and baseball/softball in the spring of 2013.
To finish the project, from all sources will need about $150,000, with a lesser amount needed with volunteer labor for construction of the concession stand, dugouts, and landscaping. Donors contributing $100 or more can get a 4x8” brick with their name on it, to be placed on a walkway near the concession stand. $200 or more donors can get a 8x8” brick.
The kickoff fundraiser will be a Chili Cookoff on Saturday, November 19, from 5 to 8PM at the Roland Middle School. Confirmed celebrity judges are the Roland Rocket himself, Gary Thompson, Iowa State Head Softball Coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler, and Roland-Story Middle School Principal John Sheahan.
You can come to sample chili, or even better, enter your own in the contest. There will also be a silent auction, and sports related games and contests for the kids.
For more details on the Britson Park & Athletic Complex, how to donate, or details on entering your favorite chili, go to britsonpark.org.

Water trivia

Just got done reading the DNR report on our water system. Mostly a lot of blah, blah blah, but something interesting, at least to me. From January 2009 to August 2011 Roland averaged XXXXX gallons of water usage a day. Wanna guess?

93,000 gallons per day average. That was a relatively wet time period, so I'm guessing we are down a little bit. Previously we had been over 100,000. I think I dumped 2,000 gallons a day on my lawn in August of this year when our drought started.

BTW, that is about 72 gallons of water a day per person. I looked on the net, and mostly saw numbers for US residents from 80-100 gallons per day. A couple theories by me--we are dirty people that don't flush. Or, more likely, we are a big commuter town, and Roland really empties out during the day, so we are flushing other towns' water supplies for a good portion of our waking hours.

We still have plenty of water, so drink up!

Britson Park Athletic Complex Chili Cookoff

The Roland Park Board will be hosting a Chili Cookoff fundraiser on Saturday, November 19 from 5 to 8PM at the Roland Middle School. The money raised is for construction of the Britson Park Athletic Complex in west Roland.

The BPAC will have 2 softball/baseball fields, fields for soccer and youth football, as well as a playground area. Primary users of the athletic fields will be the youth softball program, North Story County Little League, Roland Youth Sports, and for now, practice space for the Chargers football program.

There will be five celebrity judges of the chili. Confirmed so far are the Roland Rocket himself, Gary Thomspon, along with Iowa State Head Softball Coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler and Iowa State Assistant Football Coach Bill Bleil.

More information will be forthcoming on how to enter. But even if you aren't a contestant, you can still come eat chili (or hot dogs if you aren't a chili fan), participate in various games in the gym, or put a bid down on the silent auction.

Besides the food, games, and auction, there will be information on how you can donate to the Britson Park Athletic Complex. With larger amounts, you can receive a brick with your name on it to be placed near the concession stand.

HERE is a link to a drawing of a layout of the park. The initial phase will be to build only the 2 fields to the west. The 3rd field to the northeast could be built if there becomes a need. For now it will be flat land for soccer or football.

So don't forget, come to compete, or just eat, on Saturday, November 19. Watch for more details on how to enter.

Council Meeting October 10

I didn't do an update for the October 10 council meeting because I wasn't there. But I heard it took 11 minutes. There are never 11 minute council meetings when I am there.

Ed Nerem

Just wanted to mention, in case you were not aware, of the passing of Ed Nerem. Ed was our city's main park employee, and he was tasked with keeping our parks looking good. And they certainly did. Ed is also one of those people that lived pretty much his whole life in Roland. Those folks are important to keep the ties to the past, and telling the stories of Roland from days gone by.

HERE is his obituary from the Tribune.

Roland from the air

Here is a pic of Roland taken from the air late this summer. It was taken by Justin Hanson and forwarded to me by Steve Hanson. Nice to see Roland in summer green!

Click on the pic to see it in larger format.

Britson Park fundraiser

Details still be worked on, but save the evening of Saturday November 19 for a Britson Park fundraiser. It is going to be a chili cookoff competition, with some sports games and a silent auction planned as well. So if you like cooking chili, keep that in mind.

The money raised will be used for development of the park. Again, the planning is in the early stages, but save the date!

Job Opening for Roland City Clerk

The City of Roland (population 1284) seeks a full-time City Clerk. CMC or CMFO and 5 years municipal experience preferred. Possess all aspects of city records management and government accounting & budgeting. Send resumes to Mayor Roger Fritz, City of Roland, 202 E Ash Street, Roland, Iowa 50236. Visit www.cityofroland.org for city information and job description. Applications due 10/31/11.

HERE is the job description.

Deneen's Retirement Party

The City of Roland is having an Appreciation Day for retiring city clerk Deneen Frost on Thursday, October 6 at the Community Center on Main Street from 3 to 6 p.m.

This in honor of the 16 dedicated years she has given the city in her position as City Clerk. The public is invited to come and celebrate her service to the community. If you wish to send a card, please send it to City Hall, 202 E. Ash St, Roland, IA 50236.