Turket Trot-5K run

Better than the Turkey Trots you might get if your Grandma is a bad cook on Thanksgiving Day. Anyway, the Britson Park Committee is having a 5K run/walk fundraiser on November 10. Dress like a turkey if you want, otherwise take a nice stroll around Roland. The run that was held in March had 150 people. Good times had by all. Even if you don't run, help support Britson Park, take a walk around Roland, get some breakfast, help your health, and solve world peace.

Here is the link to the registration form.

Sept 19 Council Meeting

Had everybody at the meeting except Chad, who was out of state. We had to redo our resolution for selling the land north of the car wash. There was some confusion as to who was actually buying the land. We thought the contractor was buying it, but it turns out, he was just acting as an agent, and the eventual owner truly was buying it. No big deal, just had to get the "paperwork" straight.

In the public input we heard for the sheriff's department, like we do once a month. Generally we have nothing to report, and that is a good thing. If you have any concerns about the sheriff's department, or a law enforcement issue, you can let them, City Hall, or me or one of the council members know.

Since I have waited almost a week to post this, I don't remember any specifics about the department head's reports. I do know the sump inspections are moving forward.

We heard a presentation from JCG Land Services about potentially hiring them for land acquisition in the area of sewer trunk line, should we choose to do so. No decision was made on that.

And that is pretty much it, of note.

Need a P&Z Commissioner

We will soon be having an opening on the city's Planning and Zoning Commission. This is generally a very low time consumption city board. I think it went 2 or 3 years without a meeting, though I think they had 4 brief ones this year regarding the sale and development of the empty lot north of the car wash.

If that is your thing, drop me or City Hall a note.

Don't forget to schedule your sump pump inspection

Just a reminder to schedule your sump pump inspection. Call City Hall if you haven't yet. It was reported that 1/3 of the city still needs to get that scheduled. You are not required to do so, but if you don't you will be assessed a $100 a month sewer discharge service charge. Yeah it sucks, but when certain individuals are elected to state and federal office, they appoint people to regulatory agencies that may not have the viewpoints of normal people when in regards to environmental regulations.

So please schedule, it will help Roland out, and it will help your checkbook out.

Sept 5 Council Meeting

Haven't posted about this yet, as I have been busy with football. Watching or officiating. Good times, especially that Cyclone victory.

Anyway everybody was there in one way or another. CM Proctor attended via phone.

We had some public input that didn't sit well with me. A citizen expressed disappointment on our notifications during the water break, and the quality of the notices. Apparently our city webpage, Facebook, a posting at the post office, at City Hall, the city LED message sign by Casey's, 4 mobile signs placed at each entrance, the Ames and DSM newspapers, WHO and KASI radio, and the county emergency management webpage and Facebook page were not enough. We will do better next time.

We had some administrative stuff regarding our budget and road use money. I appointed, and the council approved Jennifer Boggs to the Pool Board. Thanks to Jennifer. That is one of those thankless jobs in the city. (Well, I said, thanks, not sure anybody else does).

We had a discussion regarding payment of a bill for soil samples for the trunkline project. We are going to pay a lesser amount, as we were concerned about the drilling on a couple of the holes.

The council also requested a firm to visit us at the next council meeting to potentially work with landowners in the area of the trunkline sewer. Not a done deal, but they were recommended as a possibility to take over some duties, considering the problems we have had accomplishing what we said we were going to do regarding this project.

Not sure what will come of that, but we will be talking to them in this public forum. The public is certainly invited to come to that council meeting.