Pretty slow...

Not really sure why, but there doesn't seem to be a lot going in Roland lately. I'd like to update the blog with news or other stuff, but just not sure what it might be. If you have a community event, feel free to pass it along to me, I'd be happy to publicize it here. I also take care of the city Facebook page, so if appropriate, I'd post info there.

For usual city business, not a lot going on now. Just a reminder, I have a couple city board positions to fill, let me know if you are interested in doing something like that.

I do have one community event coming up this Saturday. There is a fund raiser this Saturday at the Middle School. Here is the info lifted from the Facebook page.

Liam is the son of Peter and Libbey Schmitt. He was born on June 17 at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin where he had his first heart surgery. Liam has a congenital heart defect and will require several surgeries. We will have a supper, games, and a live auction. More information will be added as it gets finalized. Mark your calendar now to come and support Peter, Libbey and Liam! HERE is the link to the Facebook page for this event.

Are you a small business owner?

Got this email. FYI if you think this fits you.... Dream Big Grow Here 2013

BY ADMIN, ON AUGUST 27TH, 2013

The Iowa Innovation Gateway is offering an opportunity for entrepreneurs and small business owners to receive a $5,000 cash grant to be used to help start or expand their business.

This grant, called DREAM BIG…GROW HERE, will be given to an entrepreneur or small business owner with 50 or fewer employees and is located in Jasper, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Poweshiek, or Story county.

In order to qualify for this DREAM BIG…GROW HERE grant, the entrepreneur must submit a proposal during the time period of September 3 through September 27, 2013. From October 1 through October 15, on-line public voting will be done to identify the top business ideas. The top four vote-getters and one wildcard will be given the opportunity to present their ideas to a panel of judges on November 13, 2013. The panel of judges will make the final decision and will award the DREAM BIG…GROW HERE $5,000 grant to the winner.

DREAM BIG…GROW HERE regional contest winners will be invited to participate in a statewide pitch-off this fall for a $10,000 grand prize judged and awarded at EntreFest.

The DREAM BIG…GROW HERE contest enables IIG to learn more about the region's entrepreneurs while providing them with an opportunity to promote either their proposed business or their dreams for their current business. The DREAM BIG…GROW HERE contest would not be possible without the support of Iowa Banker's Association, Renew Rural Iowa, Delta Dental, Iowa Economic Development Authority, Technology Association of Iowa, and VentureNet Iowa and our local sponsors DMACC Business Resources and Marshall Economic Development Impact Committee (MEDIC).

To submit your dream or learn more about the contest follow this link.

September 4 Council Meeting

Pretty quick meeting, and had everyone there except CM Hill. We talked about future street repairs and updates. The north block of Main Street and the street just east of Casey's going north from Maple will be getting asphalt updates. Then there are various repairs and crack fillings that we will be doing. In the City Clerk report we talked about the County Supervisors meeting Jodi and I attended to make a presentation for our grant request for asbestos abatement at 218 N Main (the old library building). We should know by October or so if we will get that grant ($12,500 we asked for)

A couple of quick resolutions were passed. We awarded the bid for asbestos abatement, and to authorize the Clerk to transfer some funds into savings. On that last part, it was money that was budgeted, but not spent. If the money was set aside for some future project, we simply need to do a resolution for moving it to savings.

We had more discussion on the sewer trunk line project. An idea was proposed by our city staff about changing the route of the line. We had always focused on Samson because we wanted to run down the back yards of those folks. But since that didn't work out, we just planned to go under the street. But after more pondering, if we were going to have to go to the expense of boring under a street, a thought was presented about taking it under Cottonwood. The distance is the same, and we would not have to cross the property (where we already have an easement) of one homeonwer, and one farmer. The existing trunk line would continue to serve pretty much everything west of Cottonwood. The new line would serve everything east, would cut down on 2 blocks of potential sewer line we were going to put in, and be prepped for any growth to the south or east of Roland. Sounded like a pretty good idea. Now we just need to know what the cost difference may be. So the engineer working on this project is going to shoot us an estimate on that, and we should know at the next meeting.

That was pretty much it, and we had a quicky, only 25 minutes. Next meeting is on the 18th.

Property Tax Bill

I just received my property tax bill, and I presume the rest of you did as well. A couple things of note if you didn't go thru it in detail. Of your total bill, the City of Roland takes 32.7% of it. The school takes 42%, the county 17.9, and the rest goes to a smattering of agencies.

I suppose it depends on your valuation, and any changes there, but my taxes went down (my valuation remained the same). That was primarily due to a decrease in the school's collection. That was nice to see. I know the school board has been working hard on funding and such. As a reminder, the school still does however collect a 10% income tax surcharge.

The City of Roland's collections went up 4.2%. We held our general levy rate the same, however our bond payment on street construction went up, and that is the difference. I haven't looked at everyone's new rates across the county, but last year Roland had the 5th lowest tax rate of the 14 communities in Story County. I would expect we will stay around there for the next fiscal year.

Aug 21 Council meeting

Had everybody there for this council meeting. As an aside, we took photos at the end to get on the city's new website. Not quite ready to unveil it yet. But I've seen the template, and it looks pretty good. It has a more modern look, and hopefully some updated information as well.

In department heads reports, we had some discussion about street repairs. We are in the process of getting bids for some crack filling. Also our new tractor was to arrive this week. I think the old one was about 12 years old or so. I'll try to get a pic of it on the blog sometime. City Clerk Meredith reported on the bids we got regarding asbestos removal at 218 and 220 N Main. We also had a report from Pool Board Chair Rob Coghlan on how the pool season went. Pretty bad event free, and the pool held water. (No leaks! We had a late start, but mechanically speaking, this was one of the best years in a long time)

The council approved a reduction in the sewer bill for a resident with a new home and had lots of watering his new sod. He had inquired about that before the watering began. The council was appreciative of that, and had a little discussion about creating a policy regarding sewer reduction on new grass watering, and other similar events.

We had some quick motions and approvals for me to sign the animal control contract with Story County, approving the road use report with the DOT, and approving a raise for City Clerk Meredith. She has recently received her Certified Municipal Clerk designation. Always nice to see people taking more training and becoming a greater asset to the organization they work for.

Got an update on the new sewer trunk line, which basically wasn't one, as not much as moved forward since the last meeting.

We also had a report from one of the Story County deputies. As our city's police force, they haven't been at the last couple meetings due to some misunderstanding as to when our council meetings were. They have recently changed our city's liaisons. We had some more discussion about the department's reaction and response to potential child abductions. Outside of this particular meeting, I recently met with Sheriff Fitzgerald. He mentioned that child abductions are his department's first response item.

Drifting away from the meeting some more, just a reminder that the Story County Sheriff's Department is our city's police force. If there is a police matter in Roland, be it crimes, issues with neighbors potentially breaking city ordinances and such, they are the folks to call. That's why we pay them.

I guess I got on a little tangent there, so back to the meeting, that pretty much wraps it up. Next meeting will be September 4.

Roland-Story All-Time football stats and records

Roland-Story Assistant Coach Jeff Janes has updated the all-time Norsemen football stats with the 2012 season. Now that the 2013 season is just around the corner, I'm ready to go. Just passing this along if you in the mood for football too. Always fun to look back and see some names on the list that still live around here.

A couple current players can move up the all-time list in a couple categories this season, as they were doing well as underclassmen.

HERE is the link.

My favorite tab to look at is all-time record versus various schools. R-S doesn't have a losing record against many, though a couple of those are on the schedule again this year.

Good times at the Roland Museum

Stopped down at the Roland Museum this afternoon with my son. I've been there before, but it's been a couple of years. Actually, I was there a week ago, but I couldn't stay long. On that trip, I was dropping off the baseball that was the first pitch thrown at Britson Park.

Anyway, on my trip today, I really enjoyed myself. I endorse going and stopping in and checking the place out. It is open on Sundays in the summer, from 1 to 4. So if you want to go, you have two Sundays left this year.

My favorite thing is looking at old yearbooks. They have yearbooks from Roland High School. As you thumb through them, you can find people that still live around here. Having only lived here 16 years or so, I don't remember the old school, but it is interesting to look at photos of the old school and imagine it sitting there where our current middle school is.

As mayor, something I found really interesting was the old city council minutes. I found a book with the 1899 city council minutes. It was kind of a hard read (especially without my glasses). It was written in cursive (good penmanship though), but that "old style" cursive is kinda hard to muddle through.

The trophy display is fun too. All the basketball and softball trophies from Roland High are there. There are some pretty sweet looking trophies.

So again, stop in some time and take a look. Even if you are like me, and not a native of Roland, it is certainly interesting to see historical Roland.

Finally, a thanks goes out to the folks that volunteer to maintain the museum, and sit there on Sundays to keep it open.