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July 2000
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WASTEWATER CREWS TO CONDUCT I&I TESTS
I&I testing is being done on North G, North F and Detroit
Crews from the Water Pollution Control Plant are conducting foundation tests on residential buildings. Testing is being done on houses on North G Street from West Boston Avenue to West Euclid Avenue, the east to North F Street between West Boston Avenue and West Detroit Avenue and on Detroit to North E Street. The testing is part of the citys Inflow and Infiltration program (I&I).
Crews put a camera in the main line, then inject water over the top of the service line at the house. If an increase in water shows in the main it means there is either a cross connection between the houses perimeter tile and the citys sewer line, or, there may be a leaky service line.
According to Larry Kubli, Water Pollution Control Plant superintendent, the city is attempting to get clear water out of the sewer, or in other words, water that doesnt need to be processed. Processing excess water drives up cost.
Also, when there are heavy rains and a cross connection into the wastewater line, the excess water puts an undue burden on the system which can result in an unpleasant overflow of sewer that backs up into a residents basement.
If a residence is found to have a cross connection into the sanitary sewer system or a leaky service line, homeowners will be notified. Owners are responsible to make the necessary changes or repairs within three years of notification of a cross connection problem and within six months for a leaky service line. Failure to do so will result in a $15 monthly I&I fee added to the residents utility bill.
There is some respite, however, for property owners making these repairs. Owners that remove the cross connection in one year or less are eligible for either 20 percent reimbursement, not to exceed $400, or a 5-percent interest, seven-year loan not to exceed $2,000, to be repaid to the city through its utility billing system. Property owners that repair a leaking service line within three months of notification are eligible for the same benefits. Applications are available at city hall for residents to review.
For more information about the citys Inflow and Infiltration policy, contact Indianola City Hall at 961-9410 or the Water Pollution Control Plant at 961-9416.
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SALEM / ASHLAND UNDERGROUND CONVERSION
In conjunction with the street widening projects on Salem and Ashland, IMU replaced the electric service in the area and converted the service from overhead to underground. Placing these electric lines underground provides more reliable service by protecting the lines from wind, ice and tree limbs. In addition, moving the service from the back alley to the front easement will help alleviate accessibility problems in the event maintenance or repair is required. IMU has implemented a fifteen-year plan to place all electric services underground where possiblethe Salem and Ashland project is one of the many such projects to be completed in the coming years.
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AUCTION GETS PARK FUND RAISING SKATING ALONG
Despite a torrential downpour, an auction and raffle held May 21 in the old Hy-Vee parking lot netted about $6,200 toward the realization of a new Indianola Skate Park. Nina Lawler of Indianola might have thought it was raining pennies from heaven that day. She won the $200 raffle held in conjunction with the auction.
Sponsored by the Indianola Parks and Recreation Department, the auction and raffle is one of many skate park fund-raisers planned for the summer. The park, to be located in Memorial Park, will provide a safe place for in-line skaters and skateboarders to practice their sport.
Glen Cowan, Indianola Parks and Recreation director, estimates about $10,000 has been raised privately so far. That money will go toward the matching requirement of a $60,000 Recreation Infrastructure Grant. The grant money is a 2-1 match.
Funding comes from a variety of sources including $30,500 from the City of Indianolas capital budget, the Recreation Infrastructure Grant, fund-raising events and private donations. Project cost is estimated at $190,000-$200,000.
Community-wide support is needed to make the skate park become a reality. Besides contributions, volunteers are needed to help with several fund-raising events already planned and those in the works. Cowan said volunteers dont need to do several things, If theyd volunteer for just one thing, that would be super.
For those who cant volunteer, but would still like to support the park, tax-deductible donations may be made to the Indianola Skate Park Committee. Send donations to Indianola Community Parks and Recreation Foundation, Inc., Skate Park Fund, P.O. Box 299, Indianola, IA 50215.
For more information or to volunteer, call Bill Keeble at 961-4528 or Cowan at the Parks and Rec Department, 961-9420.
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G STREET SEWER PROJECT IS PROGRESSING
Residents on South G Street wont have to put up with inconveniences much longer.
The sewer project is progressing nicely. All pipes for the new system have been laid. Work is being done on South G Street from the 600 block to the end of the street and from G Street and West 12th Avenue to the trunk main on South K Street.
Testing on the lines has also been completed. There were a few problems that resulted in some areas being dug up again, but those have been corrected, according to officials at the Water Pollution Control Plant.
Residents along the new sewer line will be notified for hook up. Up to this point, residents have relied on septic tanks. They may still choose to use those tanks instead of hooking onto Indianola sewer. If they choose to connect, there is a $51.25 per frontage foot tap fee.
For more information on the G Street sewer project or other wastewater projects, contact Indianola City Hall at 961-9410 or the Water Pollution Control Plant at 961-9416.
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IMU ASSISTS WITH COMMUNITY PROJECTS
A new irrigation pond has been constructed at the Community Athletic Facilities with a donation from IMU. This pond will be used to water soccer, football and baseball fields at the facilities.
IMU donated labor and some materials to install new lights at the Little League ball fields. The old light poles were moved by IMU in 1998 from the old site and set at the new ball fields. The project also consisted of running wire and conduit and installing the light fixtures. The work was completed late this spring in time for the Little League season.
Electric service at the Warren County Fairgrounds was recently updated and improved. IMU donated over 200 man-hours to assist with this project. Fair goers this summer, as well as vendors and participants, will notice the improvements in various areas of the grounds.
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SQUAD CARS GET NEW LOOK
Vehicles in the Indianola Police Department are sporting a new look these days. The newest squad car on the block is flashy silver with blue details and lettering.
Indianola Chief of Police Steve Bonnett said there was no particular reason for the new paint job, just that it was time for a new vehicle and a new look as well. The silver and blue is a change from the current white and blue. Theres a new logo on the side, but the Indianola city logo with the balloon can still be found on the back of the new car.
City residents will also have to get used to new lights on the police cars. As of July 1 the lights on the right side of the light bar will be blue instead of the traditional red. According to Bonnett, the Iowa Legislature OKd the use of red and blue lights to bring Iowa into line with what most of the other state law enforcement agencies are already using.
Bonnett said that eventually all the cars in the department will have the new look including two new cars to be delivered in July. The current squad cars will not get new paint jobs, however. The new look will gradually be phased in as the department replaces its vehicles.
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NORTH JEFFERSON STREETLIGHT PROJECT
The decorative streetlights on Highway 65/69, north of Highway 92 are being installed. These lights are the same as ones installed last year south of Highway 92, only taller to light the four lanes of the highway. These new lights replaced streetlights that were over twenty years old and will save electric costs and improve lighting on the highway.
In addition to energy and cost savings, the lights are eye-catching and add an aesthetic impression for residents of Indianola and the traffic passing through town. The design was featured in an article by the Des Moines Register on May 27th and is just one example of projects completed by IMU to put Indianola in a positive light.
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ACCESS CHANNEL CHANGES
A reminder to all cable subscribers: Due to the change over from the Knoxville to Des Moines cable system feed, Indianola Government Access Channel 12 has been changed to Channel 7.
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FIRE DEPARTMENT ADDS COLOR TO HYDRANTS
Indianola residents may notice a little more color to their neighborhood fire hydrants.
The Indianola Fire Department in conjunction with the IMU Water Department is color-coding hydrants according to water outflow. The overall color of hydrants will remain yellow, but the caps and tops will be colored either red, orange, light blue or green, Indianola Fire Chief Brian Seymour said. The color-coding, a standard set by the National Fire Protection Association, tells firefighters how many gallons of water per minute a hydrant can put out. Each color gives a range of outflow by 500 gallons of water per minute: red is 0-500 gal./min; orange, 500-1,000; green, 1,000-1,500; and light blue, 1,500 plus.
The average outflow of a hydrant for a house fire should be about 500-1,000 gallons per minute. If firefighters arrive at a fire and see the nearest hydrant is not adequate, they can immediately hook up to another hydrant with adequate outflow. Seymour said that most residential hydrants fall in the red or orange code range. Light blue hydrants are typically found in commercial districts.
Because the coding is a NFPA standard, the same colors are used on hydrants across the country. Color-coding in Indianola has already begun. The painting should be finished by the end of the summer.
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INDIANOLA POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE TRADED SOON
They may not become an international sensation like Pokémon trading cards, but the Indianola Police Department will soon have their own cards for kids to trade and collect.
Indianola Police Chief Steve Bonnett said the idea for the cards has been around for awhile, but finally became a reality with a $2,500 donation from Community State Bank. Tim McConnell, owner of McConnell photography, is donating his services to take the officers pictures.
The trading cards are in full color with the Indianola Police Department shield in the upper left-hand corner and the officers picture on the front. On the back, instead of statistics, a short description of the officer and a personal message can be found.
Bonnett hopes to have the full set, 22 cards, in circulation by July 1.
The cards are a way to promote positive relations between the community and Indianolas police force, Bonnet said. Its gone over real well in other communities.
To find out more about obtaining and collecting these special edition cards, contact the Indianola Police Department at 961-9400.
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YARD WASTE COLLECTION PROGRAM
Waste Management of Iowa and the City of Indianola have joined together to develop a yard waste program. The program is user based and simple.
Purchase a yard waste sticker from Drug Town, Fareway, Hy-Vee, McCoys True Value or Wal-Mart for $1.60 each. Yard waste is then collected in a 30-gallon brown Kraft bag, also available at the above vendors, with the sticker attached. It also may be collected loose in a 20-32-gallon garbage can with the sticker attached to the handle of the can. Tree limbs should be no more than 5 inches in diameter, cut and bundled in 4-foot lengths, weigh less than 50 pounds and have the sticker attached to be collected.
The yard waste collection season began in April and runs through Nov. 30. For more information on the yard waste program, contact City Hall at 961-9410 or Waste Management at 265-5267.
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SESQUICENTENNIAL PARK MOVES FORWARD
Indianola residents wont have to look at the dirt and weed-filled lot located at the southeast corner of city hall much longer. The council gave the go-ahead to the project at its regular meeting June 5. Transformation into the Indianola Sesquicentennial Park could start as early as July.
Plans to build the park last year were put on hold when cost estimates neared the $600,000 mark. Veenstra and Kim, engineers working on the project, have since revamped the project bringing the total cost down to $77,000. Chuck Burgin, City Building Official, has worked on the plans and specs for the park, which were presented to the Indianola City Council June 5.
With approval given, the plans were sent to local contractors for bids that will be accepted until June 15. Final bids and specs will go before the council for approval June 19, with work to begin shortly after.
Burgin said much of the cost difference for the park comes from using more in-house work. Other changes that brought the price down include taking out the colored concrete, reducing the amount of other improvements around the park and not putting in a fountain at this time.
The park will feature brick walkways, a clock tower, benches, perennial beds and decorative lighting. It will be open for all to enjoy as well as to help beautify the North Jefferson Way corridor through town.
By the end of September, travelers on U.S. Highway 65/69 through Indianola should experience less congestion.
The highway, also known through town as Jefferson Way, will be widened to include a center turn lane. A new traffic signal will be erected at the intersection of Jefferson Way and Clinton Avenue while green turning arrows will be added to the signal at Iowa Avenue. Traffic signals will be synchronized to allow smoother flow, especially during peak commuting times.
The widening, from Girard Avenue north to just south of the intersection with Kentucky Avenue, is scheduled to be completed by September 30. February 4, 2001, is the deadline for completion of the traffic signals. The whole project, however, hinges on the city getting temporary easements from property owners along the proposed route. If the easements dont come through, the project may be scrapped temporarily.
Once work begins, the east lane of northbound Jefferson Way will be closed. Also, access to some businesses along the route will be limited.
Bids for the work will be received on June 15th with council review and approval on June 19th. If everything is in order, construction should begin after July 1st.
Widening Jefferson Way will help ease congestion on the heavily traveled route through town. It will also increase safety, especially at dangerous intersections like Iowa Avenue and Jefferson Way. Drivers will have a turn lane and lead green arrows so they arent forced to make a left-hand turns against cross traffic.
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IMU OFFERS CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONERS REBATE
Installing or replacing a central air conditioner this summer? Before you do, contact IMU for details on our air conditioner rebate program. By installing a properly sized, 12 SEER rated unit or better you could qualify for a $200 rebate. In addition, a 12 SEER unit compared to a 10 SEER unit will save as much as 10% on your electric consumption. Call 961-9442 for program details and an application form.
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DOG / CAT ORDINANCE
As a reminder, it is the responsibility of the owner or caretaker of every animal to remove all wastes deposited by his or her animal(s) on public or private property. Animals in violation of this Section are subject to the impounding procedures.
It is also unlawful for an owner of an animal to allow or permit such animal to pass upon the premises of another, without the consent of the party controlling said premises. If an animal is found running at large, the animal shall be seized and impounded. The owner will be notified within two (2) days after such animal has been impounded. Impounding fees and boarding costs will be paid, and the animal will be returned.
If you should have any questions please feel free to contact the police department at 961-9400.
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MEETING NOTICE
City Council Meetings
1st & 3rd Monday
7:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall
Council Study Committee
2nd Monday, 7:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall
Board of Trustees Meetings
2nd & 4th Monday, 5:30 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall
Parks & Rec. Commission
2nd Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.
Training Room
Substance Abuse & Risk
Behavior Commission
3rd Wednesday of Month
Library Board
2nd Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Public Library
Planning & Zoning Commission
2nd Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall
Youth Commission
2nd & 4th Monday, 7:30 p.m.
South Chambers, City Hall
Board of Adjustment
1st Wednesday of Month
Call City Clerks Office
To verify times and locations
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Newsletter Archives
May 2000
March 2000
January 2000
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