City of Indianola -- City Update & IMU News

	GRANTS PAY A BIG PART IN CITY DEPARTMENTS
	IMU WATER DEPARTMENT RECEIVES AWARD
	ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT INSTALLS FIRST LED TRAFFIC SIGNAL LIGHTS
	BRAD BUTLER APPOINTED TO SECOND TERM
	IMU MAKES DEBUT AT PARAMOUNT THEATER
	ACTIVITY CENTER READY FOR RESERVATIONS
	MONTGOMERY RECEIVES EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARD
	SPRING CLEAN UP
	IMU ANNUAL REPORT ISSUED
	HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION - APRIL 7
	WASTE TIRE COLLECTION DAY - APRIL 22
	KEEP OUR CITY ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE
	Newsletter Archives

Indianola government relies heavily on grants for many of its projects and programs. Good examples include the Activity Center which received $90,000 to help finance the $200,000 renovation project, Skate Park which received $60,000 and Splash Pool which received $44,000. And its not just recreation programs and projects that benefit. Our Fire and Police Departments have been extremely successful obtaining grants for equipment and staff including Automatic External Defibrillators, paramedic training, in-car laptop computers and drug task force personnel.

Without the efforts of our department heads, including Steve Bonnett, Glen Cowan, RoxAnne Hunerdosse, Joyce Godwin and Todd Kielkopf, our tax rate would increase, or, the citizens would go without some of the public safety and recreational opportunities Indianola has to offer. Congratulations and thank you to all city staff who work hard to find alternative revenue sources to enhance Indianolas quality of life and keep our taxes affordable.

IMU is pleased to announce the Indianola Water Utility received the Iowa Rural Water Associations 2000 Award of Excellence and has been designated the Community Water System of the Year. A nomination was submitted in October and highlighted two events: 1) the irrigation pond project to the Community Athletic Facilities that is secondarily fed from a water hydrant on a force main and, 2) the adoption of a service theft policy designed to reduce and eliminate illegal water service connections. These two issues underscore the commitment of the IMU Water Utility to community participation as well as providing customer protections and efforts to keep rates at a minimum. A formal presentation was held on February 27, 2001 in Des Moines.

The first of the new LED traffic signal lights have been installed at the intersection of Highways 65/69 and 92. These LED lights not only are brighter but use only 10.5 watts compared to the 135 watts for the old bulbs. The lower electric costs for these new lights are predicted to save approximately $800 per year per intersection.

Future plans include replacing other intersection signal lights on 65/69 with LED lights.

At the start of the Board meeting on January 22nd, Trustee Clerk Todd Kielkopf administered the oath of office to Brad Butler to officially begin a second 6-year term on the Indianola Board of Trustees. Butler, who finished his first term in December 2000 is the owner of Butler Construction located in Indianola. Brad brings years of experience back to the Board for this 2nd term.

When you attend a movie at the Indianola Paramount Theater you will see a familiar logo during the pre-movie promotional. IMU has contracted advertising through this media in an effort to reach more customers as a result of customer satisfaction survey conducted in October 2000 that indicated customers feel IMU should better promote our Energy Efficiency Programs. The promotion at the theater will provide information on rebate programs and general information about Indianolas publicly-owned utility.

The City Hall Community Room is now available to rent through the City Clerks Office. The room was previously operated through Parks and Recreation Department but is now being reserved through the City Clerks Office for the publics convenience.

The Community Room holds up to 66 people and is equipped with tables, chairs, and a kitchenette. Refreshments are allowed, but no alcoholic beverages may be served in the Community Room.

For a non-profit organization, rental on weekdays is $15 for up to four hours and $3 for each additional hour (for nonresidents it is $35 for four hours and $5 for each additional). On Saturday and Sundays, rental is $30 for up to four hours and $3 for each additional hour (for nonresidents, $35 for four hours and $5 for each additional). Non-profit organizations are family, religious, political, philosophical, and brotherhoods/sisterhoods groups.

For profit organizations, weekday rental is $35 for up to four hours and $4 for each additional hour (nonresidents, $45 for four hours and $5 for each additional hour). On Saturday and Sundays, rental is $50 for up to four hours and $5 for each additional hour (nonresidents, $60 for four hours and $5 for each additional). Profit organizations are for financial benefit functions.

In all cases, an additional $50 damage deposit and the rental fee is to be paid within five working days after reservation is made. Call City Hall at (515) 961-9410 or stop in at 110 North First Street to make a reservation.

Indianola Parks and Recreation is now taking reservations for rooms in the new Activity Center. Three rooms are available for the public: the Buxton Multi-Purpose Room, the Shull Conference Room, and the Senior Center Arts and Crafts Room.

The Buxton Multi-Purpose Room seats up to 288 people and includes eight-inch high portable stage risers, lectern with public address system, projector screen and stand, dry marker board, electric outlets, and an emergency telephone. A kitchen is also available for no extra charge. This room is available Monday through Friday from 5:15 p.m.-12:00 midnight and Saturday, Sunday & City Observed Holidays from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 midnight. Rental costs for the multi-purpose room are as follows:

Resident / Nonresident:
$10 / $10 per hour Preparation and setup/cleanup time
$30 / $33 per hour Activity time for groups of 50 or less
$40 / $43 per hour Activity time for groups of 51-99
$45 / $48 per hour Activity time for groups of 100 or more

Extra Costs:
Damage Deposit-$100 due within seven days after reservation is made and is refunded the next working day after the rental.

Special Beverage Deposit-$100 due at the time the rental agreement is signed at least ten days prior to the reservations and is refunded the next working day after the rental. The renter must hire a City of Indianola police officer when there is special beverages, live entertainment, or when event is open to the public.

The Shull Conference Room and the Senior Center Arts and Crafts Room are available for rental on Monday through Friday from 5:15 p.m.-9:00 p.m. and Saturday, Sunday and city observed holidays from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Shull Conference Room will seat up to 14 people and includes a projector screen, dry marker board and coat rack. Rental rates for these rooms are as follows:

Resident / Nonresident:
Youth Groups & Nonprofits: $10 for up to 2 hr / $13 for up to 2 hr.
$5 each additional hr / $8 each additional hr.
Seminars & Profits: $20 for up to 2 hr / $23 for up to 2 hr.
$10 each additional hr / $13 each addition hr.

Extra Costs:
Damage Deposit-$50 due within seven days after reservation is made and is refunded the next working day after the rental.

Reservations will be taken on a first come, first served basis and can be made at the Indianola Parks and Recreation office, 2204 W 2nd Ave, Indianola.

The annual city awards banquet was an exciting one for Stephanie Montgomery, receptionist for Indianola Municipal Utilities. Stephanie received the City of Indianola/Indianola Municipal Utilities employee of the year award.

Stephanie began work for IMU in January of 2000. Her duties as receptionist include handling incoming telephone calls, visitors and directing inquiries to the proper source. She also monitors office activities, keeps a log of utility-related calls, processes claims and time sheets, completes monthly fuel cost reports, and other miscellaneous tasks.

When asked what she enjoys most about her job, Stephanie responded, I enjoy the people I work with. It is never really dull; there is always something going on, especially during the summer.

Stephanie is currently a student at AIB and will graduate in May with a degree in business management. She plans to stay with IMU after graduation in hopes her position will turn to full-time. Stephanie and her husband, Shawn, were married last June and reside in Milo.

The 2001 annual spring clean up dates have been set for April 16 through 28. Refuse and brush that are placed on the parking by 7:00 A.M. will be picked up and hauled away at the citys expense. Items placed on the curb after the hauler has been in the area will not be picked up!!! The following policies have been established to ensure a safe, efficient cleanup that is consistent with the original concept:

Please watch the Record Herald, The Leader and Channel 7 as to what days your refuse and brush will be picked up.

Only large items such as refrigerators, furniture, water heaters, etc. that are not picked up through weekly service will be picked up.

Items that are bulky and difficult to handle, such as swing sets, must be cut up or dismantled into smaller pieces.

Construction materials, including concrete, from building renovations and refurbishing will not be picked up.

Oil based paints and other household hazardous waste may be taken to the Warren County Fairgrounds on April 7th from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

Batteries may be taken to G&D Auto Electric & Radiator506 E. 2nd Ave.

Trash and refuse that is normally handled by refuse haulers during weekly pickup will not be picked up.

This service will be provided for residential, trailer courts, and apartment dwellings only, not commercial businesses (including apartment owners.

Please watch the Record Herald, The Leader and Channel 7 as to what days your refuse and brush will be picked up. Should you have any questions or comments, please contact City Hall at 961-9410.

IMUs annual report for 2000 was mailed to all Indianola residents in February. This years report centers on the installation of the 2nd combustion turbine which was IMUs major project for 2000. If you did not receive an annual report, additional copies are available at IMU at 111 South Buxton St., or at City Hall.

The South Central Iowa Landfill and the Metro Waste Authority are co-sponsoring this springs annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection. Materials will be collected, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, April 7th at the Warren County Fairgrounds. Materials collected include oil-based paint and solvents, auto products, household cleaners, workshop products such as roofing tar and glues, garden products and aerosols. Items not accepted include latex paint, used motor oil/oil filters, antifreeze, lead acid batteries, ammunition, explosives, asbestos and non-hazardous waste items such as laundry detergents, soaps, bleach and alkaline batteries.

Please call the city hall at 961-9410 for a complete listing or questions regarding the hazardous waste collection.

Warren County Environmental Health will once again sponsor a Waste Tire Collection Day on Saturday, April 28, 2001 from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon at the Warren County Fairgrounds. Warren County residents may bring their waste passenger and light truck tires to the fairgrounds. The tires will then be transported to U.T. Tire Recycling in Des Moines. There will be no charge for this service.

Recycling plays an important role in keeping our community environmentally safe and controlling waste at the South Central Iowa Landfill. Participation in the citys recycling program is small in cost and big in benefits.

Sixty-three percent of Indianola residents actively participate in the citywide recycling program, which costs only $2.00 a month per household. Residents are provided with a container to hold all their recyclable items. In 1999, the average household recycled about seven and a half pounds per week. In 2000, that figure increased to about eight pounds per household per week.

McCoy Sanitation of Indianola does curbside pick up one day a week in each neighborhood and then distributes the recyclables to two facilities in Des Moines. Cardboard and newspapers are taken to Rock Tenn; and plastics, tin, glass, and other papers, such as magazines, are delivered to Warehouser.

The following is a list of what can and what cannot be recycled.

Recyclable Items:
Glassclear, green, or brown glass. Clean and remove labels, caps, lids & rings
Newsprintloose or bundled with ties or in bags
Magazinesseparate from newsprint
Plasticsrinse and remove labels, remove caps and metal rings. Look for codes 1-7 on bottom of containers
Cansclean food and beverage cans, and metal end of juice cans only
crush cans and remove labels
Telephone books are accepted
Cardboard is accepted
Non-recyclables:
Glassno windows, ceramics, dishes, light bulbs or broken glass
Plasticsno motor oil or containers, herbicide containers, styrofoam
Plastic bags, film or toys and no pipe
Cansno paint or aerosol cans

All recyclable materials placed in the tote will be picked up once a week. If you are unaware of which day of the week recycling is picked up in your neighborhood, or would like to participate in the recycling program, call city hall at 961-9410 or McCoys Sanitation at 961-4962.