Author: Theresa Rose

Senior Farmers’ Market Checks Are Available for 2020
Due to COVID-19, All Distribution is By Mail Only
As part of a national initiative, Milestones Area Agency on Aging will again issue Senior Farmers’ Market checks starting
June 1, continuing through August 31—or until depleted—to low- and moderate-income seniors age 60+ for use at
approved local farmers’ markets.
Recipients are awarded 10-$3 checks valued at $30. The checks can be used June through October for fresh,
unprepared, locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and honey at participating farmers market vendors. Checks
cannot be used for eggs, nuts, baked goods, jelly, meat, plants, flowers, crafts, etc. Each person receives only one set of
checks per year.
Annual income requirements are $23,606 ($1,967.17 per month) or below for a single person and $31,894 ($2,657.83
per month) or below for a married couple. Both spouses may receive checks if each person is age 60+.
Milestones is the distribution agency for seniors living in Appanoose, Clinton, Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson,
Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Lucas, Mahaska, Monroe, Muscatine, Scott, Van Buren, Wapello and Wayne counties.
Due to COVID-19, all distribution will be conducted by mail only. Anyone eligible who received checks last year will be
mailed an application automatically. They will not need to call Milestones UNLESS their address changed from last year.
Anyone who did not receive checks last year but meets the eligibility requirements above, can call 855-410-6222 to
request an application be mailed to them. All recipients must complete the application form which includes signing a
statement of eligibility. The senior MUST sign the application form before sending it back to Milestones in Davenport.
Married couples need only complete one form. Proxies are allowed, meaning a person age 18 or older who can act on
behalf of the senior applying for checks. However, checks will be mailed to the senior’s address.
Once reviewed and processed, checks will be mailed to qualified applicants. Please allow at least 2 – 3 weeks for
processing and delivery.

MAY 12TH, 2020 – TUESDAY NIGHT – 6:00 P.M.
NEW LONDON COMMUNITY CENTER – 103 W. WASHINGTON ST.
1. CALL TO ORDER REGULAR MEETING: Mayor Pro Tem Kirk Miller
2. ROLL CALL: Travis Benz, Brad Helmerson, Dan Berner, Scott Campbell and January Benjamin
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
4. INVOCATION: Kirk Miller
5. PUBLIC HEARING:
a. Citizens questions and comments on resolution #307 amending the current budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020 (1)
b. Approve resolution #307 amending the current budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020 (2)
c. Citizens questions and comments on the proposal to enter into a Purchase, Sale, and Development Agreement with Tiger Properties, LLC related to Lot 6 in the Pine Street Subdivision, which includes the potential sale of the City’s interest in real property
d. Approve resolution #313 making final determination on potential sale of interest in real property and approving and authorizing execution of a Purchase, Sale, and Development Agreement by and between the City of New London and Tiger Properties, LLC related to Lot 6 in the Pine Street Subdivision (3-7)
e. Citizens questions and comments on the proposal to enter into a Purchase, Sale, and Development Agreement with Chad Sovern Contracting, Inc. related to Lot 7 in the Pine Street Subdivision, which includes the potential sale of the City’s interest in real property
f. Approve resolution #314 making final determination on potential sale of interest in real property and approving and authorizing execution of a Purchase, Sale, and Development Agreement by and between the City of New London and Chad Sovern Contracting, Inc. related to Lot 7 in the Pine Street Subdivision (8-12)
g. Public hearing on the proposal to enter into a Purchase, Sale, and Development Agreement with Chad Sovern Contracting, Inc. related to Lot 8 in the Pine Street Subdivision, which includes the potential sale of the City’s interest in real property.
h. Approve resolution #315 making final determination on potential sale of interest in real property and approving and authorizing execution of a Purchase, Sale, and Development Agreement by and between the City of New London and Chad Sovern Contracting, Inc. related to Lot 8 in the Pine Street Subdivision (13-17)
6. REPORTS:
a. Police Dept. (18-19)
b. Fire Department (Handout)
c. Public Works (20)
d. Parks & Recreation
e. Utilities (21-25)
f. Child Care (Handout)
7. OPEN FORUM:
8. CONSENT AGENDA:
a. Approve minutes of previous meetings (26-31)
b. Accept Clerk’s Financial Reports (32-34)
c. Approve Payment of Claims (Handout)
d. Zoning Permit: Sidney Schmitt, 104 Cypress Circle, shed & three seasons room (35-37)
Dave Geer, 106 W. Sherrie Lane, detached garage (38-43)
e. Tax Abatement: Tyler & April Thein, 401 W. Adams St., new house/garage (44)
9. OLD BUSINESS:
a. Appoint Travis Benz to fill the Council Member’s position through November 2nd, 2021
b. Approve contract with WEMIGA Waste for sanitation services through June 2023 (45-46)
c. Approve a proposal for audit services for fiscal years 2020, 2021 and 2022 (47-67)
d. Approve resolution #308 agreeing to become a member of the southeast Iowa safety group and IAMU agreement for the Municipal Utilities of New London, Iowa (68-84)
e. Approve resolution #309 authorizing the City Clerk to transfer funds for fiscal year 2020 (85-86)
f. Approve resolution #310 authorizing the City Clerk to transfer funds for fiscal year 2021 (87-88)
g. Approve resolution #311 adopting a City & Utility Contingency & Disaster Recovery Plan of Computer Systems (89-93)
h. Discuss the penalties waived for utility bills due April 27th, 2020 (94)
10. NEW BUSINESS:
a. Discuss and take action on the New London School District holding the 2020 prom and related activities at the City Park (95-96)
b. Approve pay estimate #3 for Blue Top Excavating for the sewer line extension in Phase 1 of the South Pine Street Subdivision (97)
c. Update on the sponsored project (98-102)
d. Discuss and take action on providing assistance to the New London Community Child Care Center and Preschool
e. Reappoint Wyatt Schroeder to the Planning & Zoning Commission with a term ending April 30th, 2025
f. Reappoint Tim Jacobs to the Planning & Zoning Commission with a term ending April 30th, 2025
g. Approve resolution #312 adopting employee hourly wages for fiscal year 2020-2021 and authorizing Implementation (103)
h. Discuss and take action on placing an ad to hire a full time police officer (104)
i. Mayor appoint City committees co-chair members (105)
j. Review open meeting laws (supplement)
11. MEETINGS:
a. Public Works Committee, May _______, 2020 at 6:30 a.m., Shop at WWTP
b. Public Safety Committee, May _______, 2020 at 6:30 p.m., Community Center
c. Regular City Council Meeting, June 2nd, 2020 at 6:00 p.m., Community Center
12. ADJOURNMENT
NEW LONDON CITY COUNCIL – OPEN FORUM NOTICE
The Open Forum portion of the New London City Council meeting is a time where the public is allowed to speak. This is a courtesy that is extended to you. During this portion of the meeting the following guideline will be in effect:
1. Upon being recognized by the Mayor, please stand if possible, and state you name and address for the record.
2. Unless you are a scheduled, approved organization making a presentation, you will have 3 minutes to respectfully express your thoughts. Guest organizations will be under the discretion and management of the Mayor as the presiding officer.
3. Understand that no formal motions or actions will be taken on items during this time. Your concerns may be forwarded to the appropriate committee for further considerations and/or discussion.
4. All comments and discussion will remain respectful in nature to all parties.
5. Similar topics will be acknowledged, and forwarded to the appropriate department. However, repetition of topics will be limited.
6. Any deviation from these guidelines will end you allotted time and you will be asked to be seated. Failure to abide by these guidelines may lead to removal from the meeting at the order of the Mayor and possibly charges of disorderly conduct if so warranted.
7. Your involvement on agenda items will be limited to the presentation of factual material as determined by the Mayor. This the Council’s time for dealing with matters and will not include public opinions or question and answer time; this is done during Public Hearings.

Series of “quickinars” to showcase basic lessons related to home food production, starting with video on garden preparation

AMES, Iowa – The COVID-19 pandemic has meant many changes and questions for everyone. More food preparation and mealtime at home, wading through the information of how to safely shop for groceries, and using the home as a classroom are all part of the mix.

On the positive side, the pandemic has renewed interest in gardening and food preservation. Gardening can improve food security, decrease the number of trips to the grocery store and provide a source of fresh, quality produce.

To help provide information to gardeners of all ages and skill levels, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will be hosting weekly Sow, Grow, Eat and Keep quickinars. These quickinars will be 5-15 minute online lessons of seasonally appropriate topics for the garden, food preparation, and food preservation.

“The quickinars will provide timely information. There is no time like the present, when social and travel is restricted, to grow your own food,” said Cynthia Haynes, Extension Specialist in Horticulture.  “The pandemic has provided us with time, use that time to reconnect with nature.”

Some of the upcoming topics include:

Garden preparation

Container gardening

Cool weather crops (lettuce, spinach, peas)

Freezer jams (rhubarb/strawberry)

Scouting for garden pests

Tilling and watering basics

Produce food safety

Gardening can provide a learning opportunity for children. Planning and planting a garden uses basic math and measurement skills as well as provides the opportunity to augment biology and science lessons.

Gardening also increases Vitamin D production due to the extra sun exposure to sunlight, decreases risk of dementia, reduces stress and increases physical activity. Gardening is also a great form of aerobic exercise. Pulling weeds, reaching for tools, twisting and bending will help with strength, stamina and flexibility.

Gardening is not limited to those with a yard. Whether you live in the city or the country, there are options available.

Container gardens provide those with only an eight-foot balcony the ability to grow their own produce. Almost any type of container can be used as long as it has drainage holes in the bottom and is placed where it can get 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.

For more information view the ‘quickinar’ at https://vimeo.com/409867990

For additional resources visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/humansciences/sow-grow-eat-keep.

Send your food or garden questions to sowgroweatkeep@iastate.edu.

Kinney & Sons will be removing Warren St. from Jackson St. on to Jefferson St today. They are waiting on Lisco to lower a fiber at the Alley between White & Jackson St. to today. Then they will be able to finish placing granular subbase between White St. and the Alley East of White St. Jones Contracting are trimming the subbase rock West of White St. and Once Kinney’s have placed all subbase rock between White & Jackson St. Jones Contracting will be trimming subbase rock on to the East as the subbase has been placed.. Kinney & Sons will be grading and placing subbase rock on to the East to Jefferson St. once the concrete is removed. Jones Contracting will be setting up to pave Warren St. West to East starting at the West end and pave to White St. then jump White St. and keep on paving East on Warren St. to Jefferson St. as soon as subbase is trimmed and weather is permitting.

TENTATIVE AGENDA

City Council of West Point, Iowa

Regular Meeting at American Legion*

309 – 5^th Street, West Point, Iowa 52656

Monday, May 11, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.

*Please note: Location change due to COVID19 social distancing necessity for public hearings

1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION BY COUNCILOR
4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
5. PUBLIC HEARING
6. a) Budget Amendment FYE20 hearing
7. b) Resolution No. 780-20, “A Resolution Amending the Current Budget for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2020”
8. c) Vacate Portion of Avenue C hearing
9. d) Resolution No. 781-20, “Resolution Approving Vacating of City Street”
10. OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL
11. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT REPORT
12. POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT
13. MAYOR’S REPORT
14. CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
15. CITY COUNCILOR’S REPORT
16. OLD BUSINESS
17. NEW BUSINESS
18. a) Liquor License Application

1) 4^th Street Bar and Grill (with Outdoor Service; Exp: 5/31/20)

1. b) Resolution No. 782-20, “Preliminary Resolution to Approve Variance for an Accessory Building in the City of West Point, Iowa”
2. c) Resolution No. 783-20, “Preliminary Resolution to Approve Variance for an Accessory Building in the City of West Point, Iowa”
3. d) Resolution No. 784-20, “Preliminary Resolution to Approve Voluntary Annexation of Property to the City of West Point, Iowa”
4. e) Website proposal
5. MONTHLY REPORTS
6. Minutes of Regular Meeting of April 13, 2020
7. Treasurer’s Report for April, 2020
8. Warrants Payable for May, 2020
9. OTHER BUSINESS
10. ADJOURNMENT