High winds hampered Salem firefighters in their efforts to fight a blaze in that community Thursday. The Department was dispatched just before 5 pm to a house fire at 203 E. Van Buren. At that time it was reported that the side of the house was on fire and the fire was spreading quickly. Chief Steve Nichting said his crew had a good response time but the wind fueled the fire like a torch, creating a big problem. The house was destroyed. Chief Nichting said it was almost impossible to determine what started the fire but it could have been a wood stove. The department was back Friday morning early to keep the fire from re-igniting.
Downed Power Lines
Mount Pleasant Community School District School Board Meeting
Date Monday, April 13, 2020 6:00 PM
Mount Pleasant Community School District: High School Media Center
Mount Pleasant, Iowa 52641
- Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Citizen Comments
5. Approval of Minutes, Claims, and Financial Report
6. Reports
a. Instructional Services
i. Continuous Learning Opportunities Update – Katie Gavin, Dir. of Curriculum and Instruction
b. Superintendent’s Report
1. School Closure Related Items
a. 2019-2020 Second Semester Grades
i. Underclassmen
ii. Seniors
b. Class of 2020 Graduation
c. Prom
2. 2019 – 2020 Statewide Free and Reduced Lunch Percentages
3. 2020 – 2021 Calendar Related : Homecoming
4. April 27 Work Session
5. iJAG Presentation – May 11
6. Legislative Update
c. Board Committee Reports
i. Finance
ii. Site – No meeting
iii. Policy – No meeting
7. Other Board Communications
8. 6:15pm – Public Hearing: FY21 Budget
9. Consent Items
a. Personnel
b. Open Enrollment
10. Unfinished Business
a. FY21 Budget Adoption (Motion)
11. New Business
a. Set Public Hearing Date for FY20 Budget Amendment – May 11, 2020, 6:15pm,
Mount Pleasant HS Media Center (Motion)
b. Consideration of COVID-19 Pandemic Pay Resolution (Motion)
c. Consideration to Approve FY21 Non-Certified Personnel Compensation Packages (Motion)
d. Consideration to Approve 2020 – 2021 Student Registration Fees (Motion)
e. Consideration to Approve 2020 – 2021 Hot Lunch Prices (Motion)
f. Consideration to Approve FY21 Budget Guarantee Resolution (Motion)
g. Consideration to Approve FY21 Physical Plant and Equipment Fund Spending Plan (Motion)
h. Consideration to Approve Penny Sales and Service Tax Fund Spending Plan (Motion)
i. Consideration to Award Pickleball Court Construction Contract (Motion)
j. Consideration to Approve Driver Education Service Proposal (Motion)
k. Adjournment
To join the meeting by phone:
| +1 470-207-8506 (PIN: 477221907) |
Steamboat Days 2020 Cancelled
Burlington Riverfront Entertainment to cancel Burlington Steamboat Days 2020
In these trying and uncertain times due to the spread of the Corona virus also known as COVID-19, the Burlington Riverfront Entertainment Board of Directors and the Burlington Steamboat Days organization have decided to cancel their annual June event, BRE presents Burlington Steamboat Days.
The City of Burlington postponed all events at city facilities through May 10, 2020, a 60 day window, upon a recommendation from the CDC to not have any events involving 50 or more people for that 60 day time frame. There have been several other announcements on limitations at both a federal and state level, the majority of which have been placed through the end of April with language speaking to the uncertainty of how soon the limitations will open up from that point moving forward.
BRE presents Burlington Steamboat Days was set to be held June 11th through June 13th with headliners, The Pork Tornadoes, Riley Green and Gretchen Wilson. A parade and carnival were also in the plans for this year’s event. After much discussion about the economic effects this pandemic has and could continue to bring to our area, the BRE Board and Steamboat Days organization feel it would be irresponsible as community organizations to continue with the event especially with the unforeseen future and concern for the health of event attendees.
Discussion and plans for the event in 2021 are already underway. Thank you to the Greater Burlington and surrounding areas for supporting Burlington Riverfront Entertainment. We send you all well wishes and look forward to seeing you in the future. Be safe and stay healthy!
Anyone who has purchased tickets for this year’s Steamboat Days event online through Ticketmaster.com will be notified by email and will receive a refund. Anyone who purchased tickets at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium box office can receive their refund once the city allows the building to be open to the public. Once that happens, the box office will be open Tuesday-Friday 10:30am-4:30pm.
No Parking Expanded Around Water Tower
The Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities would like to inform the community that on Monday, April 13, work will begin on the exterior of Water Tower A located in the downtown City parking lot between S. Jefferson and S. Jackson Street. The exterior of the tower will be power washed and repainted. The project is expected to be completed in approximately two weeks, weather permitting.
As a precautionary measure, the following areas located adjacent to the water tower work site will be closed to public parking:
- City Parking Lot between S. Jefferson and S. Jackson St.
- The 100 block of S. Jackson Street (as needed)
- Alley between S. Jefferson and S. Jackson St.
- Parking area behind 220 W. Monroe (Old City Hall)
- The VFW parking lot on S. Jackson St.
- Smith Tax Enterprises at 301 W. Washington
The Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities regrets any inconvenience that this planned maintenance project will cause. For questions or additional details, please call our office at 319-385-2121.
West Point City Council Meeting Agenda
TENTATIVE AGENDA
City Council of West Point, Iowa
Regular Meeting at American Legion*
309 – 5th Street, West Point, Iowa 52656
Monday, April 13, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.
*Please note: Location change due to COVID19 social distancing necessity
- CALL TO ORDER
- ROLL CALL
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION BY COUNCILOR LOVING
- APPROVAL OF AGENDA
- OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL
- Mini Tractor Pull, South Park
- PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT REPORT
- POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT
- MAYOR’S REPORT
- CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
- CITY COUNCILOR’S REPORT
- OLD BUSINESS
- NEW BUSINESS
- Resolution No. 778-20, “A Resolution to become a Member of the Southeast Iowa Safety Group (SEISG) and Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU) 28E Agreement for the City of West Point, Iowa”
- Windstream Communications Right-of-Way application, pole attachments
- Windstream Communications Right-of-Way application, buried fiber optics
- Set Public Hearing on Budget Amendment for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 (FYE20) for May 11, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. at Public Library; and, Publish Notice of Public Hearing in Daily Democrat
- e) Liquor License Applications
- Aggie’s on the Square (Outdoor Service; Exp: 4/30/20)
- MONTHLY REPORTS
- Minutes of Regular Council Meeting of March 9, 2020
- Treasurer’s Report for March, 2020
- Warrants Payable for April, 2020
- OTHER BUSINESS
- ADJOURNMENT
Help for Farmers During this Difficult Time
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offers multiple resources to help Iowa’s farmers during this difficult time
AMES, Iowa – As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact agricultural markets and supply chains, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has resources that can help.
“We are seeing the financial crunch hit across all of agriculture,” said Chad Hart, associate professor in economics and extension grain markets specialist with Iowa State University.
Resources
Hart said one of the resources Iowans are turning to are the farm financial associates, who volunteer with the Farm Financial Planning Program at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
There are six financial associates who cover the state, with backgrounds in banking and lending. The associates work with farmers on individual financial plans and advising.
Another resource is the ISU Extension and Outreach Farm Management team. A combination of eight field specialists and 10 state specialists are available to help farmers with financial and risk management options, understanding government programs, business planning, marketing and environmental management policies.
Hart said the pandemic is causing significant market declines in both crop and livestock sectors. The crop markets have seen as much as a 10% price decline, and 20% in livestock.
Hart reminds Iowans to follow the updates and budgeting tools found in the monthly editions of Ag Decision Maker, and to take advantage of the Livestock Enterprise Budgets for Iowa, as producers track the rapidly changing markets.
Agronomic information is available on the ISU Extension and Outreach Integrated Crop Management website.
Hart said it’s also critically important for farmers and farm laborers to remain healthy during this time. That includes following the guidance of state and federal health officials, and seeking additional support if feeling stressed. ISU Extension and Outreach operates a 24/7 hotline called Iowa Concern, which is available at 1-800-447-1985.
With the passage of multiple federal stimulus packages, farmers and ranchers can review their options on the COVID-19 web page provided by the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation at Iowa State.
Looking ahead
As difficult as the last few weeks have been, Hart said he’s optimistic that markets will improve when we get beyond the pandemic.
“When you think about the underlying demand for our product, it’s still very good,” he said. “What the markets are signaling is once we get past this market disruption, there is reason for optimism again.”
The optimism lies not only with a healthy country, but also the implementation of the recently approved Phase I trade deal with China, which includes the purchase of $12.5 billion in additional agricultural products in 2020, and $19.5 billion in 2021.
Henry County Not on Thursday List
Additional COVID-19 cases in Iowa, additional deaths confirmed
DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been notified of 125 additional positive cases for a total of 1,270 positive cases. There have been an additional 882 negative tests for a total of 13,703 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs.
According to IDPH, an additional 2 deaths were also reported.
- Linn County, 1 older adult (61-80 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
According to IDPH, the locations and age ranges of the 125 individuals include:
- Benton County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 2 middle age adults (41-60 years)
- Black Hawk County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 middle age adult (41-60 years)
- Boone County, 1 middle age adults (41-60 years)
- Buchanan County, 1 middle age adult (41-60 years)
- Cedar County, 1 middle age adults (41-60 years)
- Cerro Gordo County, 1 middle age adult (41-60 years)
- Chickasaw County, 1 middle age adults (41-60 years)
- Clinton County, 1 child (0-17 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Dallas County, 1 middle age adult (41-60 years)
- Dubuque County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 2 middle age adults (41-60 years)
- Iowa County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
- Jasper County, 1 middle age adult (41-60 years)
- Johnson County, 8 adults (18-40 years), 12 middle age adults (41-60 years), 4 older adults (61-80 years)
- Jones County, 2 middle age adults (41-60 years)
- Linn County, 1 child (0-17 years), 7 adults (18-40 years), 6 middle age adults (41-60 years), 3 older adults (61-80), 1 elderly adult (81+)
- Louisa County, 4 adults (18-40 years), 6 middle age adults (41-60 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
- Marshall County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 middle age adult (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Muscatine County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 6 middle age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
- Polk County, 2 adults (18-40 years), 3 middle age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Scott County, 1 child (0-17 years), 6 adults (18-40 years), 2 middle age adults (41-60 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years)
- Story County, 1 middle age adult (41-60 years)
- Tama County, 3 adults (18-40 years), 9 middle age adults (41-60 years), 3 older adults (61-80 years), 2 elderly adults (81+)
- Washington County, 2 middle age adults (41-60 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
- Winneshiek County, 1 middle age adult (41-60 years)
- Woodbury County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
A status report of monitoring and testing of COVID19 in Iowa is provided by IDPH and can be found here. In addition, a public hotline has been established for Iowans with questions about COVID-19. The line is available 24/7 by calling 2-1-1 or 1-800-244-7431. The state of Iowa has started sharing the number of negative tests conducted at outside labs, and is providing additional information on the conditions of those infected with COVID-19.