Mark your calendars for June 25-27th as the Iowa 4-H Youth Conference 2024 will take place at Iowa State University. The theme this year is “Explore the Jungle of Opportunities” in what should be an unforgettable journey. Registration opens on April 1st through 4HOnline. Stay tuned for more details, updates, and the chance to be part of this youth opportunity.
The following link provides more information: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/iowa4hyouthconference
The Festival of Lights 2023 saw 6,880 vehicles through December 31st, which is 701 vehicles more than 2022. Prior to COVID, 5,000 vehicles was the highest amount of traffic in a single year, with 9,000 vehicles in 2020 due to the virus.
The volunteers counted license plates and noticed vehicles from 33 different states and 70 counties. 5.6% of vehicles came from Illinois, while 2.1% bore a Missouri license plate. Some people chose a more unconventional form of transportation through the lights. 72 horse drawn wagon rides were offered to the public, with those tickets being sold out very quick.
220 sponsors made 2023 Festival of Lights possible with 160 displays. November 19th and 20th saw the “walk thru” nights bring in 1,400 paid admissions, which doubled from the previous year.
While we may have gotten lucky with relatively good weather in December, it seems that white Christmas might be arriving a couple of weeks late. NWS out of Quad Cities is reporting signals for a strong wintry system in our area for next week. While reports are preliminary, they are suggesting this storm will hit next Monday afternoon and persist through Tuesday night. There are uncertainties on snowfall totals, but it appears that this system could bring strong winds, which could lead to blowing snow. Stay tuned to KILJ in the coming week to stay informed on this potential storm.
The Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center was home to great joy and excitement on New Year’s Day, with Braxton Johnson being welcomed into the world. He is the hospital’s first baby born in the new year. Born at 4:08pm on Monday, January 1st, Braxton is the son of Tressa and Korbin Johnson of Mount Pleasant. He weighed 8 lbs. 15.8 oz. and was 22” long and was delivered by Dr. Anne Grieves. Congratulations to Tressa and Korbin!
Ahead of the 2024 Legislative Session, Representative Jeff Shipley (R-Fairfield) has been added to the Iowa House Labor and Workforce Committee.
“I’m ready to get to work on the Labor and Workforce committee this session,” Shipley said. “The workforce crisis is one of the most important issues facing our state and local economy. Iowa must address immediate workforce needs while also fixing this generational problem for the long term. Our overall success depends on growing our population and providing a high quality of life for young families. I’m looking forward to digging into these important topics and building consensus on solutions to move Iowa forward.”
In addition to his new role on Labor and Workforce, Shipley also serves on the Public Safety Committee and the Justice Systems budget subcommittee. He also serves as Vice Chairman of the Government Oversight Committee. This past summer, Shipley was also added to the State Children’s Behavioral Health Systems Board.
Rep. Shipley has also stated student discipline and children’s mental health to be a legislative priority, along with increasing salaries for teachers and Department of Corrections employees.
The 2024 Legislative Session begins on January 8th, 2024. You can send Rep. Shipley your 2024 Iowa Legislative priorities at jeff.shipley@legis.iowa.gov, or call/text 319 432 3108.
ity Hall/Council Chambers
PO Box 155
218 W Main St
Wayland, IA 52654
Phone: 319-256-3276
Fax: 319-256-3279
Regular Meeting Agenda Wayland City Hall @ 7:30 P.M.
MAYOR: Chet Fort
COUNCIL: Caylon DeVaul,
Travis Shelman, Kathie Grimm,
Jamie Roth, Chad Rohe
CLERK: Beverly Conrad
TREAS: Terry Kaufman
ATTORNEY: Lynch Dallas
January 3, 2024
1. Roll Call
2. Consent Agenda
Note: These are routine items and will be enacted by one motion without separate discussion unless a Council member requests an item be removed for separate consideration.
a. Minutes of December 20, 2023
b. Bills for Payment/Calendar Year Wages/IRS 2024 Mileage Rate (.67)
c. Treas. Report
d. Clerks Budgetary Report
e. Utility Dept. Report
f. Police Dept. Report
g. Firefighter Dept. Report
h. Building Permits
i. Annual Museum Report
3. Citizen Forum
The Mayor and City Council welcome comments from the public for items not listed on the agenda. You are asked to state your name and address for the record and to limit your remarks in order that others may be given the opportunity to speak. The Order of Business is at the discretion of the Chair. No action will be taken.
4. Unfinished Business
a. Consider Upgrades to Phone System
b. Ord. 19-2023 “An Ordinance Amending Chapter 65 (Stop or Yield Required) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Wayland, Iowa (2nd reading)
5. New Business
a. Request for WACO After Prom Donation
b. Appointments: Council Liaison to P & Z; Dept. Heads; Mayor Pro-Tem;
Clerk/Purchasing Agent/Zoning Administrator; Utility/Deputy Clerk; Treasurer;
Health Officer; Animal Control Officer; E911 and Emergency Management
Representatives
c. Copier/Printer Replacement Quote
d. Request for City Sewer Hook Up at 1161 Dakota Ave
6. Adjournment
Hunting seasons will begin closing soon in early January. Pheasant, archery turkey and deer seasons, and late muzzleloader deer season close on Jan. 10. Goose seasons start closing first in the north zone on Jan. 13, followed by the central zone on Jan. 20, and the south zone on Jan. 27.
The season for quail, partridge, ruffed grouse, and squirrels closes Jan. 31. Rabbit season closes Feb. 28.
The furbearer hunting and trapping seasons also close on Feb. 28. Furharvesters can continue trapping beavers until April 15.
Iowa hunters have reported harvesting 96,000 deer so far during the 2023 season.
2023 hunting, fishing and trapping licenses expire on Jan. 10.
HIP Reminder – Hunters who pursue migratory game birds are required to register for Harvest Information Program (HIP) either through the Go Outdoors Iowa app on their smartphone, through a link at www.iowadnr.gov/waterfowl or at www.gooutdoorsiowa.com and answering a few questions. Migratory game birds mean more than ducks and geese; it includes ducks, geese, coots, doves, woodcock, rails, and snipe.
Once registered, hunters will need to physically write a confirmation number on the line provided at the top of the license as proof of registration. The HIP registration can be found on the home screen in the GoOutdoorsIowa mobile app. Registering for HIP is a federal requirement for all migratory bird hunters.
Wildlife Rules Meeting – The Iowa DNR is busy reserving locations for its town hall-style public meetings that will be held in late February. These meetings are led by local staff who provide updates on recently completed hunting and trapping seasons, discuss possible changes to hunting and trapping rules and regulations, and address other topics as requested. Meeting dates and times will be announced once the locations are finalized.
The meetings are open to the public. Comments collected from these public meetings will be considered along with other related comments received by the Iowa DNR prior to proposing changes to hunting rules and regulations. Proposed rules will be presented to the Natural Resource Commission during a regular public meeting for consideration and additional public comment.
