The Official Newspaper of Manchester and Delaware County, Iowa

Search the Manchester Press!

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Council, Supervisors discuss dispatch center Delhi Lions Pride Day this Saturday Residents asked to vote on fire station project

Council, Supervisors discuss dispatch center by Latisha Sand

The Manchester City Council and the Delaware County Board of Supervisors held a joint meeting on Monday, July 16 to discuss the Delaware County Communications Center. Over the past year, a committee has met to discuss a new dispatch cost-share proposal. Manchester City Manager Tim Vick has approached the Delaware County city clerk’s with different proposals and all have been turned down. According to Vick, the other Delaware County towns agree there should be an increase in charges but the city clerk’s don’t think they could get their councils to implement them. Currently the Delaware County Board of Supervisors is paying for 50 percent of the cost and Manchester, who houses the center, pays for the other 50 percent. “We are trying to find a reasonable way for people to pay for this,” said Vick. The center’s charge was adopted during the 1990/91 fiscal year at 10 cents per month based on households. Vick’s proposal is to increase that fee to 15 cents per person based on population numbers from the census bureau and increasing the fee 8 percent every year after that. “Three percent goes to an increase for fees and 5 percent is a ‘catch-up’ increase,” Vick told the over 15 people in attendance. According to the 2000 census, the number of people residing in Delaware County towns is 9,788 and the number of people residing in rural areas is 8,616. Based on Vick’s proposal, Manchester, which has a population of 5,257 (again according to the 2000 census), would pay $75,377.28 per year for the communication center. However, the city is currently paying $125,574. In the proposal, most towns would have to pay more but initially some towns would have a decrease in costs. “Right now we pay 50 percent,” said Vick, “I would like to see Manchester pay at least 45 percent if not less.” The council said that they could be the “bad guys” and move the center onto county property and have the county take control over the center. Then they could demand to pay as little as the other Delaware County towns are paying but they don’t want to do that. “We want to work together and figure out what to do,” said Manchester Mayor Milt Kramer. “We want to figure out how communications should be run a year from now, 10 years from now.” Another part of the proposal is to require Regional Medical Center to pay for some of the cost of the dispatch center since they are a heavy user of the center. However, RMC has said that they have concerns about that because they are a county hospital and the county pays for their share. According to the proposal, the towns throughout Delaware County, excluding Manchester, would pay a total of $8,200.80 that first fiscal year. RMC would also pay $8,200.80 with the Board of Supervisors and Manchester splitting the rest, each paying $135,592.87. The Board of Supervisors asked the council and Vick for more time to discuss the proposal. “We would like to have this finalized before December when towns start developing their budgets for the new fiscal year,” said Vick. And the supervisors agreed. Another meeting is set for Monday, July 30 at 4 p.m. in the council chambers. The public is invited to attend.

Delhi Lions Pride Day this Saturday by Ken Boesenberg

Delhi Lions Pride Day will be taking place in Delhi on Saturday, July 28. There is a bit of a change in the normal activities of the day according to Lions Club member, Doug Tuetken. “We have made a real emphasis towards being family oriented with our activities this year,” commented Tuetken. “There will be many things going on at our Center Stage in the park that will be geared for the younger people,” stated Tuetken. The days activities will get under way with the 5K Fun Walk/Run at 8:00 a.m. on the high school track. Registration for the walk/run will be from 7:00 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. on Saturday . There will also be a 3 on 3 basketball tournament on the basketball court in the park starting at 10:30 a.m. The 3 on 3 tournament will be either pool play or double elimination, depending upon the number of teams that enter. Divisions will be based on the 2007/08 school year. Division I - 6th, 7th and 8th grades; Division II - 9th, 10th and 11th grades; Division III - Open. Four players will be allowed on the tournament roster with three different substitution changes during the game. Entries will be limited to the first eight teams in each division. This year there will also be some new carnival rides, including a Berry-Go- Round, Dora Fun House, Airport and Kiddy Tanks. Center Stage will also be a spot where a number of musical and dance talents will be on display. The Maquoketa Valley Vocal and Jazz Groups will perform at 1:00 p.m.; the MV Drill Team will have the stage starting at 1:45; Moser School of Dance and Gymnastics will put on a show at 2:00 p.m. and Just For Kix, the Monticello Drill Team will take the stage at 2:30. Starting around 1:00 p.m. there will be the First Annual Delhi Days Dodgeball Tourney. Games will be played on the Delhi City Park Basketball Court. Teams may consist of from six to eight players, with six being the minimum. There will be three age groups for players to participate in. Sixth grade and younger; seventh through ninth grade and tenth grade to adult. The annual parade will also be held, starting at noon. Entrants are asked to sign up by 11:30 a.m. on Saturday morning at the school.

Residents asked to vote on fire station project by Ken Boesenberg

On Tuesday, July 31 Manchester city residents will be asked to vote on an $800,000 bond issue to help fund a fire station project estimated at $979,000. The General Obligation bond would be paid back over 20 years. The average assessed value of a home in Manchester is $85,140.00, which would mean a tax increase of $17.36 for that home. On a per month basis that $17.36 equals a $1.45, or a little less than a nickel a day. As you move up and down the assessed home value scale that number changes proportionately. A home with a $50,000 assessed value would have an increased tax bill of $12.24 or $1.02 per month, while a home with an assessed value of $120,000 would incur an increase of $24.47 per year. The current facility was built more than 30 years ago and at the time met all the requirements and regulations of the city’s volunteer fire department.

KEN BOESENBERG / Press Above is the current Manchester Fire Department building. Residents are asked to vote on an $800,000 bond issue to help fund a fire station project estimated at $979,000. Expansion plans are above.

Over the past 30 plus years there have been numerous changes in regulations regarding firefighter safety and mandatory equipment needs. Safety regulations which now require firefighters to ride in an enclosed cab and be wearing a seat belt have made for some costly adjustments. With the current size of the fire station new trucks that are purchased have had to be shortened to fit in the station. That process has added considerable cost to the purchase price of replacement trucks. If the current fire station is not expanded that trend of increased cost for physically shortening new truck purchases will continue. Currently the department crams six vehicles into the five bay station which causes some safety concerns during responses. With 32 volunteer firefighters, many of them responding to calls at the same time the facilities become extremely crowded very quickly. The proposed expansion of the fire station would allow firefighters to dress and load additional equipment without the fear of being run over by a vehicle exiting the building. The current meeting room is one that is less than adequate for the current size and function of the department. With the station doubling as the Emergency Operation Center during a time of a natural disaster, a considerable strain is put on the facility as people gather to carry out emergency operations. Today’s firefighters are more than just volunteers that jump on trucks, ride to fires and run fire hoses. They are highly trained in many areas of fire protection and suppression along with training in the following areas - hazardous material response, trench rescue, vehicle extrication, confined space rescue,and water rescue. In addition they also serve as severe weather spotters, provide mutual aid to surrounding areas and form the medical first responders. Their duties are many and they are volunteers who give a tremendous amount of time to doing their best in protecting not just the residents of Manchester but citizens in the surrounding communities as well. The Manchester Fire Department will be hosting two open houses for the public to attend where volunteers will be willing to discuss issues concerning the fire station expansion. Those open house will be on Saturday, July 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and on Sunday, July 29 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

109 E. Delaware - P.O. Box 245 - Manchester, Iowa 52057
563-927-2020 / FAX 563-927-4945

Copyright Manchester Press 2005 - 2006
Thede Web Works - Web Questions