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The
Official Newspaper of Manchester and Delaware County, Iowa
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
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Council discuss rate increase, other issues
by Latisha Sand |
The Manchester City Council discussed several items at their regular meeting, held on Monday, April 23. The discussion included a possible addition to the Manchester Fire Department, a hotel/motel tax, RAGBRAI and the possible increase in the sewer rates.
First, however, the council held a public hearing regarding the establishment of the Urban Renewal Plan for the recent annexed land, owned by ALLEnergy Manchester, LLC. The council approved the extension, 3 to 1, with Council member Tony Broghammer abstaining from voting.
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Manchester Fire Department plans PHOTO SUBMITTED |
“I’m all for them coming, but I think we are giving them too much,” said Council member Jeff Ogden, who voted against the extension.
Two of the items under the public hearing, suspending the statutory rule on dividing the taxes levied on the property and approving the final consideration of this ordinance, was held for another meeting. According to Council member Darrell Hanson, he would rather wait to give residents more time to respond.
Among the discussed items was the possible sewer rate increase. Several of the council members have heard from residents that they would like the increase over time and when asked, the council agreed.
The council also decided that they would still bill bi-monthly but that residents could make payments each month if they want to. Those payments would show up on their billing.
After discussing whether to have the increase spread over two or three years, the council decided that the first increase would take place on July 1 of this year with a second increase when the project was completed or July 1, 2008. City Manager Tim Vick and City Clerk Erin Rempe will incorporate the dates into an ordinance for the council to approve at a later date.
A fire department building remodel with an addition and a possible purchase of an aerial fire truck is in the works. The council saw preliminary plans for the remodeling, which consist of removing the second story of the fire department and adding additional truck bays and adding a new meeting room/training room.
The new addition would cost approximately $978,950 and the aerial truck could cost anywhere from $600,000 to $700,000. The fire department would contribute $100,000 to the building with another $100,000 coming from fund drives and donations. The rest of the funds, $778,950, would come from a combination of a zero interest Rural Economic Development Loan for the city and a bond issue, which the residents would be able to vote on.
Fire Chief Dennis Meisgeier originally had thought they would come to the council for the remodel and put the truck on hold. However, several council members recommended getting the truck and building together because it would be easier to hold one bond issue for residents. Meisgeier will get figures together for the truck and the public could vote on this issue in August or November.
The council approved a $2,000 line of credit, which will come from the Parks and Recreation Department, for RAGBRAI events. RAGBRAI will be coming to Manchester on July 27 before heading to Dyersville for the night. The proceeds generated from the bike riders will go toward the expenses with the rest being possibly split between the city and the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Manchester is the largest pass through town on the route and that day is the shortest route,” said Parks and Recreation Director Ben Page. “People could start arriving by 10:30 a.m.”
Page, and Chamber Director Jack Klaus, who is also a member on the RAGBRAI committee, estimates that 10,000 to 15,000 riders will be traveling through Manchester that day.
The proposed route will take the bike riders from D13 (195th Street) to Quaker Mill Drive, south on North 4th Street, left on Seeley Street, right on North Franklin and then left onto East Main.
One of the last items discussed was the possibility of a hotel/motel tax.
“It’s not an uncommon tax,” said Klaus. “Several surrounding towns have it.”
Klaus told the council that the previous owners of the hotels in town were more concerned with their weekly rates then they were their weekend rates. So, he and Page suggested giving 10 percent of the tax back to the hotels, based on their room revenues. The Parks and Recreation Department would keep 45 percent of the tax money for capital improvements and the chamber would keep the other 45 percent. The chamber would form a committee that would administer the money through applications for tourism events. The committee could be consisted of a council member, a resident of Manchester, a chamber member and two people representing the hotels.
“It could generate $50,000 to $60,000,” said Klaus.
The hotels and motels in Manchester are currently charging 5 percent for tax and this would add an additional 7 percent, for a total of 12 percent. “This would make a $50 room a $56 room,” said Klaus.
A couple council members wanted to know why some of the money wasn’t coming back to the city and Klaus said it was because he has heard a lot of concern that this would just be another way for the city to get money. This way, the Parks and Recreation Department would be receiving the money, which can only be used toward capital improvements.
“It’s a great spot for us to bring in more money,” said Page. “It’s just another chance to get more people into the community.”
The council asked that Klaus and Page talk to the new owners of the hotels and see what they thought of the tax.
The council also approved:
• paying Allender Butzke Engineers Inc. $6,850, which was included in the original amount, for the Geotechnical Exploration for the Wastewater Treatment Facility improvements.
• increasing the solid waste fees from $1 to $2 to cover the fall leaf pick up and other costs. The council also approved increasing the dog license fee from $2 to $5 to help cover the costs of purchasing tags and forms.
• paying Gibbs Engineering and Surveying $9,938.50 for the Honey Creek Addition project.
• the applications from Penny and Mike Sebany in the amount of $16,180 and Fred Vorwald in the amount of $10,000 as part of the Downtown Incentive Program.
• setting the Public Hearing date for the proposed budget amendment for May 14 at 5 p.m. |
WD Booster Club plays an important part in Hawk athletics
by Ken Boesenberg |
The award winning West Delaware Athletic Booster Club is again this year involved in a number of large projects that will benefit the athletic needs of both boys’ and girls’ programs at West Delaware.
The Booster Club annually spends between $25,000 and $60,000 on the needs of various West Delaware athletic programs.
At the beginning of each year the various coaches involved in all the sports at West Delaware put together a “want list”. This list contains both short term and long term wants.
Short term wants are for things that can be handled relatively quickly such as the purchase of bats, uniforms, and the like.
Long term wants have included projects such as the Beckman Complex and the all-weather track. |
KEN BOESENBERG / Press
In the top photo is what remains of the old locker room and coaches office area just south of the cafeteria in the high school. This extension renovation is just one of the major projects being undertaken by the Booster Club. Below, employees of Musco Lighting prepare to hang a third bank of lights on one of the four light poles at the West Delaware all-weather track and soccer field. The lights will allow for some extended practice time and will provide better lighting conditions for participating athletes. |
The items dealt with by the booster club are not only at the high school level but also at the junior high level and as well are spread as equally as possible between girls and boys programs.
Without the work and dedication of the West Delaware Athletic Booster Club there would not have been a Beckman Complex or an all-weather track.
The club has some 265 members ranging from individuals to businesses.
The club membership has seven tiers that range from a Booster Club Family Membership ($15) to the Ultimate Hawk Club ($1,000).
Other membership possibilities include Bronze Hawk ($25), Silver Hawk ($50), Golden Hawk Club ($100), Diamond Hawk Club ($250), Platinum Hawk Club ($500).
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Each year the club has its membership drive on the Friday night proceeding the first football game of the year.
This is traditionally the largest single fund raising event held by the club each year.
During the five year stretch from 1994 to 1999 the West Delaware Booster Club was honored as the State Booster Club of the Year. These awards were earned through the hard work and dedication of the members to bring about a number of large projects.
At times even more valuable than some of the monetary contributions are the countless number of volunteer hours that members put in on projects that are under way.
You can find members working concession stands throughout the year.
They also put on the ever popular Homecoming Chili Feed at Lightning Lanes in Manchester following the Homecoming game.
Another very popular event has been the Pizza Ranch WD Booster Club Night where members volunteer to help prepare food, serve food and bus tables. All the proceeds from the night are donated to the Booster Club.
As well, they run the Little Hawk Wrestling Tournament, the Little Hawk 8th Grade Boys Basketball Shoot-out; the Little Hawk 6th Grade Boys Basketball Shoot-out, and organize the Discount Card sales.
They also sponsor all of the after season athletic banquets for the high school sports programs. At those banquets the Booster Club provides the meat and attending families bring a dish to share.
The 2006-07 Booster Club year contains four big projects and countless smaller short term projects.
Among the larger projects are installing another bank of lights on each of the four light poles that light the all-weather track and soccer field ($8,000); remodeling and extending the old locker room facilities ($55,000); constructing new concrete dugouts at Exide Field for the baseball teams ($10,000); and purchasing a new timers’ stand for the track ($3,000).
The Booster Club has spent just over a quarter of a million dollars over the past six years for West Delaware athletic activities.
Add to that total the nearly $1,000,000 that was raised and spent for the Beckman Complex, the softball diamond, the all-weather track and the football field.
Some of the larger purchases, outside of the four major projects, have included a new concession trailer ($18,997); new scoreboard and displays ($10,622); backboards ($4,685); bleachers ($10,000); wrestling mat ($7,394); and weight room equipment ($6,556).
Other purchases range from varsity cheerleading uniforms to light sticks for the Light Show performers.
All in all it is a massive undertaking by many hands that has made the West Delaware Athletic Booster Club one of the most successful and recognized booster clubs in the state.
In charge of this years booster club are Dan Lahr (President), Don Finn (1st VP) , Dan Cole (2nd VP), Jodi King and Kim Sperfslage (Secretary’s), Dave Smith (Treasurer), and Bob Murphy (Liaison from West Delaware High School).
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Contracts approved for Goose Hill Right-of-Way project
by Alison Nesteby |
Ten acquisition contracts were approved by the Delaware County Board of Supervisors for the Goose Hill Road Right-of-Way project.
Contracts for acquisition of land, payment for damages and abstract fees were approved with Jacquelyn Trumm, Steve Recker, Gerald and Agnes Weber, Steve and Janet Turnis, David and Jane Jesenovec, Dorothy Digman, Chris and Sharon Manternach, Patrick and Carolyn Turnis, Robert First, and LaVern Digman.
The originally scheduled date of April 23 for tandem truck quotations has been changed to May 14 at 1:15 p.m. at the regular Supervisors meeting.
A lost warrant from November 2006 was issued to Jamie Vaske for $18.
An underground construction permit was issued for Qwest for buried cable on the Jones-Delaware County Road.
Manure management plans were approved for Agri-Vest Inc. in Dubuque County; Mark Welter in South Fork Township; Jeff Zumbach in Milo Township; McDonald Acres in Hazel Green Township; Bob Schaul in Coffins Grove Township; Nick Eike in Hazel Green Township; and Ken Wilgenbusch in Prairie Township. |
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