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The
Official Newspaper of Manchester and Delaware County, Iowa
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
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FFDC grants over $49k for Del. Co.
by Ken Boesenberg |
The Foundation for the Future of Delaware County granted $49,428 to 17 Delaware County non-profit groups for the 2007 grant year.
This is the second year the Foundation for the Future of Delaware County (FFDC) has received a distribution from the State of Iowa through the County Endowment Fund Program.
Under the guidelines, 75 percent of the $67,500 received by FFDC is to be granted to projects and programs in Delaware County. The remaining 25 percent of the funds are to be used to build a permanent endowment fund for the county that will help to meet future charitable needs.
“It is the goal of the Foundation to invest in worthy projects and distribute the money received throughout the county”, commented Jerry Burke, Grant Committee Chairman.
“We were glad to see applications from all areas of the county. We hope you see the impact these monies have in the county as you see projects being built and programs being started and continued”, concluded Burke.
The State Legislature has allocated one-half of one percent of the state’s total gambling revenues to the program to enable community representatives to fund high priority needs and to build countywide endowments in community foundations.
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KEN BOESENBERG / Press
In the above photo Marilyn Schnittjer presents Randy Parrott (center) and Dave Dudley (right) with their award in the amount of $5,000 from the Foundation for the Future of Delaware County. Parrott and Dudley represented the Manchester Rotary Club. The funds will be used to help build a shelter for the Schram Park Project. In the photo to the right Jerry Burke presents Chris Demmer with a $5,000 award which will be used for the security lighting project at the Dundee Ball Park.
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Distributions are made to qualified community foundations representing each of the 85 Iowa counties that do not currently hold a gambling license.
The FFDC, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque was created by and for the people of Delaware County to support charitable projects and programs of their choice in the county. It also serves as the distribution agent for the County Endowment Fund Program.
The Foundation provides resources for a broad range of existing and future charitable needs throughout Delaware County and will assist donors in creating lasting legacies through a variety of giving options.
Members of the FFDC are Marilyn Schnittjer, Delhi; Cindy Vorwald, Edgewood; Jerry Burke, Manchester; Jill Buschman, Greeley; Jim Fisher, Manchester; Carl Steffen, Ryan; Glen Puffett, Dundee; Jackie Johnson, Edgewood; and Larry Gritton, Manchester.
This year a total of 43 grant applications were received by the FFDC, requesting a total of $149,640.
Grants are awarded in the areas of Health & Human Services; Education; Neighborhood and Community Development; Environment; Children, Youth and families; and Arts and Culture including historical preservation.
This years list of award recipients were - Archbishop Hennessy Catholic School, Petersburg, $5,000; City of Delhi, $3,000; City of Earlville, $3,500; City of Hopkinton, $3,616; City of Manchester, $2,000; City of Masonville, $2,000; City of Ryan, $3,000; Colesburg Public Library, $1,793; Community Dreams Incorporated, $3,500; Cub Scout Pack/United Methodist Church, $1,400; Dundee Little League/City of Dundee, $5,000; Earlville Fire and Ambulance, $1,564; Edgewood Public Library, $2,417; Greeley Fire Department, $1,500; Lambert Middle School/West Delaware, $1,014; Manchester Public Library, $4,125; and the Manchester Rotary Club, $5,000. |
Council sets July 24 for fire station election
by Latisha Sand |
The Manchester City Council discussed and approved several items at their special meeting, which was held on Monday, May 21.
One of the items discussed was setting the election date for the Manchester Fire Department’s bond issue. The election will be held on Tuesday, July 24 but residents will only vote on the remodeling of the fire station instead of the station and a new fire truck. According to City Manager Tim Vick, it is irresponsible for the city to hold an election on a capital improvement, such as a new fire truck. However, the council could hold a public hearing to purchase the truck.
The bond issue for the remodeling of the station will be in the amount of $800,000. The fire department will donate $100,000 for the project and are planning on having fundraisers to raise another $100,000 for the building. If the bond issue is passed, a homeowner with a $100,000 home will pay approximately $20 per year more.
If the issue passes in July, the council will then discuss holding a public hearing for the new fire truck.
The council discussed the possible adoption of certificates of occupancy.
“The City Manager asked that I review similar ordinances from surrounding communities to provide the council with options concerning what, if any, such regulations the city would like to consider,” said Manchester City Attorney Jim Peters. “The city of Iowa City has developed certificates of occupancy that only apply to new structures or structures where there has been a change in use [such as a business to a residential].”
Vick is in favor of the certificates, which is like the final inspection, because he used to do inspections at a previous job. He said that when people move into the house, before it is inspected, there are boxes and furniture in areas that you need to inspect.
The council decided to have Vick and Peters look into the issue further but only for new construction or remodeling that has changed the classification of the building.
The original idea of the certifications of occupancy first came around when Planning and Project Coordinator and Building Inspector Marty Kelzer approached the council in December of 2006.
Also at the special meeting, the council declined to approve a resolution setting the hotel/motel tax on the November ballot because there has been some disagreement on the way the money should be used.
At the last meeting, the council stated that they would like to go back to the 45/45/10 split so 10 percent of the money raised could go toward maintaining existing parks. Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce Director Jack Klaus wanted to keep the split 50/50. A new resolution will be presented at the next meeting, which was held on Tuesday, May 29.
The council also discussed the possibility of enforcing early retirement incentives for four city employees. The council took the information Vick and City Clerk Erin Rempe provided them with and will discuss the issue at a later date.
The council also approved:
• the third and final consideration for the division of taxes levied on the property recently purchased by ALL-Energy Manchester
• the third and final consideration to increase the solid waste fees to $2 per month
• the second consideration and adoption to increase half the proposed sewer fees starting on the June 29 billing with the other half starting on the June 30, 2008 billing.
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Board receives feedback on paving projects
by Latisha Sand |
Three paving projects have been planned for the 2007-08 fiscal year and a public hearing was held on Monday, May 21 at the Delaware County Courthouse concerning the plans. When paving projects are planned, they must reach 50 points on the Iowa Department of Transportation scale.
These points are obtained by measuring the amount of cars that travel the road per day, distance from other paved roads, etc. When the roads do not meet the 50 points, a public hearing must be held.
The three projects planned are for 267th St. (Turtle Creek Road), D5X/245th St., and the Dubuque-Delaware Road. Two Dyersville residents expressed their opinions on the Dubuque-Delaware road project to the Board of Supervisors.
Richard Reittinger had questions concerning some of his land that might be affected by the right-of-way that must be included in the paving project. There was an unclear transition of land while he was in the process of buying the acreage, and property lines must be examined closer before certain actions may be taken.
Cheryl Wessels, accompanied by her lawyer, Werner Helmer, expressed concerns that paving the road may result in traffic traveling too fast in the subdivision that is along the Dubuque-Delaware Road. She stated she hasn’t had a problem with the road being gravel since she has lived there and doesn’t see why it needs to change.
A public hearing was held for the amended 2007-08 budget. Autopsy fees increased, mental health/transitional living services increased, engineering services increased, auditor employee services increased and veteran affairs increased. The county has received a grant to cover the increase in veterans’ affairs.
Delaware County has chosen Schneider Corp. to upload the information for their Web Portal with a one-time charge of $500. A grant is available to cover 50 percent of the cost.
The Local Option Sales and Services Tax election for Hopkinton is set for Aug. 28 from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
A letter of support was sent for RISE grants to cover the cost of entrances and turning lanes to support the ALLEnergy ethanol plant.
It was approved to start paperwork for a non-smoking policy within 30 feet of the Delaware County Courthouse entrances. This will go into effect on or about July 1.
A tandem truck quotation was accepted from Don’s Truck Sales for $134,275. Truck Country in Davenport bid the lowest, but the truck body didn’t meet county specifications.
The next meeting of the Delaware County Board of Supervisors will be Monday, June 4 at 1:15 p.m. due to the Memorial Day holiday.
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