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The
Official Newspaper of Manchester and Delaware County, Iowa
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
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Council approves renewals, payments
by Ken Boesenberg |
The Manchester City Council held their regular meeting on Monday, September 24 in the Council Chambers.
The Council in approving the consent agenda accepted the following items.
*acknowledged the receipt of the 2007 Facilities Management Committee meeting which covers the operations at Beckman Complex.
This year the operations at the complex took in $23,732.80 and spent $22,740.25 leaving a positive balance for the year of $992.55. As per the city’s 28E Agreement the surplus is to be deposited into the Facility’s contingency account by the City Clerk to serve for future improvements to the building and grounds or capital equipment needs.
It was noted that since 2002 the facility has generated over $12,800 with the contingency account carrying a balance in excess of $6,300 at the end of June 2007.
Parks and Recreation Director, Ben Page made these comments in his written report to the council regarding the facility operations.
“I am very pleased with the efforts of each group, not only in maintaining an aesthetically pleasing facility but also in providing a financially responsible facility.”
*approved the renewal application for On Premise Liquor License for Diane Simon dba Hawk Stop.
*approved payments to TeKippe Engineering, P.C. in the amount of $20,141.39 for various services provided.
*approved payment in the amount of $6,868.63 to ECIA (East Central intergovernmental Association) for administration of the 2007 CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Grant and the 2007 CDBG Home Ownership Assistance Grant.
*adopted a resolution approving voluntary assessment agreement for a residence at the address of 813 North Franklin St. There was extensive repair to a water line and street at that address and the owners wanted the costs added to their property taxes.
*adopted a motion appointing William Sueppel Sr., Meardon, Sueppel & Downer P.L.C., as the Employer Representative for the purpose of negotiating the Police union contract which shall take effect as of July 1, 2008.
The City’s Labor Contract with the Police and Dispatch is set to expire June 30, 2008. The union has requested an opportunity to negotiate a new contract.
*adopted a resolution authorizing administration to establish a Trust Based Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) in the name of the City of Manchester. the trust will handle the City’s retiree’s Health Account.
*adopted a resolution approving Fiscal Year 2007/07 Street Finance Report. This report is an annual report required by the State of Iowa.
There was one public meeting item and that was on the issuance of $600,000 in Essential Corporate Purpose Bonds and $150,000 in General Corporate Purpose bonds.
The bonds will be used to pay for the North 2nd/Winslow Drive Project, purchase of the Don and Walt property, and for funding the Downtown Incentive Program.
The Council also was made aware of Parks and Recreation Director Ben Page’s resignation.
Page has been the Parks and Recreation Director for the past five and a half years. He has accepted the position of Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation with the City of Des Moines. |
SILO tax approved
by Ken Boesenberg |
The residents of Delaware County overwhelmingly passed the extension of the SILO (School Infrastructure Local Option Tax) extension last Tuesday.
The tax now extends to Decenber 31st, 2022.
There were 498 votes cast, 409 yes and 88 no.
The 498 total votes cast represents 3.98 percent of the total registered voters.
There were six absentee votes, five for and one against.
The breakdown of votes as provided by the Delaware County Auditors Office are as follows:
Adams/Hazel Green - 18 yes, 3 no (21 votes of 800 registered = 2.63 percent); Bremen North - 5 yes, 11 no (16 votes of 416 registered = 3.85 percent); Colony - 30 yes, 0 no (30 votes of 586 registered = 5.12 percent); Delaware South - 21 yes, 8 no (29 votes of 618 registered = 4.69 percent); Delhi - 28 yes, 2 no (30 votes of 821 registered = 3.65 percent); Elk/Honey Creek - 25 yes, 4 no (29 votes of 1143 registered = 2.54 percent); Manchester 1st Ward - 25 yes, 10 no (35 votes of 973 registered = 3.60 percent); Manchester 2nd Ward - 73 yes, 9 no (82 votes of 1214 registered = 6.76 percent); Manchester 3rd Ward - 66 yes, 11 no (77 votes of 1251 registered = 6.16 percent); Milo/Prairie - 32 yes, 11 no (43 votes of 1302 registered = 3.30 percent) ; North Fork/Bremen - 6 yes, 4 no (10 votes of 507 registered = 1.97 percent); Oneida - 25 yes, 6 no (31 votes of 1085 registered = 2.86 percent); Richland/Coffins Grove - 17 yes, 5 no (22 votes of 801 registered = 2.75 percent); South Fork/Union - 33 yes, 3 no (36 of 995 registered = 3.72 percent); Absentee - 5 yes, 1 no.
The extension of the tax now allows the West Delaware school board to continue their planning towards Building Project Phase II.
As has been stated in the past, the completion of Phase II will meet the needs of the West Delaware Shool District for many years to come.
To complete the plans at the high school a competition gym will be built adjacent to the new auditorium and commons. The Annex and Conference Center will be removed to provide much needed parking.
Central Office and School Board functions will be relocated to the Kindergarten Building, and those students will join their peers at Lambert Elementary, where an eight classroom addition and multi-purpose lunchroom will be built.
Depending on financing costs and final bids, the Board hopes to provide additional space for Middle School instrumental and vocal music areas as well.
Financial advisors have been consulted with to determine how to get the most construction from the resources available.
It is the Boards intent to pay for this project with sales tax revenues, again without increasing property taxes.
Now that the SILO tax has been extended a bond issue needs to voted on.
Unlike a typical porperty tax issue, these bonds would be paid off by the annual collection from the sales tax.
With the bond issue being backed by real estate, interest rates will be lower, making more funds available.
The positive effect from these bonds being paid off via sales tax means that for a home, business or farm, there would be no increase in property taxes.
At a special board meeting the West Delaware School Board held on Friday, September 28 the date of October 30 was set for the date to hold the Bond Issue Election regarding the above mentioned construction project.
The question that the voters will be asked is as follows: Shall the Board of Directors of the West Delaware County Community School district in the Counties of Delaware and Buchanan, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and isue General Obligaion Bonds in an amount not to exceed $5,800,000 to provide funds for Phase II of the building project, which includes to build, construct, furnish and equip an addition to Lambert Elementary building, and related remodeling; to remodel, repair, improve, furnish and equip the Kindergarten Building as an administrative building; and to construct, furnish and equip a gymnasium addition and to improve and remodel the High School building and site; and to improve shcool buildings and sites; it being the intention of the School District to the extent possible to apply a portion of school infrastructure local sales and services tax receipts to abate and reduce the levy of taxes to pay principal and interest on the Bonds?
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Skinner to retire after his third term
by Ken Boesenberg |
Delaware County Board of Supervisor, Bill Skinner will complete his third term on December 31, 2008 and at that time will retire from his supervisors position.
“My body has been telling my mind it is time to retire,” says Skinner. “In the past the mind hasn’t paid that much attention, but I now know it is time.”
Skinner’s district is all of Manchester and the southern part of Delaware township.
“Once I knew I wasn’t going to run again I wanted to get the word out so that candadates wanting to fill my position would have enough time to make their decission,” continued Skinner.
During his 10 plus years on the board Bill says that the Board of Supervisors have been responsible for a number of very nice improvements throughout the county.
“The remodeling and additional improvements at the courthouse were started for the Centenial celebration. The things that we have been able to get done at the Penn Center and as well the handicap accessibility at the Fairgrounds are just a few of our accomplishments.”
Skinner also commented that there has been a lot of progress with the roads and bridges, however that is a never ending demand.
There have also been many changes over the past 10 years.
“One of the biggest changes is in the area of Homeland Security. There are so many things involved with thet that it is nearly imposible to keep up with it from a compliance issue,”
commented Skinner.
Along with all the good things and the positive impacts that the board has had on the county during the past 10-plus years Bill says there are some dissappointments.
“One major dissappointment is in the area of voter turn out for elections. With the cost of the elections being as expensive as they are it is a shame that more people don’t turn out to vote. The cost to run a election is in excess of $7,000 to $10,000, so if there is a very small turnout then it gets to be a pretty expensive proposition,” continued Skinner.
Skinner, now 68 says he had originally planned to just serve for two terms, however with health care being an issue he decided to run for a third term in 2004.
Asked what he will miss the most about not serving on the board, Skinner replied. “Definetly the people, I will really miss the people that I work with.”
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