Anamosa City Council discussed the steps to take before the First Street property, vacated by Happy Hollow, is to be sold at their January 8 meeting. There are several steps in need of completion before the property goes up for sale via sealed bids. Zoning will need to be changed, fill dirt will be continually added and utility boxes removed.

Council member Bill Feldman commented, “This plan is a good step process to getting the property back on the tax roll.”

All council members were in agreement to move forward to make plans for residential development whether as a quadplex, apartment building or single owner property. Interested parties have been contacting the city.

A Public forum on the Fiscal Year 2007-2008 budget was on the city agenda Monday evening.
Administrator, Patrick Callahan has received one phone call in regards to the budget from a concerned citizen on First Street pertaining to lowering of property taxes.

Joan Marlin, Jones County Tourism reported to the council on current activities and her request for funding for Fiscal year 2007-2008. Marlin requested a per capita assessment of $1,566.00 and one-half the proceeds from the Anamosa hotel/motel tax. The per capita dollar amount was the same amount requested and approved last year. This amount will not change until the next census in 2010.

Marlin told council she would be applying for grants and on the goals of the tourism office to increase membership and expand the volunteer base in the coming months.

Jim Lauzon discussed with council upcoming improvements to Chamber Park; bike racks, picnic tables and benches. These items are not permanent structures and do not require the council’s approval (per the agreement) but Lauzon was present for feedback from the city and to address any possible concerns from the council.

Council members had no concerns as long as the equipment was sturdy and anchored properly. AHS Shop, Building Trades, Prison Industries and other ideas were mentioned for reduced cost equipment purchases/builders. Public Works director, Larry Driscoll suggested there might be picnic tables available from his department.

The Central Area drainage project has encountered a few extras and council has approved to add an alternate 16” pipe to the current project at Sales and to investigate the possibility of clearing the drainage area down to Therese Ave. Items also approved on Monday night are as follows:

• Second reading of ordinance amending section 69.11 of the city code of ordinance designating the north side of alley from North Ford St to a point 136 feet east. Waiver of third reading also approved
• First reading of ordinance amending section 69.11 of the city code of ordinance designating the south side of Country Club Court as No Parking zones. Waiver of second and third readings also approved.
• Authorize to move forward with the annexation process of residential development Caspers Third Addition on Old Cass Road with the stipulation on increasing the size of water and sewer to the development.
• Acceptance of the $2,000 grant from Aquila Trees Forever Community Program
• Resolution accepting the remaining three year maintenance bond on the infrastructure improvements completed on the 115th street and Grant Wood Drive as provided by WalMart, Inc.
• Resolution the approval of yard waste agreement with Greg Norlin for an annual fee of $2,750.00.
• Resolution authorizing the startup deposit of $2,000 in the employee flexible benefits checking account expensed from the General Fund.
• Resolution accepting the 2007 City Council Strategic Planning and Goal setting report.
• Approval to authorize City Administrator to rework tree ordinance to envelope a larger and informal scope of members rather than a formal board. The City will advertise for interested community members to participate in the new committee.
• Brian Harmon made motion to recommend to the Library Board to increase or implement fees for non-resident use of the Anamosa Library and Learning Center.  Bob George made second on the motion.
• Two committees; C&D and Personnel were voted to be dis-banned and the council members placed on other committees. Issues that arise in these dis-banned areas will come up to council and if need to go to closed session.
• Resolution regarding setting the salaries for employees of the local access commission. This corrects the salaries for the current fiscal year and clarifies request s for the next fiscal Year 2007-2008. (Due to not being included in the annual resolution)
• Authorization for City Adminstrator to proceed with Phase II of the City Hall remodeling plans to be financed with the Local Option Sales Tax money. The renovations would move Callahan’s office to the same side as the rest of the staff and the remainder would be converted to offices for rental space to offset the cost of maintaining the building.

Discussion was held be council over a police officer resignation. There seems to be a difference of opinion on whether the city can continue to afford a seven staff police force as there is a deficit with the General Fund.

Several council members voiced their opinion that public safety in Anamosa is a high priority and motion was made for Chief Menard to hire a replacement officer. The motion was immediately seconded and thereafter approved.

A public hearing date is set for February 12 for the proposed sale of city property on First Street to Dallas Paustian at $2 sq. ft.

There was no action, discussion only regarding the city’s acceptance of Grant Ridge Estates infrastructure improvements and second development agreement. Council will be working on this item with the developers on January 24th.

The Waste Water Treatment Plant disinfection system and Taylor Construction may have reached a “stalemate” regarding the liquidated damages. No one was present at the council meeting from Taylor Construction to provide a response to Dave Stoklasa’s report to Council (prior to the holidays).

Dave Stoklasa will have a report on the City’s options for the January 22nd Council meeting concerning the radium levels in the water supply. Per Larry Driscoll drilling a new well is not a guarantee that it will have lower radium levels. Shallow wells have nitrates and deep wells encounter radium.

The City Budget meeting with department heads will be on February 5,. The preliminary work will begin at that time.

The City Administrator’s report covered several items including a possible emergency call out policy change. A two hour minimum pay, holiday pay rate and on call rotation were discussed by council and Public Works. Callahan will have a resolution for the council to review at the next council meeting. U.S. Cellular has contacted the city and may be interested in installing an additional tower in Anamosa.

Callahan and Hatcher are to meet with Doug Ricklefs January 9 concerning the financial information regarding the purchase and sale of Little Creek Estates and engineering costs incurred by the LCE. There is a scheduled City Council/School Board meeting on January 24 regarding the 64 Water Main and Sewer Extension Project. Callahan asked if any Council members wished to attend the Jones County Leadership Program, a few were interested in the brochure.

One of the last items discussed were upcoming commission vacancies: one seat on the Parks and Recreation Board, One on the Local Access Commission and 3 seats due to expire on the Zoning Board of Adjustments. There will be posts in the Anamosa Journal-Eureka advertising for the upcoming available board seats open to the community.

Editor’s Note: This story is the second in a series about 1st District Congressman Bruce Braley. In last week’s edition of the Anamosa Journal-Eureka we talked about Braley’s expectations for the first 100 hours in office. This week’s story highlights Braley’s first day in office. In two weeks we will feature the last story in the series, which will feature what was achieved in that first 100 hours.

When 1st District House Representative Bruce Braley was sworn into the 110th Congress of the United States on January 4 in Washington D.C., he was part of history in the making.

That’s because Braley’s first vote was to appoint the very first female Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-California), who later swore him into office.

“It was very exciting and historical to be able to witness the first woman sworn in as Speaker of the House. It was wonderful to see all the women on both sides of the aisle and know that the marble ceiling has been shattered,” Braley said, referring to the proverbial glass ceiling, which is referred to as the marble ceiling in Washington D.C.

Braley was joined at the swearing in ceremony by his family, wife Carolyn, daughter Lisa, sons David and Paul, brother Brad and mother Marcia. He smiled widely as Pelosi added him to the 110th Congress at approximately 2:30 p.m. CST.

“I'm very excited that I get to serve the people of the 1st District, and that I got to share this day with my family,” Braley beamed.

The first order of business for Congress was to work on an Ethics Package for Congress. Braley said the idea is to restore the trust of the American people and restore leadership in the House.
He spoke on the floor for the first time regarding civility and prohibition of holding votes open to affect the outcome.

The Reform Package, which was passed on January 4 and 5 includes ethics reform, civility and fiscal responsibility.

Ethics Reform
• Banning Gifts from Lobbyists: Bans gifts, including meals and tickets, from lobbyists.
• Banning Lobbyist Travel: Bans lobbyists and the organizations that employ them from financing travel for Members or staff, except for one-day travel to visit a site, attend a forum, participate in a panel, or give a speech.
• Requiring Certification and Pre-Approval for Travel Paid for By Outside Groups: Requires the sponsors of all other permitted travel to certify that they have abided by all restrictions on lobbyist involvement.  Requires Members and staff to obtain pre-approval from the ethics committee for travel to ensure trips are connected to official duties.
• Prohibiting use of Company Planes: Prohibits the use of official, personal or campaign funds to pay for the use of non-commercial, corporate jets.  
• Ending the K Street Project:  Clarifies that no Member can take or withhold an official act, or influence, or offer or threaten to influence, the official act of another with the intent to influence on the basis of partisan political affiliation an employment decision or employment practice of any private entity
• Mandating Ethics Training:  Requires mandatory ethics training annually for all House employees.

Civility Provisions
• Curbing Abuses of Voting Time:  Prohibits holding votes open for the sole purpose of affecting the outcome.
• Reforming Conference Committees: Reforms conference committee process by requiring adequate notice of meetings to ensure Member attendance and ensuring information is available to all conferees.

Fiscal Responsibility Provisions
• Restoring Pay-As-You-Go Budgeting:  This amendment to the House rules package will not allow consideration of any bill, amendment or conference report where the combined effect of provisions affecting mandatory spending (such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and farm bill) and revenue would increase the deficit over the five-year and ten-year windows, relative to the Congressional Budget Office baseline.  Democrats also plan to pursue pay-as-you-go legislation in order to protect our grandchildren from mountains of debt and spur economic growth.
• Earmark Reform:  Requires committees to disclose the sponsors of any earmarks included in appropriations.  These new rules would also prohibit trading earmarks for votes and require Members to disclose their earmark requests and certify that they (and their spouses) have no personal financial interest in the request.
• Budget Reconciliation:  Finally, this amendment to the rules package prohibits the House from considering budget resolutions or amendments thereon or conference reports on budget resolutions that contain reconciliation directives for any reconciliation bill that would increase the deficit.

Voting is on track to achieve the goals of Congress’ first 100 hours and the voting agenda is as follows: January 9, 9/11 Commission Recommendations; January 10, Minimum Wage; January 11 Stem-Cell Research; January 12, Medicare Part D; January, Student Loan Interest Rates; January 18, Renewable Energy.

Braley, one of 53 incoming freshman members of Congress, also learned that he had been named At-Large Democratic Whip and will serve under Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-South Carolina). The Majority Whip makes appointments for whip positions.

Whips serve two functions in the political process. First, whips help mobilize votes of the party members. Secondly, they serve as a liaison between party leaders and party members. The appointment will last for the length of his term.

“When I was out for new member orientation I asked to see James Clyburn to become a part of the whip team,” said Braley. “I thought it would be helpful to me to get to know new members of the Democratic Party and to be a whip to learn where new members stood.”

Braley said that he hopes to bring a “spirit of bi-partisan cooperation” to Congress. He added that he is confidant that both parties will work together to get legislation passed in the first 100 hours.

“Even though we disagree on political issues, we can agree to disagree and work together,” he commented. “I look forward to working with both sides of the delegation and moving forward for the people in the State of Iowa.”

Braley said one of the attributes he brings to the US Legislature is Iowa common sense.

“You can’t grow up and work in Iowa without using common sense,” he commented.

Even with all the work that lies ahead, Braley said he plans to come home every weekend unless he is need in Washington DC. He said it’s very important for him to be a husband and father and his wife and children will remain in Iowa.

‘it’s also important for my constituents to know that I am working for them and that I’m present in the district as much as possible,’ he concluded.

On January 4, I was waiting to talk to Bruce Braley after he was sworn in. While I was in his office, two men came in and sat down to wait for Braley as well. I struck up a conversation with them and learned that they were with a Political Action Committee (PAC) called Iraq Veterans for Progress (IVFP).

Tim Goodrich, Executive Director of IVFP and Chad Hetman, a volunteer for the organization, were visiting Braley because he was one of five candidates supported by IVFP because he is opposed to the War in Iraq, sending additional troops and giving additional funding to the war.