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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday, February 14, 2008
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Old Man Winter’s Wrath
by Michelle Phillips |
Time and time again we have heard warnings that the the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch, Winter Storm Warning, Ice Warning, the list goes on and on. The snowy and icy conditions are beginning to take their toll on most everyone and the city and local businesses are no exception.
Bill Elliott, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service (NWS) in Moline, said the average amount of snow fall for Cedar Rapids, the closest NWS office, is 29.4 inches of snow for November-February 10. |
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Thus far, the office has measured 43.6 inches up to the same point.
“We’re getting a system every two to three days, so the winter has seemed very long,” said Elliott. “We’re just in a period where we’re really active.”
All of that activity has caused the City of Anamosa to send out notices asking that residents and business owners not push their snow into the streets.
“When you push it into the streets, it defeats the purpose of plowing,” said Anamosa City Administrator Pat Callahan. “It’s getting progressively worse because people are running out of places to put it.”
Callahan said the city has spent all of its snow removal budget for the year, and with more than a month of winter to go, it may have to dip into the summer budget.
“The money that would’ve normally been spent on seal-coating and street maintenance will be shifted to snow removal,” Callahan added.
The city has had to resort to spreading only sand on roadways because it has run out of salt and is retaining just a small amount for emergencies.
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Above: Snow is piled at the corner of Main and Ford, and a strip of piled snow runs down the center of Main Street, where it had been pushed by a grader for later pickup on February 7; Left: A fire hydrant on South Elm Street is barely visible through the snow. The Anamosa Fire Department is asking residents to clear the snow away from hydrants on their property. |
Callahan said it is a similar scenario for other towns as well. The city has spread 250 tons of salt on the roads so far, compared to 75 tons for the entire winter in 2006-2007. Callahan said they will probably not get more salt because the cost has skyrocketed from $40/ton to $127/ton. In addition, the city would have to send a truck to pick up salt in Ohio and would be responsible for transport charges on top of the per ton fee.
Callahan said another problem the city has faced is the removal of drifting snow in the east side of town. Many of the homes are new and there is little to block the snow to prevent drfting.
“Our snowplows are more for city streets,” he said, and added that the city may need to look at buying one snowplow with wings to remove the drifting snow.
Snow removal has become an issue across the board and many businesses and organizations are asking residents to clear snow.
The Anamosa Fire Department is asking that all residents try to remove the snow from around fire hydrants so firefighters will be able to get to them in the event of a fire.
Anamosa Police Chief Jeff Swisher said he has a map of all the hydrants, but said most people know if one is located on their property.
The Anamosa Post Office reminds that walkways and mailboxes should be unobstructed by snow and ice. Aquila and Alliant Energy are also asking residents to clear snow from around meters and valves.
Snow removal machinery has been at a premium this year according to Al Eden of Eden’s LTD, and only one snowblower is left in the store.
“We have one snowblower and we are pretty well cleaned out of tractor blowers. I’m pretty well out of blades too,” he said.
Eden said the business has been busy making repairs, but, still, they have a pretty fast turn around time.
He said the maintenance was done in the fall, but “now we’re seeing what breaks and fails.”
Eden acknowledged that this has been one of the better snow seasons, but added, “I’m looking forward mowing.’
Jeff Minger of Minger’s Mowing and Landscaping said the abundant snowfall has kept him working about 120 hours a week since November.
“Last year at this time i’d only done three or four clears, we’ve had 22 or 23 this year,” he noted, and said he clears snow for about 120-130 people each time the white stuff falls.
He said he normally lays off most of his employees during the winter months, but this season he has had five or six full time employees working to clear snow.
Minger said his salt source has dried up and he is now getting salt from Wisconsin. He added that the cost has risen by about 50% because supplies are dwindling elsewhere. He said there could be a shortage of other things as well if the snow continues.
The bigger problem for Minger has been equipment breakdowns, which he said increase with the cold temperatures.
“I always thought Hell was fire and brimstone, but now I think it’s snow and ice,” he joked.
Business has been booming for towing companies as well, and Wes Koob of Red’s Towing said he has seen a 50% increase in towing jobs this winter.
“Yesterday (February 10) we pulled out 10 or 12,” he stated. “Since november we’ve probably yanked a couple hundred out of the ditch.”
Koob said there was one trip in which he worked 38 hours straight, and although no one has been turned away, there have been some long wais for service.
“It’s been very stressful on everyone, the police department, utility coops, the city, the fire department,” Koob included.
The Jones County Sheriff’s Department has been busy since November as well. The department has responded to 463 accidents this year, compared with 387 during the same time period last year.
Elliott said not to look for a break too soon because the winter is far from over and that he, much like the groundhog, Puxatawny Phil, is expecting six more weeks of winter. |
School Year to Run into June
By Michelle Phillips |
Students may be happy when the Anamosa School District calls a snow day, but that joy could turn to misery when they have to make up days at the end of the year. Anamosa Superintendent Dr. Dale Monroe said the district will extend the last day of school to June 2, tentatively, to accommodate the six cancellations, The district also had one early dismissal and five late arrivals this winter.
“Right now the students are scheduled to go until June 2nd, but we could have more snow days,” Monroe reminded and said additional days will be added for each snow day through the end of winter.
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He said the district already eliminated an early dismissal last week and will also eliminate a professional development day on February 22. The school sent notices home with the students on February 11 to inform parents of the change. Monroe included that the district has looked at holding classes during spring break but added that they try to avoid that if at all possible.
“It’s not just a problem for us but all around the state,” Monroe added.
Monroe said all of the time off has had impacted instruction time and added that the school is adjusting the end of the quarter and trimester to allow teachers and students to catch up.
Curriculum isn’t the only area that has had to be adjusted. Monroe said numerous sporting events and extra-curricular activities have also been cancelled this year.
“There are some things that we simple won’t have time to reschedule,” he said.
For example, the Iowa High School Wrestling Tournament is about to begin in Des Moines this weekend. He added that girls and boys basketball games would not be made up either.
As far as other events, such as concerts, are concerned, the district is attempting to make up as many as they can, but time is running out.
“We’re trying to reschedule those, but we haven’t come up with dates yet because they would conflict with other scheduled events. It’s also impacted practices, and I know it has disrupted parents’ schedules,” Monroe said.
He said the school has also incurred added expenses for snow removal, including overtime for custodians who sometimes have to work on weekends to keep up.
Monroe said the school’s website, www.anamosa.k12.ia.us, offers information concerning school closings and delays. On the site, there is an option to sign up for Iowa Alerts, which sends notifications to cell phones and emails when school is delayed or cancelled. Monroe said he encourages parents to take advantage of the service.
“I do want to give a special thanks to the county, city and DOT for doing such a great job keeping up with the snow,” Monroe concluded. |
Culvert Project Cost Overrun in Dispute
By Mike Moynihan |
Whether or not the city would have to pay nearly $33,000 for a change order it didn’t approve was at the center of a dispute over the Sycamore St. box culvert project during the Anamosa City Council meeting Monday evening.
Kevin Arensdorf of Arensdorf Excavating and Trucking appeared before the council and made a case for someone paying his firm for extending the length of the culvert from 54 feet to 62 feet. As the contractor explained the issue, either the engineer, Snyder & Associates, or the city should pay him, but Arensdorf should not be left holding the bag, since he only did, he claimed, as instructed.
Arensdorf said his firm dealt in extremely good faith with the city on the project, claiming to save the city $27,000 in costs by pointing out how a planned retaining wall wasn’t necessary for the project to succeed. He also pointed out that a water main break during the project could arguably have been due to the condition of the pipe itself, rather than any action of the contractor, but that he had agreed to fix the main at no additional cost so long as the city provided the parts.
“The contract states that if a change happens through no fault of the contractor, and if that change causes a time or cost adjustment, . . .” Arensdorf wrote the city in his brief on the matter, “then the contract is entitled to an equitable adjustment.” He went on to say the decision to lengthen the box culvert by eight feet was made solely by Snyder & Associates.
“The expenditure of funds was beyond our control,” Arensdorf said, “ and thus we believe this change order warrants an equitable adjustment.”
According to City Clerk Tammy Coons, City Engineer Doug Wilson of Snyder & Associates had been asked by Cretex Midwest if the longer culvert would work and had responded in the affirmative. Cretex apparently took that as approval to go ahead and fabricate the longer box culvert, and Arensdorf then accepted delivery of it and installed it. No one, however, went before the council to get the required change order, and nothing was in writing, so the fault for the misunderstanding seems to be spread mostly between Cretex and Arensdorf.
“The question is, did we get more than we asked for, or even than we need,” said City Administrator Patrick Callahan. “I can sense the council is struggling with this. I suggest you authorize me to get another engineer, one who’s never worked for the city, and ask him if these (Arensdorf’s costs for the extension) are fair numbers.”
“I’d like to go along with that,” said Councilman Dennis Hansen.
On the motion of Tom Swisher, seconded by Hansen, the council voted unanimously to authorize Callahan to get the opinion of an independent engineer.
The council discussed the purchase of the Iowa DOT Maintenance Shop site located just to the east of the new city library. All were in agreement the purchase would be a good move for the city and that the property has potential for several different uses, including its current use as a dumping ground for inordinately large quantities of snow.
The buildings on the site could be used for public works, although they would cost a great deal to heat in the winter, and as Brian Harmon pointed out, there would be some resistance to such a site next to the library and so close to the neighboring residential area.
The property will come with some restricted covenants, including no residential land use, no basements to be constructed on it, and no water wells to be dug. Both restrictions are the result of the property’s exposure to such hazardous wastes as gasoline, diesel fuel and motor oil.
Callahan noted the city had already attempted to purchase the property, sending a signed purchase agreement and a check for $35,000 to the state. The agreement had not been returned signed, he said, nor had the check been cashed. The council voted unanimously to have Callahan move forward with the purchase.
The failure of the contractor to secure a two-year maintenance bond for underground improvements at the Anamosa Commercial Park continues to leave the council in something of a quandary. The bond initially was not secured because of conditions at the site, and when it finally became necessary for the bond in order for the city to accept the work, the work had already been in place, and in good order, for much longer than the term of the bond.
To solve the problem, the council voted 4-1, Brady Reynolds in opposition, to amend the applicable ordinance so the city could waive the two-year maintenance bond on underground improvements that have been substantially completed for more than two years.
The council unanimously approved the city contracting with Infrastructure Technology Solutions, out of Cascade and Monticello, for the construction of a website. This, it was agreed, was something that was long overdue. The cost will be $2,500 for the initial work, with a monthly hosting fee of $25.
The city received a cost-reduction payment of $13,001 from the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities Safety Group Insurance based on the city’s low number of claims on its insurance policies. This is the third year in the row the city has received such a payment. The program also sent 16 Risk Management Incentive Coupons, intended to encourage reduction in losses through improved employee training.
The council took steps to deal with future snow problems, amending the current parking ordinance for a snow emergency to eliminate a clause allowing parking on any street that was substantially cleared of snow and ice from curb to curb. Parking prohibitions during snow emergencies will now remain in effect until terminated by announcement of the mayor or another authorized city official.
There will now be no-parking zones on the south side of Walnut from Cherry to Jackson, on the west side of Jackson from Main to its end, on the south side of Broadway from High to N. Garnavillo, on the east side of Garnavillo from Main to Webster, on the east side of all of Therese Ave., on the west side of South Williams from Main to its end, on the south side of Pine from Williams to Division, and on the north side of Park Ave. from Garnavillo to High.
A temporary parking restriction will be in effect on the east and north sides of residential city streets to allow passage of snow removal vehicles. The restriction won’t be enforced by ticketing but is an appeal by the council for the public to help the city trucks have clear access through snow-narrowed streets.
A discussion on the purchase of Christmas lights for decorating the downtown bogged down over the issue of just who is responsible for maintaining the lights. There is some dispute as to whether the city is responsible or the Chamber of Commerce, and the issue is tabled for now until more information is available.
The council approved seal-coating Washington up to the edge of Daryl and Lisa Schepanski’s property and offered the couple the section of North Pratt adjacent to their property for 25 cents a square foot.
In other business, the council approved the following:
• The site plan for AmericInn Hotel & Suites in the Anamosa Commercial Park
• A special work session February 28 on the city’s emergency preparedness plans
• The expenditure of up to $5,000 for a snow-blower attachment for the city’s Bobcat
• A public hearing on the city’s FY 2008-09 budget
The council also adopted the 2008 Strategic Planning and Goal Setting Report. |
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