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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday, March 20, 2008
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First Community Forum on School Location Held
Committee Asks for Input from Community
by Michelle Phillips |
The Anamosa Community School District’s Long-range Planning Committee was joined by Tom Penney and Vince Ward of DLR Architects on March 13 to conduct a community forum. The forum, along with a second on March 24, was held to give community members the chance to ask questions, give opinions and voice concerns over the site on which the new school with sit.
Rick Delagardelle, who serves on the committee, greeted about 45 people who came out for the forum.
“The committee is not just for site selection,” he reminded. “It’s just that site selection is the first priority.”
He also asked the group to fill out site evaluations of their own and write down questions they might have on index cards.
There were nine criteria studied by DLR when evaluating the three different land options, and Penney and Ward discussed details as the they were explained. The three sites are as follows: Site A, the Hwy 64 land, which was purchased last year by the school district; Option B, the land on Old Dubuque Road, currently owned by the McNamara’s; Site C, the land the high school currently sits on.
All of the options would need grading work, utility work and street improvements.
Site A: There would need to be right and left turn lanes added and speed limits would drop to 45 mph with flashing warning lights. There is plenty of room for separate parking for students and faculty as well as separate drop off sites for buses and parents. There is also plenty of room for ball fields. The site would require a foot bridge if ball fields were to be built because a stream runs through the property.
Site B: Again, there is room for separate parking and drop off sites as well as ball fields. The site would also require turning lanes ,and traffic would only be allowed to turn right out of the facility to avoid Old Dubuque Road and Hwy 151.
Site C: There are space constraints where ball fields are concerned, and the plan calls for a new middle school and expansion of the high school with a fine arts area and expanded commons/lunchroom. There would be a need for a second street, which would potentially extend to Old Dubuque Road from behind the bus barn. Again, separate parking and drop off sites would be included, and middle school and high school traffic would be routed in different directions
Is the site adequate for immediate school needs?
Yes, the facilities could be configured to work on sites A, B or C.
Site A: 58 acres. More land may be available for future expan sion.
Site B: 50 acres. An additional 30 acres could be purchased for future needs.
Site C: 28 acres. There is potential for additional land in the future, but at this time there would be no room for an additional weight room and gym, which would be needed for the middle school.
Is the site adequate for long-term (10-20 years) needs?
Site A: There would be no space for a new bus barn.
Site B: Additional land could be purchased.
Site C: Restricted as far as expansion is concerned.
Does the site allow pedestrian access to off-site school facility or athletic facilities?
Site A: No sidewalks, no pedestrian access, but there would be a pedestrian bridge on the site to get across the creek to ball fields.
Site B: Sidewalks are allowed but would need to be installed. It would be a long walk to get to the site. Access to ball fields would be through one of the parking lots.
Site C: There is pedestrian access but limited parking.
Have FEMA flood evaluations and wetland boundaries been determined?
Site A: Yes, a box culvert would be needed for the pedestrian bridge.
Site B: Yes
Site C: Yes
Site development costs.
Site A: $3,188,000. This includes the land purchase as well as $66,000 in utility work that has already been completed.
Site B: $2,951,000
Site C: $1,879,000. This figure is lower, partly because there would only be practice ball fields at the site.
Long-term maintenance cost factors.
Site A: Not an issue.
Site B: Not an issue.
Site C: Access roads, if owned by the school, could be significant. There might also be construction problems if school is in session.
Impact on teaching staff utilization?
Site A: Unchanged.
Site B: Unchanged.
Site C: Would allow for teacher sharing, especially for foreign languages and algebra.
Does the site provide teaching opportunities?
All three sites have a creek running through them as well as the chance for othe outdoor learning opportunities.
Site access and traffic evaluation.
Site A: Speed zone change to a school zone and warning lights would need to be installed.
Site B: Right turn only out of the parking areas to avoid dangerous intersection of Old Dubuque Road and Hwy 151. Warning lights would also be needed.
Site C: Congestion is the main problem.
After explaining the criteria and the answers from the evaluation, Delegardelle asked for comments and questions from the audience.
“That’s a summary of the data we’ve collected., except for one very important piece, which is the opinions, questions and comments form you people,” he said and added that the committee wanted to have the site plans ready before getting public input.
The first questions asked if the district knew for sure that there is future land available at site C?
The land may be available, but at this time is not at this time. The committee was unsure if there would be land available near Strawberry Hill.
Cletus McNamara indicated that the 30 acres at site be would still be offered.
“The contract is still on my kitchen table,” he stated.
What would happen to Site A if the school were not to build on the land, which it already owns?
“We haven’t gotten that far in this committee,” Delegardelle said.
Rick Worcester included, “We wouldn’t decide what would happen to that site, that would be the function of the school board.”
What would the increased transportation costs be?
“There are actually some cost savings going to Site A,” commented Kris Kilburg.
She told the group that after talking with Matt English, the school’s transportation director, the committee learned that only about 40 high school students ride the bus. Rather than send all the buses to the high school. There would be a transfer station at the middle school for the high school students, which would only require three buses.
When asked if the committee had talked with other school districts concerning choosing a location, the answer was, “no.”
An audience member asked about safety and if there would be changes to insure the intersection of Old Dubuque Road and Hwy 151 would be safer?
The answer was simple, the DOT will put in a right turn lane on Hwy 151, but there would be no underpass, or speed limit change on Hwy 151.
Would this cause more congestion on Hwy 64 after the new hospital is built?
The site could be revaluated by the DOT and the speed limit reduced lower than 45 mph.
Anamosa City Councilman Brady Reynolds commented that the city did have a plan in the works to put a walking trail in along Hwy 64.
Delegardelle wrapped up the meeting by asking that those in attendance leave there questions and comments.
“Talk with friends, relatives and neighbors about what you’ve seen here tonight,” he urged.
The next community forum will be held on March 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the West Middle School auditorium. The public is encouraged to attend to give their input on which site the school should choose for a new facility.
Next Community Forum
March 24
6:30 p.m.
West Middle School Auditorium |
Grant Wood Art Festival Contests Underway
By Michelle Phillips |
The Grant Wood Art Festival is still three months away, but plans are in place for many events, activities and competitions.
The festival, which honors Anamosa native Grant Wood, is scheduled for June 8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and will be held on Anamosa’s Main Street. Artists from around the regional will compete in a juried art show and sell their creations. Applications for artists are still available for artists who want to compete.
A badge design contest is also in the works and is open to all high school students this year. The first place prize is an iPod Nano, sponsored by Anamosa Publications. Second and third place winners receive t-shirts, compliments of Novel-Tees in Anamosa. The deadline for the competition is April 25.
KC Kiner, Anamosa Chamber of Commerce Director, said, “This year we have some grants to offset the cost of hosting the event.”
The grants will allow the festival to expand and offer art workshops to both children and adults, including pottery and drawing sessions.
“We hope that the hand-on workshops will foster the creativity of out visitors,” added Kiner.
An originals display will once again be housed at the library, and committee member, Kristy Raine, is working to secure artwork by Wood as well as students from the colony. The library will also host a lecture on Grant Wood by Dubuque physician, Dr. Randy Lengling. He is a historian and collector of Grant Wood.
“We hope this event will continue to grow,” concluded Kiner.
The Grant Wood Art Festival committee will once again offer a $200 scholarship to an area art student. Wagon rides to Anamosa points of interest will be available and the festival will offer an old fashioned picnic and ice cream social, including fried chicken, lemonade, hot dogs, and of course, ice cream. There will also be live entertainment, street chalk drawing and demonstrations.
The Grant Wood Art Festival is sponsored by the Anamosa Chamber of Commerce, and forms and additional information are available on the Chamber’s website at www.anamosachamber.org or by contacting Kiner at 319-462-4879. |
Barnette Wins Barnes and Noble Essay Contest
By Michelle Phillips
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Brooke Barnette is only 10 1/2 years old, but she asked questions of many presidential candidates when they came through the area campaigning for the caucus. Her experience became the topic of an essay she entered in a Barnes and Noble essay writing competition in Cedar Rapids, winning her first place.
“My teacher, Mrs. Tiedt, told me about it (the contest),” Brooke said. “You had to write a two to five page memoir.”
The essay entitled I Raised My Hand beat out 350 others and included her experiences asking questions of John Edwards, John McCain, Barrack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton.
“What I’m trying to get the reader to realize is even if you’re a kid, you can become involved in things that adults are interested in,” she explained. |
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Brooke said she wasn’t very interested in politics at first, but her mother asked her to go to the events and her interest grew.
The prizes she received were a game and a Barnes and Noble gift card for making the top 10, a plaque for reaching the top three and for first place a book by Paul Ingles and her own essay published into a booklet.
“I love to do things to be creative,” Brooke revealed. “I love to read, write and do art and math.”
Brooke said she has never entered a writing contest before now. She does, however, plan to enter the essay along with two art projects in the Belin Blank competition later this year. She also wants to enter the Barnes and Noble competition again next year.
Brooke said she doesn’t ever see herself going into public office and thinks she would like to be a veterinarian.
As for whom she’d pick if she could vote, she said, “John McCain. I would tend to vote Republican.”
Brooke’s essay follows:
I Raised My Hand
by Brooke Barnette
The year was 2007 and it seemed that there were more politicians in Iowa than there was corn. I would never have thought politics were interesting until my mom asked me if I wanted to go see Senator John McCain. I replied “Sure!”.even though I knew I wouldn’t pay a speck of attention. After all, I would get to miss school! Senator McCain’s speech was at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The first thing I noticed when my family got into the large meeting room where the town hall meeting was to be held, was that someone had set out cookies and punch. I dashed over to the snack table as fast as a cheetah. As I sat down to enjoy my red punch and chocolate chip cookie, I took notice of the commotion around me. There were people going here, people going there, and people going everywhere. I guess that they were excited to see someone that they thought was important. On the stage there was a large American flag and a man-sized poster which proclaimed “McCAIN FOR PRESIDENT.” After I got bored of looking around, I drew a picture for John McCain, and then read a book. I was just getting tot he exciting part, when I heard a bunch of clapping and cheering. Senator McCain was here! John McCain had snowy white marshmallow hair and a scarred but friendly face. Once he started his speech I initially doodled on paper, then pretended to listen, then I found myself actually listening! He was talking about the war in Iraq. By question time, I knew a lot about him. I raised my hand to ask a question and Senator McCain called on me! I asked him, “If you are elected president, what will you do to change the United States?” His first response was “I want to take you on the campaign trail!” Then he talked about using high efficiency light bulbs. After his presentation, I pushed through the crowds pressing around the Senator. I gave him the picture I had drawn and even got a hug!
Several months later, Mom asked me if I wanted to go see John Edwards. He was going to be speaking in a beautiful garden in Anamosa less than a mile from my house. The nest day we went to see Senator Edwards. People were bustling around the garden preparing for John Edwards’ arrival. Since there were front row seats available, I grabbed them for my mom and me. When the crowd started cheering, I knew that Senator Edwards was making his way into the circle of seats. He was so close to me, I could have reached out and touched him. It was a hot July summer day and even though John Edwards was sweating, his hair never seemed to get out of place. This time, I listened from the beginning of his speech. By the time he was ready for questions, I had one planned out. I raised my hand and Senator Edwards called on me. I stated “I have been to another town hall meeting. I asked John McCain a question. I want to compare the two answers so that I could see which one I like better.” That brought a chuckle from the crowd. Then I asked, “If you are elected President, what will you do to help change the United States?” He talked about high efficiency light bulbs and some things people can do to help the environment. After his speech, I got to shake his hand and get his autograph. Since I was sitting so close, I didn’t have to push through the crowd this time.
It was a mild fall day in Anamosa, Iowa when Barack Obama came to town. This time the town hall meeting was held in a stinky gym. Even though there was a large crowd, my mom, two brothers and I managed to get third row seat! When Barack Obama came in the crowd clapped wildly. He was a young man who seemed very friendly. As Senator Obama started his presentation on why he would be a good president, my baby brother started playing with his toy cars on the floor. I guess the newspaper photographer thought that my brother and his toy cars were more interesting than Senator Obama because she started snapping pictures of him for the newspaper. I was a bit jealous since I would have liked my picture to be taken, too. At the end of Senator Obama’s speech, he asked for questions. I raised my hand. He called on me. My question was, “If you are elected president, what will you do to make America better, like global warming?” His response was long, but the three main points included high efficiency light bulbs, hybrid cars, and recycling. After the town hall meeting I went up to him and was able to get his autograph. It said, “Brooke–Dream Big Dreams Barack Obama.” On the way out of the gym, I was interviewed by a reporter from Sweden!
On a snowy white day in December when it was so foggy you could hardly see what was in front of you, my mom, two brothers and I went to see Hillary Clinton. The meeting was in a metal shack on a farm! When we got there, it wasn’t crowed as I had expected, but the small building soon filled up. We waited a whole hour for her to get there because she was delayed by the fog. We passed the time reading Tom Sawyer. When Senator Clinton finally arrived, she looked exhausted, but had a bright and friendly smile. She, too, talked about why she would be a good president and a little bit about the war in Iraq and then went into questions. I, once again, raised my hand. When she called on me, I stood up on my chair and asked my question about global warming. I got yet another answer about high efficiency light bulbs. I was getting tired of that answer. After her presentation, I was able to shake her hand and get her autograph. Since my mom was there I had to go through the torture of having my picture taken with the Senator.
Three days after meeting Hillary Clinton, I got to see her husband, Bill Clinton! After my mom, brother and I sat down in the same stinky gym where we saw Barack Obama, my teacher, Mrs. Tiedt, sat down next to me. We all waited in suspense for President Clinton to get there. I could tell when he arrived because I could hear the clicks of camera flashes coming from behind the big curtain. When President Clinton came out, everyone stood up and cheered their heads off. I was excited to be one row away from the former President of the United States! Once the cheering died down, he started his speech by talking about why his wife would be a good president. Since President Clinton talked a lot about global warming in his presentation, I had to re-phrase my question. When it came time for questions, I raised my hand. The President called on me, so I asked “If your wife is elected President, what do you think she would have us, as kids, do today to help stop global warming?” The first thing the former President of the United Stated did was turn his head, look at me, smile and say “Now that’s a good question!” Having a world leader compliment me on my question was COOL! In his answer, he talked about using recycled water bottles, and he gave me yet another response about high efficiency light bulbs! I guess high efficiency light bulbs are important! He suggested that I have my teacher talk to my class about other things we could do to help stop global warming. Little did he know that my teacher was sitting right next to me! After his presentation, President Clinton came down to the front rows and shook each of our hands. I was also able to get his autograph.
I learned a lot from the four senators and former president in 2007. Besides recognizing the importance of high efficiency light bulbs, I discovered that politics are more interesting than I thought. I also learned that even though I was just an average kid in Anamosa, Iowa, all I had to do to make world leaders listen to me was to raise my hand! |
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