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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday, May 1, 2008
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Flooding Causing Problems in Jones County
By Michelle Phillips |
The Wapsipinicon River has risen rapidly over the past several days, and with more rain in the forecast near the end of the week, flood levels could rise even more.
Brenda Leonard, Jones County Emergency Management Coordinator, said the flooding is widespread throughout the county. “The river is even higher in OJ and Olin than it is here. We’ve had 19 roads closed–nine are reopened now.”
If you encounter floodwater when driving, you should not drive through the water but rather turn around and find an alternate route.
“We’re okay right now,” said Larry Driscoll, Anamosa Public Works Director, of the floodwaters that are moving toward the sewage treatment facility.
Sand bagging has become the norm around Jones County and for now seems to be staving off the water on Elm Street in Anamosa. |
The Legionnaire Ballroom in Oxford Junction was surrounded by water on April 28 after the Wasipinicon River went out of its banks. Residents filled sandbags and stacked them around the perimeter of the building to try to keep the water at bay. |
In Oxford Junction, residents pooled their resources and sandbagged around the Legionnaire Ballroom, which just completed a dance floor remodeling project.
Leonard said measures have already been taken to help residents of the county apply for disaster assistance.
“I did have the Board of Supervisors sign a disaster declaration this morning,” Leonard said Tuesday morning, and added that the county and state must declare a disaster before the federal government. “It has to work its way up she said.
U.S. Congressman Bruce Braley is also working to help his constituents in the first District by offering information at his office around the district.
“In the wake of this week’s flooding across Iowa and the First District, it’s important for eastern Iowans to know where to look for assistance,” Braley said. “My offices in Davenport, Dubuque, and Waterloo can be used as an information resource for people who have questions about where they can turn for help.
“My top priority in Congress is to work hard for my constituents. Eastern Iowans should know that my staff is available to assist those suffering from the impacts of this severe flooding.”
Rep. Braley’s district office contact information follows:
Waterloo
501 Sycamore St, Suite 623
Waterloo, Iowa
319-287-3233
Davenport
209 W. 4th St., Suite 104
Davenport, Iowa
563-323-5988
Dubuque
350 W. 6th St., Suite 222
Dubuque, Iowa
563-557-7789
In addition to causing problems for people, flooding can also affect wildlife. In Anamosa and Olin, waterfowl have been flooded out of their nesting areas, and some have already laid their eggs.
“Any birds nesting on the ground around the rivers will be flooded. They’ll sick to they territory and try to renest, hopefully, when the water goes back down,” said Michele Olson, Jones County Conservation Interpretive Naturalist. “Most of the other animals will move away and wait out the flood.”
Olson said fish take advantage of the flooding and can provide diversity in species. “They will use the oxbow areas of the river. And some will stay when the water receded. If it is really shallow they usually swim back out when the water moves out.”
However, she said flooding can be a problem for some species and a large amount of slit in the water can hinder spawning.
She added that it is usually flash flooding that cause problems for wildlife.
Leonard said that people who have questions or concerns about the flooding could call the Jones County Emergency Management office at 319-462-4356.
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Legislature Passes Statewide Penny Tax, Repeals SILO
By Michelle Phillips |
The Iowa Legislature passed the SILO Repeal/Statewide Penny Tax last week after the legislation received support from both sides of the aisle.
The SILO tax is School Infrastructure Local Option tax, and voters in nearly every Iowa school district have passed the tax over the past 10 years. The new bill would provide move equity in the distribution of funds for counties that don’t have a strong retail tax base. The SILO tax is one percent on taxable retail items.
Both Rep. Ray Zirkelbach and Sen. Tom Hancock voted in favor of the bill.
“The reason I voted for the bill was because of the huge response I got from the people in my district,” explained Hancock. “It’s good for rural schools and will help equalize the funding.”
Zirkelbach echoed Hancock’s sentiments and said, “I voted for it because it shouldn’t be geographically based, how much you get for a kid in your district. It’s good for all of Jones County and House District 31 school districts. It was a no-brainer to support the bill.”
Anamosa Superintendent Dr. Dale Monroe agreed that the legislation would help equal out funding.
“All of us have access to those community centers that drive the economy of the state,” he said. “It will help the students by improving infrastructure and lowering property taxes.”
Examples of that funding in the Anamosa District are as follows: Fiscal Year 2009–no increase in funds or decrease in taxes; Fiscal Year 2010–$131,000 fund increase and reduction of taxes by 11.3%; Fiscal Year 2011–$136,668 fund increase and tax savings of 22.8%; Fiscal Year 2014–funding increase of $427,000 and a tax reduction of 20%.
The money can be used to pay existing bonds and could impact the Anamosa district when it comes time to vote on a bond issue for the new high school. It cannot, however, be used for employee salaries or benefits.
“The rules for its use are very clear,” Monroe added.
Hancock said schools in Iowa now get $575 per student, and the new bill would give them $730 per student. He included that there is a stipulation.
“Linn and Johnson will get to keep their own funds for 10 years. Then their penny will go into the state pool,” he said. Both counties recently passed SILO taxes.
Zirkelbach included that some of the bigger districts were opposed to the measure because it would mean reduced funding in their districts.
Hancock said the bill would take two-thirds of the votes in the legislature when it expires in 20, requiring bi-partisans support once again. “That’s no small feat,” he said.
The governor is expected to sign the bill in the next few weeks, and it will go into affect on July 1.
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Board Ponders Publicizing Planning Results
by Mike Moynihan
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Anamosa’s Board of Education heard, at its regular meeting April 21, various methods of publicizing the results of the Long Range Planning Committee’s work on site selection for a new high school. The publicity would be necessary if a community survey mailing were done to 5,273 registered voters who are in the district’s boundaries.
Dr. Dale Monroe, the district superintendent, told the board an insert could be placed in the Town Crier for only $528, although the district would still have the cost of printing the 8,800 copies to be inserted. A full-page ad in black and white in the Crier would cost $768, while a full-page color ad would run $808.
Monroe said taking out an ad in the Crier would limit the district’s costs for communicating with its public. If the district goes ahead with an ad, Board Member Anna Mary Riniker noted the ad should be prepared by the Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC).
Monroe also provided comparative figures for the voter survey mailing. One method, using post cards purchased from the post office with postage already printed on them, ran to $3,235.53, while getting blank cards printed and attaching postage could be done for more than $600 less.
Each method relied on data entry and reporting by a private firm, a post office box rental fee and a data charge by the Jones County Auditor’s office. For each method, all the cards and reports would be returned to the Anamosa Community School District following the survey.
The board directed the LRPC to prepare an edited report for publication in an ad in the Town Crier. It further decided not to do a survey but rather rely on the individual feedback each board member was receiving from constituents.
The board unanimously approved hiring Minger Landscaping & Mowing to take care of the district’s mowing needs on a pay-per-mowing basis. Monroe reported that the use of students as summer employment help in the past has not resulted in cost savings.
Based on information from City Administrator Pat Callahan, student workers consistently had three hidden-cost issues that made them more expensive than just the amount of their wages: dependability, higher equipment repair, and poor quality work.
The board also unanimously approved adding a Behavioral Disability Program at Strawberry Hill next school year and the hiring of a qualified teacher to run it. Monroe noted this should result in net savings, since the district would no longer have to pay transportation and teaching costs incurred when district students have to be sent to other districts.
The board unanimously approved a cooperative agreement with the University of Northern Iowa for student teaching in the district.
The board went into a closed session at the end of the evening to conduct a hearing on the possible suspension or expulsion of a student. |
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Box 108, 208 W. Main Street, Anamosa, IA 52205
319-462-3511,
FAX 319-462-4540
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