I have received a letter asking about Sigourney’s snow emergency ordinance. I thought I would take the opportunity to remind the residents of Sigourney about the snow ordinance the City Council adopted last year.

I rely on information given to me by the City Police Department and the Director of Public Works to declare a snow emergency. We agreed that a significant amount of snow is 8″ or more, or at least 1/4″ ice would be our measure. That may vary depending on the weather forecast.

The City of Sigourney will ask the following stations to broadcast the snow emergency notice when issued:  KGAN television (channel 2); KTVO television (channel 3); KCRG television (channel 9); KBOE radio (Am 740, FM 104.9; WHO radio (AM 1040). 

If snow is predicted during the night, please make sure your vehicle is not parked in the street. The police will issue a citation for vehicles that impede the removal of snow.  Also a reminder to home owners and business owners: make arrangements for snow removal from your sidewalks as soon as possible.

The following is a copy of the Prohibited Parking During Snow Emergency Ordinance:

Prohibited Parking During Snow Emergency

No person shall park, abandon or leave unattended any vehicle on any public street, alley, or City-owned off-street parking area during any snow emergency.  A snow emergencyparking ban will continue through the duration of the snow or ice storm and for a forty-eight hour period after the storm.  Once the streets have been plowed and are fully opened the ban can be considered lifted.  (Section 3-3-32 of the Sigourney Municipal Code)

The featured image is the Snow Route Map of Sigourney. The streets in blue are the ones that would be cleared first.

Hoping each of you has a wonderful and prosperous 2012.

Pat Miletich-Mayor

Funding is available to procide carious repair/rehab activities such as roof replacement, new siding/windows/doors, electrical/heating/cooling system upgrades, water heater replacement/plumbing repairs, insulation and accessibility and more.

Interest rates are 0-2 oercent and deferred loans are also available depending upon household size and income.  Applications are on-going-no deadlines-and are accepted on a first-come, first served basis for each county.  This is a great program that more people need to be aware of and take advantage of.

To be eligible for this program, your household income must be at or below 80 percent of MFI guidelines.   You must provide proof of property ownership and proof of paid to date property taxes and mortgage payments.  In additionm the property must be clear of any mechanic’s leins or encumbrunces and have a a taxable value of $20,000 or greater.  For additional information, applicatio forms, guidelines, and brochures go to www.area15rpc.com/rhtf or call in Keokuk County 622-2902.

Income guidelines range from a single person household at or below $32,800 to a six (6) person household at  or below $54,300 for renter occupied housing rehad.  For owner occupied housing repair, a single person household shold have a manimum income of $54,718 to an eight (8) person household with a maximum income of $67,600.

Welcome to three new city council members.  Connie McLaughlin represents the Third Ward and Drew Ballensky represents the Fourth Ward.  They have experienced their first council meeting on Jan 4.  Jesse Hornback is also “new”.  He represented the Fourth Ward in August to November and now is an At-Large Council member.  Sigourney has the benefit of having dedicated, concerned and knowledged council.  Also want to welcome Seth VanSteenwyk to employment with the city.  Seth will be in charge of Rental Inspections and Nuisance Abatement.  Seth works each morning from 8-12 at City Hall.  He is enthusiastic and energetic about nuisances being abated.  Every town has nuisance properties.  No one wants to live in or live by a property that contains an abundance of junk and “stuff”.  If you wish to talk with Seth, call City Hall  641-622-3080. 

Want to welcome a new business to our community.  The new antique store on North Main Street had an opening yesterday (Jan 8).  As I am writing this, I can’t remember the name of the store, but you will notice it as you drive by – it is the site of the former Main Street Florist.  Also welcome to Victor and his family at Country Kitchen Family Restaurant on East Jackson.  They feature a wide variety of dinners, sandwiches, breakfasts, etc.  I hope you are able to welcome these two businesses to our community with your visit.

At City Hall, all departments are presenting their budget requests to the Finance Committee.  Final budget numbers have not been compiled as of now, but will be soon.  Jim is training and overseeing his departments preparing them for transition day. 

If you have questions or concerns, contact me at City Hall, 641-622-3080.  I don’t keep regular hours, but “report” to work each day!

Pat

The new leaf vaccum seems to working out quite well. Now if the wind would only cooperate. It is hard to pick up leaves with the wind blowing them all directions. But the guys are doing a wonderful job.

Please accept my apologies for the condition of the American flags around the square. The wind has really whipped them and we even had a pole break. Most of the flags themselves are in good condition, it is just that the ties holding the flags to the poles snapped in the wind. If you see a flag that should be replaced, please call the City Clerk’s office at 622-3080 to report it. We do not knowingly disrespect the American flag and veterans.

Speaking of veterans, don’t forget the Veteran’s Freedom 5K Run/Walk on November 12. The run begins at Memorial Hall at 9:00. Also that day a station will be set up in the lobby of City Hall to accept out of date medications. Now is a good time to clean out the medicine cabinet and collect all those old bottles of stuff and bring them to City Hall on November 12.

Looking forward to the Firemen’s Breakfast on Saturday October 29th. It is called “Hunter’s Breakfast”, but no matter what you call it -it is good food. What a great way to support our area volunteer firemen. And to visit with many-my advice is to come early and stay and visit, providing you are not intending to walk the fields hunting for the illusive pheasant.

Sending my regards to all the mothers, I hope your special day was a good one. My Mother’s Day was one of the best-spent it with family. Mike grilled and prepared all the meal-even the strawberry shortcake. It was a beautiful day to eat outside by the pool.

Congratulations to all 2011 graduates. Your ceremony is called Commencement because it is the beginning of the rest of your education. Be assured that your learning has just begun! But it isn’t just sitting in a classroom-there will be lots of experiences to learn from. Have fun and be safe at all the graduation parties.

Congratulations to those businesses who were awarded grants from the city and SADC. Businesses that applied for a specific purpose were awarded from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars to help improve their retail space. The money was earmarked from the amount the city receives from the local option sales tax. These businesses will incur the expense and bring the receipts to the city office for reimbursement.

That’s all for now, see you soon

Pat

As always there is more to say, but for now I will just say, If you have questions, please call the Clerk’s office at 622-3080. We work for you and what we do is open for questioning and comments.

Many thanks to you for moving your vehicles off the street during the blizzard early in February. You all did a fantastic job. The street crew was able to clear the streets quickly and we all benefitted making it easier to get around town. We certainly appreciate your efforts in finding alternate parking for 48 hours.

Last month I commented on how wonderful the new grocery store was and this month I can say how nice it is to have the old store down and the site cleaned. I am amazed at how quickly it came down-congrats to Keith and Laurie and to Mike Hammes amd crew. Main Street is changing! The minute we stop progress, we begin to slid back. Sigourney is a wonderfully progressive town, lets keep it going.

Another sign of progress is that the city has taken possession of the former Corner Drug/Pamida building. Some demolition has taken place with more to come before construction begins. The construction bids are due on March 16, so construction can begin shortly thereafter. If you are interested in what city offices will look like, stop in the City Clerk’s office for an update.

Congratulations to Chief of Police Allan Glandon for being receiving the first ever IDEA award from Lt Governor Kim Reynolds on February 21. This award is to recognize Chief Glandon for his Innovation, determination, and excellence in action and his leadership that inclded adoption of the state’s adoption of keg registration that led to a reduction in underage drinking in the Sigourney area. We are certainly proud of him and his accomplishments. He continues his efforts in this area of concern.

Chief Glandon is currently considering allowing registered golf carts to share city streets with cars and bicycles and other kinds of vehicles. Please contact him with any of your concerns or comments. He welcomes public input about this topic.

Another area of discussion is banning hand guns on city property. This would include city hall, Legion Park, and the recreation areas-ball fields, soccer and flag football areas, etc. Give us your input on this idea as well.

We are letting bids in April for three blocks of streets and moving the water mains which run under these streets. We will move the mains to the terraces and then replace the streets. Streets included in this project are May Street, one block of Warren Street and Keokuk Street. We also hope to work on the intersection of Pershing Blvd and Adair Street. We always have projects planned!! Never at a loss of projects-just money to fund them!!

March is here to celebrate! Ash Wednesday is March 9, Daylight Saving Time begins March 13, St Paddy’s Day and First Day of Spring-have a great time celebrating all the wonderful days of March!!

Til April

Pat

Pat