Newsletter
January 2007
With the change of the seasons upon us, the Hawarden Police Department would like to remind the citizens of Hawarden of the winter parking rules. The Hawarden Municipal Code states “no person shall park, abandon, or leave unattended any vehicle on any public street, alley, or city-owned off street parking area through the duration of any snowfall, snowstorm, or ice storm, and the twelve hour period after the cessation of the same, except upon streets which have been fully opened.”
The reason this is in effect is so the city crews can clean all of the streets without any vehicles obstructing the streets. Failure to remove vehicles from the streets will result in a parking ticket being issued to the vehicle owner with a fine of $20.00. There is also the possibility of the vehicle being towed at the owner’s expense.
The Hawarden Police Department recommends that all vehicle owners make plans early on where they will park their vehicles so there is not a problem at the last minute. The vehicles can be parked back on the roadway only if the street is cleared from curb to curb. If there is an emergency, and the vehicle cannot possibly be moved, the owner should contact the police department so we can make appropriate arrangements.
1. LEAVE THE HOUSE IMMEDIATELY.
2. DON’T LIGHT A MATCH.
3. DON’T TURN ON ANY LIGHTS.
4. DON’T TURN ON ANY SWITCHES OR ANYTHING ELECTRICAL.
5. DON’T USE YOUR HOUSE PHONE OR YOUR CELL PHONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE. GO OUTSIDE TO A NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE AND CALL THE CITY OFFICES AT 551-2565. AFTER HOURS PLEASE CALL BRIAN WARNER AT 551-2179, JEFF SCHURMAN AT 551-3839, OR TOM KANE AT 551-1233. IN AN EMERGENCY CALL THE HAWARDEN HOSPITAL AT 551-3100.
The Hawarden Police Department would like to remind all residents that they are required to remove all snow or ice buildup on their sidewalks. City Codes state, “It shall be the duty of the owner of each building and lot in the City fronting upon any street or sidewalk, which is concrete or other material, or the owner of any unoccupied lot fronting a sidewalk, to keep the sidewalks in front of his or her building or lot clear of the natural accumulation of snow and ice within the period of 18 hours after the accumulation thereof upon the sidewalk.”
Currently if the owner of the property fails to comply with this Code it can be handled in two ways. The first way is for the Superintendent of Public Works to have the snow or ice removed from the sidewalks without notice to the property owners and the cost of doing so is billed to the property owner of record and as a tax lien on property if unpaid. The second way is for the Police Department to issue a Municipal Infraction Citation to the owner of record with a fine of $50.00 for the first offense, $100.00 for the second offense, and $250.00 for the third and subsequent offenses. Each day the snow or ice is allowed to remain on the sidewalks is considered a separate and subsequent offense.
The City of Hawarden would like to ask for your assistance in keeping the ice and snow off your meters. An accumulation of snow and ice could interfere with good air circulation around the gas meter and vent on the gas regulator. If this happens it may interrupt the supply of natural gas to your home or cause other serious problems.
We ask that you use a broom to clear away the snow. Please do not use a shovel to remove the ice and snow build-up or try to melt or chip the ice, as that could damage or break your meter. Also, icicles from the roof or gutter that overhang your meter can cause dripping water that can freeze and cover the meter.
If your meter does become encased with ice, please call the Public Works Department at 551-2565 and they can assist you in solving this problem.
55 & Up Field Trip – Winn-A-Vegas Casino in Sloan, IA Wednesday, February 14th. Senior Citizen Day - receive $5.00 in free quarters. Enjoy the Winn-A-Vegas coin drop machines! Everyone will be responsible for their own lunch. Depart: 8:30 am, Return: 4:00 pm. To register call 551-4412. Registration deadline: Friday, February 9th.
Chuck E. Cheese Youth Trip – Friday, February 16th (rescheduled date from January 15th). All students in Kindergarten – 5th grade are welcome to attend. Cost: $10.00 includes 2 pieces of pizza, pop, 20 tokens, & transportation. Forms available at the school and city offices.
Great Bear Ski/Snowboard/Tubing Trip – Monday, February 19th. All 6th – 12th grade students are welcome to attend the Great Bear trip in Sioux Falls, SD. The cost of the trip depends on whether you would like to ski, snowboard, or tube. Registration forms can be picked up at the high school or the city offices. Registration deadline is Thursday, February 15th.
After-School Bowling League There will be a youth bowling league starting February 20th, 21st, & 22nd from 3:30-5:00 p.m. at Sportsman’s Lanes. The league is offered for K – 8th grade students and will run for four consecutive weeks. Cost is $10 / person. Registration forms are available at the schools and the city offices. Sponsored by the Hawarden Rec. Dept. and Sportsman’s Lanes. Registration deadline is Thursday, February 15th.
Sometimes Mother Nature has a tendency to create havoc when the City offices are not open. So the City has decided to put the department personnel phone numbers in this issue so we can pinpoint emergency electric, gas, water and street emergencies immediately. Please post these numbers somewhere handy and only call these City employees if it is an emergency and if it is after the City’s normal business hours of 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
| Electrical Department: Lonnie Johnson 551-3830 Jay McCord 551-2173 |
Gas Department: Brian Warner 551-2179 Jeff Schurman 551-3839 Tom Kane 551-1233 |
Water Department: Al Mace 551-1418 Tim Ericson 551-1503 |
Street and Sewer Departments: Tim Moothart 551-2768 Rick Bronkhorst 551-1491 |
Phone and Cable Departments: Ron Prothero 551-1821 Mike Miller 551-4040 |
Maintenance Dept: Broc Yesda 278-2117 |
| For Further Assistance: Superintendent of Public Works — Tom Kane 551-1233 City Administrator — Jason Metten — 551-4770 |
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Persons wanting to request information from or to register complaints with Hawarden Municipal Utilities may do so by contacting: Tom Kane, Superintendent of Public Works, 1150 Central Ave., Hawarden, Iowa, 51023, or call 712-551-2565.
If your complaint is related to service disconnection, safety or renewable energy, and Hawarden Municipal Utilities does not resolve your complaint, you may request assistance from the Utility Division, Department of Commerce, Lucas State Office Building, 350 Maple Street, Des Moines, Iowa, 50319-0069, or call 515-281-5979 or toll-free l-877-565-4450.
HAPP Board 2007 Election results: President — Patty Anderson, Organization Committee Chair — Dawn Hummel, Retail Committee Chair — Julie Hummel, Development committee chair — Jerry Klemme, and Development Member At Large — Matt Hummel.
HAPP Coffee/HAPPy Hour has changed from Fridays to the LAST Thursday of the month. Watch Channel 10 or check out our website—www.happ-online.com for monthly details.
Retail Committee is busy preparing for the Hawarden Home Show on March 16th and 17th at the West Sioux High School gym. If you are interested in a booth space please contact the HAPP office at 551-4433.
Volunteers welcome — if you are interested in joining one of HAPP’s committees, please contact the HAPP Office for details.
The library will host a book discussion group on Wednesday, February 21st at 10 a.m. This month's book selection is THE GLASS CASTLE by Jeanette Walls. Call the library for more information: 551-2244. We are always looking for more members.
There will be an "After School at the Library" program for 1st and 2nd graders on Thursday, February 15th at 3:30 p.m. Registration is required for this program. Contact the library at 551-2244. Registrations should be made by February 12th.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LiHEAP) offered through Mid-Sioux Opportunity, Inc. may be able to help you pay your winter heating bill. This program is funded through the Iowa Department of Human Rights and has been established to help qualified low-income Iowa homeowners and renters pay for a portion of their primary heating costs.
Your local Mid-Sioux office will be taking applications through April 13, 2007. Each applicant will need to furnish a social security number for everyone in the household, a copy of their most recent heating, electric and telephone bill, and proof of the household’s income for the past three months (13 weeks), the past twelve (12) months, or the most recent calendar year (from the 2005 or 2006 tax return). Eligibility for participation is established according to the federal income guidelines listed below. All elderly and disabled households may apply for assistance beginning October 1, 2006 and all other households may apply beginning November 1, 2006. Applicants eligible for assistance will be paid on a first come, first served basis, and all payments are subject to availability of funds.
Maximum Gross Income
| Household Size | Annual Income |
| 1 | $14,700.00 |
| 2 | $19,800.00 |
| 3 | $24,900.00 |
| 4 | $30,000.00 |
| 5 | $35,100.00 |
For families with more than five members, add $5,100.00 for each additional member. |
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The Sioux County Mid-Sioux Office is located in Sioux Center at 313 North Main Avenue. A Mid-Sioux representative will be at the United Methodist Church in Hawarden the 4th Wednesday of every month. To make appointments call the Mid-Sioux office at 712-722-3611.
Project Share is a plan created by your municipal utility to assist needy households in paying their wintertime energy bills. You can help by adding a regular Project Share contribution to your monthly utility payment or by making a direct donation to Project Share. These funds will then be distributed to neighbors in need for wintertime energy costs. Those qualifying for help will be carefully identified by Mid-Sioux Opportunity. Mid-Sioux helps the City oversee Project Share to guarantee all contributions will be handled equitably and efficiently to those in the City most in need.
So please add a Project Share – (PS) – to your utility payment. It’s a simple way to share some warmth with those who need it. Just fill out the form below and return it to the City offices.
Dear Hawarden Municipal Utilities:
I’d like to help a neighbor in need with a tax-deductible contribution to Project Share.
Name Address Phone #
I will contribute $ per month to Project Share. I understand this amount will be billed to me monthly.
I have enclosed a $ donation to Project Share.