Few would argue that the best way to achieve long-term success in this world is through proper and thorough planning. That planning process should involve everyone who might be affected by the plan. When I came to Hawarden six months ago I could feel a sense of ownership and community among the people that I talked to...in fact, that's the main reason that I chose to move here. However, I wasn't sure exactly how involved citizens would get when their City asked them to help plan for the future.
The discussion surrounding the recently proposed logo change answered a lot of those questions for me. The logo that we've been considering for the past few weeks was originally designed for a particular economic development campaign and was to be retired after the campaign was over. However, I liked it so much that I thought we could use it for all City business. I thought, and continue to think that it was sleek, stylish and that prospective residents and industry would remember it above others when deciding where to locate their businesses and families. Many agreed with me. Several liked the design but asked for changes. Some folks downright disliked it. In the final analysis, the proposed logo just didn't garner enough support to justify its adoption.
The greatest lesson that I have learned from this process is the true value that is placed on the opinion of Hawarden citizens by its elected representatives and their staff. I can say with confidence that citizen participation in making decisions about the future of Hawarden is welcome, wanted and needed. It is in this spirit that I would like to extend an invitation to the citizens of Hawarden to participate in the process of updating the City's comprehensive plan. A comprehensive plan is a tangible representation of what a community wants to be in the future and is often referred to as a master plan. Volunteering for this project will require a commitment of about four evening meetings and quite a bit of discussion. I have set aside a block of time to begin the process at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday May 23rd, 2006 in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Attendance and the level of interest taken by attendees will dictate the process by which we proceed. All are welcome to attend. As always, questions or comments about this or any other matter may be submitted to jasonm@cityofhawarden.com, by calling (712) 551-2565 or by stopping in at my office. Thank you for taking an active interest in the future of our community.
Jason Metten, City Administrator.
If you have any questions or need additional information you can call Independence Waste at 1-800-515-0051.
With the nice weather coming, many people are getting “spring fever”. More and more motorcycles and 4-wheelers are being ridden, and this has prompted the Hawarden Police Department to release some information concerning motorcycles and 4-wheelers.
In an attempt to stop riders from riding on private property, the Hawarden Police Department will be enforcing trespassing laws if a violation is reported. Citizens who have a complaint or see a violation are encouraged to call the Hawarden Police Department. Citizens are encouraged to give their name, address, and time of the call. They are also asked to give a description of the motorcycle or 4-wheeler they are complaining about.
These calls will be followed up, and if the Police find the person or persons responsible for the violations, a citation will be issued. If a person is a juvenile and is charged with trespassing, they are required to go to juvenile court. If they are 18 or over they will have to appear in magistrate court and pay a fine.
There is not any public land available for motorcycles and 4-wheelers to be ridden on. The land along the railroad tracks, the pit areas, city parks, and even the road-side ditches are off-limits to these vehicles. The only place to ride these “off-road” vehicles is on privately-owned land, with the land-owner’s permission. To be ridden on the streets or in the right-of-ways, they must be ridden by a licensed driver and be a licensed vehicle.
If there are any questions in regard to motorcycles and 4-wheelers, please direct them to the Hawarden Police Department.
Gas is an odorless and colorless gas that presents a serious safety concern in your home and business if a leak occurs. The City Gas Department adds odorant into the system so that leaks can be detected. Here are a few natural gas safety tips to keep you and your family safe:
If you smell gas at your residence, call the City Offices at 551-2565 and they will send the Gas Department to check out the problem, free of charge. After hours call Brent Hamilton, Gas Foreman, at 551-1357; Brian Warner, Gas Assistant, at 551-2179; or Tom Kane, Director of Public Works, at 551-1233. In an emergency call the Hawarden Hospital at 551-1121 and they will contact City Personnel for you.
Reminder — Make sure to register your children for the Hawarden Public Library's summer reading program. Registration begins May 17th. Come to the library and sign up your children and pick up a calendar of activities.
Sponsored by the City Recreation Department
Director: Jami Dekkers Phone # 551-4412
Baseball & Softball for Kindergarten – 6th grade boys and girls (05/06 school year). Cost is $20.
3 separate leagues:
Practices will be held on Mondays & Wednesdays and games on Tuesdays & Thursdays.
Baseball & softball schedules will be handed out in school closer to date.
We also offer Golf for 5th – 8th grade boys and girls. The golf season begins Wednesday, May 31st.
Registration forms can be picked up at the City Offices or at the West Sioux Schools.
Registration Deadline Friday, May 12, 2006.
PLEASE NOTE: It is a safety hazard to put foreign objects such as bricks, sticks, bags, etc. in the grass drop-off site. These objects can cause damage to the equipment.
We are having a problem with the grass drop-off site area. When the grass is spread on the fields it is done with a manure spreader. If foreign objects are put in the grass pile, damage can occur to the equipment that is spreading the grass on the fields. This is also a safety hazard for the machine operator and anyone who may be assisting. If this problem continues we will no longer be able to offer the drop-off site.
Reminder: The only things allowed in the limb pile are tree limbs and brush. No other wood or lumber is allowed.
Occasional skunk sightings in a neighborhood need not be cause for alarm. Preventative measures such as covering garbage cans and not leaving pet food out will help discourage their presence. Also, covering openings under patios, porches and crawl spaces will prevent occupancy. Always make sure no animal is living there first. If a skunk wanders into your garage don’t panic. Just open the garage door before dusk and wait until the skunk exits for nightly foraging. Sprinkle a wide band of white flour across the threshold so you can see evidence of exiting footprints. Keep all domestic animals away from the area, and once the visitor has left, close the door and make sure it stays closed.
Because skunks are nomadic, their residence under your shed, porch or outbuilding will resolve itself in due time. They’ll just move on. However, if you must evict skunks from under a building, try spraying a mixture of 8 ounces of dish detergent, 8 ounces of castor oil, and 1 gallon of water around the area where the skunks reside. To determine if the den has been vacated, stuff newspaper in the entry hole. If animals are still present the paper will be pushed out within 24 hours. The only way to keep skunks permanently out from under a building is to seal the structure off with chicken wire or hardware cloth. It is important to sink the wire down a few inches into the ground, bend it at a 45-degree angle, and then run at least 12 inches of wire out away from the building in a reverse “L” shape so a false bottom is created, foiling any skunk who tries to dig back in. A note of caution: be sure that all animals are out from under a structure before sealing it off. Otherwise, the remaining skunks will starve to death.
Because of their natural nearsightedness and poor- climbing ability, skunks often tumble into window wells and are unable to climb out. If the window well is shallow (under 2 feet), place a piece of wood in the well at less than a 45-degree angle to serve as a ramp. Make sure the board has a towel or chicken wire tacked to it for traction. If the window well is any deeper, put on heavy gloves, place smelly cheese in the far corner of an animal carrier or plastic rectangular garbage can tipped on its side, and slowly lower it into the window well. The skunk will be enticed by the cheese and should walk right into the container. Slowly raise the can or carrier, elevator style, to ground level, keeping your hands on the outside so you don’t risk being bitten. Leave the area. The skunk will soon come out. It’s essential to then purchase or make a window well cover out of heavy wire mesh fencing or this situation will reoccur. If you hire professionals to help remove the skunk make sure they release the skunk on site.
Although people’s initial reaction may be to get rid of skunks, trapping will not solve the problem because skunks from the surrounding area will quickly replace those removed. As long as an inviting habitat (brush or rock piles, elevated sheds, and openings under porches or house foundations) exists, skunks will use it. Trapping merely creates turnover in the population. In springtime this can result in orphaned, starving skunks wandering around neighborhoods.
People often have exaggerated fears about rabies and skunks. In the central United States, skunks may contract their own strain of rabies or serve as a “spillover” species for the raccoon variant that is currently present in the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states. However, since 1980 only 1 human death has been attributed to the skunk strain of rabies in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, the few human deaths from rabies – on average 2 to 3 a year nationwide – have largely been due to the bat strain or canine strains contracted overseas. The bottom line is that people stand a far greater risk of dying from a falling brick or bad hamburger than from skunk rabies. Nonetheless, it’s important to take proper precautions by calling your local animal control officer if you observe a sick, disoriented skunk in areas where rabies occur.
Skunks use their strong-smelling spray to defend themselves. In fact, they don’t have any other form of defense. The spray is composed of sulfuric acid that can be “fired” from either of 2 independently-operating anal glands. Skunks stamp their front feet as a warning when threatened, giving you a chance to back off. Dogs, however, tend to ignore this warning. That’s why it’s hard to find a human who has been sprayed, but easy to find a dog who has. Skunk odor on wayward pets may be neutralized with liberal amounts of vinegar or tomato juice. This will make the odor tolerable - only time will eliminate it. A reported deodorant recipe for skunk spray that can be used on animals and clothes includes these ingredients: 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, ? cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon Dawn liquid dish soap. Apply liberally and hold your nose! Chlorine bleach, ammonia, or commercial products containing neutroleum alpha may be used on inanimate objects, do not use these on any living thing. Carbolic soap and water are safe to use on skin. Liberal flushing with cold water will ease the discomfort of skunk spray in the eyes.