Happy Thanksgiving, Ida Grove!

City Hall will be closed Thursday, November 28th and Friday, November 29th.  We hope you all enjoy time with friends and family and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Ida Grove Library to host Holiday Open House & Raffle Fundraiser

The Ida Grove Library will be hosting a Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 7, from 9 am – 2 pm. Included in the open house is a bake & book sale in the Heritage Room and holiday raffle fundraiser. The holiday raffle fundraiser will run through December 14, and winners will be drawn on December 16. Chances for the raffle are $1 each or 6 for $5.

Wondering what we have on our holiday raffle table? Items on this year’s raffle table include:

Set of 5 LED Candles with Remote
Lego Creator set (Gingerbread House)
Magforce Magnets in Motion set
American Girl Wellie Wishers “Willa” Doll
Large Insulated Bag
Drone with a camera
Vera Bradley suitcase/travel set
Autographed Copy of Lisa Scottoline’s “Someone Knows”
Echo Dot & Smart Home Plug (4) set
Hat and Mitten set
Handmade Crochet Scarf
Nail Art set
Autographed set of Doug Clough’s “Colorful Characters” and Life, Love, and Laughter from My Backyard”
Set of 3 LED Candles with Remote
Set of 2 Children’s movie passes
“Pony Express” – Framed Pheasants Forever Print of the Year 2000-2001 by James A. Meger
“Storm Break” – Framed Pheasants Forever Print of the Year 2001-2002 by James A. Meger
Cozy Winter Nights Book Basket ( 5 books, blanket, mug, hot cocoa, and popcorn included)

Thanks to all of our donors for their generous donations to this year’s raffle table, we appreciate all of your support! All proceeds from the raffle fundraiser will support library programs and events throughout the year. We hope you’ll stop in to see us during the open house and take a chance on some of these great items!

Water and Sewer Rates

The final reading of Ordinance 576 – Water and Sewer Rate Increase was passed and approved at the regular city council meeting held Monday, November 18, 2019.  This is a courtesy notice that the new rates will go into effect for bills dated on or after January 1, 2020.  For the full ordinance change, please see attached link.  Ordinance 576

Holiday Spirit!

City Crew Members, Bob Lorenzen and Kris Taylor, taking advantage of this beautiful Fall day by getting Ida Grove ready for the holidays.

Veteran’s Day

City Hall will be closed Monday, November 11, 2019 in observance of Veteran’s Day.  The elected officials and city staff would like to thank all past and current members of our armed forces for their service.

Billing Due Date Extension

City Council has met and voted to offer an extension on the due date for utility bills normally due November 15, 2019.  All City utility bills for this month will now be due by November 21, 2019.  A late fee will be applied to any and all bills that remain unpaid after the 21st.  Shut off notice dates will remain unchanged for any and all bills unpaid after November 30, 2019.

City Election Results

Congratulations to the following 5 individuals on being elected to serve as Ida Grove City Councilmen!

Jason Schable – Councilman At-Large, 2 year term

Jared Bogue – Councilman At-Large, 4 year term

Gregor Ernst – Councilman Ward I, 4 year term

Ryan Jordan – Councilman Ward II, 2 year term

Reynold McLead – Councilman Ward III, 4 year term

We appreciate your commitment to serve our community.  Living Forward. Giving Back. 

Delayed Delivery of Utility Bills

City Hall staff have been working with the United States Post Office in order to track down everyone’s utility bills.  Utility bills were mailed out on October 31st, but we confirmed yesterday that the bills were still in Des Moines.  USPS said today that citizens should receive their bill by the end of the week.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

Savor Iowa’s Culinary History in Ida Grove on November 14

What comes to mind when you think of Iowa food? Everyone has an Iowa food story, and Lake City, Iowa, author Darcy Dougherty Maulsby will bring these stories to life on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, at the Ida Grove Public Library in Ida Grove for a free Adventures in Iowa’s Culinary History program and book signing starting at 6:00 p.m.

“From Iowa originals like Maid-Rites to kolaches to homemade cinnamon rolls—served with chili, of course—there are many remarkable stories behind Iowa’s tastiest traditions,” said Maulsby, Iowa’s Storyteller, who has been featured in the Iowa History Journal, Our Iowa magazine, Iowa Public Radio and more. “Pull up a chair, and relish what you missed in history class.”

During her fun, interactive program, Maulsby serves up fascinating tidbits and cooking tips related to more than 150 years of Iowa cuisine and ethnic food traditions, from all corners of the state, with stories that include Iowa’s classic breaded pork tenderloins, church dinners, the historic Younkers Tea Room, Laura Ingalls Wilder and more. Discover how Iowa’s delectable cuisine is quintessentially Midwestern, grounded in its rich farming heritage and spiced with diverse ethnic influences.

Want to know where in Iowa you can dine at a James Beard award-winning steakhouse? Any idea where to find Iowa’s own distinctive style of potato chips, which might be the world’s best chips? What if you want to step back in time and enjoy a slice of homemade pie at an Iowa icon that first opened in 1852? You’ll pass the test with flying colors—and impress your friends—when you delve into Iowa’s culinary history.

“Even those who are well acquainted with Iowa food lore are sure to find something new and interesting,” said Julie Goodrich, who wrote a review of “A Culinary History of Iowa” in the Iowa History Journal. “Go on an adventure with this fun, fascinating and tasty tale of culinary traditions that weave through Iowa’s past and present.”

“I’m passionate about helping people make the farm-to-fork connection and reconnecting with Iowa history,” Maulsby said. “If you have an appetite for adventure, you can’t do better than Iowa when it comes to history, culture, and one-of-kind culinary experiences. ‘A Culinary History of Iowa’ offers a fun way to explore the world without leaving Iowa.”

Signed copies of “A Culinary History of Iowa” will be available during the event, along with Maulsby’s other non-fiction, illustrated Iowa history books (“Calhoun County” and “Dallas County”) and her postcard collections featuring rural Iowa images and postcards featuring favorite vintage photos from the Culinary History of Iowa book.

For more details, contact Angela Scales at the Ida Grove Public Library, 100 E 2nd St. (phone 712-364-2306), or Maulsby ([email protected]). You can also visit Maulsby online at www.darcymaulsby.com.