The Heritage Days Committee is still in need of volunteers to help at food stands this weekend! Volunteers needed Friday evening @ Cobb Park from 4 until 6 or 7 pm. Volunteers needed Saturday @ City Park for the following shifts: 10:30-12:30, 12:30-2:30 and 2:30-4:30. Please call City Hall at 712-364-2428 if you can help out. Thank you to all of our volunteers for helping make this event possible!!!
The Ida Grove Library will be hosting a special event during Heritage Days weekend with Dan Kaercher, retired founding editor-in-chief of Midwest Living magazine and Iowa Public Television host. The event will take place on Sunday, June 30th at the Depot in Moorehead Park with a start time of 2pm. The Ida County Historical Society will be providing tours of the Stagecoach Inn, Barn and School on Sunday afternoon as well. Mr. Kaercher spent years traveling in almost every one of Iowa’s 99 counties in search of close-to-home attractions and getaways to share with his loyal readers and viewers. You’ll be amazed to learn what surprises you don’t know await right in your own backyard – Iowa.
This event is sponsored by a donation from the Heritage Days Committee to the library. Light refreshments will be served. We hope you come out to celebrate not only Ida Grove, but Iowa as well.
Make plans to attend Ida Grove’s annual town festival and help us celebrate 40 wonderful years of family fun!!! The festivities kick-off on Thursday June 27th and will continue through Sunday the 30th!! See you in Castletown!!
Heritage Days is in need of volunteers to help fill spots at the food stand at City Park on Saturday June 28th!! Please contact City Hall to sign up for either the 10:30-12:30 shift or the 12:30-2:30 shift. This is one of Heritage Day’s biggest fundraisers and all help is much appreciated!!
Look no further than your Ida Grove Library Card! The library has purchased annual memberships to four organizations in Iowa that will jumpstart your weekend (or weekday) adventures! The Iowa Libraries Adventure pass is available free of charge to Ida Grove library cardholders and will allow admission for up to 2 adults and 2 children at the Blank Park Zoo, Science Center of Iowa and Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens, all located in Iowa’s state capital, Des Moines. If a weekend trip isn’t in your plans, why not try a day trip to Sioux City and visit the LaunchPAD Children’s Museum; where your pass will allow admission for 2 adults and up to 6 children.
The Adventure pass is available through reservation only with our online reservation software. Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance; each cardholder (18+) can reserve one pass per organization every 365 days. To reserve your adventure pass, visit the library’s website (www.idagrove.lib.ia.us) and click on the adventure pass logo! If you have questions about the pass or how to reserve your dates, just stop in to see us or give us a call!
We hope you take time this summer to enjoy some of Iowa’s great destinations and spend the day or weekend with your loved ones.
Ida Grove Library presents…A Universe of Stories!
The Ida Grove Library is getting ready to kick off the 2019 Summer Library Program on June 11, 2019. This year we will explore the universe and all things related to space!
The Summer Library Program is open to all ages and is provided free of charge. We have some great events planned for this summer and are excited to see all of our summer readers again this year. The children’s program is open to children of all abilities through 5th grade. All programs are scheduled for Tuesdays starting at 10:30am. This year’s schedule includes:
June 11th @ 10:30am – A visit from the Sanford Museum
June 18th @ 10:30am – A visit from Laura with Ida County ISU Extension
June 25th @ 10:30am – A visit from Darrin Crow, Tale spinner and Troubadour
July 2nd @10:30am – Science Center of Iowa presents…Outer Space Odyssey!
July 9th @ 10:30am – Summer Library Party with special guest Jim Perry Magic
Make sure to stop by and register for the summer program, either at the library or check the library’s website at www.idagrove.lib.ia.us for a printable registration form and summer schedule.
We will also have a self-guided program for teens; make sure to stop in to pick up review forms and your daily scratch ticket for a chance to win prizes.
Adults are welcome to participate as well with a book bingo sheet, for each bingo sheet returned you can enter your name for our prize drawing at the end of the program.
For more information, call the library at 364-2306 or visit our website, www.idagrove.lib.ia.us
All programs are held at the Ida Grove Library and are free of charge.
Attention: Godbersen-Smith is planning to close both M15 and Harold Godbersen Drive starting Monday April 22, 2019 at 9 a.m. Both roads will remain closed for the duration of the project. Thank you.
The City Council, Mayor and City Staff would like to invite the public to attend an informational Community Meeting on Wednesday, April 10, 2019. The meeting will begin at 6:00 pm in the City Council Chambers. Mayor Whiteing will go over a power point presentation of the draft plans for the City Hall Renovation and accept any suggestions, comments or input from the community on the upcoming project.
The City of Ida Grove currently has a Ward II Council Seat vacancy. If you or anyone you know is interested in serving the community, please contact City Hall, Mayor Whiteing or a Council Member today! Ward II is comprised of the following:
Commencing at the intersection of the centerlines of Main Street and Fourth Street; thence South along the centerline of Main Street to the center of Seventh Street; thence West along the centerline of Seventh Street to the middle of the intersection of Seventh Street and Taylor Street; thence South along the centerline of Taylor Street extended to the centerline of Badger Creek; thence randomly South and East along the centerline of Badger Creek to the centerline of South Main Street; thence South along the centerline of South Main Street to the middle intersection of Center Lane and South Main Street; thence East along the centerline of Center Lane to the middle of the intersection of Center Lane and Park Lane; thence South along the centerline of Park Lane to the middle of the intersection of Park Lane and Zobel Lane; thence East along the centerline of Zobel Lane to the corporate limits.
Attached is a Ward II map.
In observance of severe weather awareness week, Public Works and Emergency Management crews will be testing the sirens around 10 am today. Please do not be alarmed, this is only a test!
We are still looking for the owner of this sweet dog. If you have any information to assist us in getting this dog returned to its home, please call City Hall at 712-364-2428
Governor Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation due to the flooding event this week. If you would like more information on how to apply for assistance, please see the attachment.
The City of Ida Grove in conjunction with the Ida Grove Fire Department are in desperate need of volunteers to fill sand bags today! There are currently several volunteers working diligently at the City Maintenance Shop, but could use more helping hands! Please consider volunteering your time to assist. Living Forward. Giving Back.
Ida Grove City Hall is currently seeking an energetic and highly motivated individual to join our team as a part-time custodian. Ideal candidates for this position would be detail-oriented, flexible and willing to take on non-routine cleaning and special projects as the need arises. This position will be responsible for cleaning and sanitizing offices, meeting areas, bathrooms, community hall, council chambers and public areas.
Ida Grove Public Library is accepting applications for a part time Library Assistant to work eighteen hours per week; including day, evening and weekend hours. The person in this position will provide our community with outstanding patron services and be committed to promoting the services the library offers. Candidates must have knowledge of current technology, excellent customer service skills, and be willing to learn library practices and procedures. This position requires a high school diploma and is contingent upon a successful background check.
Applications and job descriptions for these positions may be obtained from Ida Grove City Hall, 403 Main Street, Ida Grove, IA 51445. Positions open until filled.
The Ida Grove City Council would like to hear from residents on whether or not fluoride should be added to Ida Grove’s water. To better represent you, the council wants to hear your opinion and have designed a survey system to allow citizens to voice their individual opinions. To cast your “vote” return the payment stub of your water bill by March 15th, 2019 with a ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ response to the following question: “SHOULD THE CITY ADD FLUORIDE TO THE WATER?”. Please also include the number of voting adults in your household. If each adult is voting differently that must be indicated or it will be assumed each is voting the same. Residents may also “vote” by calling Ida Grove City Hall at 712-364-2428 – (City of Ida Grove account number will be used for verification purposes). The City of Ida Grove thanks you for your participation in this survey so that we may better serve the community.
February 28th is the last day to receive the discounted rate for registering your pets for the 2019 year. Remember – City Law requires all animals within city limits to be registered. This is quick and inexpensive, and in the event your animal is ever lost, it helps us get them back to you as quickly as possible. All animals registered before March 1 will get a discounted rate of $10.00 (altered) to $15.00 (unaltered). There are so many good reasons to register your pet – please do so today!
See full ordinance below
Any owner of a dog or cat within the city limits is required to license the animal the first of each year or when the animal has reached the age of six months. The owner must license the animal within 60 days of moving to town or within 60 days of obtaining a new pet at the January to February rates. The owner will need to provide the breed, sex, color, markings and name of each animal as well as the address and phone number of the owner. It is the responsibility of the owner to present proof the animal being licensed is incapable of breeding, if applicable. The owner must also provide proof of a current rabies vaccination in order to license the animal. The fees for licensing dogs and cats are as follows:
| January 1 – February 28 | $10.00 | $15.00 |
| March 1 – December 31 | $20.00 | $25.00 |
[Ord. 557 § 1, 2017; Code 1975 § 3-2.0202, 1975.]
Ida Grove has received an abundance of snow the past few weeks and we appreciate all snow removal efforts thus far. Per Ida Grove City Code 12.10.090 it is the responsibility of the abutting property owner of any sidewalk to remove snow, ice and any other accumulations within 24 hours or the property owner may be subject to a $25 (or higher) fee. Due to the extreme severity of the February 25th storm, the City has purposefully not issued citations in an effort to allow citizens ample time to clear sidewalks. On Monday, March 4th, a full week after the storm, the provisions set forth in the ordinance will go into full effect. Please be advised to have sidewalks clear by this day or face civil penalty.
See full ordinance below:
Per Ida Grove City Code 12.10.090: REMOVAL OF SNOW, ICE AND ACCUMULATION
(1) It shall be the responsibility of the abutting property owners to remove snow, ice and accumulations promptly from sidewalks. If a property owner does not remove snow, ice or accumulations within 24 hours, the city may do so and assess the costs against the property owner for collection in the same manner as a property tax.
(2) Any violation of subsection (1) of this section by a property owner or tenant is a municipal infraction, subjecting the property owner and/or tenant to a civil penalty of $25.00. A second violation by the same property owner or tenant in the same fiscal year (July 1st through June 30th) shall be subject to a municipal infraction of $50.00, with the cost increasing by $25.00 for each subsequent infraction in the same fiscal year, up to a maximum of $500.00 for each infraction. Each day the snow, ice or accumulations are not removed is a separate municipal infraction
Council Meetings are held the first and third Monday of each month (except Holidays) beginning at 6 p.m. Meetings take place in the Council Chambers at Ida Grove City Hall. The public is invited and encouraged to attend City Council Meetings, and participate in their local Government. Any citizen can address the Council in reference to any item on the agenda, or during the “Appearances” portion of the meeting. Community input, insight and ideas help the City Council make the vital decisions of our community. Together, we can make Ida Grove the best it can be for the future of your family and ours. For additional information or questions, you may contact us via Facebook, by email at [email protected], U.S. Postal Service at P.O. Box 236 or call the City Clerk’s Office at 712-364-2428.
COMMUNITY INPUT REQUESTED: The City Council is requesting community input at or before their upcoming meeting to be held Monday February 4th at 6pm. The City has received a proposal to have Godbersen-Smith make needed repairs and replacement to sections of the City’s recreational trail system in exchange for a piece of land from the City Park to be used for GEC. The piece of land that GEC would acquire from the City is approximately .4 – .6 acres and would be used to help expand their current shop building. The approximate modifications Godbersen-Smith would make to the City’s trail system would total roughly $150,000 and repair approximately .62 miles of trail. The current trail is 4” thick concrete and would be replaced with 5” thick concrete for the sections being repaired. They would also address erosion issues and look at tiling the High School hill. The council would like to give the public an opportunity to voice their opinion before making their final decision. If you have an opinion on the matter but are unable to attend, please feel free to call City Hall at 712-364-2428, email [email protected] or message us on Facebook!
Council Meetings are held the first and third Monday of each month (except Holidays) beginning at 6 p.m. Meetings take place in the Council Chambers at Ida Grove City Hall. The public is invited and encouraged to attend City Council Meetings, and participate in their local Government. Any citizen can address the Council in reference to any item on the agenda, or during the “Appearances” portion of the meeting. Community input, insight and ideas help the City Council make the vital decisions of our community. Together, we can make Ida Grove the best it can be for the future of your family and ours. For additional information or questions, you may contact us via Facebook, by email at [email protected], U.S. Postal Service at P.O. Box 236 or call the City Clerk’s Office at 712-364-2428.
The City is looking for new members to join the Heritage Days Team! We have scheduled an informal public meeting to be held on Tuesday January 15th at 6 pm in the Council Chambers. This will be a time to ask questions, form committees, brainstorm, make suggestions and more. We need many volunteers to work together to make 2019’s Heritage Days Celebration the best yet!!
AGENDA SPECIAL USE PERMIT – Denim 2 Diamonds 2019
Public Notice – Conard-Whiteing
The Ida Grove Board of Adjustment will hold a Public Hearing on a special use permit for the purpose of a home based business at 1120 Valley View Drive in Ida Grove. The meeting will take place on Wednesday January 16th at 6:30 pm in the City Council Chambers. All persons desiring to be heard on the matter, either for or against, are encouraged to attend. If you have an opinion and are unable to attend, please feel free to call City Hall at 712-364-2428.
Now is the time to license you cats and/or dogs for the 2019 year. It is City Law that all animals within city limits must be registered. This is quick and inexpensive, and in the event your animal is ever lost, it helps us get them back to you as quickly as possible. All animals registered before March 1 will get a discounted rate of $10.00 (altered) to $15.00 (unaltered). There are so many good reasons to register your pet – please do so today!
The public is invited and encouraged to attend.
The Ida Grove City Council will meet for their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday December 17th at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers located at 403 3rd Street in Ida Grove. As always, the public is invited and encouraged to attend. With many community members having voiced interest on the recent topics of water fluoridation and Heritage Days, we would specifically like to invite anyone with an opinion on either issue to please attend. Our City Council and Mayor welcome citizen input and want the community to know their voice can be heard. The City of Ida Grove wants all citizens to be aware of the legislation and initiatives that affect their lives. Your City Officials are working diligently to promote equity in access to local government information and services, and are committed to transparency and inclusion. With your insight, the Council can discover ways to improve this City we all call home. Please keep your feedback coming to help ensure your needs are being met and your voice is being heard.
City Hall will be closed Thursday November 22 & Friday November 23 in observance of Thanksgiving. Normal business hours will resume Monday November 26, 2018.
On Thursday, November 15th at 6:30pm, the Ida Grove Library will host a guided exhibit of the photography of local photographer Don Poggensee. The exhibit, guided by Don, will showcase a variety of photographs taken throughout his career and will feature photographs of the Amish, wildlife, nature, star trails, northern lights and other special images. The guided exhibit will be held in the Heritage Room of the Ida Grove Library, coffee and cookies will be served.
3rd graders from OABCIG recently visited Ida Grove City Hall. Students had a great time touring the facility, meeting the City Clerk and Mayor, learning about local Government and more! If you or your organization are interested in touring City Hall, please contact us for more details.
The City’s burn pile is OPEN again and just in time for the weekend! Reminder to please follow size restrictions on branches/limbs. Maximum size limits are up to 6″ in diameter and no more than 8′ in length. Thanks and have a great weekend!
NOTICE: The city will begin flushing fire hydrants from now until the weather becomes too cold. You may experience low water pressure and/or some discolored water during the process but don’t be alarmed. Thank you!
Monday October 1st
‼️Attention‼️The temporary Badger Creek Park drop off location for tree debris is closed and the regular size restrictions for the City burn pile are back in place. Thank you!
Yesterday we were hit pretty hard with bad weather but we are a CITY UNITED and we will get through this! Mayor Whiteing has formulated a plan to get things in order and help our citizens as quickly as possible. Normally the City is not responsible for trees, limbs or tree debris located on private property but with the extent of the storm damage, we are trying to assist residents as much as possible. More severe situations will take top priority so we ask everyone be patient. The city burn pile was opened first thing this morning. Size restrictions on limbs are currently lifted so all sizes may be disposed of at this time. A second, emergency drop off location for limbs has been designated in Zobel’s Addition at the Badger Creek Park cement parking area. If you have any questions or concerns please contact City Hall at 712-364-2428. Our City Crew is working diligently to get things cleaned up as quickly as possible but if you are able, lend a hand to your neighbor. A helping hand goes a long way. #cityunited #idagrove #livingforwardgivingback #smalltownlove#helpyourneighbor
Here at the City of Ida Grove we strive to provide our community with quality service and amenities. Please let us know your thoughts and opinions on our outdoor pool by taking part in a brief, anonymous survey found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MCM62XJ . We want to provide the best experience possible to all of our pool-goers so your input is much appreciated. Thank you for your time.
The Ida Grove Library is set to host the University of Iowa’s Mobile Museum on Monday, September 24th from 10:30am – 4pm. The Mobile Museum will feature three physical exhibits for visitors to enjoy. The three featured exhibits are:
Discover, Develop, Deploy
This exhibit highlights work on nutrition, hearing loss, and supporting healthy families. From printing devices that help the hearing-impaired to creating eyeglasses and beyond, this partnership shows that translational science is only limited by your imagination!
A Matter of Scales: Pangolins in Peril
Pangolins are amazing scale-covered mammals from Africa and Asia. Unfortunately they are critically endangered because of illegal hunting and trade. Pangolins aren’t the only animals in trouble. There are more than 25 endangered species right here in Iowa. Learn about some of the simple steps everyone can take to help.
Wild Iowa: Awareness, Appreciation, and Action
Wild Iowa highlights UI Recreational Services’ outdoors programs including the Iowa Raptor Project, School of the Wild, and Wildlife Camps. Iowa is arguably one of the least “wild” states due to the loss of native habitats, but the UI’s outdoors programs work to awaken Iowans to the importance of our native habitats through research, educational programs, and the savanna restoration project.
The Mobile Museum also includes two interactive digital touchscreens let visitors learn about research and creative activity happening in a variety of UI units.
Make sure to stop by to see what’s happening at the University of Iowa and some of the great projects they have going on!
(source: https://discover.research.uiowa.edu/mobile-museum)
Due to the potential rainy weather for Saturday, the Heritage Days Committee has decided to move the inflatables indoors to the Elementary School gym for both Friday and Saturday.
Test.
Heritage Days 2018 kicks of Thursday!!
This report contains important information regarding the water quality in our water system. The source of our water is groundwater. For questions regarding this information or how you can get involved in decisions regarding the water system, please contact IDA GROVE WATER UTILITY at 712-364-2989. Decisions regarding the water system are made at the city council meetings held on the first and third Monday of each month at 6:00pm at 403 Third Street and are open to the public. 2017 WATER QUALITY REPORT FOR IDA GROVE WATER UTILITY
At just five years old, little Mia Mason is already accomplishing big things. Mia, the daughter of Tony and Renee Mason, recently held her very own lemonade stand during the Ida Grove City Wide Garage Sale weekend in an effort to raise money for the Ida Grove King Theater Project. Mia operated her stand Friday afternoon and evening, and again Saturday. Her stand, featuring both lemonade and cookies, brought in approximately $300 which the preschooler happily handed over for the renovation project efforts. (pictured here: Mayor Devlun Whiteing, Mia Mason and Theater Board member Doug Clough)
The Ida Grove Public Library Board and Staff would like to extend our sincerest thank you to the Ida County Community Betterment Foundation for the $7,000 grant we recently received to help update and modernize the children’s and young adults spaces at the Ida Grove Public Library.
The grant award will be combined with donations and fundraising efforts to help fund the grant proposal “Modern Designs to Inspire Minds”, set to begin after July 1, 2018. This project will help ensure that the youth in our community have a safe, inviting, comfortable space to meet, engage and explore their ever changing world. Plans are underway to update the children’s library with additional shelving to create a dedicated space for ages 8-12, as well as create a brand new maker space for children to explore and invent. Additional updates planned include the creation of a young adult reading area in the main library as well as an update to the adult reading area.
The support of the Ida County Betterment Foundation through this grant award and grant awards received in the past have allowed the library to make many updates, ensuring that the library is an open community space accessible to all ages and abilities.
Relay Iowa, the world’s longest relay run of 339 miles, will be making its way through Ida Grove this year! This year marks the 9th year for Relay Iowa; you can expect to see runner’s coming through Ida Grove on Friday, June 8, 2018. The PEO group will be grilling pork burgers and bratwurst at Food Pride from 11am to 1pm.
For more information on Relay Iowa, you can visit RelayIA.org
Are you signed up for the Summer Library Program? We are currently accepting registrations and encourage all children to attend, we have some great programs lined up for this summer and can’t wait to see all of our summer readers!
The children’s summer library program will kick off on Tuesday, June 12 and includes brand new presenters along with a few seasoned veterans from previous years. Registration for the children’s summer program is now open and all children are welcome! The children’s schedule of events is as follows, all programs begin at 10:30am:
Tuesday June 12 – Fonziba Drums
Tuesday June 19 – Darrin Crow, Storyteller
Tuesday June 26 – Aspen Black, the Singing Cowgirl
Tuesday July 3 – Craft & Movie Day (Rock Dogs – PG)
Tuesday July 10 – Lisa Laird & Pockets Full of Fun Party and Picnic
We will also host a weekly Friday Morning Movie Matinee from June 8th through July 27th. Every Friday morning at 10:15am we will be showing a great family movie, and most are suitable for all ages. Make sure to stop down to pick up the summer schedule and get registered for these free programs. All programs are open to children of all ages and abilities, we welcome you to stop down and join in the summer fun!
The teen summer library program will welcome back Maker Camp. Maker Camp will run from June 28th – July 19th. Programs will be held each Thursday starting at 10:30am. All teens ages 11 and up are welcome to register for the program. Each week will bring new projects to make and ideas to explore! Registration for Maker Camp opens on June 1st.
The adult summer library program starts on June 1st, and this year we will host a special “Books to Movies” series! The “Books to Movies” series will feature a weekly movie at the library. This series kicks off on June 4th and runs through July 30th, movies will be shown every Monday starting at 1pm. We have a great movie line up and hope you will join us! Schedules for adult summer programs are now available and registration is open.
We encourage all of you to stop down and see what the library can offer you, both during the summer months, and throughout the year. Another great way to find out what’s going on at the library is through our website (www.idagrove.lib.ia.us), the library’s Facebook page, and the city’s website (www.idagroveia.com). Of course you can always give us a call for more information as well!
Library hours are: Monday 10-6, Tuesday 11-5, Wednesday 12-5, Thursday 12-7, Friday 10-7, and Saturday 9-2. Please stop by and see us or give us a call at 364-2306 for more details on the services we provide or with any questions you may have. We hope to see you soon at the library! Happy Reading!
Library users in 16 cities and towns statewide will soon have the option to take advantage of an extraordinary new program, the Iowa Libraries AdventurePass.
As a partner of the Iowa Libraries AdventurePass program, the Ida Grove Library will offer all cardholders the option to check out a free family pass to participating museums and attractions in the State of Iowa, starting on May 7, 2018.
With the AdventurePass program, cardholders will have access to passes for the Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens, Des Moines Blank Park Zoo, and Sioux City’s LaunchPAD Children’s Museum. Some restrictions do apply, so please check with the library for program rules.
“The library board and staff at the Ida Grove Library are very excited to bring this big city amenity to our small hometown library” said IG Library Director Angela Scales. “The AdventurePass is a fantastic opportunity for all adult cardholders at the Ida Grove Public Library, and will provide free access to great destinations in the State of Iowa.”
For more information on the program or for instructions on how to reserve passes, please contact the Ida Grove Library staff at 712-364-2306 or email [email protected]
Beginning Monday, May 21st, contractors will begin installing conduit and fiber optic cable to service the Verizon Cell tower.
The city maintenance crew will be performing testing on the civil sirens throughout the day on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. The sirens could sound for a few minutes each time, so please do not be alarmed. This is only a test.
Excitement abounds!! City crew rescues a large snapping turtle within city limits today. Take a look at this monster sized snapper!
The City of Ida Grove would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Ida County Community Betterment Foundation for the $4,000 grant we received! This money will go towards helping the city to purchase new LED Christmas lights to hang on the utility poles in the downtown area and along Moorehead Avenue.
