Storm Lake Times - March 23, 2011
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THE STORM LAKE TIMES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2011
“This route is the most economical to construct and operate,” Patrick said of the new line. “This is the cheapest solution and makes the most sense environmentally,” Patrick said. The changes in pipe location would prevent it from traveling up a higher grade, resulting in increased costs for pumping effluent and the need for extra lift stations. A proposal for the Southwest District would be the same given to other customers who reside outside of Storm Lake’s city limits. It calls for a user to pay a 150% rate and to voluntarily annex with the city should a resident become contiguous with the city in the future. Lake Creek representatives are currently mulling an offer to tap into Storm Lake’s sewer system similar to what the Southwest District would consider. “This design is not for annexation efforts,” Patrick reiterated. “We made an offer similar to Lake Creek. If the Southwest District wants to run a line to bring effluent down, we accept it and pump it out to the (wastewater) plant.”
The
BEL AIR:
No tax base for SL, Storm group leader Lake pledges to city Times
Continued from page one
SW SEWER LINE MOVING OFF ROAD, HUGGING LAKE
Council hopes lower cost might attract unincorporated areas
BY JAKE KURTZ
The Storm Lake City Council has given City Manger Jim Patrick approval to contact the Southwest Sanitary District about the possibility of collecting and treating their effluent once a federally-bankrolled \$17.5 million sewer project is in place. The new twist in the project, which the Federal Emergency Management Agency is funding 75% of and intended to remove excess waters that infiltrate Storm Lake’s waste water system, was outlined by Patrick during a public study session Monday. “We were lucky to land the FEMA grant,” council member David Walker noted. “It’s in our best interest to share the wealth.” Originally, a pipeline was planned to follow along Hwy. 110 and then around the south side of the lake and out to the wastewater treatment plant. But in an effort to improve efficiency and reduce costs, Patrick said it makes more sense for the pipe to “hug the lake as much as possible,” meaning it should be built closer to Casino Beach and South Shore.
Buena Vista County’s Hometown Newspaper
MARCH 23, 2011 VOLUME 22, NUMBER 24
Published twice-weekly, Wednesday and Saturday by
THE STORM LAKE TIMES COMPANY
220 West Railroad Street P.O. Box 487 Storm Lake, IA 50588-0487 Phone (712) 732-4991 Toll-Free (800) 732-4992 Fax (712) 732-4331 E-mail: times@stormlake.com Website:
www.stormlake.com
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IA 50588. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to The Storm Lake Times, PO Box 487, Storm Lake,
IA 50588-0487. PUBLISHER
.......................John Cullen EDITOR.................................Art Cullen The Storm Lake Times is employeeowned and the only independent newspaper in Buena Vista County. NEWS If you have a suggestion or a question about a news story, contact Art Cullen or Jake Kurtz. For a correction, contact Art Cullen. PHOTOS Reprints of photos taken by our staff are available for \$12 for 5”x7” and \$18 for 8”x10”, in color. View and order online at
www.stormlake.com.
To place a wedding, engagement or birthday picture, send us a note with a photo or email to family@stormlake.com. There is no charge. To arrange for a photograph to be taken, contact Dolores Cullen (dcullen@stormlake.com).
FAMILY & FRIENDS
Contact Jon Robinson (family@stormlake.com). We welcome stories and photos about birthdays, engagements, weddings, anniversaries, deaths, club news, church, social and family events. There is no charge to place stories or photos. Color engagement, wedding or anniversary photos may be published for \$20. The deadline is Monday noon for Wednesday’s paper and Thursday noon for Saturday’s paper. (family@stormlake.com) To suggest a subject for “My Favorite Recipes,” contact Mary Cullen (jmcullen@stormlake.com). SPORTS Contact Jamie Knapp. We encourage coaches of all sports to call, email (sports@stormlake.com) or fax scores (732-4331).
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Your comments and opinions are welcome. Send your letters to Editor, The Storm Lake Times, PO Box 487, Storm Lake, IA 50588-0487. All letters must be signed. Deadlines are Monday noon for Wednesday’s paper and Thursday noon for Saturday’s paper. (news@stormlake.com)
BACK ISSUES
Available for the past year. Cost is 75 cents per copy if picked up at the office or \$4 per copy if mailed.
ABOUT YOUR BILL
Contact Kathy Josephson. SUBSCRIPTIONS Contact Kathy Josephson. A one-year subscription in Buena Vista and adjoining counties is \$57.95; elsewhere in Iowa, \$69.95; outside Iowa, \$74.95. There is a \$1.50 monthly charge (for additional postage) to send papers south for the winter. Online subscriptions are available at
www.stormlake.com
for \$57.95 per year. ONLINE Contact Jake Kurtz (jake@stormlake.com) for information about our website,
www.stormlake.com.
TOURS Visitors are welcome at our plant. Contact John Cullen(news@stormlake.com) The Storm Lake Times is printed on recycled newsprint with all-soy ink on our own press at Times Square.
ity services. “We were pushed into this,” said Mike Rust, president of the Bel Air Homeowners Association. He added that Bel Air residents were upset by the contract demands and that if the city can’t reach and agreement with his organization, there is no future with the city. “As far as getting the (Bel Air) tax base, it’s over,” Rust remarked. “And that’s a healthy tax base.” According to the Buena Vista County Assessor’s Office, the residential value of Bel Air’s 45 lots is \$15 million. Lakeside’s value is \$28 million. The new water service contract Bel Air residents were expected to sign with Storm Lake included a clause stating that should the housing subdivision ever become contiguous with Storm Lake, they would voluntarily annex with the city. Storm Lake officials defend the clause, saying it’s been used in contracts for customers outside the city limits for over 12
years and that there is no intention to annex Bel Air. Rust countered by saying if there is no annexation in the works, why use the language. “The annexation clause is the only thing we’re concerned about,” Rust said. “If the city has no plans, why have it in the contract?” Bel Air was founded by John Sudbay and Don Dlugosch in 1964 and sold on the idea that it would be secluded and private. Until the early 1970s, there was
no road crossing Outlet Creek at the dam because residents did not want access to Bel Air from Lakeside. “Bel Air was never intended to be a part of Storm Lake,” Rust said. City Manger Jim Patrick said that removing the annexation clause from the contract could be done if approved by the city council. But he and Mayor Jon Kruse both felt that changes would need to be made to all outside customer service contracts then.
“We need to treat people fairly and equitably,” said Kruse. The Storm Lake Times first reported in December that Bel Air was looking into the possibility of annexing with Lakeside to receive water service. Rust said at the time that Bel Air homeowners were “overwhelmingly” in favor of the potential move. Lakeside city attorney Dave Jennett said Lakeside was receptive to the idea. “The easiest, quickest and most reasonable way to resolve
this is for Bel Air to annex with Lakeside,” Rust said in December. Tuesday morning, he reaffirmed that belief. “Unless the city changes their policy that’s still the case,” Rust said. “Our lawyers met yesterday (Monday) with an annexation lawyer and talks with Lakeside are ongoing. “It would concern me as a citizen of Storm Lake that if Bel Air signs with Lakeside, we’re going to be off Storm Lake’s future forever as a tax base.”
SM BALL: $111,000
sets a gala record
Continued from page one She wrote the check for \$100 and pinned the ticket on her bulletin board. It was ticket #10. There were 400 tickets in all and they all sold. She said she rubbed the ticket for good luck whenever Bob was around. She told him, “I plan to win this.” So when the call came Saturday night, Jennifer wouldn’t believe that she won the grand prize. “They had to put me on with Frannie (Bob’s wife) who wouldn’t lie to a soul.” Jennifer says she hasn’t even thought about what she’s going to spend the money on. “I’ll try to do something good with it,” and added, “and maybe have some fun.” Other Big Raffle winners were: Steve Becker, \$1,000; Willbur Triplett, \$1,000; Nathan and Nancy Jensen, \$500; Greg Gillis, \$500. Early Bird winner David Gard won \$2,000.
THE BIG NEWS
of the night was a record-breaking total of \$111,504. Volunteer auctioneer Kevin Cone started out the live auction declaring it his 200th charity auction and announcing that he expected to raise six figures over the course of the night — or he wouldn’t come back. Last year’s total was a record at \$93,735. A total of 285 people attended, also up from last year. “We were so pleased and humbled by the support of the com-
Leadership for the St. Mary’s Ball and Charity Auction present the big check to administration. Front row left to right: Gina Hartman, Deb Peters, Dawn Prosser, Debbie Lenhart and Kris Snyder. Back: Bev Mach, Fr. Bruce Lawler, Steve Peters, Ned Lenhart and Erv Rowlands.
munity at this event,” said Dawn. “The generous bidding was exciting and such a great help to our school.” Other winners included Bernie Andrews who won the diamond necklace, Dan and Tracy Drey who won the \$200 prize and St. Mary’s graduate Jeff Foell who won \$100 in Paxton’s Chest of Chance. Marshall and Jane Langner won the Florida trip. The reserved parking place in front of the St. Mary’s gym went for \$2,250 and 29 donors each paid \$100 for tickets to a Notre Dame football game for Sr. Donna Determan donated by Steve and Diane Hamilton. Other items included a handmade electric guitar (demonstrated at the auction by donor Mick Polich), two served dinners from Fr. Jeremy Wind, the basketball from St. Mary’s substate game in Algona, autographed by the 2011 state championship team and coaches, autographed photo from the basketball team, boat rides, hosted dinners, an overnight slumber party from St. Mary’s Middle School educator Kathy Benz and a cupcake tea party by Samantha Kohler with mom Molly Wilson. The live auction was interrupted with a surprise guest appearance by the St. Mary’s boys’ basketball team and coaches, proudly displaying their championship trophy. The very appreciative crowd gave the team a standing ovation. Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes sponsored the Tiki Hut Mixer pre-party and Central
W E S T
C E N T R A L
I O W A
The Tropical Paradise theme found ball-goers like Kevin McKinney wearing colorful flowers, in this case a pretty little red one, in their hair. Right: Bill Laven managed not to spill his drink while spotting for auctioneer Kevin Cone during the live auction. TIMES photos by
DOLORES CULLEN
Bank sponsored complimentary beer and wine cocktails for the evening. Gina Hartman and Kris Snyder chaired the auction acquisitions committee, Dan Richardson chaired the business club and Bob Lenhart and Mike Pertzborn chaired the Big Raffle ticket sales. As in the past, super salesperson Francis Koch sold well over 200 of the 400 Big Raffle tickets sold. On the Fritz provided music for dancing. The next St. Mary’s Ball and Charity Auction will be Saturday, March 31, 2012.
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www.wcibasementrepair.com
ementrepair.com
Farm Legacy Planning
HOW WILL THE NEXT GENERATION CONTINUE THEIR IOWA FARMS?
Farm Succession Concerns and Questions
– Could your farming heir cash flow annual land payments of \$600 - \$800 per acre? – Would your farming heir be able to repurchase in one year the land you have accumulated in a lifetime? – Should your farm succession plan be “equal” or “fair” with the treatment of non-farming heirs? – Could your in-laws (or “out-laws”) cause problems after your death?
local news, local owners
The Storm Lake Times
Attend this Workshop and Learn About
– Farm succession strategies and tax issues related to farm transfers pre-death and post-death – Wills, trusts, family limited partnerships, life insurance ownership, and buy/sell agreements – How to leave property to your children in the right manner and keep the farm intact – Predetermine the exit strategy if you want an heir to be able to “sell” their farm interest – How to protect your children’s inheritance from lawsuits, the nursing home, and an unstable marriage
WORKSHOP INFORMATION
LeMars, IA Monday, March 28, 2011 9:30-11:30 a.m. American Bank
Call Now to Reserve Your Seat
About the presenter
Armed with a passion for agriculture, Steve Bohr founded Farm Financial Strategies in Cedar Rapids, IA in 1993 with the singular commitment of walking families through each step of the farm succession and estate planning process. Steve’s experience and practical, easy-to-understand approach make him a leader in farm transition services. Steve has presented more than 300 workshops and writes a monthly farm succession column for Iowa Farmer Today that reaches more than 70,000 households each week. Farm Financial Strategies has client families, affiliations and advocates throughout the Midwest where, through one of its 12 offices in Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois, it proactively provides “planning by design, not by default”…one family farm at a time.
Storm Lake, IA Monday, March 28, 2011 2-4 p.m. King’s Pointe Hotel
800-375-4180
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