Several projects were approved at Monday night’s City Council Meeting. The first project was a resolution that passed 5-0 to establish a stop sign and other traffic controls on 7th St SW at the intersection with 12th Ave SW. The Council is hopeful that the new stop sign will help with visibility and slow down traffic. City Administrator, Mick Michel, plans to have the signage delivered in 2-4 weeks and will begin to plan logistics of the new construction.
“We want to have the stop sign installed as soon as possible. It’s not very common that a project like this would take place this time of year so weather is definitely a strong factor when starting to plot out details for installation,” said Michel.
The approval to establish a stop sign and other traffic controls on 7th St SW at the intersection with 12th Ave SW ended up reversing a resolution on the City Council agenda. Originally, the agenda stated that a resolution was to be voted on to approve the removal of trees located at the intersection of 12th Ave SW and 7th St SW. However, the council voted against it because they want to see how the new stop sign fairs and if it is even necessary to remove the trees in order to have stronger visibility at that intersection.
Finally, the City Council voted 4-1 to move forward with the proposed sidewalk plan from West Dubuque Elementary School to Westside Park. Council members voted for option 3 where a sidewalk will be constructed on the north side of 12th Ave to 3rd St and the west side of 3rd St. According to City Administrator, Mick Michel, the next step is to hire an engineering consultant to begin the design process as well as review the city budget in order to start securing funding for this project.
A public hearing was held on Tuesday, September 10 at the Dyersville Social Center to hear a presentation by IIW on a proposed sidewalk from West Dubuque Elementary to Westside Park. Prior to the presentation, residents were allowed to view maps and plans of each sidewalk proposal and express any concerns or questions. During the presentation, IIW engineers explained four different sidewalk proposals.
The first proposal considerations:
1. 4th Street, 5th Street, and 6th Street would intersect 12th Avenue, and 10th Avenue intersects 3rd Street allowing the sidewalk to serve more residences.
2. Impacts more driveways and property owners and it is anticipated that temporary grading easements would be needed for most properties.
3. Will have impacts on overhead electric poles.
4. Proposed cost is $157,500.
The second proposal considerations:
1. Will serve the residents on 9th Avenue and in the Westside Subdivision.
2. Sidewalks will be installed by property owners on the west side of 7th Street as the area of 7th Street develops.
3. Will most likely involve utility re-locations on the southwest quadrant of the intersection of 3rd Street and 9th Avenue.
4. Proposed cost is $129,000.
The third proposal considerations:
1. Will remove the existing 30 parking spaces in front of Mercy Hospital. This area can be reconstructed to include 14 parallel spaces.
2. The loss of 16 parking spaces could cause additional on-street parking in residential areas near Mercy Hospital.
3. Will require construction easements from Mercy Hospital and extensive driveway reconstruction.
4. Proposed cost is $257,000.
The fourth proposal considerations:
1. Sidewalk.trail north of the bridge to the existing trail would be 6 foot wide with 4 inch think concrete.
2. The addition of this bridge would eliminate the need for pedestrians to cross 3rd Street, reducing conflicts with vehicles.
3. Proposed cost is $208,800.
The City Council has yet to make a decision on the proposed sidewalk plan, but plans to begin discussion at their next City Council meeting on Monday, September 15 at 7 p.m.
The Dyersville Dairy Queen is one of many Dairy Queen locations nation-wide who make local miracles happen one blizzard at a time. On Thursday August 14th, 2014, $1 or more from every Blizzard®Treat purchased at participating DQ® stores have been donated to your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® to help children in need.
According to www.miracletreatday.com, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care.
Dyersville Dairy Queen owner, Melissa Otto, stated that “On Miracle Treat Day, we sold 1,183 blizzards which allowed us to raise $4,435.77 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Dairy Queen has partnered with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® for 30 years. According to www.miracletreatday.com, $100 million has been raised in support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® across North America.
Beckman Catholic High School announced exciting news tonight at a parent information meeting. In conjunction with their Blazing Forward Capital Campaign, the high school will host Jam the Gym on Wednesday, September 10 at 7:00 p.m. The goal of the event is to challenge family, friends, alumni and parents of Beckman Catholic to raise $500,000 in pledges that night. If that goal is met, an anonymous donor will match up to $500,000 pledges, resulting in a $1,000,000 going towards the Blazing Forward Capital Campaign.
Currently, Beckman Catholic has raised 4.6 million dollars of their 6.5 million dollar goal. The remaining $1.9 million dollars will be used to design a multi-purpose room to accommodate the numerous extra-circular activities requiring space and amenities as well as eliminate early morning and late evening practices.
For more information on the Blazing Forward Capital Campaign, please contact the Beckman Catholic Development office at 563-875-7188 or visit their website www.beckman.pvt.k12.ia.us/development.
A local Dyersville drug dealer was busted yesterday afternoon. ScanDBQ.com, a Dubuque-based news website reported that at approximately 1:00 p..m., the Dubuque Drug Task Force conducted a narcotics investigation at the residence of Kevin Deutmeyer, located at 617 2nd St. N.E. in Dyersville.
While searching Deutmeyer’s residence, the Drug Task Force found items commonly used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. According to ScanDBQ.com, Deutmeyer was arrested for Possession of Precursors with Intent to Manufacture, a class D felony, resulting in up to 5 years in prison. Deutmeyer is at the Dubuque County Jail where he waits for his court appearance.
There was a large turnout at Monday night’s City Council Meeting. The agenda listed two items that caught Dyersville citizens attention and prompted them to attend the meeting.
The first item was a resolution to approve the removal of trees located at the intersection of 12th Avenue SW and 7th Street SW. Mayor Al Haas and other City Council Members had received phone calls regarding the trees blocking driver’s line of vision when at the intersection and that it may cause potential accidents. Dyersville Police Chief, Brent Schroeder had taken pictures of the intersection at different vantage points and reported that “If people would make a complete stop at the intersection then the trees would not be an issue.”
However, under the recommendation of City Administrator, Mick Michel, the City Council tabled the resolution until the next meeting to allow time for City Attorney, Carter Stevens and Michel to review city ordinances and determine the best plan of action.
The other hot topic at the City Council Meeting was to receive and file the traffic evaluation of 7th Street and 12th Avenue intersection and proposed sidewalk from West Dubuque Elementary School to Westside Park. At the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Haas addressed the citizens that the council was just going to acknowledge the three proposals that IIW prepared for the potential sidewalk project. The City Council will hold a public hearing in September to present the three sidewalk proposals and gather community input from citizens.
In addition, the City Council approved to move their next meeting to Wednesday, September 3 at 7 p.n. due to the upcoming Labor Day Holiday.
Have you wondered what the helicopters have been doing darting in and out of corn fields the last few weeks? Area farmers are having their fields crop dusted which helps prevent diseases in order to prepare for a bountiful harvest this fall. I had the opportunity to chat with a local agronomist on the benefits of crop dusting and also got to see the corn fields dusted first-hand.
Tragedy hit the close-knit community of Epworth, Iowa on Saturday afternoon when four teenage boys, all 14 years old, were killed by a pick-up truck who failed to stop at a stop sign while driving in their John Deere gator at an Epworth intersection. Sean Kenneally, Mitchell Kluesner, Nicholas Kramer and Bryce Wilert were all about to embark as freshmen at Western Dubuque High School.
News of their untimely deaths have not only been reported by local news sources, but international ones as well. The Daily Mail, an online news website in the United Kingdom have even been tracking this story. Social media has also played a major role in these last few days as a way for people to show their support for the families and friends affected by this tragedy. Whether area residents are alums of Western Dubuque High or School or not, you can find majority of their Facebook profile pictures or statuses somehow demonstrate support for Bobcat Country.
ScanDBQ.com, a Dubuque-based news website posted this on their Facebook page earlier today. “As many of you probably noticed, the ScanDBQ profile picture has been changed to the Western Dubuue Bobcats- the same school the 4 teens that lost their lives Saturday were to attend in just a few weeks. This was not our idea, but it’s a simple way with just a few clicks of a mouse to show that no matter if we are a Ram, Eagle, Mustang, or something else, it has affected us in some way either directly or indirectly and we as an online community will be here to support those who need it in this difficult time. There are many questions regarding the incident that many people have and in the coming days head, some will be answered, some will never be. Emotions will run wild as people try to comprehend why such a tragedy was allowed to happen. Discussions will take place with anger and rage against those involved. We should not forgot that we are all human and all make mistakes that lead to outcomes which we all must live with the rest of our lives. Let us use this time to reflect on what’s most important to us in our lives, to give support to those who need it, and spend some time with our own loves. Life is unpredictable.”
For Beckman Catholic alums, to show your support for the Western Dubuque Community, please down load the “Bobcat Strong” picture below and post on your Facebook profile.
THonline.com posted information on all four boy’s funeral services.
Funeral arrangements
Services for Mitchell Kluesner, 14, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Epworth, Iowa. Friends and relatives of Mitchell may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at Reiff Funeral Home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville for Nicholas J. Kramer, 14, of Dyersville. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.
Services for Bryce R. Wilwert, 14, of Placid, Iowa, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Placid. Burial will be held in St. John’s Cemetery in Placid. Friends and relatives of Bryce may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, at Reiff Funeral Home, Epworth.
A wake service will held at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Services for Sean Kenneally, 14, of Peosta, Iowa, will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday at Holy Family Catholic Church in Peosta (New Melleray). Burial will be held in Holy Family Cemetery in Peosta. Friends and relatives may call from 1 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Reiff Funeral Home in Farley, where a wake service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friends may also call after 11 a.m. Thursday at the Funeral Home.
A memorial fund has been established in all four boys’ names. Donations can be made at any American Trust & Savings Bank branch. Money donated will be equally divided among the four families.
Dyersville area residents gathered last night to honor those who have lost and survived their battle with cancer. The 12-hour event started at 6 p.m. at Beckman Catholic High School in Dyersville. I had the opportunity to find out what this event means to others and why they participate.
The Trailblazers are all too familiar with the situation they find themselves in tomorrow. Playing for their third consecutive state title against the same team, top-seeded North Polk. The two storied baseball teams will face each other in tomorrow’s state championship game at 2 p.m. at Principal Park in Des Moines.
Beckman Catholic defeated Van Meter, 8-5 last night in the Iowa Class 2A state semifinals. However, it wasn’t an easy feat to advance to the title game as the Blazers fell behind in the first and fifth innings, but regained the lead in the bottom half of both innings and took control of the game.
Centerfielder, Mitch Steger is very happy with the outcome of last night’s game. “We played really well. We didn’t have a lot of errors. It was an intense and exciting game because whenever they scored we answered back with a run,” said Steger.
Steger pulled out a key play by bringing in an RBI double run and Conner Klostermann followed with a run to extend Beckman’s lead 8-5. “I like being in those types of situations when guys are on base and you have to drive them in. That was a crucial play and it’s great that we got those two runs in to get the team going,” stated Steger.
The Trailblazers are pumped for the title game tomorrow against North Polk. “It doesn’t get much better than this to be playing in our third consecutive state championship game. It’s just as exciting as the last two times. North Polk is out to get us after we have denied them two back-to-back state titles. It’s going to be an intense game, but we’re ready for them,” said Steger.
Tune into the state championship game at http://ihssnlivestream.com/.
