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Hundreds of people in Eastern Iowa will be hired to be census-takers next year, and, applying and testing are now underway to fill those positions. Officials say that the jobs pay anywhere from 9 dollars to 16 dollars per hour, depending upon the job type and location. For more information on these TEMPORARY jobs next year, call the Job Hotline at 1-866-861-2010. (221 2^nd Avenue Southeast, Suite #240, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401).

(4^th Annual Eagle Walk Date Announced) 12-28-09

The 4^th Annual “Eagle Walk” in Ottumwa, sponsored by KLEE/KOTM, KMGO, and KELR, will be held Saturday, January 10^th at Bridgeview Center, starting at 9 A.M. Local photographers will exhibit their photos, and, speakers from the Audubon Center of the North Woods, Sandstone, Minnesota, will be leading the programs. There will also be a hike along the Des Moines River hosted by the Wapello County Trails Council, and participants are urged to bring their cameras and participate in this year’s amateur photography contest.

(WX, OTTUMWA) 12-29-09

The City of Ottumwa’s Snow Emergency Ordinance was lifted yesterday afternoon at 3 P.M., but, the forecast for tomorrow for Ottumwa contains a 70% chance of snow, from 1 to 3 inches possible. In the meantime, City Officials are advising residents NOT to place or pile snow from private property on public streets, sidewalks, or alleys. Residents risk a City Citation if they do so.

(Ottumwa/Wapello County Closings) 12-29-09

City of Ottumwa departments and offices will be closed for New Year’s Day Friday. Wapello County offices will also be closed for the Holiday. In Ottumwa, the Public Library will close at 3 P.M. Thursday, and remain closed Friday. Also, the Ottumwa/Wapello Landfill and the Recycling Center will be closed Friday, but open Thursday and Saturday. Ottumwa Trash and Recycling scheduled for Friday will be picked up THURSDAY, December 31^st. And, Ottumwa Transit Buses will not be running Friday, but will resume normal routes and schedules on Saturday. Ottumwa Water and Hydro Offices are closed both Thursday and Friday.

(D.A.R.E. Essay Winners) 12-29-09

Several Ottumwa students shared their winning essays during the 5^th Grade Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) graduation ceremonies held earlier this month. Essay winners included: Madalyn Wiggins and Tyler Lyons of Douma School; Jordan Handy and Janielle Cobler of Eisenhower School; Madison Duff and Gabby Bookin-Nosbisch of Horace Mann School; and Candice Guiter of James School. The 17-week D.A.R.E. Program is taught in Ottumwa by Ottumwa Police Officer Brandon Gravett, with help from Ottumwa Elementary Counselors.

(City Council’s last meeting) 12-29-09

The current Ottumwa City Council will most likely hold its final meeting of the year tonight, beginning at 5 P.M., in the Council Chambers of City Hall. The Council will consider and act upon several recommendations from the Ottumwa Parks Advisory Board, concerning the operations at the Beach Ottumwa next summer. The Parks Board is recommending that the general admission fee be dropped to 5 dollars per person, from a current 6 to 9 dollars. Also, the Parks Board is recommending a 2 dollar “spectator fee” instead of 4 dollars. And, the Board is recommending that the Beach Ottumwa stay open until 9 P.M. during the summer of 2010, as opposed to closing at 6 or 7 P.M.

The City Council will also act upon a recommendation to pass a resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign a new lease agreement with Bridgeview Center, for a new contract. And, the Council, following a Public Hearing, will take action on a recommendation to lease City-Owned property to Ingenus Management of Iowa, for the possible building of a Casino, Hotel Complex, and Parking Ramp at the Bridgeview Center Site, should the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission grant a gaming license to Wapello County next year. There is also a resolution to enter into a 28-E Agreement with Wapello County, to finance infrastructure costs in connection with the building of the proposed “Rippling Waters” Casino.

(Farewell Reception) 12-29-09

The Public is being invited to a “farewell reception” for outgoing City Council Members Shannon Addison and Gordon Aistrope, this afternoon from 3:30 to 4:30 P.M., in the Council Chambers of Ottumwa City Hall. Both of the Council Members terms of office expire January 2, 2010 at Noon. Both served one- 4 year term on the Council. Addison did not seek re-election in November. Aistrope did, but was defeated in the City’s General Election. New Council Members Brian Morgan and Jeremy Weller will assume duties at Noon on January 2, 2010.

(Board of Supervisors) 12-29-09

The Wapello County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular meeting this morning at 9:30 A.M., on the 3^rd floor of the Wapello County Courthouse, in the Boardroom/Courtroom. The Supervisors will take action to set a time, place, and date for a Public Hearing to enter into an agreement with Ingenus Management of Iowa, and, a 28-E Agreement with the City, for the possible construction of a Casino, Hotel Complex, and Parking Ramp at Bridgeview Center in Ottumwa, should the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission approve a gaming license for Wapello County next year.

(WX, OTTUMWA) 12-30-09

Today……Snow Likely, with 1 to 2 inches possible. High 32.

Tonight……An 80% chance of snow before midnight, with about a half-inch accumulation. Low 18.

Tomorrow……Partly Sunny but cold. High 15.

(WX, AREA) 12-30-09

The National Weather Service Office has issued this Advisory for counties in Southeast Iowa, including: WAPELLO, Davis, Appanoose, Wayne, Decatur, Lucas, and Monroe Counties. For the period Thursday through next Tuesday, expect bitterly cold temperatures. Lows in the single digits above and below Zero will be common, with the coldest readings of 10 to 16 degrees below zero coming Saturday Morning. Also, wind chill indices of the teens and 20’s Below Zero are highly likely. Area residents should monitor this weather pattern, and take all precautionary measures needed to maintain body warmth, especially if going outside.

(Council, last meeting) 12-30-09

Barring any emergencies, the current Ottumwa City Council met for the final session last night at Ottumwa City Hall, in a half-hour meeting full of harmony. Council Members Gordon Aistrope and Shannon Addison retire from the Council at Noon on Saturday, January 2^nd, and newly-elected and sworn-in Members Brian Morgan and Jeremy Weller assume their duties.

The Council, on a 5 to nothing vote of approval, accepted Park Board Recommendations to lower the general admission fees at the Beach Ottumwa in 2010 to 5 dollars per person. Current rates range from 6 to 9 dollars, depending upon height. Also, “spectator admission” will be two dollars next season, down from 4 dollars. And, the Beach Ottumwa, which opens at Noon in the summer, will stay open until 9 P.M., instead of closing at 6 or 7 P.M.

Several items scheduled for action were pulled from the Council Agenda, to be dealt with in January. An agreement for a new contract with Bridgeview Center, an agreement to lease City-Owned property to Casino Developer Ingenus Management, and a 28-E Agreement with Wapello County to finance infrastructure expenses for the proposed Casino in Ottumwa, were all removed from the agenda. City Administrator Joe Helfenberger said that all of these issues will most likely be on a January 2010 Agenda for the new Council.

(Council, Misc. Actions) 12-30-09

On unanimous votes of 5 to nothing in favor, the Ottumwa City Council:

A.   Approved a request by the Ottumwa Girl Scouts to make improvements to their building in Greater Ottumwa Park.

B.   Approved payment of a little over $12,000.00 to Turner Concrete, for repair work on 5^th Street in Ottumwa.

C.   Approved payment of $34,000.00 to Griggs Environmental Strategies for planning of the Kettle Creek Watershed Improvement Project.

D.   Approved the City’s share of cost for the West Ottumwa Sewer Separation Project (15% of the total), and to apply for CDBG Funds to cover the City’s share of the 15.3 million dollar project.

(New Year’s Closings) 12-30-09

City and County Offices will be closed January 1^st, 2010, for New Year’s Day. Also, the Ottumwa Public Library will be closed. Friday Trash and Recycling will be picked up Thursday, December 31^st. Ottumwa Transit Buses will not run on Friday, January 1^st. And, the Ottumwa Water and Hydro Offices are closed Thursday and Friday.