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Red Cedar Chamber Music to perform on Mother’s Day at Art Center

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 22, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Celebrate Mother’s Day Weekend this year at the Muscatine Art Center with a special performance of Brinton Surprise, a Red Cedar Chamber Music production, at 3 p.m. on Mother’s Day (May 8) in the Muscatine Art Center’s Music Room. The performance is free and open to the public.

Red Cedar Chamber Music’s Directors and core ensemble, violinist Miera Kim and cellist Carey Bostian, present the third in a series of programs featuring early silent films and magic lantern slides accompanied by chamber music. The core ensemble is joined by flutist Claudia Anderson and guitarist John Dowdall in accompanying these rare films. Historian Michael Zahs will narrate the program.

This is Red Cedar’s third program built on the Brinton Collection. Red Cedar produced Brinton Silent Film Project in 2015, and followed that up a year later with Music and Magic Lanterns. Each project featured multiple commissions, some of which are present in today’s Brinton Surprise program. In all, 10 new works have been commissioned to accompany and enhance the incredible films and slides selected from the collection. In addition to performances in Eastern Iowa, the ensemble has presented in Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, and at the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival in Washington state.

BRINTON SURPRISE is a multi-media extravaganza featuring magic lantern slides and early silent films from the Brinton Collection of early entertainment materials. Michael Zahs, who rescued the collection from the garbage heap in 1981 and gifted the entire collection to the University of Iowa Special Collections, was the subject of the 2017 documentary Saving Brinton. Red Cedar will reprise several commissioned works from previous programs and have commissioned three new works to accompany six more films from the collection.

Philip Wharton has created a magical score for The Fairy of Springtime, a 1902 French film which features hand-painted color. Michael Kimber has scored Venetian Tragedy, a nine-minute drama with a surprise ending. New to Red Cedar for this project is a duo of French composers, Jean-Francois Charles and Nicolas Sidoroff, who have teamed up to create a major multi-media work (A Méliès Voyage) that explores the life of the great French filmmaker Georges Méliès, known by most from the 2011 film Hugo.

The Brinton Entertaining Company Papers, housed in a dedicated room at UI Special Collections, is over 50 linear feet and includes films, projectors, glass slides, 78 rpm records, wax cylinders, memorabilia from travels, patent applications with drawings, plans for flying machines, posters, and tickets.

“The Brinton Entertaining Company Papers provide inspiration for students, faculty, and the curious alike,” Elizabeth Riordan, lead outreach and instruction librarian for the UI Libraries Special Collections and Archives, said. “The collection’s rare films and film ephemera are enough to make it special, but the story of Frank and Indiana Brinton’s journey across the central swath of the United States showing early film is what makes it remarkable.”

Red Cedar’s founding directors, flutist Jan Boland and guitarist John Dowdall, began their partnership with historian Michael Zahs following Red Cedar’s first Rural Outreach concert at the Ainsworth Opera House in 2001. Over the years, they have collaborated with him on several concert programs featuring Michael’s collection of original civil war letters dating from 1861-1865, as well as two bus trips celebrating Red Cedar’s 10th Anniversary Season. Zahs had been showing some of the films from the Brinton Collection at the opera house since 1998.

While the three had talked about the collection, it was not until Humanities Iowa and the University of Iowa Special Collections partnered with Michael Zahs to preserve, digitize, and develop the collections that the idea of a concert program came about. In August of 2013, Jan, John and Carey traveled to Ainsworth to meet with Michael and the project was officially launched. Accompanying them was Red Cedar’s videographer and filmmaker John Richard, and the idea of a documentary about Michael and the collection took shape.

John Richard teamed up with Andrew Sherburne and Tommy Haines, and began documenting the project and Michael’s other endeavors. The feature length documentary Saving Brinton was premiered in 2018 and in part documents the journey that Zahs and Red Cedar undertook together to highlight the incredible life of Frank Brinton.

This series of concerts is made possible by support from the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, AEGON Transamerica Foundation, the McIntyre Foundation, the Grandon Foundation, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, and Hills Bank. Additional support comes from the City of Marion, the Giacoletto Foundation, Farmers State Bank, CRST International, United Fire Group, and the Iowa Arts Council (a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts).

Special thanks to Artist Sponsors Juanita Dennert and Don & Irene (Naxera) Hamous.

To find out more about Brinton Surprise and all Red Cedar Chamber Music events, visit

http://www.redcedar.org/performance-schedule/

Visitors to the Muscatine Art Center encounter paintings made by artists recognized around the world, fascinating objects connected to Muscatine’s past, beautifully crafted decorative arts, charming period rooms, and a Japanese Garden installed nearly a century ago. Learners of all ages can pique their curiosity through changing exhibitions, classes, and events. The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m-5 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. For more information, visit the Muscatine Art Center website, visit the Art Center page on the City of Muscatine website, or follow the Art Center on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, Please contact Katy Loos, Program Coordinator, with any questions about upcoming programs at (563) 263-8282 or email her at kloos@muscatineiowa.gov.

Tags – Celebrate, Center, Iowa –, Mother’s, Muscatine, this, weekend, with, year

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Muscatine Walking Club set to step it up this spring

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 21, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Members of the Muscatine Walking Club are taking on a new feat to collectively walk 1,000 miles before summer in the Spring1000 Challenge.

This growing club of over 1,000 members will work together to see if they can meet the challenge before June 21, 2022 by recording their minutes walked at the Walking Club Kiosk in the Center Court of the Muscatine Mall. Walkers may also submit their minutes via email to parksoffice@muscatineiowa.gov or over the phone by calling (563) 263-0241.

The Walking Club is a free program sponsored by the Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department that allows members to walk anywhere they like, inside, outside, or on a treadmill, and submit their minutes for a chance to win weekly incentive prizes.

Want to be a part of the competition for our weekly incentive prizes for walking each week? It is easy. Just register for the Walking Club by contacting the Parks and Recreation Department at 263-0241 or by email at parksoffice@muscatineiowa.gov.

Tags Club, collectively, feat, Iowa –, members, Muscatine, taking, walk, Walking

City of Muscatine Press Releases

WRRF has new tool to reduce nutrients, fight struvite formation

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 21, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Muscatine Water & Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) has a new tool to battle against struvite buildup … algae. The WRRF is taking part in a pilot study that uses growing algae as a way to reduce nutrients in wastewater.

“Algae is a wonderful way to take nutrients out of water,” Jon Koch, WRRF director, said. “They do that naturally anyway, taking nitrogen and phosphorus from the water to grow more of themselves.”

Gross-Wen Technologies, based in Slater, Iowa, developed a sustainable water treatment solution that was algae based, and a pilot program was established in early April at the WRRF and is now operational.

The process was developed by a graduate student and professor at Iowa State University as a way to remove the nutrients from lagoons and similar places.

“I was at a conference in Ames a few years ago when they presented this process,” Koch said.

What started as a process for lagoons attracted the interest of wastewater people and how this process could be used at wastewater plants. The thought of using algae to treat wastewater was new to the group presenting the process at the conference, and it took a few years of development to bring the costs down to a more manageable level.

The company visited the WRRF in 2019 and proposed a pilot program for Muscatine.

“We kind of lost track of the company during the pandemic but when we got slammed so badly by struvite in 2021, I called them up and said we needed to revisit bringing a pilot program to Muscatine,” Koch said.

The original cost for the six-month project was $100,000, but after some refinements to the process the cost was whittled down to $30,000.

“That is a lot more manageable,” Koch said. “During the revisit I asked them if we could get a pilot program right away and they said they could. However, it still took several months before the mechanism was delivered and installed.”

Struvite is a phosphate mineral crystal that is composed of magnesium, ammonia, and phosphate (referred to as MAP by the wastewater industry for the nutrient composition of struvite). Struvite is a common problem in sewage and wastewater treatment because it forms a scale in pipelines, belts, centrifuges, pumps, clog system pipes, and anaerobic digester systems. Damage to equipment, pipes and piping can lead to biosolids treatment mechanical and process failures.

To reduce the problems caused by increased struvite levels in wastewater, a “Revolving Algal Biofilm System (RAM^TM)” was developed for algae-based nutrient recovery from wastewater. The system also provides a cost-effective solution that can be used to comply with new, more stringent municipal and industrial wastewater discharge permits.

“This mechanism sits outside in a kind of greenhouse using the sun to keep the interior warm for good algae growth,” Koch said.

The system uses vertically oriented conveyor belts that grow algae on their surface. As the algae grows, it consumes nitrogen and phosphorus from the wastewater while it uses sunlight and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to rapidly grow algae biomass.

“The belt rotates through the effluent water and grabs nutrients from the wastewater,” Koch said. “Algae grows on the belt as it rotates up into the warm air. The algae picks up more nutrients as the belt continues to rotate back down, through the water, and back up.”

Algae is harvested by being scrapped off the belt, and can be used to make fertilizer, bioplastics, and biofuels, providing an additional revenue stream alongside an already more economical system.

“All that scraped off algae has the nutrients in it and the water that comes out has less nutrients than when it came in,” Koch said. “The mechanism also puts oxygen in the water using a six hp motor.”

Oxygen is needed by the bacteria to allow biodegradation to occur (breaking down the organic matter containing carbon to form carbon dioxide and water). At the present time, Koch is using three 150 hp and two 250 hp motors to add oxygen to the water.

“If I can use 6 hp to add oxygen instead of 800 hp I am saving a lot of electricity,” Koch said.

The system benefits the WRRF by reducing the amount of nutrients in the water thus reducing the amount of struvite formation while meeting the more stringent DNR permit requirements and saving the WRRF money.

“So, you are meeting your permit limits for the nutrients you are required to take out, you are saving electricity, you are reducing struvite formation, you are reducing the amount of solids because it will pull solids out as well, and you have a revenue source,” Koch said. “This system kind of hits on a lot of different goals that we have.

Koch noted that using an algae-based system to remove nutrients from the water would quickly pay for itself.

“The savings you would have on energy reduction, and on the amount of time, energy, and chemicals used to prevent struvite formation along with the additional revenue from algae generation make this technology affordable,” Koch said.

But it is not only in the benefits of nutrient reduction to prevent struvite formation and to meet DNR permit requirements that make the system practical.

“This will be a really good compliment to the watershed work,” Koch said. “What this system can do for us as far as struvite removal is key, but you don’t have to do the whole thing (nutrient removal) at the plant.”

Koch noted that it would take an acre or more of these systems put together to do all the nutrient reduction and the cost would be pretty high.

“But if you scale it just where you need it, just enough to affect your struvite reduction and everything else, then maybe you can get most of that reduction done at the plant,” Koch said.

And whatever you cannot get done at the plant, then you can go out to the watershed, put in prairie strips and things like that, and do other watershed work which is really inexpensive but beneficial to the entire watershed.

“Muscatine city, the watershed as a whole, and the entire city basin will benefit from what we are starting to do at the WRRF today,” Koch said.

WRRF RAM System Pilot Program installed at Water Resource & Recovery Facility (Video)

Gross-Wen Technologies RAM System Overview (YouTube Video)

Gross-Wen Technologies RAB System (YouTube Video)

Tags battle, Facility, Iowa –, Muscatine, Recovery, Resource, tool, Water, WRRF

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Three public hearings on Council agenda; three set to join MPD

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 20, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Three new police officers will be sworn into service and the Muscatine City Council will conduct three public hearings Thursday (April 21) in the final meeting of April. The Council meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the second floor of Muscatine City Hall, 215 Sycamore Street, Muscatine, Iowa.

A virtual meeting will be held in conjunction with the in-person meeting for those who want to view the proceedings or make a comment but cannot attend in person. Details for joining the virtual meeting are listed below.

Three individuals will be sworn into service with the Muscatine Police Department at the start of Thursday’s meeting including Kassy Middagh, Darran Ritchie, and Samantha Wheeler. Each will be sworn in by Judge Tom Reidel.

The placement of cargo containers on private property is currently regulated under the rules for placement of pre-fabricated accessory structures (i.e., sheds). While cargo containers are functionally equivalent to many accessory structures used for storage purposes, they are not designed or built to be aesthetically compatible with a residential setting.

City Council directed staff to bring forward options for specific and restructure regulation of cargo container placement. The proposed regulations that are the subject of the first public hearing Thursday, would be placed in Chapter 20 of Title 10 (Zoning) of City Code. For a detailed look at the regulations click on Proposed Code Changes.

The second public hearing concerns the proposed revision to the weed and vegetation management regulations with the intent to make them easier to understand and enforce. The revision would relocate and centralize weed and vegetation into a single new chapter. Current regulations are spread across multiple chapters of City Code. For a detailed look at the proposed new chapter click on Title 16 Chapter 8.

Thursday’s City Council meeting is open to the public. Citizens who do not want to attend the in-person meeting can watch and/or participate through the GoToMeeting virtual meeting portal. Information on joining the session and how to make a comment during the meeting is listed below. The session will also be broadcast live on the City of Muscatine YouTube channel and on Muscatine Power & Water Cable Channel 2.

Information on the presentations and other agenda items can be found by clicking AGENDA to download the April 21, 2022, City Council agenda and/or attachments.

The best way for the public to participate is to dial in to the GoToMeeting session, mute your device, watch the session on YouTube or Cable Channel 2, and, at the appropriate time, unmute your device to ask a question or make a comment. The public can also use the “chat” feature on the GoToMeeting virtual meeting to pose a question to the Mayor, Council, or staff member.

Muscatine City Council Meeting | Thursday, Apr. 21, 2022 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (CDT)

Join the meeting from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone by clicking the following link: https://www.gotomeet.me/CityofMuscatine/city-council-meeting

You can also use your phone by dialing +1 (669) 224-3412, follow the prompts, and type in Access Code 970-499-597 when prompted.

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/970499597

Please mute your computer or phone while listening to the proceedings (press *6 when using phone or mute button on computer). A chat window is available when you use your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Those wishing to speak or to ask a question are asked to use the chat box to post a message that will be seen by the Mayor who will address the questions or call on the speaker in turn. Those using their phones must wait until the Mayor asks for additional comments. The Mayor will recognize you prior to you addressing the Council.

Tags into, Iowa –, Muscatine, officers, Police, service, sworn, Three, will

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Summer fun in the Weed Park sand returns for 2022

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 20, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Back by popular demand this summer is the Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department coed adult sandpit volleyball league.

Matches are played Wednesday evenings in the sand of the Weed Park Courts located behind the Lagoon just off of the Colorado Street entrance. The season runs from mid-May through mid-August.

Select your teammates and stop by the Parks and Recreation office in the lower level of City Hall to register for this fun yet competitive league. Players must be at least 18 years of age to participate. A completed roster and all fees are due at the time of registration. Registration forms, rosters and league rules may be found on the City website.

Registration is now open with a $100 team fee. There is an additional fee of $5.00 per non-resident on the team roster. Register in the Parks and Recreation office located in the lower level of City Hall by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 13, 2022.

Gather your team and plan to enjoy Wednesday evenings at the Weed Park Sand Volleyball Courts this summer. Please contact the Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department at (563) 263-0241 for more information.

Sand Volleyball Flyer

Tags Back, demand, Iowa –, Muscatine, Parks, popular, Recreation, summer, this

City of Muscatine Press Releases

City seeking applicants to fill currently available positions

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 19, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The City of Muscatine has a variety of full-time, part-time, and seasonal employment opportunities available and is actively seeking applications from individuals who have the desire and interest to work for an organization that takes pride in the community, community service, and pride in employees.

The City of Muscatine is seeking individuals within a 30-mile radius of the Muscatine city limits (including Iowa and Illinois residents) who would like to join the team as we work to make Muscatine a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Engineer

The Department of Public Works (DPW) has an opening for an engineer who would assist with city/civil engineering studies, project design, review, and inspections relating to City infrastructure related projects. The position has responsibility to oversee and perform design for Capital Improvements as assigned. Other responsibilities include reviewing easement documents, design and construction projects in accordance with state laws and engineering standards. Click ENGINEER for more details.

The City of Muscatine is also looking for people to fill the following positions:

Kent-Stein Maintenance workers
Seasonal equipment operators
Substitute refuse collectors
Part-time Library Page
Transit Drivers
Firefighters

Seasonal Employment

The Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department is recruiting dependable, hardworking individuals to fill seasonal positions for the spring and summer of 2022. The Muscatine City Council recently passed an increase in the hourly rate for seasonal workers making these positions a great opportunity for individuals, including high school and college students, seeking work through the spring and summer.

The Muscatine Municipal Golf Course is looking for a CLUBHOUSE SUPERVISOR who would be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the clubhouse.

The Parks and Recreation Department is in need of seasonal MAINTENANCE WORKERS at Kent Stein Park and the Muscatine Soccer Complex including laborer and on-site supervisor’s.

A complete list of opportunities is available on the City of Muscatine website at SUMMER POSITIONS.

Other opportunities for employment with the City of Muscatine include:

Firefighter – The Muscatine Fire Department is compiling a list of prospective candidates for the position of firefighter. If you are interested in joining our premier team of firefighter-paramedics, please submit your application to be placed on the current selection list by the May 18 deadline. Click here to view our recruitment video.
Substitute Refuse Collector – The Muscatine Transfer Station is accepting applications for individuals to serve as a substitute refuse collector on an as needed basis. Hours will vary depending on need. Individuals applying should be reliable, physically able to lift 75 pounds and be able to work flexible and early morning hours. The position will remain open until filled.
Transit Driver (Part-Time) – The Transit Division of the Department of Public Works is looking for a few people who love driving and providing excellent customer service to the community. Click on the link for more information on hours and qualifications. The position will remain open until filled. All applicants are welcomed.
Library Page – This position is responsible for putting books and other materials on shelves in correct shelf order, and reshelves items that are out of place, and shifts materials within the collection.

For more information, visit the Employment Opportunities section on the City of Muscatine web site. The City of Muscatine is an equal employment affirmative action employer.

Tags City, employment, fulltime, Iowa –, Muscatine, Opportunities, parttime, seasonal, variety

City of Muscatine Press Releases

HNI recognized for partnership with City on tree planting projects

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 18, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – HNI Corporation and the City of Muscatine continue to collaborate on projects to improve the Muscatine community, and that partnership was recently recognized by the Iowa Urban Tree Council who presented HNI with the Outstanding Local Partner award at the annual awards luncheon on April 12.

“HNI appreciates the recognition and values our relationship with the City of Muscatine,” Steven Bradford, Senior Vice President-Legal at HNI Corporation, said. “We are committed to helping our communities and look forward to continuing this partnership.”

Nick Gow, Superintendent of Parks for the City of Muscatine, noted that HNI’s partnership with the City of Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department has allowed them to assist in tree plantings as well as tree and landscape maintenance projects.

“The recognition is well-deserved because of HNI’s generous donation and volunteer efforts in the planting of 500 trees throughout our community in the spring of 2021,” Nick Gow, Superintendent of Parks for the City of Muscatine Parks & Recreation Department, said.

After a year of planning, over 100 volunteers from HNI Corporation participated in the Arbor Day 2021 Project (April 30, 2021) that resulted in 500 trees finding new homes throughout the public parks system.

“These trees helped recovery efforts by the city to replace the loss of several trees due to severe weather and other natural causes,” Gow said in his nomination letter. “Trees were lost within the community due to flooding, tornadoes, derecho, Dutch Elm disease, and Emerald Ash Borer. Replacing these trees provided beauty to local parks as well as a variety of specimens for pollinators and local wildlife.”

“The mission of the Iowa Urban Tree Council is to guide, lead, and assist public officials, professionals, volunteers, and organizations with implementing urban forestry solutions,” Clayton Ender, president of the Iowa Urban Tree Council, said in announcing the HNI award. “Your nomination recounts accomplishments and commitments that resonate with our mission. We greatly value your efforts to preserve, protect, expand, and improve your community’s urban forest resources.”

Jeff Goerndt (left), State Forester, is pictured with Shelby Kresel (center), HNI Sustainability Manager, and Muscatine Mayor Brad Bark during the presentation of the Outstanding Local Partner Award by the Iowa Urban Tree Council on April 12.

MUSCATINE RECEIVES TREE CITY USA RECOGNITION

The City of Muscatine was recently honored with the 2021 Tree City USA Award at the 31st Annual Community Forestry Awards Luncheon April 12 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. The award was presented by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

This is the 30th straight year that the City of Muscatine, through the efforts of the Parks and Recreation Department staff, has received the Tree City USA designation.

“The Tree City USA award is a symbol for communities who have made a commitment to the management of public trees,” Jeff Goerndt, Iowa State Forester, said. “The City of Muscatine has provided an outstanding example for other Iowa communities by enhancing our forest resources and demonstrating the great value of trees in providing multiple benefits for future generations.”

Muscatine was one of 74 Iowa communities to qualify for Tree City USA status.

Here are just a few of the many advantages that a thriving urban forest offers a community:

Trees help absorb the sounds of traffic in urban areas by 40 percent.
Neighborhoods with threes are seven to nine degrees cooler than those without.
Trees reduce energy costs up to 25 percent by shading buildings and protecting them from winter winds.
Homes with trees have higher property values.
Green space plays a major role in improving mental and physical health.
Planting and maintaining trees absorb carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, mitigating the effects of climate change.

MUSCATINE RECEIVES ALLIANT ENERGY BRANCHING OUT GRANT

Alliant Energy has announced that more than 30 Iowa communities are receiving tree planting aid through the company’s Community Tree program, part of their One Million Trees initiative.

Alliant Energy’s partnership with Trees Forever, also known as “Branching Out”, will help communities develop, select and plant a “diverse mix of trees.” The funds will help communities plant trees to increase energy efficiency and replace those destroyed by the 2020 derecho or the emerald ash borer.

Muscatine and West Liberty are among the 33 recipients in 2022. The City of Muscatine will receive a $5,000 grant from Alliant Energy for street tree planting in right-of-way. Muscatine used a $5,000 grant in 2021 to replace trees lost during a sewer project over the past several years.

“Alliant Energy’s commitment to supporting communities we serve includes improving the natural environment for future generations,” Terry Kouba, president of Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy company, said in a news release. “Last year, we announced our One Million Trees initiative to donate and help plant more than one million trees – representing one tree for each of our utility customers – by the end of 2030. The communities announced today will benefit from our goal and increase their own energy efficiency and tree restoration goals.”

Each community was eligible to apply for grants up to $5,000 to fund new trees that will save energy and improve the environment. In total, $120,000 in tree grants are being awarded.

In addition, communities also receive tree-planning support from Trees Forever. The organization will connect communities with tree experts, who will help select the best species for their area and create a care and maintenance plan to make sure the new trees have long and healthy lives.  

“Our partnership with Alliant Energy has persevered for years due to the strong alignment of our values,” Kiley Miller, President and CEO of Trees Forever, said in a news release. “We are proud to work together to help communities and local volunteers plant trees through Alliant Energy’s Community Tree program, part of their One Million Trees initiative. These trees will clean our air, water and soil, while improving our health and providing beauty in all seasons.”

Alliant Energy’s partnership with Trees Forever dates to 1990. Together, they have awarded over $7.7 million dollars in grants and planted more than 1.1 million trees, according to a news release.

Tags City, collaborate, continue, Corporation, improve, Iowa –, Muscatine, projects

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Taylor Park closed to the public starting April 18

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 14, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Taylor Park will be closed to the public starting Monday, April 18, as the Taylor Park Improvement Project begins. The Park will remain closed to the public throughout the summer.

Taylor Park is part of the South End Improvement Project and will see the addition of pickleball courts, a parking lot, a splash pad, new playground, new lighting, and the installation of a modular restroom similar to the one installed near the lagoon in Weed Park.

Please contact the Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department at (563) 263-0241 for more information.

Tags April, closed, Iowa –, Monday, Muscatine, Park, public, starting, Taylor, will

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Early start time for City Council Thursday; two meetings scheduled

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 13, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Muscatine City Council will have an early start to their Thursday (April 14) schedule with a special meeting at 5:15 p.m. to hear a presentation from the Merge Urban Development Group on the Carver Corner Redevelopment.

Following the special meeting, the City Council will conduct their regularly scheduled In-Depth session but at an earlier time. The In-Depth session is now scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. with presentations on the city deer management plan, the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine South End Improvement Project, and a presentation on violent crime statistics.

Both meetings will be held in the Council Chambers at Muscatine City Hall, 215 Sycamore Street, Muscatine, Iowa.

A virtual meeting will be held in conjunction with the in-person meeting for those who want to view the proceedings or make a comment but do not feel comfortable in attending in person. Details for joining that meeting are listed below.

Merge will be presenting an updated proposal that includes a five-story, 56-unit mixed use building with a residential mix of studio, 1-bed and 2-bed units as part of a $9 million project. The ground floor would consist of a residential lobby space, bike storage, and approximately 6,000 square feet of micro retail and retail space.

While the initial development includes one building, the developer has expressed interest in developing the entire parcel in the future dependent on financing.

The presentation will be followed by a vote on a resolution committing to support an application to the Iowa Economic Development Group by Merge Urban Development Group for the proposed Carver Corner Development.

Parks and Recreation Director Richard Klimes and Superintendent of Parks Nick Gow will open the In-Depth meeting with a presentation on the results of the 2021-2022 City Deer Management Plan and a discussion on the positives, negatives, and other considerations for allowing public property to be used for future City deer hunts.

The 2021-2022 program continues the management plant that allows for the controlled reduction of the deer population through maintenance instead of eradication. The past season was determined to be a success with 18 hunters taking 39 deer from Sept. 18, 2021, through Jan. 10, 2020.

Klimes and Gow will also provide an update on the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine South End Improvement Fund Projects. These projects include upgrades to Taylor Park (i.e., pickleball courts, splash pad, and modular restroom), shelters at Taylor, Musser, and Kent Stein Parks, and playgrounds at Musser, Taylor, and Sunset Parks.

The final presentation will come from Lt. David O’Connor of the Muscatine Police Department (MPD) who will review violent crime trends in Muscatine and some of the community policing efforts being conducted by the MPD.

Information on the presentations and other agenda items can be found by clicking AGENDA to download the City Council agenda and/or attachments of click on the links below.

Special Meeting | In-Depth Session

The best way for the public to participate virtually is to log on or dial in to the GoToMeeting session, mute your device, watch the session on YouTube or Cable Channel 2. At the appropriate time, you will be able to unmute your device to ask a question or make a comment. The public can also use the “chat” feature on the GoToMeeting virtual meeting to pose a question to the Mayor, Council, or staff member.

Muscatine City Council Meeting | Thursday, Apr. 14, 2022 | 5:15 PM – 5:45 PM (CDT)
Muscatine City Council Meeting | Thursday, Apr. 14, 2022 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (CDT)

Join the meeting from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone by clicking the following link: https://www.gotomeet.me/CityofMuscatine/city-council-meeting

You can also use your phone by dialing +1 (669) 224-3412, follow the prompts, and type in Access Code 970-499-597 when prompted.

The link, phone number, and access code are the same for both meetings. You can remain logged on between meetings or exit and re-enter at the appropriate time.

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/970499597

Tags – Have, City, Council, early, Iowa –, Muscatine, start, their, will

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Jindrich clarifies statement from pit bull ordinance discussion

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 11, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Fifth Ward City Council Representative John Jindrich has issued a clarification to remarks made during the discussion on the first reading of an ordinance striking Title 6, Chapter 9 (Keeping of Pit Bulls) from Muscatine City Code at the April 7 City Council meeting.

“I am the first to admit when I am wrong and I was not accurate with the 2019 numbers that I referenced,” Jindrich said. “I have great respect and admiration for the Muscatine Humane Society and the work they do. I commend their efforts to rehome not only pit bulls but all breeds of dogs and cats.”

During his comments Thursday on the ordinance, Jindrich stated that 29 pit bull dogs were taken in by the Muscatine Humane Society in 2019 with 26 euthanized. The number of euthanized pit bulls was in error.

Jindrich clarified that of the 29 pit bulls that were taken in by the Muscatine Humane Society in 2019, four were adopted, 10 were returned to their owners, two were transferred to other shelters, one pit bull puppy died from the parvo virus, and four remained at the shelter into 2020. Only eight of the original 29 were determined to be unadoptable.

Tags – Fifth, City, Council, Iowa –, issued, Jindrich, John, Muscatine, Representative, Ward

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Activities for all ages available in Muscatine this summer

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 11, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – From swim lessons and tee-ball to soccer camp and sand volleyball, there is an opportunity for individuals of any age to be active and engaged this summer through one of the many activities offered by the Muscatine Parks and Recreation.

Keep an eye out for the 2022 Summer Brochure at various businesses around Muscatine as well as on the Parks and Recreation page of the City of Muscatine website.

Plan for all your favorite activities and conveniently register over the phone at (563) 263-0241, in the Parks and Recreation office located in the lower level of City Hall at 215 Sycamore Street, or online. Please be reminded that a $5.00 non-resident fee is assessed for registrants who live outside of the Muscatine city limits.

Please contact the Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department at (563) 263-0241 for more information and to register.

Tags camp, from, Iowa –, lessons, Muscatine, sand, soccer, swim, TeeBall, volleyball

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Traffic restrictions begin Monday (April 11) on Climer Street

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 9, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Traffic restrictions will be implemented Monday (April 11) as Haggerty Earthworks, LLC, begins sewer construction on Climer Street. Local traffic only will be permitted in the 600 and 700 blocks of Climer (West 8th to High streets) with the contractor working with residents on access to their driveways as construction progresses.

Resident will be notified in advance when the 600 and 700 blocks of Climer are closed to all traffic for pavement restoration. Traffic restrictions and street closures will shift as the work moves toward Logan and then from Logan to Lucas on Climer.

West 8th is currently closed to most traffic from Broadway to Main Street with local traffic only permitted. The intersection of West 8th and Lucas is currently closed to all traffic as sewer construction will take place for the next four- to six-weeks. Once the intersection is completed, West 8th will be opened but Lucas will remain closed from West 8th to Busch for sewer work and pavement restoration.

Tags April, Earthworks, Haggerty, implemented, Iowa –, Monday, Muscatine, restrictions, traffic, will

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Nominations requested for Historic Preservation Month celebration

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 9, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Historic Preservation Commission and the Friends of Muscatine Historic Preservation are requesting award nominations to be presented during the Historic Preservation Month celebration that will be held from 2-4 p.m. on May 14, 2022, at the Muscatine Art Center.

Nominations need to include the property owner’s name and address as well as a description of the type of work completed. Owners can nominate their own property and/or work, or individuals can nominate properties that they know about. Work should have focused on retaining the historic integrity of the property and have been completed in 2020 or 2021. Before and after photos should be attached to the nomination but are not required for submission.

Deadline for submitting a nomination is April 22, 2022. Nominations need to be submitted in writing to the Community Development Department, 215 Sycamore, Muscatine, IA 52761, or submitted by email to alimburg@muscatineiowa.gov.

Tags Commission, Friends, historic, Iowa –, Muscatine, Preservation, requesting

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Registration underway for summer Tee-Ball Program

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 7, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The 2022 Tee-Ball program will be held at Kent Stein Park this summer and the Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department is inviting all five- and six-year-olds to register for the program. Tee-Ball is designed to teach the fundamentals of baseball and softball through coached practices and non-competitive games that are incorporated into the program. Players all hit from an adjustable batting tee.

Participants must be age five (5) or six (6) during the 2022 calendar year. All participants will receive a Tee-Ball t-shirt with practices and games conducted at Kent Stein Park.

Registration is available online through the City of Muscatine website, in person at the Parks and Recreation office in the lower level of City Hall, or by phone at (563) 263-0241.

Do not miss out on the fun this summer if you are an adult as you can help bring America’s Pastime to Muscatine by volunteering to be a head or assistant coach for a Tee-Ball team. Each team will need at least two volunteer coaches. Any adult wishing to volunteer should contact the Parks and Recreation Department by phone at (563) 263-0241 or by email at parksoffice@muscatineiowa.gov.

Participants can register for the Monday/Wednesday session (June 13 – July 11) or the Tuesday/Thursday session (June 14 – July 7). No practices or games will be scheduled for Monday, July 4.

Do not wait to sign your all-star up for this program as space is limited for each session. Registration is open through June 2, 2022. There is a $30.00 fee for residents and a $35.00 fee for non-residents.

For more information, please contact the Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department at (563) 263-0241.

Tags 2022, held, Iowa –, Kent, Muscatine, Park, program, Stein, TeeBall, will

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Gather those Easter baskets; it is time for the Hunt

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 7, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The green grass of Weed Park will be filled with colorful eggs on Saturday (April 9) as the Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department hosts the 2022 Easter Egg Hunt.

Children are invited to bring their baskets, and their parents, to the Hunt that will be held on from 10:00-11:00 a.m. in the upper loop of Weed Park. The Easter Bunny has promised a beautiful but, perhaps, a little cool spring day Saturday so come early and stay late to enjoy the Hunt and Weed Park amenities.

Families and interested spectators attending the event may gather near the Rose Garden playground in the Upper Loop of Weed Park prior to the official start time. Children will be split into three age groups to hunt for their prize-filled eggs in specific locations including three years and under (10:00 a.m. start time), four years through kindergarten (10:05 a.m. start time), and first through third grade (10:10 a.m. start time).

Participants will be asked to closely follow age categories. Children are encouraged to bring their own Easter basket.

Celebrate the holiday, enjoy the start of spring weather, and gather with both family and friends in the Weed Park Upper Loop. This is a FREE event that is sure to be fun for the whole family.

For more information, please contact the Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department at (563)263-0241.

2022 Easter Egg Hunt Flyer

Tags colorful, filled, grass, green, Iowa –, Muscatine, Park, Weed, will, with

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Seven public hearings on Thursday’s City Council agenda

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 6, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Muscatine City Council has a rather lengthy agenda for Thursday (April 8), an agenda that includes seven public hearings and three proclamations. The Muscatine City Council meeting starts at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Council Chambers at Muscatine City Hall, 215 Sycamore Street, Muscatine, Iowa.

For those attending in person, a sign-up sheet will be available at the entrance of Council Chambers for those who would like to speak during one of the seven public hearings. Those attending virtually and wishing to speak need to comment in the “chat” section with name, address, and the public hearing you wish to address. Registration for in-person and virtual public comment closes at 7 p.m.

Public Hearings will be held on:

The plans and specifications for repairs to the tipping floor at the Muscatine Transfer Station;
The submittal of four grant applications to the Iowa Economic Development Association to support the Mulberry Neighborhood Revitalization Project and several MCSA projects;
On a change to City code to eliminate the Iowa residency requirement for civil service employees;
The declaration of property at 1030 Hershey as surplus and authorizing the disposal of the property;
On the plans and specifications for the Airport Taxiway Widening Project;
On an ordinance establishing maintenance standards for vacant properties that have been vacant for six months or longer, and for non-residential properties both occupied and non-occupied; and,
An ordinance striking Title 6, Chapter 9 of Muscatine City Code regarding the keeping of pit bulls.

Muscatine Mayor Brad Bark will also issue three proclamations including the celebration of National Volunteer Month, National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, and Drinking Water Week.

Mayor Bark will also be recognizing Gabriel Paetz for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

Information on the presentations and other agenda items can be found by clicking AGENDA to download the April 7, 2022, City Council agenda and/or attachments.

Muscatine City Council Meeting | Thursday, Apr. 7, 2022 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (CDT)

Join the meeting from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone by clicking the following link: https://www.gotomeet.me/CityofMuscatine/city-council-meeting

Tags agenda, April, City, Council, Iowa –, lengthy, Muscatine, rather, Thursday

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Pet registration available at Muscatine Humane Society Clinic April 8

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 6, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – City of Muscatine staff will be at the Muscatine Humane Society Low-Cost Rabies and Microchip Clinic Friday (April 8), assisting pet owners in registering their pets. The Muscatine Humane Society event will be held from 3-6 p.m. in the Canine Activity Center located next to the Humane Society at 920 S. Houser Street.

The City of Muscatine suspended the first-year registration fee for neutered dogs and cats from March 19 through April 30 to promote pet registration within the city. The offer does not apply to non-neutered pets.

“The event is for dogs and cats,” Chris McGinnis, director of the Muscatine Humane Society, said. “Dogs must be on leash while cats must be secured in a pet carrier.”

The Muscatine Humane Society will be offering rabies vaccination for $10.00, and microchipping (including microchip registration) for $15.00. The Society will also offer $10-$12 identification tags that will be engraved while you wait. Dr. Robert Hathaway, DVM, will be administering the vaccine.

“We have done this event with the city for many years now,” McGinnis said. “Last year we had about 70 pets come through in two hours. This year we hope to have 100 pets during the three-hour event.”

Proof of spay or neuter must accompany all pets attending the clinic and/or registering with the city.

All dogs and cats six (6) months of age or older are required to be registered with the City of Muscatine.

A pet license runs concurrently with the pet’s rabies vaccination. The pet license is required to be renewed annually with each yearly rabies vaccination. If your pet has received a two or three year vaccination, you must renew your pet license annually or pay the multiple years of license fees at the time of registration.

It is the responsibility of the owner to present proof the pet being registered is altered. The pet licensing requirement applies to all pets over six months of age. It excludes owners of seeing-eye dogs or owners who are confined to a wheelchair. Both are exempt from paying the pet fee; however they are still required to register their animals with the Finance office at City Hall.

Owners must provide a certificate from a licensed veterinarian certifying that the dog or cat has received a rabies inoculation and the date that the inoculation occurred.

The annual cost of registration for a neutered pet is $5.00 but the annual fee is reduced to $3.00 for pet owners 65 and older. The fee for non-neutered pets is $25.00 per year with the annual fee reduced to $15.00 per year for pet owners 65 and older.

The neutered pet first year fee will be waived if the pet is registered prior to April 30 with the Department of Finance and Records at Muscatine City Hall, 215 Sycamore Street, Muscatine.

The Department keeps a complete registry of all licensed dogs and cats, their breed, color and sex, along with the name and address of the owner, and the number of the license tag. The registry is used to verify compliance with City Code during investigations by the Muscatine Police Department Animal Control Officer.

Neutered pets who receive a two- or three-year rabies inoculation may be registered for two or three years (based on the rabies inoculation received) if the multiple year fee is paid at the time of registration (i.e., $10.00 for two-years; $15.00 for three-years). Multiple year registrations will receive the first-year discount through April 30 as part of the City’s pet registration promotion.

The license will be in effect until the anniversary date of the rabies vaccination of the animal and shall be renewable as determined by the animals’ vaccination schedule.

Revisions to Chapter 8 (Animal Regulations) of Title 6 (Police and Public Safety) of the City Code of Muscatine were recently approved by the Muscatine City County. The revised ordinance went into effect Sunday, March 13, 2022. Informative articles on changes to the Animal Control Ordinance will be published in the future.

For more information on pet licensing, call the Finance Department at 563-264-1550 or visit the Pet Licensing page on the City of Muscatine website.

Tags City, Humane, Iowa –, LowCost, Muscatine, Society, staff, will

City of Muscatine Press Releases

DPW Spring Leaf Collection begins Monday in Zone 1

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 1, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Spring is here and with that comes the annual pilgrimage to break out the rakes and remove the last vestiges of winter by cleaning up left over yard waste. The Department of Public Works (DPW) is prepared to assist residents with their cleanup efforts again this year with the annual Spring leaf collection starting Monday (April 4).

DPW leaf vacuum trucks will be out on the streets of Muscatine starting Monday collecting leaves that have been raked, or carried, to the boulevard in front of a homeowner’s residence. The trucks will begin with Zone 1 and continue until all eight zones are completed.

Residents should have their leaves gathered and piled on the boulevard in front of their residences before collection begins on Monday.

Residents can also contact Public Works by phone (563-263-8933) or email pwrequest@muscatineiowa.gov for more information on spring leaf collection or visit Street Cleaning for additional information.

This is the only time leaf collection will be conducted during the Spring season. Residents are reminded that they can bag their own leaves and take them to the Compost Facility at the Muscatine Transfer Station. (See COMPOST FACILITY)

General guidelines for leaf pickup:

Leaves should be placed near but not beyond the curb, and should be within reach of the leaf vacuum. Leaves should be free of tree branches and twigs as they can cause the leaf vacuums to clog up.
All leaves must be placed outside of fenced areas.
Leaves are not to be placed in the street to avoid clogging storm drains.
Leaves should not be placed in street or extend into traffic lanes, thereby creating traffic hazards.
Leaves should not be placed around obstacles such as mailbox posts, sign posts and light poles.
Crews will not pick up leaves mixed with debris, logs, branches, rocks, plastic, metal or glass containers, or any other types of refuse.
Leaves should not be placed on City cul-de-sacs, vacant land, or City property except on the public right-of-way along the curb/shoulder area.

Tags annual, break, comes, here, Iowa –, Muscatine, pilgrimage, spring, that, with

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Lucas-West 8th intersection to be closed six weeks

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date April 1, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The intersection of West 8th and Lucas streets will be closed to all traffic beginning Monday (April 4) as part of Phase 5 of the West Hill Sanitary and Storm Sewer Separation Project. The full closure will last approximately six weeks depending on the weather.

Limited access will be permitted on Lucas Street from Main Street on the east side of the intersection and from Busch Street on the west side. Limited access will also be permitted on West 8th Street from Broadway to the Lucas Street intersection and from Main Street to the Lucas Street intersection. The Whicher intersection will remain open.

In addition to the work at the Lucas and West 8th intersection, general contractor Haggerty Earthworks, LLC, plans to close Climer Street from West 8th to High starting on Wednesday (April 6). Local traffic only will be permitted as sanitary and storm sewer separation work begins on this segment of Phase 5.

The contractor anticipates keeping all driveways accessible for residents for as much as possible from Busch to Main on Lucas and from West 8th to High on Climer. Periodic closures will occur as underground work progresses. Full closures will occur during the removal and replacement of the pavement from curb to curb. Residents will be notified in advance of the full closures.

Sewer project work on Lucas Street in 2022 will focus on the area from Busch Street to the curve in Lucas Street just past Green Street and include the 900, 1300, 1400, and 1500 bl;ocks of Lucas.

Sewer project work on Climer Street in 2022 will begin in the 700 block of Climer and move toward the Lucas Street intersection.

FULL DEPTH PATCHING CONTINUES

The two emergency repairs, on Hershey and Liberty, that are part of the 2022 Full Depth Patching Program are nearly complete but lane restrictions may continue into next week as concrete replacement continues. Liberty has been used as a detour during the Grandview Avenue reconstruction and the higher-than-normal traffic created buckles in the roadway.

Once the emergency repairs are completed, Heuer Construction, Inc., will move to 1608 Cedar Street (near the intersection with Parham).

Also included as part of the 2022 contract is Isett Avenue (Bidwell Road to the Heinz pedestrian entrance), Houser Street (Fulliam Avenue to Dawson Street), Stewart Road (Oregon Avenue to Wallace Street), Robin Road (Sunrise Circle east to end of the concrete), Frontage Road (Cleveland Street to Ford Avenue), and Devitt Avenue (Ridgewood Avenue to Pinefield Street). Additional emergency repairs may be added if time and money remain in the contract.

Additional traffic notes:

Heuer Construction, Inc., has closed one outside lane of Park Avenue from Washington to the Mad Creek Bridge on East 2nd Street to work on the Iowa DOT punch list for the Park Avenue 4-to-3 Lane Conversion Project that was substantially completed last fall.
Musser Street is closed from the intersection with Wisconsin and Baker to the Grandview intersection as the east side of the Musser-Grandview intersection is reconstructed as part of the Grandview Avenue Reconstruction Project.
Traffic restrictions continue on Grandview Avenue from Houser to Musser streets as underground work and pavement removal continue. The contractor maintains customer and delivery access to all businesses as Phase II of the Grandview Avenue Reconstruction Project continues.

Drivers are reminded to slow down and use caution when travelling through the construction zone, obey traffic control devices, and be aware of workers. Use an alternate route if possible.

For more information on City of Muscatine construction projects click on CONSTRUCTION to visit the Department of Public Works Construction Projects page.

If you have a comment or concern, please email feedback@muscatineiowa.gov or pwrequest@muscatineiowa.gov. A staff member will respond within 24 hours.

Tags beginning, closed, intersection, Iowa –, Lucas, Muscatine, streets, traffic, West, will

City of Muscatine Press Releases

Positive outlook presented in State of the City address

Post author By City of Muscatine
Post date March 31, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Muscatine Mayor Brad Bark is joined by City Administrator Carol Webb and Communications Manager Kevin Jenison for a unique 2022 State of the City address to the citizens of Muscatine in this week’s episode of “Muscatine In Focus”.

The video is available on the on the City of Muscatine website: MAYOR”S ADDRESS

The video is also available on the Muscatine in Focus YouTube page at STATE OF THE CITY.

Tags Administrator, Bark, Brad, Carol, City, Iowa – Muscatine, joined, Mayor, Muscatine, Webb