MUSCATINE, Iowa – The City of Muscatine has partnered with SeeClickFix and CivicPlus to provide a new platform that will allow citizens improved options to report quality-of-life issues and request services.
With the free Muscatine Connect – SeeClickFix mobile app and web tools, Muscatine citizens will now be able to provide City staff with pictures, specific descriptions, and more — valuable information needed to get the job done efficiently.
In addition, the platform provides Muscatine officials with a centralized issue management system to manage issues from creation to resolution — engaging Muscatine citizens throughout the process.
This partnership not only allows Muscatine citizens to report problems, but also to view, comment on, and vote to fix problems submitted by their neighbors. Citizens can even create their own “watch areas” to receive notifications about all the issues reported in their community, enabling them to follow the progress of all service requests — not just the ones they report.
Residents can visit the City of Muscatine website and click on the Muscatine Connect icon in the upper left-hand corner of the home page to begin a report or they can download the SeeClickFix mobile app for Android (GooglePlay) and iPhone (App Store). Visit the Muscatine Connect page on the city website for more information on downloading the app or how to submit a request. Residents can also view an FAQ about Muscatine Connect.
Citizens who report issues will receive an automated response letting them know that their issue has been received. Once an issue has been assigned, another email will be sent to provide a status update.
Please note that not all issues will be able to be immediately fixed. Issues will be completed based on priority-level and budget status. We welcome citizen feedback at feedback@muscatineiowa.gov and will be monitoring the application regularly in an effort to continuously improve its effectiveness.
Please note, the City of Muscatine has also ended support of the previous “Citizen Request Tracker” web application.
In addition to the mobile apps, Citizens can also visit seeclickfix.com/Muscatine to begin submitting a request.
About SeeClickFix
SeeClickFix was founded in 2008 to empower citizens with tools to publicly document quality of life concerns in their neighborhoods. By radically improving the quantity and quality of this data, SeeClickFix was quickly adopted by local governments, who needed a better way to receive information from citizens.
This exchange helped to build one of the largest neighborhood networks in the world — upon which public agencies and public citizens engage to improve communities. Today, SeeClickFix has official partnerships with hundreds of cities, engaging hundreds of thousands of citizens in the resolution of millions of issues.
SeeClickFix has worked with government partners to develop municipal management tools on top of this citizen network. As SeeClickFix is adopted into the everyday lives of government users, the benefit of the engaged citizen base continues to gro
MUSCATINE, Iowa – The traffic signal at the Grandview-Oregon/Warren intersection is now in full operation mode according to Muscatine Power and Water (MPW) who maintains the traffic signals in Muscatine.
The traffic signal had been in flashing red mode for the past several months as work on the Grandview Avenue Reconstruction Project continued. After the intersection was striped, MPW began working to install the timing system for the signals. The timing system has been installed and tested with today’s (Dec. 16) activation culminating the effort to return the intersection to normal operation.
Drivers are advised to pay attention and obey the traffic signals as they are now in full operation.
MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Muscatine Art Center has again achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition afforded the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public.
The Muscatine Art Center was initially accredited in 1993. All museums must undergo a reaccreditation review at least every 10 years to maintain accredited status.
Alliance Accreditation brings national recognition to a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for 50 years, the Alliance’s museum accreditation program is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation and public accountability. It strengthens the museum profession by promoting practices that enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely, and remain financially and ethically accountable in order to provide the best possible service to the public.
“Completing the reaccreditation process was truly a team effort,” Melanie Alexander, Director of the Muscatine Art Center, said. “We pulled together staff members, the Board of Trustees, the Friends of the Muscatine Art Center board, the Advisory Committee for the Muscatine Art Center Support Foundation, volunteers, donors, and business and community leaders to set the direction for the next several years. The new Institutional Plan, adopted in July 2022, contributed to earning reaccreditation.”
Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, over 1,080 are currently accredited. The Muscatine Art Center is one of only 33 museums accredited in Iowa.
Accreditation is a very rigorous but highly rewarding process that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. To earn accreditation a museum first must conduct a year of self-study, and then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. AAM’s Accreditation Commission, an independent and autonomous body of museum professionals, considers the self-study and visiting committee report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation.
“Accredited museums are a community of institutions that have chosen to hold themselves publicly accountable to excellence,” Laura L. Lott, Alliance President and CEO, said. “Accreditation is clearly a significant achievement, of which both the institutions and the communities they serve can be extremely proud.”
About the Muscatine Art Center
The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free of charge. Donations are appreciated. Visit www.muscatineartcenter.org for more information about programs and events.
About the American Alliance of Museums
The American Alliance of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. Representing more than 35,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, institutions, and corporate partners serving the museum field, the Alliance stands for the broad scope of the museum community. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.
MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department is now taking registrations for the winter 2022-2023 adult volleyball leagues. The leagues will be split into two divisions including the competitive power league and the recreational league. New teams are always welcome and encouraged to join.
League play will run November through March at Central Middle School and Jefferson Elementary School. The coed recreation league will play on Tuesday and Thursday evenings while the coed power league will play on Wednesday evenings.
Registrations are being accepted now in the Parks and Recreation Department office located in the lower level of City Hall at 215 Sycamore Street. The team fee is $225 per team with a $5 fee assessed for every non-resident player on the roster. Registration will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 28.
MUSCATINE, Iowa – The 1600 block of Cedar Street will be reduced to one lane of traffic on Monday (April 25) as full depth patching begins. Heuer Construction, Inc., will begin removal, repairs, and replacement in the northbound lane from the first entrance to the Trinity Muscatine lower parking lot to the Parham Street intersection.
Repair work will be completed in sections with one driveway closed at a time. Drivers are urged to use caution when travelling through construction zones, obey traffic control devices, and find alternate routes if possible.
Two emergency repairs have been accomplished as part of the 2022 Full Depth Patching Project as repairs have completed on Hershey and Liberty. The current contract also calls for work on 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.
WEST HILL PROJECT TRAFFIC
Traffic restrictions have been implemented on West 8th Street and on Climer Street as Haggerty Earthworks, LLC, moves forward with sewer construction in both locations.
Local traffic only is 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 for sewer construction and pavement restoration. 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.
MUSCATINE, Iowa – The historic Japanese Garden located at the Muscatine Art Center will be featured in two programs this spring. An informational session on the rehabilitation of the garden will be held at 5:30 p.m. on April 7 while a more in-depth look at the history of the garden will be held at 1:30 p.m. May 22.
Muscatine Art Center Director Melanie Alexander will speak about the decision-making process, the scope of the project, the roles of those involved in the project, and the project’s funding sources during the information session on April 7.
Beth Cody, author of Iowa Gardens of the Past, will present during the second program as she dives into the history of the 1930 Japanese Garden and places the garden into historical context. Cody was contracted through a grant from Humanities Iowa to explore the influences behind the creation of the garden, research landscape designers of Japanese-style gardens in the Midwest, investigate the fates of other Japanese-style gardens from the time period, and follow loose ends pertaining to the specifics of Laura Musser McColm’s garden.
When Laura Musser McColm had the Japanese-style garden installed at her home at 1314 Mulberry Avenue, it became an occasional gathering space for Laura’s clubs such as the Twentieth Century Club and the Muscatine Garden Club. When the property was gifted to the City of Muscatine in 1965, it became a public space maintained by the Muscatine Art Center and the Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department.
During McColm’s lifetime, the garden underwent relatively few major changes. However, as the Muscatine Art Center added the Stanley Gallery and then a building to connect the gallery to the historic house, the ornamental sumacs original to the garden were lost and replaced with white pine trees. The Japanese yews, a fixture in the garden for many decades, are not original to the garden. There is not adequate documentation to determine if they were planted late in McColm’s lifetime or in the early years of the museum.
“Gardens grow and evolve,” Alexander said. “For years, the Muscatine Art Center staff sought professional guidance for addressing concerns related to the health and size of the yew trees. The staff also looked into options for returning the water feature to regular operations.”
However, issues in the garden were more complex and decisions made decades ago led to damage of the underground piping for the water feature and to shading out the types of plants original to the garden.
After speaking with Muscatine Art Center staff in 2020, Heidi Hohmann, Associate Professor in the Landscape Architecture Department at Iowa State University, examined archival materials held by the Muscatine Art Center, documented existing conditions in the garden, and prepared the Historic Landscape Preservation Plan. The plan included recommendations and presented options for returning historic features to the garden.
Hohmann’s photographic comparisons showing images taken in the early 1930s to those in 2020 underscored the need to address concerns in the garden. Fortunately, many of the changes can be mitigated, while some of the most prominent features, such as the streams and ponds, remain intact.
The Muscatine Art Center staff used Hohmann’s Preservation Plan to secure a $122,402 historic preservation grant from the nationally funded Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Program. In Iowa, this grant is administered by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, and project reporting goes through the Iowa State Historic Preservation Office and then through the National Parks Service. The staff also secured a $100,000 grant from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. The two grants, along with a few private donations, will cover all costs associated with the project.
The active phase of the project will begin in the coming weeks with archaeological work conducted by Tallgrass Archaeology, LLC. Many trees will be removed as part of the project with tree removal expected to begin as early as April. There will be periods of time when work on the site will make it necessary to close the walkway between the Muscatine Art Center’s parking lot off of Cedar Street and the main entrance on the Mulberry Avenue side of the property. The walkway closure is not expected to impact the sidewalk along Mulberry Avenue.
“While visitors have enjoyed the environment created by yews for many decades, they have caused significant problems that take away from the historic character of the garden,” Alexander said. “New plantings will be based on historic photographs and follow the Department of the Interior’s Guidelines for the Treatment of Cultural Landscapes. For a project like this, it is important to focus on what will be gained.”
Among the gains will be the return of the historic look and feel of the garden including the return of running water on a regular basis. The historic character of the garden will also be enhanced by the return of sumac trees, other trees and shrubs found in historic photographs, the emphasis on rockwork, the reintroduction of smaller plantings that have been shaded out, and the installation of a Torii gate reproduction and other built features.
Both the April 7 and May 22 programs are scheduled for one hour and will take place in the Muscatine Art Center’s Music Room. The programs are free of charge, and there is no advance registration. A booklet about the garden is currently in development and expected to be available by summer 2022.
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 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 Muscatine Art Center, visit the Art Center Page on the City of Muscatine website, or follow the Art Center on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram,
MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Muscatine County Joint Communications Center (MUSCOM) will start the yearly testing of the Outdoor Sirens on Monday, April 4, 2022. The sirens are tested on the first Monday of every month at 11 a.m. during non-freezing months, however, if there is severe weather forecast for a testing day, the sirens will not be tested.
The county will also be participating in the Statewide Tornado Drill to be held in conjunction with Severe Weather Awareness Week. The Drill will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 23. The sirens will also be activated in conjunction with this drill. For more information you can visit the National Weather Service Site at https://www.weather.gov/dvn/.
“The Statewide Drill gives businesses, schools, daycares and other facilities the chance to practice their severe weather procedures as we move into storm season. I encourage all facilities in the county to participate in the drill” said Chris Jasper, Director – Emergency Management/911.
Just as a reminder to all citizens, during a severe weather event, the sirens are activated by MUSCOM when one of the following criteria is met:
Tornado Warning issued by the National Weather Service
Tornado or funnel cloud reported by a trained weather spotter
Severe thunderstorm Warning issued by the National Weather Service or a report from a trained weather spotter that includes:
Wind 70mph or greater and/or
Golf ball sized hail or larger
According to information from the NWS most fatalities during tornadoes or severe thunderstorms occur due to falling trees or large branches. 70 mph wind is the typical threshold at which large branches and small trees break. Hail also begins to break windows when it reaches or exceeds golf ball sized hail.
“Muscatine County follows the guidelines that are set out by the National Weather Service. Due to the possibility of extreme danger from falling trees and branches we will continue to activate the siren system for Severe Thunderstorm Warnings that meet that threshold,” said Jasper.
Sirens are designed to alert citizens who are outdoors of an imminent hazard and prompt them to go indoors and seek further information.
“We encourage the public to tune into local media outlets or listen to a weather radio during severe weather and ask that they limit the use of 911 to emergencies only,” Jasper said.
Anyone that believes a siren is not working or malfunctioning can reach out to the Office of Emergency Management at 563-264-7142.
Outdoor Siren Locations
In cooperation with the Muscatine Area Geographic Information Consortium (MAGIC), a link has been created for Muscatine County residents to pinpoint where the outdoor warning sirens are located. Click on the following link to view the locations: OUTDOOR SIRENS.
Free National Weather Service Storm Spotter Training
For those interested in becoming storm spotters, the National Weather Service will be conducting both an in-person and virtual (on-line) training. Storm spotter training will be held at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 15, at Calvary Church in Muscatine. Classes cover severe weather hazards including thunderstorms and tornadoes, the general structure and movement of severe thunderstorms, identification of important storm features, and safety concerns.
All in-person and virtual classes to be conducted by the NWS Quad Cities office, and all classes last about 2 hours. Classes are free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required for virtual classes. Classes are appropriate for all ages, but ages 10 and up will likely get the most out of the training.
Testing and Activation of the Muscatine County-Wide Outdoor Warning System
The Muscatine County Emergency Management Agency has established a Guidance policy for Testing and Activation of the Muscatine County-Wide Outdoor Warning System. As a reminder, sirens are used to alert those who are outdoors of an imminent hazard and prompt them to go indoors and seek further information. The information will be available to the general public through the county and other municipalities’ websites.
MUSCATINE – Iowa – The Compost Facility at the Muscatine Transfer Station, 1000 S. Houser St., Muscatine, will open for the season on Saturday, March 19, according to David Popp, Solid Waste Manager for the City of Muscatine. Regular hours for the Compost Facility are 12-6 p.m. Sunday through Friday and from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturdays.
Muscatine and Fruitland residents can take yard waste (grass clippings, leaves, plants) from their property to the facility along with brush and branches less than 10 inches in diameter and 10 feet in length. Larger trees and logs can also be taken to the location but tree stumps or roots are not accepted.
Non-residents and commercial users of the Compost Facility will be charged a fee for yard waste brought to the site. The fee schedule for non-resident and for commercial users is available on the Compost Site page on the City of Muscatine web site.
Residents of Muscatine and Fruitland can visit the Muscatine Transfer Station, Muscatine City Hall Finance Department, or the Muscatine Public Works Department to receive a window sticker to verify that they are a resident and will not be charged a fee at the Compost Facility by the attendant. A driver’s license with current address will be needed to verify residency. Each resident will receive a sticker for up to two vehicles which should be placed in the lower right hand corner of the windshield.
An attendant will be on site to verify residency and secure payment from non-residents and commercial users (cash or check only with no bills larger than $20.00) during Compost Site operating hours.
The facility does not have compost available at the present time. Please call (563) 263-9689 in advance to find out when compost is available and at what times compost can be picked up.
Help loading compost will be offered on weekdays from 12-3:30 p.m. but limited to the availability of staff. Loading of mulch on Saturday and Sunday will be up to the individual as staff will not be available to help.
If you do not want to pick up compost at the facility, the Transfer Station will be offering a delivery service, but deliveries of shredded mulch, wood chips, and compost (when available) would need to be prescheduled by calling the Transfer Station. Deliveries would be limited to Muscatine and Fruitland residents on their trash collection day and limited to time available. A full one-ton truck load would cost $25.00.
The Compost Site also has firewood available for area residents. However, those wanting firewood are asked to check in with the attendant at the Compost Site and sign a waiver before cutting and/or loading firewood.
Popp reminds residents wanting to bring material to the compost site that all loads need to be secured during transportation to or from the compost site as loose material may fall onto city streets causing traffic hazards or damage to vehicles.
Compost Site Fee Schedule 2022
Non-Resident Fee Schedule
Commercial Users Fee Schedule
Per
Bag
$1.00
Pickup
$30.00
Car/Van/
SUV
$5.00
Trailer
Up to 10-feet
$50.00
Small
Pickup
$10.00
Trailer
10-16 feet
$100.00
Full Size
Pickup
$12.00
One Ton
Dump Truck
$50.00
1 Ton Small
Dump Truck
$15.00
Single Axle
Dump Truck
$75.00
Single Axle
Trailer
$15.00
Tandem Axle
Dump Truck
$100.00
Tandem Axle
Trailer
$30.00
Semi
Dump
$150.00
Single Axle
Dump Truck
$40.00
Tandem Axle
Dump Truck
$60.00
Semi
Dump
$100.00
Pickup of shredded mulch, wood chips, and compost (when available)
Load Out Fee
$5.00 per cubic yard
Load Out Fee
$5.00 per cubic yard
Delivery of shredded mulch, wood chips, and compost (when available)
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Residents can visit the City of Muscatine website and click on the Muscatine Connect icon in the upper left-hand corner of the home page to begin a report or they can download the SeeClickFix mobile app for Android (GooglePlay) and iPhone (App Store). Visit the Muscatine Connect page on the city website for more information on downloading the app or how to submit a request. Residents can also view an FAQ about Muscatine Connect.
