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City of Muscatine Press Releases

Gather those Easter baskets; it is time for the Hunt

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

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DPW Spring Leaf Collection begins Monday in Zone 1

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.
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City of Muscatine Press Releases

Survey seeks public input on Downtown Muscatine

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The City of Muscatine is partnering with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) on the first step to develop and implement strategies for a stronger community starting with an assessment of Downtown Muscatine.

 

“This partnership will assist us in defining the importance of downtown development and, specifically, how we can implement strategies to make the downtown more viable,” Jodi Royal-Goodwin, Community Development Director, said. “Downtown revitalization is a key ingredient in growing our community and a City priority.”

 

The City has contracted with the IEDA’s Downtown Resource Center to have the Downtown Assessment completed. The Assessment will be performed by an experienced team of professionals who identify local strengths and weaknesses creating the basis for recommendations on how to attract customers to the area.

 

The first step of the Assessment is a pre-visit online survey that will be followed by an intense, on-site study of the downtown area. The survey is open to the public and available at Downtown Muscatine Survey but will close on April 15. The goal is to have 100 residents and businesses complete the survey to give the assessment team an understanding of Muscatine before they hit the streets.

 

The short survey seeks public input on the strengths and weaknesses of Downtown Muscatine, how to improve the business climate, and what public amenities are most needed in the district.

 

A downtown or traditional commercial district represents a community’s history and helps define the community according to the IEDA. City planners will have a better understanding of the unique identity of the downtown district, and features and strengths that draw residents, visitors, businesses, and commerce through the survey and assessment team visit.

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Lane restriction at Pearl-Liberty intersection for street repair

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Pearl Street will be closed at the intersection with Liberty starting today (March 21) for an emergency repair as part of the 2022 Full Depth Patching Program. Liberty has been used as a detour during the Grandview Avenue reconstruction and the higher-than-normal traffic has created buckles in the roadway.

 

Pearl will be closed in both directions at Liberty while Liberty will be reduced to one-lane of traffic during the repair work. Drivers are asked to please alternate for the lane restriction on Liberty, slow down when driving through the construction area, watch for construction workers, and find alternate routes if possible.

 

Heuer Construction, Inc., was awarded the 2022 Full Depth Patching contract and have started an emergency repair on Hershey Avenue near the northbound ramps for Highway 61. The Liberty and Pearl intersection repair is the second emergency repair added to the contract.

 

Once the emergency repairs are completed, Heuer 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 Colorado to begin work on the DOT punch list from 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.
  • West 8th Street is closed to through traffic from Broadway to Lucas for landscaping and finishing work as part of the West Hill Sanitary & Storm Sewer Separation Project. This section of West 8th will remain closed to through traffic as sewer work begins in the Lucas and West 8th intersection. That work is tentatively scheduled to start March 28. More details on the intersection closure will be announced next week.

 

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.

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City of Muscatine Press Releases

Annual Easter Egg Hunt set for April 9 in Weed Park

MUSCATINE, Iowa – The green grass of Weed Park will be filled with colorful eggs on 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 10-11:00 a.m. in the upper loop of Weed Park.

 

Families 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, four years through kindergarten, and first through third grade. 

 

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.

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Traffic Alert: Full Depth Patching project begins March 21

MUSCATINE, Iowa – As warm weather returns so does construction work in Muscatine with the 2022 Full Depth Patching Program and work on the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) punch list for the Park Avenue 4-to-3 Lane Conversion Project set to begin next week. Lane restrictions will be in place as these projects continue.

 

Heuer Construction, Inc., was awarded the 2022 Full Depth Patching contract and will begin on Monday (March 21) with an emergency repair on Hershey Avenue near the northbound ramps for Highway 61. Once that repair has been completed, Heuer 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.

 

Heuer Construction, Inc., will also be closing down one outside lane of Park Avenue from Washington to Colorado Tuesday (March 22) to work on the DOT punch list.

 

Additional traffic notes:

 

  • 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 prepared for paving.
  • West 8th Street is closed to through traffic from Broadway to Lucas for landscaping and finishing work as part of the West Hill Sanitary & Storm Sewer Separation Project. This section of West 8th will remain closed to through traffic as sewer work begins in the Lucas and West 8th intersection. That work is tentatively scheduled to start March 28. More details on the intersection closure will be announced next week.

 

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.

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Meteorological spring arrives, time to prepare for severe weather

MUSCATINE, Iowa – With Meteorological spring upon us, the Muscatine County Emergency Management Agency wants to remind those in the county to start preparing for severe storms. 

 

On average, Muscatine County residents can experience thunderstorm warnings for storms that are capable of producing damaging winds, lightning, hail, and even tornadoes.

 

The Muscatine County Emergency Management Commission is in the process of updating the outdoor warning system sirens, many of which were the 1960’s civil defense warning devices. Each year, the Commission approves a budget to replace four (4) sirens for the fiscal year.

 

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.

 

Click QUAD CITIES STORM WATCHERS for more information or visit the Storm Spotter Training event notification on Facebook.

 

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.

 

For more information, visit the Emergency Management website, and follow them on Facebook.

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Fruitland couple faces 42 charges of animal neglect

MUSCATINE, Iowa – A Fruitland couple was arrested Thursday (Feb. 24) and charged with 42 counts of animal neglect following a two-week investigation that began after 42 dogs were rescued from the couples’ mobile home in Fruitland on Feb. 10.

 

Muscatine Police Department (MPD) charged both Douglas Elshoff, 65, and Karen Elshoff, 61, 150 Main Street, Fruitland, Iowa, with 42 counts of animal neglect in accordance with Iowa Code Section 717B.3.

 

Douglas and Karen Elshoff were released on a promise to appear in court, and both are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

 

The Elshoff’s had previously signed over custody of all 42 dogs to the Muscatine Humane Society voluntarily. All dogs continue to be housed and treated at the Muscatine Humane Society, 920 South Houser Street, Muscatine, Iowa.

 

MPD received an anonymous tip on February 10, 2022, regarding allegations of animal neglect occurring at 150 Main Street, Fruitland, Iowa. The tip alleged that a couple were living in a mobile home with an excessive number of dogs. The overcrowded conditions in the mobile home were suspected of causing severe health issues for the dogs. 

 

Muscatine Animal Control Officer Courtney Patel investigated the anonymous tip, and discovered that an excessive number of dogs were housed in the mobile home, and concerns of overcrowding and unsanitary conditions were identified. 

 

In conjunction with the Muscatine Police Department, a search warrant was obtained for removal of the animals.

 

The Muscatine Police Department, with assistance from Muscatine Animal Control and the Muscatine Humane Society, accessed the residence and were able to rescue the animals. A total of 42 dogs were rescued from inside the mobile home. The conditions of the mobile home were considered unsafe for the animals due to the excessive amount of animal waste present, as well as a lack of access to adequate food and medical care. 

 

In accordance with Iowa Code 717B.5, which outlines the rescue of threatened animals, the Muscatine Police Department worked with the Muscatine Humane Society to take over possession, care, and maintenance of the animals while the investigation continues. The animals will remain with the Muscatine Humane Society until dispositional proceedings can be held. 

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