Government : Council Meeting: Vinton Projects, Halloween, Patriot Tour

Melissa Schwan officially sworn in as Vinton City Clerk, 1st day on duty October 5th

At the top of the Council's agenda was to swear in Melissa Schwan as Vinton's new City Clerk. With her husband and children in attendance, Mayor Bud Maynard swore Schwan into office. Schwan's first day will be October 5th.

Committee Reports

Other business conducted included Committee Reports which included an up-date on the Public Safety Building. There was a meeting last Wednesday with those who will be using the building, law enforcement and Fire Departments as well as the Ambulance. The group discussed the size and plans for the building as well as some of the plans for the projects. 

Citizen's Input

Under Citizen's input, someone had inquired about the roof units from the old Hardees building asking if they were to be removed. The council will inquire. 

Other Business

There was a discussion concerning the 13th St. bridge which is in need of repairs. The city has to do a traffic study to see if it has 25 cars crossing it in a day which would help with possible funding resources. The council will consider further action at a later date. 

A public hearing date was scheduled for October 29 for the public hearing on the development agreement and disposition of the city-owned property and assignment of the lease between AmeriCorp and the city.

There was an extended discussion on approving an Iowa DOT grant award of $68,000 to be used for a hangar door. The council after much discussion approved accepting the grant.

The council also approved a resolution for the 2020 Iowa DOT street finance report, approval gives road use tax funding for street projects. 

The Homecoming Parade on October 1st, was approved with a brief discussion concerning if it was alright to throw candy off of the floats, it was agreed that it would be alright to do so. 

The council also approved the annual request for the transfer of $6,395 to HACAP.

Two sidewalk reimbursements were also approved and it was noted that there is still money available for anyone replacing sidewalks inside Vinton to received a small grant from the city toward the projects.

Patriot Tour Coming to Vinton

Dennis Bramow who is involved with Pink Heals, requested permission to block off part of the downtown on Saturday, October 10th for a Patriot Tour Parade. 4th St. from 1st to 2nd Ave.will be closed from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Vinton was chosen to host the www.thepatriottour.com parade which honors veterans, police, fire, ambulance and first responders. The parade was originally going to go through Des Moines, but they chose instead to come to Vinton. 

According to their website, The Patriot Tour covers 5,000 miles and 28 cities in 36 days bringing custom fire trucks and motorcyclists. It says that the tour is led by 7 fire trucks and support vehicles which are symbols of our nation's bravest men and women. Each vehicle is wrapped in a theme reminding the public of the gifts and freedoms God has bestowed on our nation. The vehicles will be driven by a retired firefighter, veteran or police officer that has volunteered to drive. 

The tour begins on September 29 and ends on election day, November 3. The tour will cover 22 states beginning in Phoenix, Arizona and ending in Washington D.C.

The AMVETS will have the food trailer there from 12- 5:00 p.m.  The grill will be fired up and they will be cooking their usual delicious brats, burgers and hot dogs, with chips and a drink.  As always it is free will donation.

Halloween

The city also discussed Halloween and whether or not to proceed with Trick or Treating hours. It was agreed that if residents would like to participate, they are welcome to. The council will schedule the hours next month. The council recommends the residents look at the CDC recommendations.

*CDC Recommendations copied below

Reports

Chris Ward Vinton City Administrator reported that he and Tom Richtmeier met with FEMA and had another meeting scheduled to discuss the effects of the derecho.

Ward was also contacted by the Iowa Department of Homeland Security who is working along with FEMA who is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Iowa Flood Center as well as the Middle Cedar Watershed Authority.

The State of Iowa is applying for a new grant with FEMA called, "Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities" (BRIC) grant. The State of Iowa would like Vinton to become a sub-applicant, the State of Iowa is applying. It concerns wetlands, which Vinton is constructing on the old Corbett property. The department reached out to Ward encouraging him to apply for a grant.

The good news, the state anticipates that this will be a 30-year agreement that would provide the city of Vinton, with $45,500 a year per acre as a benefit. The city owns approximately 10 acres in that area now. Vinton is the only city up for this grant. It could result in approximately $13,650,000 in some sort of benefit from the state. 

The caveat Ward explained is that the City would need to hire a full-time building inspector/code enforcement officer as well as agree to upgrade the city building code to reflect that of the State of Iowa by the end of the year, in order to qualify. Ward said that updating the building code could help with insurance rates. 

Tom Richtmeier of the Vinton Municipal Electric Utilities, also reported that FEMA has agreed to look at the possible construction of a flood wall around the electric plant again. There is no indication if they will or will not agree to the construction of a structure, but they will look at it

Work Session set to address ordinance and parking restrictions

On October 8th at 6:00 p.m. there will be a work session for the council to discuss the UTV ordinance and parking restrictions on 13th St. across from Tilford Elementary during dismissal times.

Good and Welfare

The job listing is available on Indeed for the Vinton Unlimited Director's position. Applicants can apply through October 7th.

* CDC Recommendations for Halloween

Halloween

Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses. There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween. If you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters.

Lower Risk Activities

These lower risk activities can be safe alternatives:

• Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
• Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
• Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
• Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
• Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
• Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
• Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house

• Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)
  • If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 second before and after preparing the bags.
• Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart
• Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
  • A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn't leave gaps around the face.
  • Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
• Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
  • If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
• Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing
• Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least 6 feet apart
  • If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
  • Lower your risk by following CDC's recommendations on hosting gatherings or cook-outs.

Avoid these higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19:

• Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door
• Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
• Attending crowded costume parties held indoors
• Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
• Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household
• Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgment and increase risky behaviors
• Traveling to a rural fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19