News : Council approves date for $2M bond sale; hears IFA Convention report

On Monday, March 11, the Vinton City Council will hold a short special meeting to approve $2 million in bonds for street repairs.

Council members said during the regular meeting on Feb. 28, that they hope to be able to to around 20 linear blocks with that amount. City leaders have not yet prioritized which streets to repair but plan to do that soon. Click here for more information about the street repair program and related property tax increases.

Future events

The council also heard information and granted approval for requests concerning three future events.

Dirt racing car show

The annual pre-race car show will take place on Saturday, March 30, on First Avenue, between 4th and 5th Streets (the Ron-Da-Voo block). The event was moved to Saturday because Sunday, March 31, is Easter.

IFA Convention

Firefighters Scott Geissinger and Jeff Kenney spoke to the council about the IFA Convention which is coming to Vinton the first weekend in September. The main issue of discussion is the property east of Tilford Elementary, which will become a camp site. The VFD plans to create total of 1,575 camp sites for the event's expected 2,500 visitors from hundreds of Iowa towns. That area between Tilford and 13th Street, including the sidewalk, will be closed to the public for about two weeks prior to the convention to allow installation of electrical service and other amenities.

There will also be some temporary street closings during the convention.

Firefighters plan a small special waterball fight on First Avenue near the fairgrounds, but most of the other competitions including the main waterball fight will take place in downtown Vinton. The fire departments from throughout Iowa will participate in a parade on Saturday, Sept. 7, and Geissinger said organizers plan to make the Vinton parade the largest in IFA Convention History. As in the 2003 convention, the Garrison Fire Department is helping the Vinton VFD host the event, which takes place Sept. 4-8.

Geissinger told the council that information about the event will soon become available on the event Web Site.

Flaughless 5K

The first annual Flaughless 5K race, held in October 2012 in memory of Dan Flaugh, raised $10,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project. Organizers are planning to hold the second annual event Saturday, Sept. 21, with a route similar to last year. The council approved the request presented by Jamie Timmerman, a cousin to Dan.