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Celebrate Recovery at Indianola Community Church

I want to invite any with hurts, habits and hang-ups to Celebrate Recovery at Indianola Community Church. We meet every Thursday evening, 6:30-8:00. We all have "something." Join us at a safe place, where we worship God, hear a lesson and join small groups where you can "air" some of the issues you're facing.

Just so you know; men's groups are for men and women's groups for women. Relatives must attend different groups - so there will be freedom to speak freely/openly.

The Higher Power is Almighty God, His Son Jesus Christ and the Comforter the Holy Spirit.

The church is located to the southeast of the Indianola Middle School on Kennedy Street. The address is 14424 Kennedy Street, Indianola, phone 515/961-8311.

If you have questions, please call the church and ask to talk to Pastor Mike Coffman. Or you may ask questions here and I'll be happy to get the answer for you.

If you happen to know someone at CR, no one is to spread the word that "so and so" was there. Nothing you say will be repeated to the community. Be respectful and keep this a safe, responsible, comforting place to be. See you Thursday!!!

AMAC vs AARP

The following is how I received it in an email. I encourage everyone I know to join AMAC. Here's what I received: The lady who wrote this letter below not only has a grasp of the situation, but also an incredible command of the English language.

Her letter was sent to Mr. Rand who is the Executive Director of AARP. It only takes a few days on the Internet and this message will have reached 75% of the public in the U.S.A.

Dear Mr. Rand,

   Recently you sent us a letter encouraging us to renew our lapsed membership in AARP by the requested date.

   This isn't what you were looking for, but it is the most honest response I can give you. Our coverage gap is a microscopic symptom of the real problem, a deepening lack of faith. While we have proudly maintained our membership for years and long admired the AARP goals and principles, regrettably, we can no longer endorse its abdication of our values. Your letter stated that we can count on AARP to speak up for our rights, yet the voice we hear is not ours!

   Your offer of being kept up to date on important issues through DIVIDED WE FAIL presents neither an impartial view nor the one we have come to embrace. We do believe that when two parties agree all the time on everything presented to them, one is probably not necessary. But, when the opinions and long term goals are diametrically opposed, the divorce is imminent. This is the philosophy which spawned our 200 years of government.

Once upon a time, we looked forward to being part of the senior demographic. We also looked to AARP to provide certain benefits and give our voice a power we could not possibly hope to achieve on our own. AARP once gave us a sense of belonging which we no longer enjoy. The Socialist politics practiced by the [current] Regime and empowered by AARP serves only to raise the blood pressure my medical insurance strives to contain.

   Clearly a conflict of interest there! We do not understand the AARP posture, and feel greatly betrayed by the guiding forces that we expected to map out our senior years and leave your ranks with a great sense of regret. We mitigate that disappointment with the relief of knowing that we are not contributing to the problem anymore by renewing our membership. There are numerous other organizations which offer discounts without threatening our way of life or offending our sensibilities and values.

   [The current] Regime scares the living daylights out of us. Not just for ourselves, but for our proud and bloodstained heritage. But more importantly for our children and grandchildren. Washington has rendered Soylent Green a prophetic cautionary tale rather than a nonfiction scare tactic. I have never endorsed any militant or radical groups, yet now I find myself listening to them. I don't have to agree with them to appreciate the fear which birthed their existence. Their borderline insanity presents little more than a balance to the voice of the Socialist Mindset in power.

Perhaps I became American by a great stroke of luck in some cosmic uterine lottery, But in my adulthood I CHOOSE to embrace it and nurture the freedoms it represents as well as the responsibilities.

   Your web site generously offers us the opportunity to receive all communication in Spanish. ARE YOU KIDDING??? The illegal perpetrators have broken into our 'house," invaded our home without invitation or consent. The President insists we keep these illegal perpetrators in comfort and learn the perpetrator's language so we can communicate our reluctant welcome to them. I DON'T choose to welcome them, to support them, to educate them, to medicate them, or to pay for their food or clothing. [They need to know OUR language.]

   American home invaders get arrested. Please explain to me why foreign lawbreakers can enjoy privileges on American soil that Americans do not get? Why do some immigrants have to play the game to be welcomed and others only have to break and enter to be welcomed?

We travel for a living. Walt hauls horses all over this great country, averaging over 10,000 miles a month when he is out there.

He meets more people than a politician on caffeine overdose. Of all the many good folks he enjoyed on this last 10,000 miles, this trip yielded only ONE supporter of the current Regime. One of us is out of touch with mainstream America. Since our poll is conducted without funding, I have more faith in it than ones that are driven by a need to yield AMNESTY (aka-make voters out of the foreign lawbreakers so they can vote to continue the government's free handouts).

   This addition of 10 to 20 million voters who then will vote to continue Socialism will OVERWHELM our votes to control the government's free handouts. It is a "slippery slope" we must not embark on!

   As Margaret Thatcher (former Prime Minister of Great Britain) once said, "Socialism is GREAT - UNTIL you run out of other people's money."

We have decided to forward this to everyone on our mailing list, and will encourage them to do the same. With several hundred in my address book, I have every faith that the eventual exponential factor will make a credible statement to you. I am disappointed as all get out! I am more scared than I have ever been in my entire life! I am ANGRY! I am MAD as heck, and I'm NOT gonna take it anymore!

Walt & Cyndy Miller, Miller Farms Equine Transport

KEEP THIS MOVING. Further more if you do a little checking on AARP's web site you will find their anti-second amendment position to disarm us....In internet lingo: If enough people pass this on, it will go viral.

   Me again - AARP's stance on many issues conflict with mine where AMAC's don't. Join AMAC.

The Need to GROW

Watch The Need to GROW now. It is 90 minutes long, but worth every minute. You won't even know how long you've watched. Informative, inspirational, exasperating but promise of hope. 

There are only 3 days left in which to watch this.

For Indianola Residents and All Who Are Interested in Indianola

Happy Friday!

 

I hope you are well and staying warm.  Below is this week’s update email.  If there are any questions, please let me know.  I am more than happy to discuss any of these items or any other city-related matter. 

 

Please have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend!

 

Ryan

Parking Lot Signage

Streets Division staff installed identification signage for all the public parking lots located around the Square.  The goal of the signs is to identify the available public parking.  All of these lots are free and available for anyone to use.  Linked below you may find a picture of what the installed signs look like, as well as a map identifying all the available free public parking lots around the Square.  

Parking Sign (PHOTO) 

Public Parking Map (PDF)

Square Reconstruction (Streetscape) Open House

On Thursday, June 3, Absolute Concrete, in cooperation with Bolton and Menk, the City, and the Indianola Chamber, will host two open house meetings regarding the upcoming Square Reconstruction Project.  The project is scheduled to officially begin on Monday, June 14.  The purpose of these open house meetings is to introduce the general contractor, discuss proposed timelines for the project, and allow for business and property owners to meet and ask questions of the contractors.  These meetings will take place at the Sagewood Events Venue (117 E Salem Ave) at 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM.  An invitation to these open house meetings is attached. 

Invitation (PDF)

Hillcrest Avenue Improvements

Engineering design work for the roadway improvements on Hillcrest Avenue, between North 4th Street and North 14th Street, has begun.  As a part of this design work, the City’s engineering firm began collecting field survey information which is needed to prepared necessary construction documents.  The City’s approved Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) includes this improvement project to replace the existing failed pavement with a new concrete pavement surface, storm-sewer infrastructure, sidewalks on one side of the road, trees, improved trail crossing, and a new trail head.  The construction for this project is planned during Fiscal Year 2023 (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023) and 2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024).

Yard Waste

The City would like to provide a friendly reminder that regulations prohibit placing debris on roadways. This not only helps create a safer driving surface, it also helps to prevent blocking of the storm sewer drains (as seen in this picture) so that proper drainage can occur. The public’s assistance is greatly appreciated.

Blocked Storm Drain (PHOTO)

Indianola Extra 

The City has been receiving inquiries and complaints from residents wishing to stop the delivery of the Indianola Extra (this is NOT a City service or program).  Residents wishing to cancel this service may do so by sending an email to [email protected] or by calling (515) 402-3749.

Memorial Day

Non-emergency City offices will be closed on Monday, May 31 in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.  

Community Development Reports

Attached are the following reports provided by the Community Development Department:

Current Projects Update (PDF)

Of the 17 projects listed, one is awaiting a submittal from the developer, 10 are in review, and six have been approved and are in construction.

2021 Building Permits (PDF)

This week, four building permits were submitted and four were issued. There are currently 11 building permit applications in review and 67 building permits have been issued year to date.

Code Enforcement (PDF)

There are currently 27 open code enforcement cases (41 code enforcement cases have been opened for the year).

City Council Anticipated Agendas

Below please find links to the documents containing anticipated agenda items for upcoming City Council meetings.  These are working drafts.  Agendas are published on the City’s website the Thursday prior to a scheduled City Council meeting.

Anticipated Draft Agenda – June 7, 2021 (PDF)

Anticipated Draft Agenda – June 21, 2021 (PDF)

Anticipated Draft Agenda – June 28, 2021 (PDF)

Public Input Meeting, April 29, 2021

From City Manager Ryan Waller's Friday update email:

Development Code Updates Public Input Meeting

The City hosted a virtual public input meeting on Thursday, April 29, regarding proposed updates to the City’s zoning (Chapter 165) and site plan (Chapter 166) regulations.  A recording from the meeting may be viewed via the link provided below.  The proposed updates seek to implement various measures in the City’s Comprehensive Master Plan (Elevate Indianola), which was adopted in May 2020.   

Watch the Public Input Meeting (LINK)

City of Indianola Tours and Virtual Tour

From City Manager Ryan Waller's Friday update.

City Buildings Tour

The public is invited to tour the Library (207 N B Street) and Fire and Police Station/City Hall (110 N 1^st Street) on Tuesday, May 11.  These facilities will be open for tours from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.  Those unable to attend may virtually tour these facilities via the link below or call 961-9410 to schedule an in-person tour at a later date.   

Virtual Tour (LINK)

Indianola Residents - Understand your Utility Bill

Indianola Municipal Utilities (IMU) will hold an information session entitled “Understanding Your Utility Bill” on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Indianola City Hall, located at 110 N. First Street.  

I strongly urge everyone to participate in this forum. Many of us have seen terribly high bills for only our heat and air conditioning.

City representatives will also be available to answer questions regarding City services (recycling, stormwater and sewer) that are included on the IMU utility bill. 

You should attend in person or online. Know what you're paying for.

Meeting agendas can be viewed at http://www.indianolaiowa.gov/AgendaCenter.  Agendas for regularly scheduled meetings are posted on the Thursday prior to the meeting. The agendas for each City Council meeting have a letter that includes a link to view the meeting live via Zoom or YouTube. 

The Zoom link changes every meeting (the letter includes the passwords, ID and phone numbers). The YouTube link is the same for each meeting and is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCwqdy2irWQILB_1QzcVrdw.

Videos of the meeting are uploaded to the website within 24 hours of the meeting and can be viewed at https://cityofindianola.viebit.com/index.php?folder=ALL.

If you want to stay informed, please request to be included in Ryan Waller's Friday emails. Request to be added by going to [email protected] and you will receive these updates every Friday.

Restoring History at Modern Justice Center

The Warren County Historical Society is accepting donations to help restore the lights that were around the Warren County Courthouse. If you'd like to donate toward this, please send your check to The Warren County Historical Society, PO Box 256, Indianola, Iowa 50125. For your donation to apply to this project, you must designate that the money should be used for restoring the lights. If you don't designate this, the money will be gratefully accepted, but used toward another project.

Forum with Rep Brooke Boden and Sen Julian Garrett

Carlisle Chamber Event

Iowa's Representative Brooke Boden and Senator Julian Garrett will be at the Carlisle Library on Saturday March 27 holding a public forum. If you have any questions or would like to talk to either of them, please feel free to stop by. The forum will begin at 10:00 am. I plan to attend. That's how we become informed and have a chance to give input to those who represent us.

Speaking at City Council Meetings During Public Forum

Keep in mind that if you have a topic to take before the City Council, at a scheduled meeting, you need to fill out a Public Comment Form. This should be a topic not already on the agenda and you must not expect any action to be taken on your subject at that meeting. The form must be filled out prior to the meeting and submitted to Jackie Raffety, Deputy City Clerk. The public will only be given 20 minutes of Council time for this. And the topic will not be allowed to brought up again during the meeting.