City News
City News is designed to keep North Liberty residents updated on what is happening around town. This feature changes often, so don’t forget to check back periodically. If you have an item to add to City News, please send an email to webmaster {at} northlibertyiowa(.)org.
New City Update
Here is the latest in the City Update series created by NLTV.
Seventh annual North Liberty Fun Run/Walk slated for September 19
(August 30, 2010) The North Liberty Steering Committee of the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce presents the 7th annual North Liberty Fun Run/Walk, to be held on Sunday, September 19. The event features a 5k route and children’s race. The race starts at 650 W. Cherry Street, near the gazebo at Liberty Centre. Registration begins at 8:15 a.m., with the children’s race beginning at 9 a.m. followed by the 5k at 9:15 a.m.
Each year the North Liberty Steering Committee donates back to the North Liberty community through a worthy organization. This year the Committee will be supporting the Buford Garner Elementary playground fund. Additionally, the Committee will also award $100 to the North Liberty school that recruits the most participants.
Pre-registration ends September 10, and includes a free event T-shirt. After September 10, participants should register the day of the event. Since a Fun Run T-shirt is not guaranteed for day of registration, pre-registration is encouraged.
Prizes will be awarded for the fastest male and female runners. Pre-registration is $10 per person by September 10 and $15 day of registration. Attendees under the age of 12 race for free and may purchase a T-shirt for $5. To register online, simply visit the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce at www.iowacityarea.com. Forms are also available at the Community Center and all North Liberty banks. To download a printable registration form, visit http://bit.ly/apFTsA.
Special thanks to gold sponsors: Collins Community Credit Union, MercyCare – North Liberty, Mercy Iowa City, State Farm Insurance / Adam Schechinger Agency and the University of Iowa Community Credit Union.
Please contact Heather at the Chamber at (319) 337-9637 for more information.
Join the Fire Department at Salute to Summer
August 23, 2010 — The Fire Department’s 2nd Annual Salute to Summer will be held this Saturday, the 28, at Bobber’s Grill at 1850 Scales Bend Road in North Liberty. The event starts at 11am and concludes at 11:30pm. There will be inflatable rides for the kids (11am-7pm), live music by the Cedar Island Band, a Biker Poker Run (10am-3:30pm), BINGO, pony rides, horseshoe tournament and a climbing wall. Refreshments and food will be served along with fun activities for the entire family all day.
Josh Covert, the event organizer and fellow volunteer firefighter says, “Proceeds from the event go to the Fire Department for training purposes. In the past, we bought a CPR mannequin to teach the firefighters more about saving lives. Money from Salute to Summer helped make that possible. And Salute to Summer is a nice way to wrap up the warm-weather season in a friendly, safe environment that everyone can enjoy without breaking the bank. The rain date for the event is October 9, but we’re not going to need it because the weather is going to be wonderful.”
For more information, please contact the Fire Department at (319) 626-5717 or visit http://nlfire.org.
Fairview Lane re-opening delayed
August 18, 2010 — The Fairview Lane intersection at Highway 965 will re-open on Monday, August 23. This alteration in timeline is due to rain. Find out more information at Ryan Heiar’s blog. http://bit.ly/d0doD4
Good Neighbor Meeting: Lot 14, I-380 Industrial Park subdivision on Stoner Court
August 12, 2010 — The City of North Liberty may soon consider a subdivision plat for property of Lot 14 at I-380 Industrial Park subdivision on Stoner Court. The subdivision plat being considered would divide the property into 2 lots.
This good neighbor meeting is being held to explain the potential subdivision being considered by the owner and to gather any comments you may have regarding that subdivision. No Planning Commission or City Council action has been taken, but is anticipated within the next several months.
Please note that this meeting is intended to notify you early in the process and to help the developer understand neighborhood concerns. Other formal public meetings will be held by the Planning Commission and City Council if the development applications proceed
The meetings will be held August 26 at 5:30-6pm at Council Chambers, located at 25 W. Cherry in North Liberty.
For more detailed information of this meeting, including a map of the effected area, view the August 26 Good Neighbor Meeting PDF document.
Handicap parking fines are now $200
August 6, 2010 — Fines for improper use of handicap parking are now $200 in North Liberty. This is up from $100. Businesses and developments with handicap parking signs must replace the fine indicator with a sticker available at City Hall for.50¢ each.
For questions or comments, please contact City Hall at (319) 626-5700 or email webmaster {at} northlibertyiowa(.)org
Fairview Lane closed starting Friday, August 6
August 6, 2010 — Due to road construction, Fairview Lane in North Liberty is closed starting Friday, August 6. The road will be closed from Highway 965, west to Shannon Drive. Contingent on weather, the street and intersection should reopen upon project completion on Friday, August 20. During this time, turning lanes will be added and the road will be graded in order to be level with 965.
Drivers leaving Quail Creek Plaza and Fairview Plaza can still exit on the south side of the shopping center. Those wanting to access Highway 965 can also detour to Augusta Circle to Sugar Creek Lane then turn east on Zeller. Otherwise, drivers can take Fairview to Jones and go northbound to Penn.
Ryan Heiar, the North Liberty City Administrator says, “As I am sure everyone can tell, this is a major part of the Highway 965 project, which is engineered by McClure. Later, Golfview Drive is going to be realigned with Fairview to make a clean, cross intersection with a stoplight. At this time, folks are going to see a lot of workers in neon green and yellow out there. So be sure to plan extra travel time and detour routes. I will be updating my blog on the City Web site as I get more information.”
Heiar’s blog is available at northlibertyiowa.org/category/ryan-heiar/
For comments, please contact City Hall at (319) 626-5700 or email webmaster {at} northlibertyiowa(.)org.
Highway 965 Closed Today for Five Minutes
July 27, 2010 — At approximately 2:00 p.m. today, Highway 965 will be closed at the Fairview Lane intersection in order to move a power line. The closure should last approximately five minutes and should be unnoticeable; however, we encourage drivers to take an alternate route. Again, traffic will not be able to move across the intersection during the brief closure.
West Forevergreen Road overlay begins July 19
July 16, 2010 — The West Forevergreen Road overlay project is slated to begin Monday, July 19 with base improvements. Heavier construction will start the following week, as milling will be Monday, July 26, overlay on the 27 and 28, finally the 29 will be for the remainder of project needs. Like all road projects, this timeline is contingent on weather.
This is different from the other West Forevergreen Road construction, as it is further west: Jones Boulevard to Covered Bridge Boulevard. The road will be closed from Kansas Avenue to Highway 965 the duration of the project; however residents will have access to their driveways.
City Administrator, Ryan Heiar, says, “We are making improvements to West Forevergreen, Highway 965, Scales Bend and various intersections this year. We are asking everyone to put on the brakes: go slow through construction areas, be safe and allow for extra travel time. As we have more information, I will be sure to update the blog.”
The City of North Liberty thanks you for your patience. Heiar’s blog is available at northlibertyiowa.org/category/ryan-heiar/
For comments, please contact City Hall at (319) 626-5700 or email webmaster {at} northlibertyiowa(.)org.
Road construction on Scales Bend starts July 19
July 16, 2010 — Starting Monday, July 19, construction on Scales Bend Road begins. The project starts at the corner of Highway 965 and Scales Bend Road, and then ends at Pheasant Lane. Scales Bend Road will not only have a new asphalt overlay, but will be widened by four feet, made up of two feet on each shoulder. The project is engineered by Shive Hattery and the contractor is LL Pelling.
City Administrator, Ryan Heiar, says, “Because this area is very populated, LL Pelling will not begin work on this project until 8:30a.m. each day, allowing time for the morning traffic to move through. In addition, there will always be one lane of traffic open during the project and flaggers will be on the job site. Despite that, travelers should plan for extra time when using Scales Bend the week of the 19th.”
This work will last until the overlay is completed on Thursday, July 22 – weather pending. Currently, the timeline is as follows:
July 19: excavate and widen the shoulder
July 20: remove the top layer of the road
July 21 and 22: overlay asphalt and mark edge lines
The City of North Liberty thanks you for your patience.For comments, please contact City Hall at (319) 626-5700 or email webmaster {at} northlibertyiowa(.)org.
Two Good Neighbor meetings to be held July 29
July 15, 2010 — The City of North Liberty may soon consider a rezoning for property located near the intersection of Mehaffey Bridge Road NE and West Penn Street. A rezoning is being considered to change from the current single-family zoning district to a multi-family zoning district. The other meeting regards the area near the intersection of Front Street and Sadler Lane. A rezoning is being considered to change from the current multi-family zoning district (allows more than 2 units) to a duplex zoning district (allows only 2 units).
These good neighbor meetings are being held to explain the potential rezoning being considered by owners and to gather any comments.
Both meetings will be held July 29 at Council Chambers, located at 25 W. Cherry in North Liberty. The Mehaffey Bridge Road/Penn Street meeting will be from 6-6:30pm while the Front Street/Sadler Lane meeting will be from 5:30-6pm.
For more detailed information of these meetings, including a maps of the effected areas, view the PDF document Good Neighbor Meetings on July 29 letters and maps.
Speed limit reduced during Highway 965 construction
July 13, 2010 — Starting this week, the speed limit in the construction zone of Highway 965 will be reduced to 25 miles per hour. This will continue for the duration of the project, which is slated to be completed by the end of the year.
Per state law, fines may be doubled for speeding in a construction area. City Administrator, Ryan Heiar, says, “It’s starting to come together out there: the temporary section was placed last week to ensure two lanes would remain open during construction and the widening of the road starts now. Drivers should still plan for extra travel time. We are telling everyone to be safe. As I have more information on this and other projects, I will be sure to update the blog.”
The City of North Liberty thanks you for your patience. Heiar’s blog is available at northlibertyiowa.org/category/ryan-heiar/
For comments, please contact City Hall at (319) 626-5700 or email webmaster {at} northlibertyiowa(.)org.
Street Department to pickup tree limbs from last week’s storms
From Monday, June 21 through Friday, June 25, the Street Department will be picking up tree limbs that were downed from last week’s storm. The limbs must be in sections no longer than 5 feet and by the curb. For more information, contact City Hall at 626-5700.
North Liberty Wastewater Treatment Plant featured in magazine
The Wastewater Treatment Plant of North Liberty is featured in the July 2010 of Treatment Operator Magazine. Circulation for the magazine is over 75,000 a month. Check out the article: http://www.tpomag.com/ezine/2010/07/12
Newly formed Transit Task Force accepting applications until July 15
Mission Statement:
To provide a recommendation with supporting documentation to Council within the next 8 to 10 months for the best possible transit solution meeting the following criteria:
1. Best addresses the greatest needs of the North Liberty community (who, where, what, when).
2. Provides the most cost-effective approach to providing service (best service for lowest cost).
3. Minimizes costs, not to exceed current budget; but other sources of funding should be explored and recommended.
Download the application, then submit to City Hall by July 15.
Free Fishing Event on June 5 in North Liberty
North Liberty Parks and Recreation Department along with Scheels and the Iowa DNR are partnering to have a Family Fishing Event on June 5, 2010 in conjunction with Free Fishing Weekend across Iowa.
The event will be held at Liberty Centre pond in North Liberty 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. It is open to the public and is free of charge. There will be prizes, giveaways, and stations to help families learn how to fish. The stations will include casting, fishing techniques (what bait/lure to use for what fish), live fish ID, and safety. There will be food and other activities as well.
We invite local businesses in the North Liberty area to be a part of this family event. You can show your support by donating in the following ways-
• Fishing related items (hooks, bobbers, tackle boxes, rod and reel combos, etc.)
• Outdoor related items (bag chairs, camping equipment, coolers, hats, sunscreen, bug spray, non-alcoholic beverages, etc.)
• Gift cards and coupons
• Items from your business
• Your time the day of the event
• Getting the word out about this event
In return for your donation, you would be publicized in all of our press releases and advertising venues. We would also display a banner at the event if you provided one. Please consider being a part of this family event by choosing to donate. It will be a great place to advertise and be involved in a great family outdoor activity.
We hope you will be part of this family event!
Guy Goldsmith, North Liberty Parks and Recreation
Parks Director
319/626-5720
ggoldsmith {at} ci.north-liberty.ia(.)us
Holly Schulte, Iowa DNR
Assistant Aquatic Education Coordinator
319/530-9318
holly.schulte {at} dnr.iowa(.)gov
Applicants are needed for City of North Liberty commissions
There are upcoming term expirations or existing vacancies for the City of North Liberty commissions. These boards are Planning and Zoning, Board of Adjustment, Parks and Recreation, Tree and Stormwater, Library, Telecommunications, Cemetary and Board of Appeals.
Board members with expiring terms, as well as other North Liberty residents are encouraged to apply. Applications are due at City Hall by June 7. Interviews will then be held by the mayor and/or staff liaison until the 18th with board appointments made at the June 22 Council meeting.
Appointments are typically for three year terms.
Download the application, then submit to City Hall by June 7.
West Forevergreen Road Closed Starting Monday, May 3
North Liberty, Iowa, April 29, 2010 — Starting Monday, May 3, West Forevergreen Road in North Liberty will be closed to through traffic from Highway 965 to South Jones Boulevard. This closure is due to road improvements that are being made on West Forevergreen Road. The road will be reconstructed to a 3-lane urban cross section street, including the installation of curb and gutter, storm sewer and sidewalks. Currently, West Forevergreen Road is a two lane rural cross section roadway. Plans are to have the road closed the duration of the project, which should conclude by the end of the year.
Though drivers cannot travel to or from Jones Boulevard using Forevergreen, there are many alternative detours available. For example, in order to reach Colony Campgrounds, guests can take Highway 965 to West Zeller to South Jones Boulevard then to West Forevergreen. Customers of Joyce’s Greenhouse can take South Jones Boulevard to 270th Street NE to Kansas Avenue.
City Administrator, Ryan Heiar, says, “We are working diligently to improve the roads in North Liberty. When the street projects are complete, the obtrusive offsets will be outweighed by the benefits of smooth, safe roads. ”
The project is engineered by Shive Hattery and the contractor is Metro Pavers of Iowa City. Funding for the reconstruction on West Forevergreen Road is by local generated tax dollars.
Please plan your travels accordingly and be courteous to other drivers and the workers who are completing the street projects. The City of North Liberty thanks you for your patience.
Road Construction Starting in North Liberty
North Liberty, Iowa, April 21, 2010 — In an effort to improve traffic, the City of North Liberty will be breaking ground on two major road construction projects in May: Highway 965 and West Forevergreen Road.
The plan for Highway 965 is to begin with adding signals at the intersection of Cherry Street which will be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The next part of the Highway 965 project, phase one, is funded by various sources including locally generated tax dollars and state transportation funds. Phase one tasks include adding a stoplight and realigning Golfview Drive with Fairview Lane in order to provide easier access for both streets, as well as adding a signal at Ashley Court and adding turning lanes at Lions Drive and Hawkeye Drive. The plan is to work on the two south intersections first, working on the east side of the street and progressing north, two intersections at a time; the west side intersections will be completed in reverse order.
Though normal routes to some businesses on the south end of Highway 965 will be affected, the city will provide signage and detours to these businesses to ensure consumers can still access the businesses on Highway 965. Two lanes will be open at all times during construction, but drivers should expect delays. This phase is scheduled to start this summer and conclude by the end of the year, if weather conditions are optimal.
City Administrator, Ryan Heiar, says, “Improving the streets in North Liberty is a major goal for the City Council and staff. We want these projects to be as unobtrusive as possible, while enhancing the transportation system throughout the City.”
Construction on West Forevergreen Road will begin in early May. The street will be closed until the project is complete later this year; drivers cannot travel to or from Jones Boulevard using Forevergreen. This project includes reconstruction and overlays, which are funded by local generated tax dollars.
Please plan your travels accordingly and be courteous to other drivers and the workers who are completing these important projects. The City of North Liberty thanks you for your patience. For comments, please contact City Hall at (319) 626-5700 or email webmaster@northlibertyiowa.o
Good Neighbor meeting to be held April 29
North Liberty, Iowa, April 21, 2010 — The City of North Liberty may soon consider a rezoning and subdivision plat for property located at 455 Cameron Way, Lot 6, Liberty Medical and Commerce Subdivision, and is holding an open house-style meeting with the petitioner to explain the proposal to interested parties.The meeting will be held at Council Chambers, located at 25 W. Cherry in North Liberty from 6-7:30pm. For more detailed information of this meeting, view the Notice of Good Neighbor Meeting April 29 2010; also available as PDF is the Map Handout for Good Neighbor Meeting April 29 2010.
Egg Hunt to be held at Community Center
North Liberty, Iowa, March 26, 2010 — Due to a forecast of cool and rainy weather for Saturday, March 27, the annual North Liberty Egg Hunt will be held at the Community Center gymnasiums, located at 520 W. Cherry, North Liberty. The hunt begins promptly at 10:30a.m. All candy is collected quickly, so don’t be late.
This event is co-sponsored by the North Liberty Recreation Center and the North Liberty Optimist Club. For more information, call the Recreation Center at 319-626-5716.
Google Fiber for Communities: Fiber Optic Infrastructure Grant
North Liberty, Iowa, March 17, 2010 — Google is planning to launch an experiment that will deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than most Americans have access to today, offering over 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections. Through March 26, Google is accepting applications from municipalities interested in participating in this experimental network.
The cities of Coralville, Iowa City, North Liberty, and University Heights are working with Johnson County Council of Governments and the University of Iowa to apply as the Iowa City Area Broadband Coalition.
You can help! Support the Iowa City Area Broadband Coalition! Become a Facebook fan and help our community’s joint bid for fiber optic internet to every home and business!
The coalition will submit this fan page to Google to illustrate local support for fiber Internet.
Please become a Facebook fan and visit our webpage at http://www.icabc.org, AND talk it up on Facebook and Twitter.
Several Roads Embargoed in North Liberty
March 16, 2010 — The City of North Liberty has placed a five ton embargo on Forevergreen Road from Jones to Covered Bridge Boulevard, as well as West Penn Street from Herky to James Avenue and all of Jones Boulevard and St. Andrews Drive/270th. This embargo is effective immediately and lasts until further notice. Trucks above this weight limit found driving on the road can be fined for violating the embargo. Thank you for your cooperation.
A PDF map of the embargoed streets can be found at Embargos 2010. For more information, please contact City Hall at (319) 626-5700.
Think Spring
February 26, 2010 — With Spring thaw right around the corner, City Staff encourages residents to be prepared for Spring yard work. Property owners who have a backyard, fenced or not fenced, that has a street along it are responsible for care of the right of way between the fence and the street. This includes snow removal from sidewalks and mowing. The city does have a weed ordinance that limits the height of grass on all properties in the City. If you see areas of concern, please contact City Hall for assistance.
Spring also means pets and children finally getting back outside. The City encourages you to be cautious of children in neighborhoods.
For pet owners, there is a leash law that requires all animals be controlled on a leash at all times! Be a responsible pet owner. Keep them leashed and clean up their messes.
Snow Emergency for City of North Liberty through Wednesday at 1pm
February 8, 2010 — The City of North Liberty is under a snow emergency. This emergency is in effect until Wednesday, February 10 at 1pm. If changes are made to this emergency, information will be posted on this Web site. Additionally, snow emergencies are automatically declared when accumulation is two inches or more. Parking on streets is not permitted until the snow emergency has been lifted. No on-street parking during snow emergencies ensures streets are clear for effective snow removal and other road maintenance.
Any vehicles in violation of the ordinance may be ticketed and towed without notice. Each 12-hour period that a vehicle is parked or remains on any street in violation of this ordinance constitutes a separate and distinct offense.
For more information about the snow emergency ordinance or parking, please contact City Hall at (319) 626-5700.
North Liberty Community Super Bowl Party and Potluck
January 28, 2010 – For families who want to watch the Super Bowl without the hassle of organizing a party or meeting in a small living room, North Liberty is offering an enticing viewing alternative: see the game at the North Liberty Community Center on the big screen – for free.
The sixth annual North Liberty Community Super Bowl Party will be on Sunday, February 7, starting at 5:00 p.m. The event is held in the Gerdin Conference Center of the Community Center at 520 W. Cherry Street.
Guests are encouraged to bring a covered dish to share for a city-wide potluck. Plus, there will be free popcorn, as well as games for kids and great door prizes. This event is fun for all ages, but kids under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.
This non-alcoholic party will feature floor to ceiling projections of the game. So, everyone can cheer for the Colts or Saints!
This event is sponsored by Rage Grafix, who is donating custom-printed event T-shirts for attendees, with support from AlphaGraphics; Corridor Coffee; Country Inn/AmericInn; Dairy Queen; Hills Bank; Genesis Church; Kratz Massage; Liberty Bank; MidWestOne; Pizza Ranch; Red’s Alehouse; Sleep Inn and Suites; UI Community Credit Union; US Bank; and Zio Johno’s.
For more information, please email ccaplinger {at} ci.north-liberty.ia(.)us.
North Liberty Community Center Closing Early Due to Inclement Weather
All afternoon classes and meetings in the Community Center have been canceled
North Liberty, Iowa, January 20, 2010 — The North Liberty Community Center, which includes Library, Telecommunications and Recreation Departments, will close today at 3 p.m. due to inclement weather. All evening activities such as meetings and classes at the center are canceled, including the Joint Government meeting which was scheduled to start at 4 p.m. This meeting was to consist of members from North Liberty, Iowa City and Coralville city councils and administration, as well as school board members from the Iowa City Community School District.
Additionally, the North Liberty Aquatic Center will close at 12 p.m. today. All swimming lessons are canceled. Please call the library at 626-5701 or the Recreation Center at 626-5716 with questions.
North Liberty to move City Hall
City Hall will close for one day (Jan 22) to accommodate the move into a larger space.
North Liberty, Iowa, January 11, 2010 — North Liberty’s City Hall will open in a new location, 3 Quail Creek Circle, on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. The new facility is located on the west side of Highway 965 in North Liberty near Gasby’s, Thrivent Financial and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. To accommodate the move, City Hall’s last day of business at its current location, 5 E. Cherry St., is scheduled to be Thursday, Jan.21.
“Our goal is to make this move as seamless as possible for residents,” City Administrator Ryan Heiar said. Residents will continue to be able to make water payments in a drop box at the Cherry Street building or online. A payment drop box will be added to the Quail Creek Circle location following the move.
The new, larger office space will accommodate the growing building, planning and administrative staff of the City of North Liberty. After the move, City Hall will still be available by phone at (319) 626‐5700, and city staff will be available at their previous extensions. City Hall will continue to be open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at its new location.
Once City Hall has moved, the Cherry Street building will be remodeled to house the city’s police department. The City Council Chambers will remain located at 25 W. Cherry St.
Snow Emergency for City of North Liberty through Friday at 6pm
North Liberty, Iowa, January 7, 2010 — The City of North Liberty is under a snow emergency. This emergency is in effect until Friday, January 8 at 6pm. If changes are made to this emergency, information will be posted on this site. Additionally, snow emergencies are automatically declared when accumulation is two inches or more. Parking on streets is not permitted until the snow emergency has been lifted. No on-street parking during snow emergencies ensures streets are clear for effective snow removal and other road maintenance.
Any vehicles in violation of the ordinance may be ticketed and towed without notice. Each 12-hour period that a vehicle is parked or remains on any street in violation of this ordinance constitutes a separate and distinct offense.
For more information about the snow emergency ordinance or parking, please contact City Hall at (319) 626-5700.
Holiday Hours
December, 2009 — The following are holiday hours for city offices, library and Recreation Center:
Christmas – City offices including the library will be closed on Thursday, December 24 and Friday, December 25.
New Years – City offices including the library will be closed on Thursday, December 31 and Friday, January 1.
The Recreation Center will be closed December 24 and 25 and have limited hours on Thursday, December 31 (8am – 6pm). The Recreation Center will also be closed on Friday, January 1.
Christmas Tree Pickup
December, 2009 — Christmas trees will be picked up curbside the first two Wednesdays after Christmas, December 30 and January 6. Trees must be bare of all decorations or flocking. DO NOT PLACE TREES IN PLASTIC BAGS. Please have trees at the curb by 7AM.
Census 2010
December, 2009 — April 1, 2010 marks Census Day 2010. The City of North Liberty is seeking volunteers to be appointed to the Complete Count Committee. This team’s primary focus is to promote the 2010 Census in a particular community and to ensure that every resident in that area is counted. Volunteers will be asked to provide input on how to best ensure that all residents of North Liberty return their survey forms. This committee will meet regularly from January through April and will put together community messages and events to get the public excited and involved in the Census 2010 process. Contact Tracey Mulcahey at 626-5700 or tmulcahey {at} ci.north-liberty.ia(.)us for more information or to apply.
Leaf Pickup Rescheduled for November 5 and 6
November 2, 2009 — Leaf pickup has been rescheduled this week due to equipment maintenance. The City will pick up leaves that property owners have raked to the curb on Thursday, November 5, 2009 or Friday, November 6, 2009.
Open burning of leaves and yard waste is not permitted in North Liberty. For safety reasons, no leaves should be placed in the street. Leaves should be piled within two feet of the curb or edge of road: the vacuum hose can only reach that far. Do not bag leaves, the vacuum cannot pick up bags.
No sticks or branches should be mixed with the leaves. The vacuum hose cannot accommodate sticks and branches. Brush or garden waste may be bundled for pickup on your regular trash day. Two bundles will be picked up at no charge. Bundles should be no more than four feet in length and weigh no more than 40 pounds.
Again, leaves will be picked up curbside on November 5 or 6. These are the last days for scheduled leaf removal until spring. Residents should rake their leaves to the edge of the curb, not on the street, for pickup by 7:00 AM.
Contact City Hall at 626-5700 with Leaf Pickup questions.
North Liberty Community Fund announces grant opportunity
October 23, 2009 — The North Liberty Community Fund, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Johnson County, announces that $2,500 is available to be granted for North Liberty projects and programs. In order to reach a greater spectrum of community needs, five $500 grants will be awarded. Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations may obtain application forms and submit completed forms to Dennis Tallman at AlphaGraphics, 720 Pacha Parkway, North Liberty, Iowa, by November 13, 2009. Funds will be distributed in January 2010.
Expect delays on North Front Street and South Dubuque starting October 22
October 20, 2009 — Beginning Thursday, October 22 and continuing through Friday, October 30, motorists can expect possible delays at North Front Street between Cherry and Penn, as well as South Dubuque south of Zeller to the North Liberty city limits.
Weather permitting, workers will be milling and resurfacing asphalt at both locations. At times, Front Street and Dubuque traffic may be limited to one lane. Work may occur during high-traffic times.
Please plan your travels accordingly and be courteous to other drivers and the workers who are completing this important project. The City of North Liberty thanks you for your patience.
If there are alterations to this plan, more details will be available at this Web site.
For comments, please contact City Hall at (319) 626-5700.
Iowa City / Coralville / North Liberty named Iowa Great Place
October 2, 2009 — The Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau along with the City’s of Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, and University of Iowa are pleased to announce their selection as an Iowa Great Place. The CVB, in collaboration with the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program began an application process in March of 2009 that culminated this past Tuesday morning with a presentation and tour in downtown Iowa City. Organizers were officially notified of their selection yesterday afternoon.
Why this Community?
A bold assertion: Pound for pound, this area constitutes the most literate community in the world. Here are some reasons for accepting such a seemingly extravagant claim.
Last November, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named Iowa City an official “City of Literature,” an honor only two other cities in the world—Edinburgh, Scotland and Melbourne, Australia—have received. The designation provides additional international luster to the community and serve to validate the area’s long history of nurturing the literary arts and those who appreciate them.
For some 70 years, the University of Iowa has maintained the world’s foremost program in creative writing—the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. For the last four decades, the Workshop’s companion organization, the International Writing Program, has attracted authors from around the globe to participate in its revolving residency program. As a consequence, the area enjoys a longstanding, international reputation as a center for literary creation that is much out of scale with its population. Workshop alumni have won 12 Pulitzer Prizes for Literature and four alumni have served as U.S. Poet Laureate. The Iowa City/Coralville/North Liberty community boasts 13 museums, 10 literary presses, nine programs offering regularly scheduled readings, at least five writing outreach programs, and six community and professional theater companies, including Riverside Theater’s yearly Shakespeare Festival. National and local artists perform at Hancher Auditorium, Englert Theatre and soon at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. By one estimate, there are 300 places to buy a book in the area.
Our community enjoys a global reputation in educational publishing and the preparation of educational materials and is acknowledged as a center for research on literacy—in part because of the early work of the founders of Iowa Language & Literacy Institute. Both the University and the State of Iowa have shown their commitment to education, literature and literacy by helping to establish and sustain these organizations. All of which is to say that the area already has the literary credibility and community base requisite to success. Still, the area is small enough to assure that the UNESCO/Iowa Great Places designation and opportunities afforded therein will become and remain a civic priority.
About Iowa Great Places…
Created in 2005, Iowa Great Places is a program designed to promote bold thought, innovation, and entrepreneurship at the local and regional level in Iowa. Places – neighborhoods, cities, counties, or regions – engage in an inclusive strategic planning process to assess their strengths and areas of opportunity, create a vision for augmenting their unique attributes and quality of life, and design a roadmap to turn that vision into realty. State agency coaches are available to assist Places in their planning process and conferences are held throughout the year on topics such as grant writing and community development.
Once a Place has engaged in this process and has created a feasible and sustainable plan, the Place can invite the State to formally designate it a “Great Place” through a proposal submission process. The proposal must address the 7 dimensions of a Great Place, prove that there is a broad base of support for the plan, and demonstrate that the Place is ready to move forward with implementation. Based on these submissions, a coalition of State agency partners and the Great Places Citizens Advisory Board chooses Finalists. The Board then embarks on a bus tour of each Finalist, after which the designees are chosen.
For more information on Iowa Great Places, please visit: http://www.iowagreatplaces.gov/
North Liberty Development will host a breakfast get-together for North Liberty businesses
September 24, 2009 — In an effort to foster the city’s growing business community, North Liberty Development, a not-for-profit group of business owners and advocates, is hosting a business mixer. The event will take place over breakfast on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009, from 7:30 to 9 a.m., at Ms. Susan’s Catering and Reception Hall, 1215 Jordan St. in North Liberty.
At the event, local business people and city leaders will have the opportunity to mingle, network and meet one-on-one in a relaxed setting. The group asks that attendees consider a small monetary donation to help defray the event’s costs.
This is the second such event the group has hosted. Its spring breakfast was a rousing success attended by a wide array of business community members. At this October event, the group plans to unveil its community-wide business listings database.
Those wanting to attend can RSVP by Friday, Oct. 16, to Nick Bergus, at nbergus {at} ci.north-liberty.ia(.)us or (319) 626-5756, with their contact information so a guest list can be distributed to attendees prior to the event. Space will be available for small promotional displays.
North Liberty Development’s board touts membership with more than 80 years of combined local business experience in a variety of sectors. The group’s mission is to enhance the economic vitality of North Liberty by attracting quality industrial and commercial growth. Each of our members provides a different area of expertise and all are available to consult with you on the prospect of locating in North Liberty.
Public Hearing regarding both Parks and Trails Plans at September 8 City Council Meeting.
August 28, 2009 — A public hearing will be held regarding both the Parks Plan and Trails Plan at the next North Liberty City Council meeting on September 8. Interested citizens are encouraged to attend the 7 p.m. meeting to discuss the plans. Though the Parks Plan was on the August 25 agenda, Council opted to table the subject until further public input could be compiled. If approved, both the Parks Plan and Trails Plan would become fluid documents which may need to be updated on a relatively short time frame if the pace of city population and development continues.
Both the Parks Plan and Trails Plan are intended to document realistic analyses of existing parks, and trails, undeveloped areas planned for park or trail development, the need for additional space, and potential means of acquisition and development. Their intended use is to guide continuing park and trail development in the city.
These plans were composed after the North Liberty Comprehensive Plan was adopted and Parks Plan Steering Committee was formed. The Parks Plan noted input from the community as being a major source for information. Issues addressed in the Trails Plan include sidewalk and trail width, maintenance and construction, as well as bike lane markings on streets. The plan also distinguishes sidewalks from trails, as well as upkeep responsibilities of residents and Parks Department.
Hard copies of the Parks Plan, as well as the Trails Plan, are available for viewing at City Hall and Library. Click here download the Parks Plan; click here to download the trails plan. For more information, please contact City Hall at (319) 626-5700.
The City of North Liberty will hold elections for Mayor and Councilors November 3.
August 11, 2009 — Current terms for North Liberty Councilors Gerry Kuhl and James Wozniak, as well as Mayor Tom Salm, will end December 31, 2009. Therefore, elections will be held this November 3 to fill vacancies for the two City Councilors and Mayor. Voters cast their vote for all Council positions on the ballot, as the positions are at-large and non-partisan. Both Councilors and Mayor are elected for four year terms. Those interested in running for office should file a petition with the City Clerk. In order to qualify for candidacy, elected officers of the City must be residents of North Liberty. Additionally, members of the Council must be eligible voters per State Code.
Petitions for candidates are now available at City Hall and the Web Site. A petition with at least twenty-five (25) signatures of eligible voters is required to be filed with the City Clerk between August 24 and September 17. Petitions are also available on the Secretary of State’s Web Site, www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/electioninfo/cityelections.html. All candidates submitting a petition are on the ballot.
The City Council meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 7PM, with the possibility of a work session on the third Tuesday. Duration of meetings vary from one to three hours depending on the amount of business. Other special meetings are called as needed.
For more information, please contact City Hall at (319) 626-5700.
