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Home>City News
2008
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 click here to email the webmaster.New City Update
Here is the latest in the City Update series created by NLTV.
ACH Available for Water/Sewer Payments
City utility customers may pay their monthly bill via an automatic withdrawal from their bank account (ACH). Sign up at City Hall between 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. Please bring a copy of a check or deposit form for the routing number.
Soon the City will begin offering the capability to pay a utility bill online through the City’s website. More information to come soon!Halloween
Trick or Treat in North Liberty will be observed on Friday, October 31, 2008, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Beggars should only knock on doors that have their outdoor light on.
Fall Leaf Pick Up
Open burning of leaves and yard waste is not permitted in North Liberty. The City will pick up leaves that property owners have raked to the curb on the dates listed below:
October 6
October 13
October 20
October 27
November 3
November 10
November 17For 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 pickup bags.No sticks and 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 each week. Bundles should be no more than four feet in length and weigh no more than 40 pounds.
Pickup schedule:
Leaves must be between the sidewalk and curb or within 2 feet of the edge of the street by 7:00 a.m. on the Mondays listed above. Each Monday morning, the public works staff will begin picking up leaves at 7:00 a.m. until all the streets have been checked one time. They will then stop until the next Monday morning.PREPARATION FOR WINTER
SNOW EMERGENCIES AND PARKING
As a result of the especially harsh 2007-08 winter, staff has reviewed the City’s policies relating to snow and winter weather. Council is considering an ordinance for the third time on September 23 that will authorize an automatic snow emergency after two inches of snow. When a snow emergency is declared, ALL vehicles need to be removed from the street until the emergency is lifted to allow snow plows to clear the streets. When a vehicle is left on the street, plows have a tough time negotiating the street. If the vehicle is moved after the snowfall, the leftover snow/ice leaves frozen mounds that are hard on cars and impossible to remove until the Spring thaw. Vehicles that are left remaining on the street will be ticketed. If not removed after ticketing, vehicles will be towed. Notice will be provided to all media outlets including the city website, northlibertyiowa.org; NLTV, and a press release to other television stations, radio stations, and newspapers. The full text of this ordinance is available at City Hall. Residents are encouraged to cooperate as much as possible to make the winter a success for plow drivers and residents. If you have thoughts, concerns, or issues, please do not hesitate to contact City Hall for assistance.New School Zone
School is open. Please drive carefully. A new school speed zone has been established on Saint Andrews Drive for North Bend Elementary. The speed limit in that zone, as well as in the school zones on Dubuque and Front Streets, is 20 mph from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.Annual North Liberty Fun Run/Walk - September 21
The North Liberty Chamber Committee of the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce is in the process of organizing their annual Fun Run/Walk to be held on Sunday, September 21 at 9:00 a.m. From the starting point at the North Liberty Community Center, the race will head east on Cherry Street to Front Street, south on Front to Forevergreen Road, west on Forevergreen Road to the trail and then north on the trail to the Community Center.Join this run or walk for fun and fitness! All ages and ability levels welcome. Hosted by the North Liberty Committee of the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce. Registration forms available online and at the NL Community Center and local banks. Sponsors include: Mercy Iowa City, MercyCare, Progressive Rehab Associates. For more information contact Kelly at 337-9637. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The fee is $10 for registration before September 8. (Includes one t-shirt) Registration after Sept. 8 is $15 (t-shirt not guaranteed). Children 12 and younger are free but must be accompanied by adult.
Parking Updates
On August 12, 2008, the City Council enacted an ordinance prohibiting parking on both sides of Devmont Court.Council is considering another ordinance regarding parking that will limit truck parking on streets, increase fees for parking tickets, and update the procedure for the City to impound improperly parked or abandoned vehicles.
The full text of the ordinances is available at City Hall, 5 E. Cherry Street.
Winter Weather and the Lack of Salt Supply
The City is currently facing a shortage of road salt for the winter. Last winter, the City used 250 tons of salt in a four to one mix with sand on our city streets. So far this year, the City has a limited salt supply, 20 tons, for the upcoming winter. Our supplier informed us that they may not be able to provide us any salt for this winter due to a nationwide shortage. As a result, our staff has contacted at least twenty-five other salt providers only to be told that if we were not a customer last year, they will not be able to serve us this year. The price of salt from vendors that may allow us to purchase from them has increased four times from last year.We are doing everything in our power, and thinking as creatively as possible, but want residents to be aware and prepared for us to not have enough salt to deal with icy conditions this winter. We have lots of sand which helps with traction, but without salt, the streets will not be easy to clear. Salt reduces the temperature that ice and snow melt at. With salt and a bit of sunshine, streets can usually be cleared. Without salt, ice is likely to remain until we get a defrosting set of temperatures that will allow for natural melting. Motorists are encouraged to watch their speeds, travel with caution and understand that road conditions may not be to the quality that we have had in the past with the amount of chemicals we had available.
If you have suggestions, staff will be happy to entertain them! Please make sure that they are viable and reasonable. Call Tracey at 626-5700.
Caught in the Act
City staff works hard to ensure that citizens’ needs are being met. City administration challenges the citizens of North Liberty to report a city staff person doing something good! If you catch them in the act of doing their job well or going above and beyond, report it to Tracey Mulcahey at 626-5700. Tracey will make sure that their good deed will not go unnoticed and unappreciated.Statewide smoking ban now in effect
Effective July 1, smoking is now prohibited in all enclosed public places (with the very few exceptions of designated casino floors and some hotel rooms). Smoking is also prohibited around public buildings and in or near park shelters and structures, including parking lots. Please respect posted no-smoking areas in North Liberty and see www.iowasmokefreeair.gov for more information.Farmers' Market Sundays through October 2008
North Liberty hosts a Farmers' Market on Sundays from 1:00 to 4:00pm in the rear Community Center parking lot. The market will feature area vendors of meat, producer, herbs, jewelry and more! If you are interested in vending, please contact Matt Meseck at the Rec Center at 626-5716 / mmeseck@ci.north-liberty.ia.us or Tracey Mulcahey at 626-5700 / tmulcahey@ci.north-liberty.ia.us.