OTTUMWA —
The City Council came to a decision to form a Trees Forever committee, which will consist of local volunteers and city staff.
A Trees Forever community affiliate program will have to be established through the organization, which will liaise through the Parks Department.
“It has a lot of resources we can draw on,” said Parks Director Gene Rathje at Monday night’s work session.
There are currently 31 Trees Forever community affiliate programs throughout Iowa.
The councilmen and mayor differed as to how exactly the committee would function and what its relationship with city staff would be, though they came to an understanding in the end.
“I look at the committee not as an actual governmental committee like the Parks and Ottumwa Transit boards,” said Councilman Brian Morgan.
Councilman Jeremy Weller compared the Trees Forever committee to a fiber optics committee that had branched out from the Economic Development Board. The committee was disbanded after its plan was created and presented to the board.
The council also approved Operation ReLeaf, which will begin this spring.
Operation ReLeaf is a program through Alliant Energy that allows private property owners the opportunity to purchase one or two trees annually for $25 per tree.
The program is on a first-come first-serve basis, Councilman Mitch Niner noted. And property owners may not get the tree species they want, Rathje said, due to how many are available statewide.
The trees may only be planted on private property and not in the right-of-way.
The council voted 2-3, not approving a response letter to River Hills Community Health Center’s request for a sewer extension outside city limits.
River Hills is currently considering two properties for its move and expansion, one in city limits on Hutchinson Avenue and one outside. They are still negotiating on both properties, said River Hills CEO Rick Johnson,
“I don’t know if the other preferred location will be able to be secured in a timely fashion for our construction schedule for next year,” Johnson said.
Johnson asked the council if River Hills would be able to hook up to city sewers if they were to go with the Hutchinson Avenue property.
While Councilman Bob Meyers had concerns about a lack of access to River Hills for those who ride city buses, Johnson said that shouldn’t be a problem since less than 5 percent of their patients ride city buses.
“We did not want to get too far out on the edge of town, but the advantages of being closer to the medical community far outweigh other considerations,” Johnson said.
City Administrator Joe Helfenberger said River Hills would have to pay 125 percent of normal sewer rates if they go outside city limits but want to connect to the city sewer system.
“The issue I’ve got is we really need to know this week whether the city will allow us to hook up if we eventually purchase that property,” Johnson said. “If you don’t allow us to do it, it makes that property pretty much useless.”
Johnson said it’s not in River Hills’ best interest to stay downtown because it’s isolated from the medical community.
“By us being isolated and stuck downtown for the last 12 years, it has not done a lot to enhance our referral system and our relationship with medical players in the community,” Johnson said.
With a new, expanded facility, Johnson said River Hills should be able to add 25 to 30 employees over four to five years.
“It’s not our place to say you can’t go,” Morgan said.
The council also designated Helfenberger as Mayor Frank Flanders’ designee at Blue Zones meetings and events since Flanders is unable to attend due to his full-time job.
Local News
Council comes together on tree solution
River Hills’ request for sewer extension divides council
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