Users of the Humanity House Community Garden will once again be treated to free water for the 2018 growing season.
Iola City Council members approved, 7-0, Monday a request from Humanity House Director Tracy Keagle to forgive the first $1,000 worth of water used at the garden.
Council members noted the water bill for the gardening season averages about $900.
The gift comes with a few strings attached, including that users help maintain the garden in terms of pulling weeds, mowing the grass and helping it keep a neat appearance. Other community service tasks can include picking up litter along the city’s trails.
Humanity House, which is taking over the garden from Elm Creek Community Garden, is an organization dedicated to assisting families in need.
Typically, those who receive some form of aid are asked to either “pay it back or pay it forward,” Keagle said.
For example, Humanity House gave more than 50 bicycles to area children, who are responsible for volunteering somewhere in the community for a few hours.
Keagle agreed to monitor the volunteer hours to ensure the recipients are keeping up their part of the bargain.
The $1,000 will come from the Council’s discretionary fund set up to assist non-profit organizations. The city budgets $2,500 annually for such matters.
The water request came moments after Council members agreed to donate $325 to Court Appointed Special Advocates of the 31st Judicial District, which will host the fundraiser “Bright Lights Big Hearts” recital Saturday at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center.
The $325 will go toward rental expenses, said Ashley Varner, a CASA worker.
Because the recital attracts out-of-town visitors, Councilwoman Nancy Ford encouraged CASA to approach the city’s Convention and Tourism Board for assistance for future years.
The convention and tourism funding is generated through excise taxes assessed at local hotels.
COUNCIL members voted, 7-0, Bob Shaughnessy was absent, to work with Citycode Financial LLC, Wichita, to better view and work with all city codes online.
The codes will be available on Citycode’s online library, City Administrator Sid Fleming explained, and accessible from the cityofiola.com website.
The new online version will provide a better and more user-friendly interface than the old PDF version, Fleming sad.
Citycode will update the online version if the Council approves new ordinances.
A HOUSE that has been vacant since the 2007 flood will soon become city property and demolished.
Council members agreed to accept the deed from Stephen and Jeannie Weide to 124 Bruner St., one of the few houses still standing in Davis Addition.
The Weides had hoped to eventually refurbish the home, but were unable to do so because much of the property lies in a flood zone.
The property lies next to the city’s soccer fields north of Riverside Park.
Assistant City Administrator Corey Schinstock said the city had no immediate plans for the property once it’s cleared.
A NEW agreement between the city and the Small Business Development Center will ensure a greater SBDC presence in Iola.
The city will pay SBDC $5,000 out of its Industrial Fund line item geared toward economic development activities.
In exchange, SBDC officials will make regular stops in Iola — perhaps twice a week — to assist business owners or otherwise facilitate economic growth locally.
Thrive Allen County has offered space for an SBDC office from which to work as well.
The Small Business Development Center operates out of Pittsburg State University and relies on a mixture of federal and state funding.
IOLA’S drinking water has been rated the best-tasting water in the state.
Lester Estelle of the Kansas Section of the American Water Works Association was on hand at Monday’s meeting to present a plaque to Water Treatment Superintendent Toby Ross and the other water plant employees.
For winning the state contest late last year, Iola is eligible to compete at the National AWWA best-tasting water contest in Las Vegas.
COUNCIL members approved the hiring of Bradly Vyhlidal and Jordan Drybread for the Fire/EMS Department, and accepted the resignation of firefighter Bryan Braden.
