An Invitation from the Mayor
Many efforts are beginning to take shape in the Montezuma community, having the potential to propel us towards a brighter future. The work to bring community beautification to our downtown corridor to help Keep Iowa Beautiful is just a start, and offers much-needed life back to the core of Montezuma. Other downtown revitalization discussions are also taking place through the efforts of Montezuma Community Development.
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy our downtown and to be a part of the special events and activities that many of our community volunteers work so hard to deliver. June begins our Summer Nights series, followed by our annual Let Freedom Ring Celebration, and moving through to August, which has been designated as Downtown Month in the State of Iowa. This is also a great time to get acquainted with our small business community and welcome many new faces to our downtown landscape.
I invite you to be involved and to participate in the good things coming our way. Enjoy the sounds of the carillon, admire the architecture of our historic buildings, shop in our stores, and appreciate what we have to offer in Montezuma.
James M. Hicks, Mayor
City of Montezuma
Upcoming Dates
- MCD Board Meeting, Wednesday, May 30th at 6:00 p.m.
- Plant Up! Community Planting Event, Friday, June 1st from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday, June 2nd from 9 a.m. to Noon, Bring work gloves & meet on the square.
- Downtown Revitalization Meeting, Tuesday, June 5th @ 6:30 p.m., Montezuma City Hall, Open to the Public.
- Downtown Revitalization Meeting, Sunday, June 17th @ 6:30 p.m., Montezuma Public Library, Open to the Public.
comprehensive listing of all upcoming community events.
Shannon McNaul of Galaxy has been working with the city in an advisory capacity, and recently presented a financial feasibility report to indicate what is needed to cash flow a daycare program here. As a result, the city is working with an architect to maximize the floor plan of the building that has been selected so that 44 children can be served. Also before moving forward, the city and MCD want to be certain our local licensed home daycare providers feel the need to augment services here and have an opportunity to voice any challenges they face as daycare operators in Montezuma. The cost of opening a community daycare facility and program, including two years of operating subsidies, could escalate in excess of $500,000. A USDA community development loan and public-private investment are the only sources of funding under consideration at this time. In the future, it is possible that the center may be eligible for CDBG funds. The city council is committed, but still considering the direction of this project. And they will need to determine their level of involvement going forward. It is possible that an outside organization will adopt the project, but that decision is not expected until more information can be gathered.
Director’s Quill
Several weeks ago I noted that Montezuma would be
participating in a health assessment and group wellness evaluation through the
Community Transformation Grant sponsored by the Iowa Department of Public
Health and the CDC. The evaluation is
complete and the scores indicate a deep need for improvement in several areas
of community policy and environment. The
areas scored were based on community at-large access to physical activity, better
nutrition, tobacco cessation, chronic disease management, and overall
leadership in the community to encourage healthier living. Several steps in each area will be taken in
the coming months to address our deficiencies and improve local access to services
and programs available and paid for by the grant program. I will briefly outline the plan and
communicate better timelines once those are in place.Physical Activity
- Replace aging bike racks throughout the community, three per year over five years
- Encourage bike-ability on designated road paths and shoulders with lines and signage
- Marketing for local farmers’ market programs and locally
produced foods
- Marketing for local restaurants to participate in healthy
choice menu enhancements
- Assistance to encourage restaurants to use of trans-fat free oils for cooking
- Smoke-free signage available for multi-unit dwellings and
public buildings
- Local advertising to provide a referral system for tobacco cessation
- Two, 6-Week Courses “Better Choices, Better Health” offered in Montezuma in 2013
- Address the city’s operating budget to make physical
activity a priority
- Finance pedestrian enhancements (sidewalks and street
crossings)
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have a specific question about this grant, or a suggestion on how to utilize the available funds. Hopefully you have all challenged yourselves this week to be more physically active. It has been bike-to-work week in Iowa all week, just a small part of Iowa’s five-year healthiest state initiative. If you forgot to participate, or like me your bike is still in storage – walk to work, or take a stroll along one of our beautiful recreational trails at Diamond Lake Park, or start your training now for the Firecracker 5K/10K Walk-Run on June 30th. Take it a step further and skip the fries and replace them with a side salad, order a small instead of a large, or ask your local restaurant if they are or would consider using trans-fat free cooking oil. The restaurant cost is around 30% more than traditional hydrogenated cooking oil, but that translates to only pennies per customer. Have a healthier week!
Terence Blain, MCD
Director
Help Wanted!! Montezuma Public Library
Volunteer
position needed for each Wednesday approximately
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Stop by the library for more information.
Paid temporary
part-time library assistant. 1 day
per week and fill in as needed. Computer
skills and people skills a plus.
Available immediately.
Paid Permanent
part-time library assistant. 3 days
per week and every other Saturday morning.
Also fill in as needed. Must have
excellent computer and people skills.
Position available in June.
Call Temp Associates in Grinnell
to set up an appointment for an interview:
641-236-9220
