Successful Clean-Up & Earth Day Celebration
Thank you to the 100+ hours that have been given to our community for spring clean-up efforts. The Lions Club clean-up earlier this month, and the MCD Earth Day clean-up has really started to move the Community Beautification project forward. Also, thanks out to Bob Albin for constructing and replacing lids on all of our trash receptacles downtown. As a courtesy to our community and for extra sparkle, the city has been encouraged to begin providing a once a year power wash to the downtown streetscape. So, what’s next? Save the date for Friday & Saturday, June 1st & 2nd. These two days have been set aside for Plant Up! Master Gardeners, green thumbs of all ages, organizations, and families are all encouraged to come out and be a part of our next effort. Many folks need to complete a number of volunteer hours in their communities for confirmation, scouts, 4-H, Master Gardener requirements, and more. We are working with ISU Extension to bring a Master Gardener workshop to Montezuma to build and sustain this effort year after year. Hope to see you there!
MCD & City Meets with Housing Development Consultants
On Tuesday, April 24th, final recommendations
were given by the city and local utilities for MMS Consultants of Iowa City to
bring to the table a completed plan for the south housing development. MMS said the plan would be ready to present
to the city council within the month. If
approved, the city will then need to decide how a portion of the infrastructure
will be paid for. MCD is working on behalf
of the community to ensure this lengthy process does not stretch toward the
fall and winter months. We will keep you
updated on progress and city council dialogue.
Director’s Quill
The 2012 MCD Strategic Plan has been set in motion. Our board of directors met last Monday night
to preview the direction that I have suggested.
Much of the content is based on community focus groups, public forums
and the Monte 2020 survey that have led us to this place. We are grateful for all the hard work in this
community, and now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. A number of public forums and opportunities
for community input are planned along the way, including several over the summer. I won’t be verbose in my column this week,
but encourage you to click on the following link to view the plan:
Terence Blain, MCD
Director
Community Transformation Grant
Montezuma will begin participating in a CDC grant program facilitated
by the Iowa Department of Public Health.
The program has several areas that promote health and wellness,
including help with chronic disease self-management, workplace wellness
initiatives, promoting localized efforts with Live Healthy Iowa, creating
better community access to healthy living, preventative services, and public
awareness for better health. Montezuma will receive a Community Health
Assessment and Group Evaluation next month.
The scores received in several categories will assist the CTG
administrator in finding resources that will positively benefit Montezuma’s overall
health. The assessment will look at
demographics, access to physical activity and recreation, nutrition and healthy
menu choices at restaurants and in the workplace, tobacco cessation and
adherence to smoke-free policies, chronic disease management, and leadership
and public (city) support for healthy living.
MCD will share the results of the evaluation with the community in the
coming weeks.
Interested in Downtown
Revitalization?
Find out next steps for community participation on downtown improvements:
Tuesday, May 8th Offered at TWO different times:
12-1 p.m. OR 6 p.m.
Montezuma Public Library Community Room
