Courier News

Courtesy of the 1/23/13 edition of the Ida County Courier, www.idacountycourier.com

Resolve to attend your local council, board meetings
 - by DEB LOGER

Open meeting laws have been in existence in Iowa since the mid-1960s. The need for this legislation came about when Iowa legislators were told local officials were closing government meetings and not allowing the public to attend.

Iowa’s open meeting law can be found in Chapter 21 of the Iowa Code. Information found in Chapter 21 includes what is considered a meeting; guidelines for notifying the public of meeting dates and times; and rules for closed sessions.

Governmental agencies are considered to be meeting when a majority of its members talk about or act on matters that are within the scope of the agency’s policy-making duties, according to Chapter 21.  Governmental agencies must notify the public at least 24 hours before meeting and meetings are to be held in open session, minutes are to be kept and are also public record.  Closed sessions are only allowed for 10 specific purposes and must be approved by at least a two-thirds vote. Detailed minutes must be kept and any action must be taken during an open session.

Following is a list of meeting times for area governmental agencies and other community organizations. If you want to know what’s happening in your community, school or county, get involved and attend a meeting.

Odebolt City Council: Meets the first Monday of each month at 7 p. m. at city hall.

Odebolt-Arthur and Battle Creek-Ida Grove School Board: Meets jointly the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p. m. alternating between the superintendent’s of ice in Ida Grove and the conference room in Odebolt.

O-A/BC-IG Athletic Boosters: Meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p. m. in the high school resource room.

O-A/BC-IG Music Boosters: Meets on call of the chairman.

Odebolt Betterment Committee: Meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p. m. at city hall.

Odebolt Community Center: Meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p. m. at the community center.

Odebolt Development Corporation: Meets monthly on various dates and times.

Odebolt Fire Department: Business meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at 7 p. m. at the fire station. Training sessions follow the business meeting.

Odebolt Museum Board: Meets the fourth Wednesday in February, May, August and November at 7 p. m. at the museum.

Odebolt Public Library Board: Meets the second Monday of each month at 5 p. m. at the library.

Odebolt Recreation Committee: Meets as needed.

Sac County Ambulance Services (including the Odebolt unit): Meets the first Wednesday of each month for training from 7 to 10 p. m. at various sites throughout the county.


Odebolt Library finishes generator project

The Odebolt Public Library announces the completion of its generator project. The project has been in the works for a year.

The library board had wanted to do something that would give back to the community, using memorial money and farm rent money. Following the terrible ice storm a few years ago that left so many people living without electricity, the board decided this would be a great project.

Now, if the electricity goes out in the community or countryside for an extended amount of time, the library will be available with electricity. The generator is large enough to enable the library to operate as if there are no electrical problems.

The library will have computer usage, telephones, TV, movies, books, magazines, a kitchen, three restrooms and the large meeting room. Cots will also be available.

Announcements will be aired on KAYL and the Sioux City television stations, or you can call the library for information.

The Odebolt Public Library is happy to be able to provide this service to the community.