Thursday, January 30, 2014

Courier News

Courtesy of the 1-29-14 on-line edition of the Ida County Courier, www.idacountycourier.com



Meeting times for government, community agencies
by DEB LOGER
     Open meeting laws have been in existence in Iowa since the mid-1960s. The need for legislation came when Iowa legislators were told local officials were closing government meetings and not allowing the public to attend.
     Iowa’s open meeting law is 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.

Note meeting dates and times are subject to change. For up-to-date information, contact the governmental agency to confirm meeting time.
  • 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 media center at the Battle Creek-Ida Grove Elementary in Ida Grove and the conference room in Odebolt.
Other meetings:
  • O-A/BC-IG Athletic Boosters: Meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p. m. in the high school library.
  • 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 4:45 p. m. at the library.
  • Odebolt Recreation Committee: Meets as needed.


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    Note from News Blog editor: 
    Below is what the building looked like soon after it was built in 1881 by Leonard Schmitz.


    Read about the Schmitz Building in its early days.

    Some of us remember that the building also housed Larson's Grocery Store.  When we were children we watched Wally Larson as he cranked down the awning to shade the store from the afternoon sun.   We were fascinated by the large ornate brass cash register on which Wally or his partner Harry Sellman rang up purchases.  This cash register had perhaps been used in Larson & Erickson, the store founded in 1893 by Wally's father, John Larson, and his partner John Erickson. 

    Larson & Erickson was first located at the southeast corner of Second and Maple in Odebolt.  This building was called the Wright block, and the opera hall was on the second floor.  Both the Schmitz building and the Wright block were built in 1881.


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