CITY NOTES: The time for delay is over

By Jim Erb, Charles City Mayor

I know that many in our town have been harmed directly or indirectly by our recent flood experience. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our citizens, neighbors and staff we have avoided the worst consequences. It is, however, a good time to review how much progress has been made and how much more needs to be done. During this most recent flooding event, we experienced river flooding, watershed flooding, and infrastructure malfunction. Take a look at the historic record of river crests in Charles City to get a feel for what we are confronting:

1. 25.33 FT- June 9, 2008
2. 22.81 FT- July 21, 1999
3. 21.64 FT- March 2, 1995
4. 20.95 FT- Sept. 24, 2016
5. 19.52 FT- May 21, 2013
6. 16.82 FT- June 20, 2014
7. 15.41 FT- May 24, 2011

The result has been combination of too much water, arriving too quickly, too often and the removal of too many chemicals and soils from our land. In reviewing all of this, Dr. Kamyar Enshayan, Director of UNI’s Northern Iowa’s Center of Energy and Environmental Education reached the conclusion that we have an ongoing chronic emergency caused by a changing climate, a changed capacity for water retention, and inadequate flood plain laws. The solution has to include upgraded infrastructure, more conservation of all types, urban-rural partnerships and major commitments of state and federal resources to assist those of us who are committed to fighting this conservation battle to a successful conclusion.

On another topic, recently on two separate occasions this opinion and commentary page featured articles about the current state of Charles City’s infrastructure. The articles were written by Jim Davis and The Charles City Press Editorial Board and called attention in one way or another to the need for renovation, repair or replacement of the following capital items: City Hall, owner by City of Charles City; Family YMCA, owned by Family YMCA; Floyd County Sherriff’s Dept., owned by Floyd County; Floyd County Jail, owned by Floyd County; 500 N. Grand Building, owned by the Charles City School District (Subject to negotiations with Charley Thomson); Charles City Senior High, owned by the Charles City School District; CC Sportsmen’s Park, City of Charles City-owner, Charles City School District-tenant; 3 Pools, owned by Charles City Park & Recreation, Family YMCA, and Charles City School District.

What needs to be recognized is that for a variety of reasons all of the above items need to be addressed in the very near future. Thus we have the following introducing the articles; “Next steps on CC Facilities difficult, but necessary”. “Movement behind the scenes needs to be urged along and supported by the public”; and “We need to act now for Charles City’s future”.

Here is my reaction to the infrastructure issues raised by the articles: The City and the County are in the process of moving forward with the jail/law enforcement center project.

Specifically they will be hiring a firm to assist with determining how much joint activity between the Floyd County Sheriff’s Department and Charles City Police will be beneficial which could include moving in under one roof but not merging the two entities. It is my hope that we make the most we can of this opportunity.

The reason there is a good deal of urgency about moving forward on all fronts is the fact that time is not our friend. It seems to me quite clear that we are going to experience higher interest rates in the near future and at the same time we may be required to borrow money. So in effect the train is leaving the station for most of these items. That means the YMCA board; the Charles City Council, the Charles City School District, Tthe Charles City Revitalization Board and the Floyd County Board of Supervisors should set the end of this calendar year for getting some type of prioritization schedule worked out. Also the 500 North Grand Building needs to have a major commitment of resources devoted to repurposing it. That would include determining whether Charley Thomson or anyone else has a commitment to moving forward to having a project underway prior to any vote being taken on the Senior High Renovation bond levy. To be realistic, my belief is that the City and the School will need to employ a facilitator to move this matter to a successful conclusion.

There is no question that to undertake all of these efforts will require a major commitment to fundraising including all different forms of grants and private gifts.

Also there will be a need for a very comprehensive effort to inform and to persuade our citizens of the need to go forward in many different fronts or, in the alternative, to allow for a prioritization of the various projects.

Before that can happen, however the various governing bodies are going to need to step up and not wait for the infrastructure to start crumbling and the interest rates to start going through the roof. We know all this needs to happen so why during our planning sessions don’t we just do it? Otherwise the solutions will just get more difficult and more costly.