Heavy Construction

Local group addresses housing needs (09/04/08)
A group of local residents and community leaders are banding together to help meet the need for affordable housing throughout Clay County. The Clay County Local Housing Trust Fund, Inc., was created to assist low income individuals, families and the elderly through grants and low- or no-interest loans to rehabilitate the county's aging housing stock...

City commissions study to track retail trends (09/03/08)
What Spencer residents buy, and what they leave town to buy, are part of what could be a revealing study approved Tuesday night by the Spencer City Council. Council members approved a $45,000 "Customers Retail Analysis Project" by the market research firm Buxton. The company typically researches buying trends for companies with an interest to locate in a specific community...

Council to consider "Historic Restoration" classification tonight (09/02/08)
A 5:30 p.m. Personnel and Finance Committee meeting, followed by a Committee of the Whole session at 6:15 p.m., and regular council meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. will make for a long evening for Spencer's governing body. The council will review the final filing of a proposed ordinance that will provide for a new section to the city code pertaining to substandard buildings; providing for an "Historic Restoration" classification...

Lawson: No impact on Spencer cameras (09/02/08)
DES MOINES (AP) -- The Iowa Supreme Court, in a split ruling on Friday, upheld the city of Davenport's use of traffic cameras to catch speeders and drivers who run red lights. The ruling involved the case of a man who challenged the city's ordinance, which authorized the use of cameras and sensors to catch motorists who violate traffic laws...

City leaders break ground on golf course upgrade (08/26/08)
The current clubhouse at the Spencer Municipal Golf Course gets a little damp and a little crowded at times. Monday morning's golden shovels were the first step in doing something about that. City and golf course officials came out for the groundbreaking to launch a $290,800 clubhouse construction in south Spencer. It's the first major expansion at the site since the course was expanded from nine holes to 18 holes for the 2001 season...

Council approves breed-less animal ordinance (08/19/08)
After lengthy discussions at two previous city council sessions, followed by a meeting with Dr. Tom Beall of Homestead Small Animal Practice, Monday night the Spencer City Council passed the final filing of an amended amendment dealing with unrestrained vicious animals in public...

Living History Farms sells plot to developer (08/14/08)
DES MOINES (AP) -- Living History Farms has sold 40 acres of its land to create an endowment that would help finance the museum's operations. Polk County Recorder records show the sale was finalized at the end of July to S&S Heritage Park LLC, which paid nearly $7.2 million for the property...

SMS auditorium talks underway (08/14/08)
As Spencer school board members, Friends of the Auditorium representatives and a Sioux City architect met Wednesday morning to broach the topic of what will be done with the auditorium area of the old Spencer Middle School at 104 E. Fourth St., they negotiated costs and responsibilities, and, in the end, reconnected as potential partners in restoring the "gem" to its original historic state and making it a better-functioning facility...

DNR officials pleased with Milford turnout (07/18/08)
About 60 area residents attended a wide-ranging public forum hosted by the state's top conservation official Wednesday night. Richard Leopold, director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, held the forum at the Gull Point State Park lodge. "I think the tone was pretty positive for the most part," said Tammie Krausman, the public affairs coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "Sometimes those public meetings can be quite contentious."...

Curiel's art-inspired vision building area's skill sets (07/01/08)
Louis "Tony" Curiel was mentored by several "substantial and influential people" during his student days at Rio Hondo Community College in California. The noted neon-glass blowing craftsman is returning that favor today at the Curiel/Reynolds School of Visual Arts...

English continuing his 'battle for good public policy' (06/14/08)
By Kris Todd Daily Reporter Staff Bryan English found himself "just showing up and volunteering" on the political front about five years ago. As he found the opportunities to be endless if he simply raised his hand and said, "I'd be happy to do that," he also realized a new career...

Supervisors race features six candidates (05/31/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff Republicans have a choice on the ballot as the party tries to find two nominees for a pair of available seats on the Clay County Board of Supervisors. Incumbent Del Brockshus of Spencer is near the end of his fourth term. He has filed to run again...

Spencer council to meet Monday (05/31/08)
By Randy M. Cauthron Managing Editor Monday night's Spencer City Council meeting appears to have some pretty light lifting. When the council convenes at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at Spencer City Hall, Monday, June 2, it will consider a property sale, the establishment of a library reserve fund, and the retention of Kruse, Cate and Nelson as engineer for a local project, along with multiple items on the agenda...

Iowa Lakes president makes Spencer stop (05/22/08)
Iowa Lakes Community College President Harold Prior said his institution's role in an emerging industry could be an economic development boost in the region. His remarks, about wind energy, came as part of a presentation Tuesday to the Clay County Board of Supervisors. Iowa Lakes has campus locations in Estherville, Spencer, Emmetsburg, Spirit Lake and Algona. Prior said he makes periodic stops to keep the region's five county boards of supervisors informed about the progress of the college...

Council holds off on hospital-area project (05/20/08)
Members of the Spencer City Council voted to table action on a storm sewer and paving project near Spencer Hospital as part of its meeting Monday night. The recommendation to table the agenda item came from city officials, who wanted to give hospital leaders a chance to review the bids before they were accepted. The hospital has upgrades that cover about a third of the cost of the project...

Council to review budget at city meeting (05/17/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff Land transactions, a $1 million loan and a budget amendment are on the agenda when the Spencer City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday in council chambers. State law requires that cities hold a public hearing to take action on amending the budget and City Manager Bob Fagen has asked for a change Monday night...

Airshow features high-flying talent (05/14/08)
Spencer Airshow Coord-inator for 2008, Gayle Brandt, announced the airshow entertainment line-up for the June 15 annual Flight Show and Flight Breakfast. This year's event, which helps conclude the community's Flagfest activities and also falls on Father's Day, will feature high flying performers Chandy Clanton in her Edge 540, Doug Rozendaal with the "Gunfighter" P51 Mustang, and Kyle Franklin in his "Mystery Ship" Waco...

Meetings 5-10-08 (05/12/08)
The Northwest Iowa Airport Board of Trustees will meet at 3 p.m. Monday, May 12 in the conference room at the Terminal Building. --- The Ruthven-Ayrshire Community School District Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m., Monday, May 12 in room 211. ---...

Arnolds Park preps for 2008 opening (05/10/08)
By Anitra Wolf Special to the Daily Reporter Several new sets of wheels are propelling the Arnolds Park Amusement Park into its 2008 season. With new double go-carts and "new" bumper cars drawing patrons to the attraction, Marketing Director Jeanne Sieh says the park is set for a great year...

Supervisors approve Terramech loan (05/09/08)
Members of the Clay County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a six-year, $100,000 loan to help a new company get a foothold in Spencer. The vote, to assist a prospective company called Terramech, came with a recommendation from the county's recently-created Revolving Loan Board...

Meetings 5-9-08 (05/09/08)
The Northwest Iowa Airport Board of Trustees will meet at 3 p.m., Monday, May 12 in the conference room at the Terminal Building. Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees will meet at 4 p.m., Tuesday, May 13 at the Spirit Lakes campus. A full agenda is planned...

Willow Creek Watershed awarded grant (04/30/08)
Clay County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Commissioner Jerry Crew announced late last week that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has awarded a grant to the district designed to aid in the development of water quality strategies in the Willow Creek Watershed...

Public meeting planned to discuss the Jemmerson Slough Water Quality Enhancement Project (04/23/08)
The Iowa DNR is requesting that people interested in obtaining information and discussing the Jemmerson Slough Water Quality Enhancement Project in Dickinson County, attend an information meeting at the Lakes Art Center in Spirit Lake from 7-9 p.m., Monday May 5...

Council green lights sewer study (04/22/08)
A Storm/Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Study was given the go ahead during Monday night's Spencer City Council meeting. The study will serve as the first step in an extensive process designed to help the city comply with an EPA mandate handed down approximately eight months ago, requiring the city to eliminate its combined storm and sanitary sewer systems...