NEWSLETTERS

ICOG NEWS | July 10, 2019

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT

We are excited to announce that Iowa Association of Councils of Governments is continuing its third year with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) on the 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! Campaign and introducing six new communities and continuing work with our communities across Iowa. IDPH has found a good working relationship partnering with COGs who understand the needs of their communities and create the ability to get the program off and running quickly. 

COGs will also be partnering with Iowa Workforce Development on the Foreign Labor 2-A Housing Inspections. Iowa Workforce Development was looking for a partner to help create a statewide network to assist in housing inspections and ICOG and its member COGs answered. We help conduct over 300 inspections across the state.

Finally, ICOG would like to thank all of those individuals who attended the Homes for Iowa, Inc., groundbreaking in June. With Governor Reynolds, Lt. Governor Gregg and IFA/IEDA Director Debi Durham giving remakes with Sen. Lofgren, we were pleased to see over 60 individuals attend. ICOG along with member COGs, and Sen. Lofgren were instrumental in launching this initiative to build affordable homes by prison inmates who, in turn, receive training and apprenticeship hours. Homes for Iowa, Inc, in partnership with Iowa Prison Industries is set to build four homes in 2019.

MODEL CODE TRAINING

Please mark your calendars for Model Code Training on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. An invitation has been sent to those who were identified as Model Code users in their COG. This one-day training will be taught by Bill Sueppel, ICOG’s model code consultant and attorney. 

HOMES FOR IOWA - GROUNDBREAKING

Homes for Iowa had their groundbreaking ceremony in Newton, Iowa, to launch the prison-built housing initiative in partnership with Iowa Prison Industries. Governor Reynolds, Lt. Governor Gregg, IFA/IEDA Director Debi Durham and Sen. Mark Lofgren gave remarks. An initiative first brought by Mike Norris, SEIRPC, and championed by Sen. Mark Lofgren has developed into a realistic plan to address affordable housing in Iowa. Dan Clark with Iowa Prison Industries has been a driving force and great partner in getting the program started.

ICOG and its members are excited for this project and how far we have come in just one year to bring this endeavor to a reality. Debi Durham announced at the groundbreaking that the Iowa Finance Authority’s board approved a $1.2 million grant for Homes for Iowa, which will help sustain the program into the future.

There was a huge attendance at the ceremonial hammering of the first nails by key community and legislative leaders. The Homes for Iowa board is now working on logistics for delivery of homes yet this year. 

IN REMEMBRANCE OF MICHELLE FLETCHER MCENANY 

We are sad to share that long-time Office of Public Transit director Michelle Fletcher McEnany has passed away. Michelle served as the director of the Iowa Department of Transportation's Office of Aviation and the Office of Public Transit from 2000 through 2017.

McEnany was responsible for the development and maintenance of safe, comprehensive, and competitive aviation and transit systems in Iowa. Her management in transportation emphasized advocacy, promotion, and partnership building, with a focus on economic development and quality of life issues. Michelle brought a fresh perspective and contributed to the success of public transit in Iowa. She was effective in her work with stakeholders at all levels, and in implementing reorganizational changes for the Office of Public Transit.

Prior to joining the Iowa DOT, McEnany was the director of state and local relations for the Greater Des Moines Partnership, where she was responsible for advancing transportation public policy issues that enhanced business and economic development opportunities. She is a graduate of Boston College with degrees in economics and political science.

“Michelle had an unconditional commitment and dedication throughout the years, and she brought an energy and enthusiasm for Aviation and Transit to the Iowa DOT that still is evident in the great work being done in those areas,” says Stuart Anderson, director of the Iowa DOT’s Planning, Programming, and Modal Division.

Visit the online obituary HERE.

REGION 6 ADOPTS NEW NAME AND LOGO

Region 6 Planning Commission, a regional organization headquartered Marshalltown serving 45 cities and four counties, today announced a new name and logo as part of comprehensive rebranding process. Now known as Region 6 Resource Partners, the organization is transforming to meet the needs of its members.

Region 6 Resource Partners provides communities in Hardin, Marshall, Poweshiek and Tama counties with professional services in the areas of grant writing and administration, comprehensive planning, access to federal and state transportation funding, housing assistance, public transit, and other specialized expertise.

The new brand is designed to communicate the comprehensive suite of services offered by the organization. Region 6 Resource Partners employs planning professionals, as well as a team of drivers and support personnel that are dedicated to People Rides, the region's only public transit service.

“There are so many services we provide in our area that communities may not know about.” said Marty Wymore, Executive Director of Region 6 Resource Partners. “With a brand refresh, we want to let communities in the region know that we can meet their changing needs. We have staff, expertise, and local knowledge that has brought resources to our region since 1974 — contact us and see what we can do for a project or need in your community.”

Additional information about Region 6 Resource Partners is available at www.region6resources.org.

REGION XII WASTE EXCHANGE

Iowa Waste Exchange Year in Review The end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 marks Region XII Council of Governments’ 12th year administering the Iowa Waste Exchange (IWE) program. The IWE – which began as a pilot program at Indian Hills Community College in 1990 - is a free, confidential and non-regulatory program of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). IWE Area Resource Specialists provide a variety of services throughout the entire state of Iowa (service graphic on EPC brochure lists all services provided.) The primary objective of the program is to assist Iowa Business and Industry in reducing their landfilled waste and reducing costs associated with this waste. 

Since 1990, IWE has assisted over 60,000 clients and has diverted over 4 million tons of material from Iowa landfills - saving Iowans over $110 million. In FY 2019 alone, under Region XII Administration, the program diverted nearly 120 tons of material and saved Iowan’s over $4 million. The success of the program has not gone unnoticed by those outside of Iowa. In FY 2019, IWE Area Resource Specialists were solicited to offer guidance and technical assistance to Colorado Recycles in launching a similar program in Colorado in FY 2020. 

In addition, Maryland Department of the Environment solicited IWE to obtain, duplicate, and adapt the Iowa School’s Food Waste Minimization Toolkit to accommodate schools in Maryland. The toolkit was created by IWE as the result of a year-long pilot project with 11 Iowa schools. 

UERPC 5-2-1-0 PROGRAM | OUTDOOR HOSPITAL LOBBY DEBUT - WEST UNION

What started out as a simple notion from a staff member has turned into the region’s (and arguably the state’s) first Outdoor Hospital Lobby.

When Cyndi Lamphier, nurse with Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinics (GPLHC) in West Union, mentioned her idea of transforming a vacant space outside the hospital into an outdoor lobby area to Jes Wegner, Community Health Coordinator with GPLHC, there was no turning back.

Jes connected the idea to West Union’s Healthy Hometown action planning process and to the community’s 5-2-1-0 efforts. Thanks to 5-2-1-0 funding, Palmer Memorial Foundation support and construction help from the North Fayette Valley Industrial Technology Program, GPLHC’s Outdoor Hospital Lobby was launched on May 11th. The Outdoor Hospital Lobby consists of benches, a pergola and gardening pots that are growing herbs and produce for the hospital kitchen and for upcoming Community Teaching Kitchen classes.

Bert Medberry, CNA with GPLHC, uses the space regularly with her patients. She comments, “I feel like the outdoor lobby is great for patients. It gets them out of the four walls of their room and of the hospital. They get to enjoy the sunshine, makes their day better and makes them feel better. I enjoy visiting with patients while we sit in the outdoor lobby and it brightens both of our days. All around a great resource for our patients!”