NEWSLETTERS

ICOG NEWS | MARCH 5, 2019

COGS PROVIDE ASSISTANCE DURING FLOODING

Governor Reynolds added 20 counties to the disaster proclamation for flooding in Iowa. Forty-one counties are now covered. Reynolds added Adair, Bremer, Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Crawford, Dallas, Delaware, Dickinson, Emmet, Fayette, Franklin, Fremont, Guthrie, Hardin, Page, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Shelby and Tama counties to the list. Individuals in these counties may now be eligible for The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program, which offers grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level. 

COGs have been working with counties and cities to help secure resources and provide disaster recovery.

Sincerly, 

Carl Lingen

Executive Director

staff@iarcog.com

ICOG AND HOMES FOR IOWA, INC. —  PRISON BUILT HOUSING

Our first Homes for Iowa, Inc. board meeting took place in Newton in March and included individuals in the trades, private-sector, union, banking, government, housing and nonprofit sector. Homes for Iowa, Inc. will work in partnership with Iowa Prison Industries to build up to four affordable homes this year and will accelerate production in future years. The board will help form governance policies centered around who will be eligible to purchase a home and logistics in the home purchase.

The Innovative Project Award represents an innovative project that a COG is either currently finishing or has completed on behalf of a community, county, or region. Mary Rump with East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) was awarded the 2019 Innovative Project Award for the 380 Corridor Rides Express project. The 380 Express began providing transit service for commuters between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City in October 2018. All coaches in the 380 Express service are equipped with free Wi-Fi, 110V power outlets, and USB ports to meet the needs of busy commuters. This project exemplifies the progress made in communities by our Iowa COGs. Without ECICOG and Iowa DOT’s collaboration, this project wouldn’t have been possible. 

Find out more information about this exciting new service that is Moving Iowans Forward by going to the website. 

The ICOG Prometheus Award was given to Mike Norris, executive director of SEIRPC, who was nominated by his peers for his visionary work in bringing the Iowa prison-built housing program to the state.To address the housing shortage in his area, Norris identified a solution using a program already in place in South Dakota. Norris’ leadership has been instrumental over the past four years in bringing his vision of creating a similar program in Iowa to fruition. He has worked tirelessly to educate legislators and stakeholders of the benefits of this program and has helped start the nonprofit organization Homes for Iowa, Inc., which will be the entity that oversees the program in partnership with Iowa Prison Industries. 

Norris received this award based on the statewide impact this program will have and because it will help increase awareness of how COGs are creating solutions to solve regional issues.

SIMPCO COLLABORATION WITH ARTHUR, IOWA

SUCCESS STORY: SIMPCO collaborated with the City of Arthur, Iowa to collect Geographic Information System (GIS) data on existing water facilities in the city. 

PROJECT PURPOSE: The purpose of the project was to collect additional GIS information and improve the accuracy of the existing water infrastructure inventory in the City of Arthur.

PROJECT BACKGROUND: The project involved the collection of GPS coordinates of the existing water shut-off valves and fire hydrants. A field survey was conducted in the fall of 2018. ESRI ArcGIS collector app and Garmin GPS receiver were used to collect the GPS coordinates of the existing water shut-off valves and fire hydrants in the City of Arthur. 

FUTURE IMPACT: 

• Enable the city to easily identify the location of water facilities for maintenance.

• Helps the city to maintain up to date and accurate water infrastructure inventory.

• The project will enable the city to easily access GIS data to inform the city council’s decision.

AND THE WINNER IS...

The 2019 Healthiest State Annual Awards were held on Feb. 7, 2019 in West Des Moines to recognize the amazing work that individuals, schools, workplaces, and communities from across the state are doing to improve the physical, social and emotional well-being of Iowans. Northeast Iowa was well represented at the event with finalists in three categories: Individual (Jes Wegner, Community Health Nurse from West Union), Medium-sized Workplace (Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union) and Small-sized Workplace (Upper Explorerland RPC). Both Jes Wegner and Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital WON their categories, each being awarded $1,000 to support their efforts.

And although UERPC didn’t win out in our category, Upper Explorerland is still honored to have been chosen as a finalist. Hey, top three in the entire state isn’t bad! Plus, we’re being told we won the impromptu category of ‘People’s Choice’ for our finalist video.