HomeMy Public PortalAbout2022 12-December Newsletter
From the
City of RIVERDALE, Iowa
www.riverdaleia.org | 110 Manor Drive | (563) 355-2511 | deputyclerk@riverdaleia.org | December 2022
3 Winter Festival 2-4p
5 RFD Training 6:30p
6 Wolf Carbon Pipeline Public Meeting
5p, River Center
12 RFD Training 6:30p
13 Council Meeting 7p
19 RFD Training 6:30p
23 City Offices Closed
26 City Offices Closed
27 Council Meeting 7p
All events at City Hall unless otherwise noted
We can’t wait to see everyone at our Winter Celebration on
Saturday, December 3rd from 2-4p at City Hall. Our theme this
year is ornaments! Make an ornament for our community tree and
make another to take home. We’ll have all the supplies you need
including clear bulbs, blank wooden pieces, knick-knacks, glue, faux
snow, etc. If you’d like to bring a family photo, 3x3 is the largest size
that could be used but a 2x2 would work the best! If crafting isn’t
your thing, feel free to bring an ornament from your family to the
City to display. We’ll keep all the donated ornaments safe for future
use.
In addition to crafting, we hope you’ll enjoy some hot cocoa, cookie
decorating, conversation with neighbors and friends, and a visit with
Santa. See you there!
Riverdale Firefighters Honor Former
Chief
Posted Tuesday, November 22, 2022 8:55 pm
Riverdale volunteer firefighters met
former chief and veteran Floyd Bruns at
the Quad City Airport for an Honor
Flight.
Bruns retired in 2011, and was a guest
on the 55th Quad City Honor Flight.
The Riverdale fire department trains
every Monday. Learn more on the
Riverdale Fire Department Facebook
page, or by calling (563) 355-2211.
Reprinted with permission from North Scott Press
You asked for it; we listened! Riverdale will begin offering online bill
pay soon. Pay sewer bills, permits, and room rentals online with a
bank account or credit card; view your entire sewer billing history
and usage. Look for further information in the January newsletter.
Still want to pay by cash or check? You can still mail to or drop off a
payment at City Hall.
Riley Kramer, BSA Eagle Scout Candidate,
Set to Build Trail System in Riverdale
Riverdale BSA Eagle Scout candidate, Riley Kramer,
is undertaking a monumental project! Riley has
proposed building a walking trail on City property
that will connect the Woods Estates and Pleasant
Hills subdivisions. He’s secured several donations,
along with a pledge of support from the City, and
hopes to have the trail complete by late spring of
2023. The City supports Riley in this project that
brings people together, and we hope you will too!
From the
City of RIVERDALE, Iowa
www.riverdaleia.org | 110 Manor Drive | (563) 355-2511 | deputyclerk@riverdaleia.org | December 2022
Welcome Brian Ballard, Operations Manager, Public Works
You’ll see a familiar face around town as former volunteer firefighter Brian Ballard
takes the helm of the Public Works department as its new Operations Manager.
This is a newly created position that encompasses both the administrative side of
public works, as well as hands-on maintenance responsibilities.
Brian and his wife of 10 years, Jessica, along with their sons Nathan (20), and
Kashton (8) reside in Coyne Center, Illinois, where Brian is an active volunteer fire-
fighter. Brian served the Riverdale Volunteer Fire Department for 14 years and rose
to the rank of Assistant Chief responsible for all firefighter training. Brian has been
assisting in the public works department in Riverdale intermittently for the past 7
years and is looking forward to this full-time opportunity.
Brian’s interests include photography, hiking, and spending time with his family. Brian says that he’s looking
forward to working with the residents of Riverdale and appreciates your patience while he works through a
backlog of administrative and maintenance requests.
Welcome (back) to Riverdale, Brian! We’re glad you’re here!
City Authorizes HomeServe to Offer
Service Line Warranties in Riverdale
At its November 22nd meeting, Council
authorized HomeServe to offer water, sewer,
and in-home plumbing line warranties in the
City of Riverdale. This optional warranty
service is value-priced for the coverage
included. Look for a mailing at your address
soon.
City Purchases New Street Sweeper
Riverdale has purchased a right-sized street sweeper from
Victory Sweepers! Watch for cleaner streets coming soon!
Victory Sweepers’ Model T600 is a revolutionary sweeper capable of
collecting a wide range of debris from almost any surface. From
parking lots and construction sites to city streets, the T600 easily
picks up litter, bottles, cans, rocks, asphalt, sand, sticks, leaves,
grass — and even heavy construction debris. The T600’s lightweight
design enables it to be towed by a wide variety of vehicles, from
standard cars and trucks to ATV’s and tractors. Its narrow platform
is ideal for sweeping bike paths and other areas inaccessible to
conventional sweepers.
Looking for something to do this holiday season? Check out what’s going on in the Quad Cities:
Winter Nights: Winter Lights The Nutcracker Santa Claus: The Musical Polar Express Pajama Party Canadian Pacific Holiday Train
@ QC Botanical Center @ Ballet Quad Cities @ Circa’21 @ Putnam Museum @ Freight House
Happy Holidays
from everyone at
City Hall
From the
City of RIVERDALE, Iowa
www.riverdaleia.org | 110 Manor Drive | (563) 355-2511 | deputyclerk@riverdaleia.org | December 2022
Mayor’s State of the City
Happy Holidays Riverdale!! Whether you started your celebrations for Diwali in October, are just getting started
with Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, Solstice, or Christmas in December, New Year in January, or won’t be getting
to Ramadan until March, I hope whatever and however you celebrate is wonderful, and your year ahead is full of
love, hope, growth, and happiness.
I asked staff if I might steal the back of the newsletter this month to reflect on what we’ve accomplished this
year, and what’s coming our way in 2023. As when I started on City Council 5 years ago, the first year on the new
job had a learning curve to say the least, but I think our City has moved forward in many significantly positive
ways this year. Here are some highlights of what we accomplished:
January
Hired USIC to do utility locates Set plans for landscaping and rehiring staff
February
Hired new Deputy Clerk, Kelly Krell Ribbon cutting on Fenno
Hired PFM to recommend sewer rates Issued mowing contract
March
Hosted Get Out And Trail (GOAT) stop Met with Canadian Pacific on rail merger
Appointed ZBA chair, Fred Joers Installed fence where neighbors encroached upon Riverdale property
Contract reviewing storm sewer intake structures Simplified website (most documents online now)
Appointed new Mayor Pro Tem, Kevin Adams Finalized Woods Estates/Pleasant Hills emergency access design
Awarded two tree planting grants
April
Welcomed new council member, Beth Halsey Met with neighbors, state officials, & RDA about grants and place making
Returned Jeff Struve to P&Z Met with Iowa American on sewer system sale
Applied ARPA/SLFRF funding to sewer system Hired new maintenance person
Audited city funds Held Easter egg hunt
Reviewed SCC development
May
Updated facility rental policy
June
Held 3rd Annual Team Analiese Memorial Water Fight Amended fireworks code to add Juneteenth
Held annual ice cream social Held garlic mustard pull
Celebrated state champion Spartans Updated excavation permit application
July
Reviewed FY22 budget, started FY24 planning Joined Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Celebrated Emma Hupp’s Eagle Scout project Held lunch and learns and low impact exercise classes
August
Celebrated Foster’s Voice and 9-8-8 system Lost two employees, realigned staffing
New lawncare ordinance Hired consulting team for city administration
September
Promoted Deputy Clerk to Clerk Switched computer network to multi-factor authentication
Emergency access constructed Spent day with new administrative staff & residents/businesses/ schools
Set up bow hunting season Reissued contract with Humane Society
Celebrated former Assistant Fire Chief Ballard Celebrated monarch way stations and bike repair station on Bellingham
Reappointed Athena Smith to ZBA Set sewer rates for coming 7 years
October
Hired new Deputy Clerk, Sabryna Tripp Appointed new ZBA members – Mike Bawden, Mark Dayton, Amy Skinner
Made final payments on sewer system repairs Hosted an international marine debris clean up
Ordinances for excavations and sewer pollutants Added first member of our new sewer/utilities board, Ann Lawler
From the
City of RIVERDALE, Iowa
www.riverdaleia.org | 110 Manor Drive | (563) 355-2511 | deputyclerk@riverdaleia.org | December 2022
November
Purchased new street sweeper Pledged support for Riley Kramer’s Eagle Scout project
Purchased new VOIP telephone system Filed AFR, TIF, and NPDES reports with the state
Held goal setting session Hired new Operations Manager, Brian Ballard
Updated hazard mitigation plan Approved online bill pay system
Authorized new service line protection program
December
Finalize reporting Celebrate at annual holiday event
Close out the year fully staffed, debt free, and on track for a wonderful year to come
I write all this to let you know that even in a small city with only 2.5 full time staff, we can do amazing things.
Part of that is because of a great staff and council and part of that is because of a consistently engaged and
volunteering populace. We have students from PV and SCC that donate time and energy to fold newsletters and
host events, residents who are experts in any number of things donating their time and labor, a couple dozen on
volunteer boards and commissions, a fire department made entirely of volunteers that routinely saves lives and
property and achieved an incredible ISO 3 rating (yes, tell your insurance carrier!), and a pile of people who are
always looking out for solutions to issues and ways to help.
Our region is made up of nearly 60 communities, and I personally have lived in 3 of them in my 15 years here in
the Quad Cities, but there is - hands down - no better place to live than right here in Riverdale, and that’s
because of all of you who are so engaged in your community.
Every council meeting starts and ends with a public comment session. If you have a question, comment, or idea
on how we can make Riverdale even better, please come share it. I don’t care if you’re 3 or 103, you will receive
an opportunity to speak before all of the business of council starts, and again after you’ve heard all of what
council has to say. If you can’t make it to council, please reach out to staff, council, or myself as we all are
dedicated public servants here to assist you. We can’t always say yes, we can’t always get it done tomorrow, but
as you can see, we are tirelessly and continuously working for the betterment of our community. Your voice will
be heard, it will be considered, and our current team will do everything in their power to help all of us get to the
best possible solution.
Again, from my family to yours, we wish you the happiest of holidays, and best wishes on a new year full of love,
hope, growth, and happiness.
Mayor Anthony Heddlesten