HomeMy Public PortalAbout2023 0509 Commendation - Riverdale Residents and Friends•
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CITY OF RWERDALEv IOWA
MAYORAL COMMENDATION
WHEREAS, on the afternoon of April 24, 2023, with floodwaters rising, Perri Smith, lifelong Riverdale resident,
rapidly assisted Mayor Heddlesten in test fitting a new flood gate for the federally constructed floodwall at the
Wisteria Lane cul-de-sac along Duck Creek, providing all tools necessary to clear the holding brackets to accept
the new gate and providing guidance on flood timing and sealing of the final gate based on his years of
experience with floods and sandbagging in the Havens Acres neighborhood; and,
WHEREAS, Perri Smith has provided countless hours of routine inspection and maintenance of the flood gate,
his own personal sump pump, electricity, gasoline for a larger pump, and gate sealants; and,
WHEREAS, Todd Smith, a resident of Riverdale since only April 5, 2023, and his friend Ryan Faust, immediately
stopped what they were doing and joined Perri Smith and Mayor Heddlesten in test fitting the flood gate,
which involved removing existing hardware that was rusted onto the gate's folding brackets; and,
WHEREAS, on the afternoon of April 24, 2023, Public Works Operation Manager Brian Ballard and lifelong
Riverdale resident Dean Halsey, installed and secured the new flood gate; and,
WHEREAS, the flood waters in Duck Creek surpassed the threshold of the new flood gate, and the gate
successfully held flood waters out of the Haven's Acres neighborhood for several days at the 5th highest flood
level in record history; and,
WHEREAS, Perri Smith, Todd Smith, Ryan Faust, and Dean Halsey's quick response to the community's needs is
commendable and should be publicly celebrated.
THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Anthony Heddlesten, Mayor of the City of Riverdale, Iowa, do hereby issue
this commendation to Perri Smith, Todd Smith, Ryan Faust, and Dean Halsey for helping keep the Riverdale,
Iowa, community safe from flood waters and for being valued Riverdale residents and friends.
[seal]
Anthony Heddlesten, Mayor
City of Riverdale, Iowa