Meeting of Postville City Council concludes with the swearing in of Ben Heitland as Fire Chief

Jon Biederman, of Fehr Graham and associates, attended the Postville City Council meeting Monday, August 12 to discuss proposed projects for the City in conjunction with grant proposals with the RC & D. Among the projects is resurfacing of the parking lot at the Recreation and Wellness Center with permeable pavers. Some of the other improvements will take place outside the RC & D building. Having heard the proposals, including the plans and specifications of all the projects, the Council accepted a resolution to approve the plans and set a hearing to award contracts for the project. 

Director of Allamakee County Emergency Management, Corey Snitker, explained the emergency sirens that have been offered to the City through an Allamakee County E-911 grant. He noted that there will be three sirens within the City and there will be no maintenance cost to the City. The sirens can and will be activated from the fire station and will be tied into the power source. 

Having had one application for a part-time police officer, the Council hired Jesse Paul of Oelwein. Paul is a retired Oelwein police officer. 

Water rates were increased by 1% following a passage of a new ordinance reflecting the change. The Council further waived the second and third reading of the ordinance and placed it on its final adoption. 

Clerk Radloff explained updates in the upcoming City elections and noted that the seats currently occupied by Mary Straate, Ross Malcom and Larry Moore will all be on the November ballot. 

Heitland sworn in as Fire Chief 

Ben Heitland, who was present at the meeting, was part of a conversation concerning the fire department’s status with the City. 

Mayor Rekow explained that he was present at the last fire meeting and he still has not received some of the documents asked for from the department. 

City attorney Anne Kruse said that she will draft rules of operation and weekly meetings will be held between the Chief and the Mayor. Prior to swearing in Heitland, it was explained that he will deal with all issues of the fire department and the volunteer department’s activities will be kept separate. 

Read the full article in the August 21 edition of the Postville Herald.