Drake Students Present Survey Results to the City of Perry
Drake University graduate students recently shared the results of their communications and perception study with City of Perry officials.
City Administrator Sven Peterson explains the purpose.
“The main focus of this study was to figure out how citizens and also visitors to Perry how they kind of find out about us, and listen to what we’re trying to communicate. It was also assessing if the way the city and our organizations are communicating are in the most effective manner to reach our audiences.”
The survey is part of a pilot program through the partnership between the City of Perry, Drake University and Iowa Economic Development Authority. The goal is to help smaller communities get connected with college students in a collaborative approach to learning and assisting the communities they work with.
Peterson says the students will now take the information they obtained and use it to assist them with their final capstone project this summer.
Both Perry residents and metro area residents were asked to take part in the survey. Overall, participation was high with around 550 people taking time to complete the survey, which is more than the number of people that cast a ballot in the last city election.
Peterson expects the survey to be re-released again in the near future as they try and obtain results from a larger and more diverse group of people.
Adel Chamber to Host Informational Meeting on Potential Hotel Project
All Adel residents are invited to an informational meeting on Thursday, January 28th.
Hosted by the Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce, the meeting’s purpose is to share information about a prospective hotel project in Adel.
The Chamber will share an update on the City’s hotel feasibility study and attendees will have the opportunity to meet with the interested hotel developer.
Information on the possible project’s timeline and any investment opportunities will also be discussed.
The meeting takes place in the Raccoon Valley Bank Community House. Anyone interested in attending is asked to RSVP to Chamber Director Deb Bengston by calling 993-5472.
Wash Your Hands to Avoid Shigella and Other Illnesses
There are countless numbers of illnesses we can catch year round but one that doesn’t often make headlines but is impacting several Dallas County residents is shigella.
Dallas County Public Health Program Manager Lisa Anderson says shigella is a bacterial infection of the intestines that is water borne and very contagious.
Anderson says symptoms include mild to severe diarrhea, fever and intestinal ulcers which may cause bloody stools.
So at what point should you go see the doctor if you have these symptoms?
“If they’re feeling really weak, or just having symptoms of severe dehydration, severe thirst, those kind of things, then you should go to your doctor. But anytime you have diarrhea, whether we know it’s foodborne or not, you just need to be extra careful.”
Anderson says shigella is typically spread through fecal to oral transmission. Therefore, she stresses the importance of thorough hand washing because it’s possible someone has the illness without showing symptoms.
Perry to Bid Several Projects in Early 2016
The City of Perry will be going out for bid for several projects early in 2016 as they prepare for a busy summer.
Some of the projects will be bid for the first time, while others are getting a second try.
“The Perry soccer complex is a good example, that project we actually bid it and didn’t get any bidders. Something we’re seeing across the state right now is there’s a lot of projects out there, essentially more projects than contractors are available. So we’re hoping to jump on those a little earlier this time, catch them in the middle of winter and get those contractors on board for spring work” says City Engineer Matt Ferrier.
The Willis Avenue bridge project will go out for bid in February, while the soccer complex project will be rebid in January as will the hot mix asphalt overlay project.
Dallas County Roads Department Works to Clear Snow and Ice
Severe weather never happens at a convenient time. Fortunately there are several people out working to make sure we can go about our days and nights as safely as possible.
However, Dallas County Engineer Al Miller says it’s important for people to know they don’t have the staff to be on call 24 hours a day.
“Typically our hours are (5am to 5pm), if we have a storm we have some folks that are on call and probably out checking the roads at two in the morning. The Iowa (Department of Transportation) is 24/7. So when we do get a storm, drive safety and give yourself extra time but do find a state route if you have to go somewhere (on the weekends or outside normal hours). You’re going to be seeing (DOT employees) out on the highway in the evenings, where you wouldn’t see us out unless we have an emergency.”
The Dallas County roads department employs 45 people and maintains around 900 miles of roadway throughout the County.