The National Weather Service has confirmed that an EF0 tornado touched down in northeastern Guthrie County Wednesday afternoon at about 2:58 p.m. It had peak winds of 84 miles per hour, traveled 3.2 miles from the south shore of Lake Panorama to the Yale area and had a maximum width of 50 yards. It produced minimal structural damage and damage to trees. No injuries were reported.
The Guthrie Center City Council met Monday night.
In his monthly report, Public Works Director Bob Secoy told the Council his employees are ready to plow snow this season. The Public Works Department will be laying a mixture of salt and sand on Guthrie Center’s slushy roads once the white stuff begins to fall.
Additionally, the Council discussed a 40% increase to the City’s annual health insurance premium. To protect the take-home pay of their employees, the Council decided that a 3 percent raise would be necessary to make sure city employees aren’t bringing home smaller paychecks. The City will continue to pay 85% of employee health insurance premium costs.
The Council also discussed adding a street parking permit process to their proposed parking ordinance. City Administrator Laura Imerman will research that provision more and provide a policy recommendation at the November 23rd meeting.
The meeting ended with incumbent Mayor Denny Kunkle and Councilor-elects Ian Steensen and Patrick Halsey taking their Oaths of Office. Councilor-elect Michael Herbert was not present for the ceremony and will take his oath at a later date.
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The Guthrie County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday.
Guthrie County Conservation Natural Resource Manager Brad Halterman told the Supervisors his department continues to work on finding a solution to the controversy surrounding trail crossing stop signs on the Raccoon River Valley Trail. Halterman says the Conservation Board and staff continues to work with the County Attorney’s office to find a solution that wholly and legally solves the problem.
Additionally, Board Chair Tom Rutledge drew a lot to decide a Panora City Council election that ended in a tie between Andy Carson and Rachel Vogel. Rutledge drew Vogel’s name out of a bucket. She will take office in January.
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Guthrie County 4-H Annual Awards Night takes place later this month.
Office Coordinator Vicki Frohling says it will take place Sunday, November 22nd at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Building at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds. The evening will begin with a pot luck supper, followed by packaging Thanksgiving baskets and ending with the awards program.
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Everyone is invited to attend the 22nd annual holiday lighting ceremony later this month at Guthrie Center’s Mitchell Park.
The event will start at 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 28th, with hot chocolate served at the park. Community members interested in volunteering to prepare the 550 milk jug luminaries are asked to arrive at the park at 2 p.m.
Free will donations will be accepted at the event to ensure the tradition can continue for years to come.