by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148
Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
September 2: Office Closed in Observance of Labor Day
September 20: Dairy Margin Coverage Program Sign-Up
December 6: Market Facilitation Program
Unauthorized Disposition of Grain
If loan grain has been disposed of through feeding, selling or any other form of disposal without prior written authorization from the county office staff, it is considered unauthorized disposition. The financial penalties for unauthorized dispositions are severe and a producer’s name will be placed on a loan violation list for a two-year period. Always call before you haul any grain under loan.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is expanding its payment options to now accept debit cards and Automated Clearing House (ACH) debit. These paperless payment options enable FSA customers to pay farm loan payments, measurement service fees, farm program debt repayments and administrative service fees, as well as to purchase aerial maps.
“Our customers have spoken, and we’ve listened,” said Bill Northey, USDA’s Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. “Finding ways to improve customer service and efficiency is important for our farmers, ranchers, producers, and forest landowners who work hard for our nation every day.
Now, our customers can make electronic payments instantly by stopping in our offices or calling over the phone.”
Beef producers in and around Winneshiek County are encouraged to become Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Certified. BQA is required for all who sell cattle to Tyson Foods, Cargill and Iowa Premium as well as several other beef processors and some sale barns.
The training will be held Wednesday, September 18, at the Decorah Sales Commission from 8:30-10 a.m. Participants are asked to preregister by September 16 by calling the Benton County Extension office at 319-472-4739 to ensure adequate food and supplies.
ISU Extension and Outreach beef program specialist Denise Schwab said the Beef Quality Assurance Certification meetings will focus on changes in packer requirements and the information that cattle feeders must provide to market cattle. This certification assures consumers that the beef they eat is a safe, high quality product and is produced in a responsible manner considering animal welfare and the environment.
The Standard has created its own Facebook page in an effort to further enhance its interaction with and service to the communities in its coverage area. To visit that new page, click on the Facebook icon at the bottom of this page or click HERE.
Milling of the existing pavement on portions of Iowa Highways 9 and 76 through Waukon began to take place this past week, such as the milling process pictured above that cut away a four-inch depth of pavement on West Main Street from its intersection with Second Street all the way to the four-way stop sign intersection with Ninth Street near Quillin’s. Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) District 2 Field Services Coordinator Pete Hjelmstad said the plan is to begin the overlay paving process on that West Main Street portion of the project sometime this week, depending upon weather conditions. Hjelmstad also said the contractor will also be working on paving the roadway shoulders from the south junction of Iowa 9 and 76 (near Bodensteiner Implement) heading north into Waukon.
The sidewalk project currently in progress along the south end of Second Street SW and Eleventh Avenue SW in Waukon will complete a paved loop option for local residents and visitors to trek by connecting to a pair of trail entrances to the Waukon City Park. The project is in its foundational phase, with the sidewalk area being dug out and its gravel foundation being completed prior to the final paving and finishing process.
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, August 26 to address a full agenda of items including a personnel matter in the County Auditor’s Office, consideration of bids for a County Sheriff’s Department patrol vehicle and the semi-annual insurance update with claims review.
During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke with Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) discussed that the recent drive-in movie night at WW Homestead Dairy was well attended with approximately 70 cars and that the grand opening for the Portside Bar and Supper Club over the weekend in Harpers Ferry went well. Reinke reported that the Driftless Super Slough kayak trek that took place on the Mississippi River and the Back to School 5K Run/Walk held in New Albin both took place Saturday, August 24 with the 5K Run/Walk having approximately 45 participants.
City and school elections will be conducted simultaneously this year, scheduled for Tuesday, November 5. A law passed by the Iowa Legislature in 2017 ended the longstanding tradition of holding school board elections in September, and Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate hopes the combined elections will increase voter participation.
“Turnout for city and school elections is usually not very high and I hope that changes this year,” Secretary Pate said. “A lot of voters might not realize that these local elections tend to have a much greater impact on their daily lives than the races for president and the U.S. Senate.”
Area citizens interested in the history and archaeology connected to the Black Hawk Bridge project are invited to attend another meeting with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Lansing History Working Group Thursday, August 29 at 5:30 p.m. at the Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library in Lansing. This discussion will focus on the archaeology uncovered last fall as part of the planning for the bridge project.
Iowa DOT staffer Brennan Dolan will share information about the materials that were found and the analyses that were completed on the artifact assemblages. A select assemblage of materials will be available for viewing.
Anyone who is interested is encouraged to come and bring questions to ask. Goals are to share information, ask questions and understand how these issues affect project planning.
Waukon Police Officer Ed Schoenthal recently completed the 16-week Police Academy in Johnston, graduating from the Academy August 16 to achieve the designation of certified law enforcement officer. The Academy training involves a daily weekday schedule of a wide array of training including physical fitness, procedural, psychological, technical and many other aspects of law enforcement, both in classroom settings as well as in hands-on situations. Waukon Police Chief Phil Young said that Academy training needs to be completed within the first year of employment in order for an officer to achieve the designation of certified law enforcement officer. Schoenthal is a 2008 graduate of Waukon High School. Photo courtesy of the Waukon Police Department.
