March 16, 2010

The City of Waterloo’s Easton Avenue “Yard Waste Drop Site” will be open March 18th through November 30th daily from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. This year’s opening date is two (2) weeks earlier than the scheduled April 1st opening date.

Only residents of Waterloo and/or non-resident landlords and residential property owners transporting yard waste generated on City of Waterloo residential properties will be able to utilize this site. Non-resident landlords must register at the Waste Management Services Office before using the disposal site. The office is located at 3505 Easton Avenue and is open 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday.

The site is not to be utilized by any commercial or “for hire” transporters of yard waste.

Yard Waste includes: Vegetative wastes resulting from the care and maintenance of residential yards, flowerbeds, and gardens, including but not limited to grass clippings, leaves, tree limbs, bark, garden waste, brush and small twigs and branches not exceeding two and one-half (2 ½) inches in diameter and three and one-half (3 ½) feet in length.

• Tree stumps, tree roots, trunks, logs and branches that are more than two and one-half (2 ½) inches in diameter or three and one-half (3 ½) feet in length.
• Flower and decorative products. Examples include, but are not limited to flower arrangements, decorated potted plants, wreaths, bouquets, garlands, and small bedding flats.
• Metal, plastic, rock, dirt, wire, fencing, weed barriers or other underlayment, border materials, stone, brick, masonry.
• Other inorganic material not considered yard waste.

Questions regarding eligibility status may be directed to the Waste Management Services’ office, 3505 Easton Avenue (office inside the gated treatment plant grounds), Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., or by calling 291-4553 during office hours.

March 15, 2010

WATERLOO LEISURE SERVICES TO OPEN PUBLIC GOLF COURSES

Waterloo’s three Municipal Golf Courses will open at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 16, 2010. Weather permitting, the courses will remain open for the season.

Season tickets are currently available at Gates, Irv Warren Memorial, and South Hills Golf Courses and at the Leisure Services Office, 1101 Campbell Avenue, Waterloo.

Complete information regarding Waterloo’s three Municipal Golf Courses is available at: www.waterlooleisureservices.org or by phone at 291-4370.

March 12, 2010
Household Toxins Drop-off

The Black Hawk County Solid Waste Management Commission will be partnering with the City of Waterloo to sponsor a FREE household hazardous materials drop-off event this spring. ALL Black Hawk County residents are welcome to bring approved materials. The event will be held on Saturday, April 10th from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM at the Waterloo Waste Water Treatment Plant located at 3505 Easton Avenue in Waterloo. On the day of the event, follow signs from the intersection of Highway 218 and Mitchell Avenue to the drop-off site.

The Black Hawk County Solid Waste Management Commission will be accepting toxic materials from county residential homes and garages at the free drop-off site.

WHAT YOU CAN BRING TO THE DROP-OFF EVENT:

1. Home items such as: aerosol cans, rechargeable batteries, fluorescent light bulbs (compact and tube), ballasts, furniture and metal polish, wallpaper remover, spot remover, floor care products and oven, drain, and other types of cleaners.
2. Lawn & Garden products such as: insect spray, rat/mouse/gopher poison, and fungicides.
3. Garage & Workshop items such as: pool chemicals, concrete cleaner, acids and bases, auto cleaners, varnish, car wax, brake fluid, driveway sealer, epoxy, glues, gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluid, petroleum-based adhesives, roofing tar, shellac, and propane tanks.

WHAT YOU CANNOT BRING TO THE DROP-OFF EVENT:

1. Paint
2. Motor Oil & Antifreeze
3. Ammunition
4. Fire extinguishers
5. Smoke detectors
6. Alkaline Batteries (AAA, AA, 9 volt, etc. Batteries)
7. Asbestos
8. Radioactive materials
9. Non-hazardous waste (please use your weekly garbage service)
10. Business waste of any type (call for a list of vendors that work with local businesses)

A complete listing of accepted items can be found on the county solid waste mgmt. commission’s website (www.WasteTrac.org). Please call if you have an item not listed and staff can let you know if it will be accepted at the drop-off event. The drop-off will take place as scheduled – rain or shine! For more information, please visit www.WasteTrac.org or call the Waste Trac Education Team at 266-TRAC (8722).

For those residents unable to attend the April 10th drop-off event, the Black Hawk County Solid Waste Management Commission will be sponsoring another free drop-off event for Black Hawk County residents this fall on Saturday, September 25th from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM at Cedar Falls Utilities. Check the Waste Trac website for updates as the September event approaches.

March 11, 2010

The City of Waterloo has closed the Fletcher Avenue floodgates due to flooding of Black Hawk Creek and the Cedar River’s forecasted flood stage. The Cedar River is expected to crest Monday, March 15th at noon at 18.5 feet.

For comparison: The Cedar River crested at 26 feet in 2008.

The projected crest is based on current conditions. These conditions can change depending on additional rainfall amounts.

National Weather Service

February 23, 2010

NOTICE OF COMMENT PERIOD MARCH 1 – 30, 2010 CITY OF WATERLOO - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FY2011 CONSOLIDATED PLAN

A Consolidated Plan One-Year Action Plan will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by the City of Waterloo, on or about May 15, 2010. The One-Year Action Plan includes an application for about $1,455,000 in Federal Community Development Block Grant funds and $5,000 in Program Income funds. The plan also includes an application for about $683,000 in Federal HOME funds and Program Income of approximately $3,000. All dollar amounts subject to change. The program year for which the funds are intended begins July 1, 2010. The funds will be used for a variety of activities including public services, neighborhood planning, housing rehabilitation, down payment assistance, new construction, rental deposit assistance, handicap ramps and public facilities improvements. None of the activities will cause displacement of persons or businesses from their present location. In the event such displacement would occur, an Anti-displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan has been developed outlining assistance available. This plan will also be available for public review in the Community Development Office. A 30-day public comment period will begin March 1, 2010 and end on March 30, 2010. The comments will then be incorporated into the final document submitted to HUD. Comments and/or questions may be directed in writing to Rudy D. Jones, Community Development Director, Community Development Board, Carnegie Annex - Suite 202, 620 Mulberry Street, Waterloo, Iowa 50703 or phone 291-4429. Board Recommendation Chart

February 18, 2010

The City of Waterloo received notice of funds available for Multi-Family (Rental) Unit Production-New Construction (Round 2) from the Iowa Department of Economic Development. Applications are due May 14, 2010 at NOON. Application forms and program guidelines available at the Waterloo Community Development office, 620 Mulberry Street, Waterloo, Iowa 50703 or on line at:

www.cityofwaterlooiowa.com/communitydevelopment/commdevocurrentnews

For more information, please call Rudy Jones at 291-4429.

December 14, 2009
The mission of Public Access television is to provide a free-speech forum open to all, without discrimination or favoritism based on content. Waterloo Community Television (WCTV) achieves this goal. Its sister channel is Waterloo Government Access (WGAT), which exists to make local government more transparent to community residents. These two local channels, plus two educational channels, are undergoing a change to keep pace with newer technology in the cable television industry. Known as PEG channels (public, education, government), these are moving from an analog transmission to digital television beginning December 9. For many TV viewers, this change will not be noticeable. But for those who do not use digital TV, viewing access will continue only on televisions linked to a digital tuner or adapter. Mediacom works in partnership with the City of Waterloo to make channel space available for PEG channels (15, 17, 18, 19). Mediacom is giving its non-digital customers FREE digital tuners that function as “adapters” – bringing the digital signals into clear view on older, non-digital television screens. The digital tuner or adapter is known as a DTA. It is a small, simple device – not much larger than a deck of cards. Simply connect it beside or behind a television and the full set of PEG channels becomes viewable. How to view Waterloo PEG Channels after Dec. 9, based on three (3) viewing options: 1. Viewers with digital cable service (approx. 50% of Mediacom customers) a. – No changes; your digital cable box tunes-in digital PEG channels 2. Newer televisions with built-in QAM tuners (TVs manufactured since 2004) a. – No additional device needed; tune-in at 79.2, 79.4, 79.5 or 79.6 3. Cable customers with non-digital service (no set-top box) and non-digital televisions a. – A digital tuner (DTA) is needed; get one FREE from Mediacom (modest fee for 2nd DTA use) For more information: Contact Waterloo’s Public & Government. Access Channel coordinator: Ed.stoffer@waterloo-ia.org Or, contact Mediacom’s Communications Director, Phyllis Peters: ppeters@mediacomcc.com or 515-246-2295

September 18, 2009
Welcome to the new City of Waterloo website! We wanted to make it easier for citizens and visitors to find out more about our great city. To the left you can find dropdown menus that will assist you in finding the information you need. Looking for a phone number? No problem! The City Services guide is easily accessible from the homepage and has a list of frequently called numbers for your convenience. The City of Waterloo cares about what you think. To contact the City of Waterloo, click on the “Contact Us” link in the upper right-hand corner of the website. The City of Waterloo . . . we’re working for you!

April 13, 2009
Contributors who made this new website possible - The CBE Group, Inc.; The Community Foundation; US Bank Foundation; Warren Transportation; Regions Bank; Young Plumbing & Heating; Northland Oil; Shorts Travel; Wells Fargo; Young Development.