West Liberty will expand its involvement in a program designed to help military families find childcare.
The city council voted to approve an expanded agreement at the Sept. 17 meeting.
The program will now help Army families, in addition to National Guard and Army Reserve families.
City manager Lee Geertz said that while there are some slightly different requirements for the Army, West Liberty will continue to act as a pass-through government agency for the program.
Council members also heard from Jessa Santangelo, a representative of the Upwards, which manages the program. West Liberty just completed its first year as part of a pilot program.
Santangelo said in the greater West Liberty area, 186 families and 278 children have been impacted, with 60 percent of those families having no childcare arrangement prior to joining the program.
Santangelo said the program is rapidly expanding across the country. More than 300 childcare providers were able to expand their hours to offer care during weekends and non-traditional hours, thanks to funding provided by the program. She added that the program has already filled all the allocated slots it had anticipated.
Mayor Mark Smith thanked WELEAD director Ken Brooks, city manager Geertz, council member Dana Domiguez, and mayor pro tem Cara McFerren for their work on bringing the program to West Liberty. “I know that they have worked well with you and hard with you to make this program a reality, so we’re very proud of what we’re doing here in West Liberty,” he told Santangelo.
“We are very, very grateful, incredibly grateful,” Santangelo responded. “And I can say that for individuals across the entire nation. It’s because of all of you that a lot of families are receiving these support services, so thank you so much.”
Geertz added that representatives from West Liberty have been asked to attend an event for the program on Nov. 13 at the Pentagon.
Short Street congestion
McFerren asked city engineer Leo Foley to investigate reports of congestion on Short Street near the new condo and apartment construction. She said parking spaces were frequently full and that “no parking on this side of the street” signs were frequently disregarded. There was also concern the ambulance would not be able to get down the street due to the parking situation.
“Last weekend, there were cars on both sides of the street, so you really had to thread that narrow area to get down Short Street. So, it was a little frustrating. I think we would like to see how we can look to resolve this,” McFerren said.
Geertz suggested a conversation with property owners might be in order. She said the apartment complex owners had previously had discussion about establishing overflow parking. She said she could reach out again to revisit the issue.
Bills
The council approved bills in the amount of $626,141.72.
Council member Joshua Shiltz asked about a payment to the Muscatine Humane Society for a “stray from Atalissa – animal control” for $100.
Geertz explained that some residents had brought a stray animal found in the rural area into West Liberty for animal control and the city contacted the humane society. She added that any resident who finds a stray animal in the rural area should take it directly to Muscatine, as West Liberty’s animal control only extends to animals within city limits.
Successful festivals
Council member Omar Martinez reported the Children’s Festival and Fiesta Latina were successful, with excellent attendance. Mayor Smith commended the volunteers who planned and cleaned up after the festivals.
Library board appointment
Rachel Morrison was appointed to fill a vacancy on the library board, made after Vanessa Espinoza resigned. Shiltz said he thought Morrison would be a “great addition” to the board. Library director Allie Paarsmith said Morrison would bring a wealth of business knowledge.
The term will expire in December of 2025, at which time Morrison’s appointment could be renewed.
Water line survey
Mayor Smith encouraged residents to fill out the Service Line Material Survey for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. A link to the survey is posted on the city website.
The survey is intended to determine the type of pipe that services water lines to each residence, and in particular to see if any homes are still serviced by lead pipes.