The most interesting take-aways from Monday’s City Council meeting were in the report time of the meeting.
Residents may be interested to know that tomorrow, Wednesday, December 14, over 100 community leaders from all over the State of Iowa will come to Nevada for the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Task Forces & Iowa Rural Development Council meeting.
Councilwoman Sandy Ehrig, who is co-chair of Empower Rural Iowa, talked about looking forward to hosting this meeting in Nevada as “a really good showcase” for our community.
The meeting will be held at Gatherings on Sixth Street and will feature a walking tour of Nevada’s downtown district in the early afternoon.
City Administrator Jordan Cook and Councilman Steve Skaggs both commented on the good turnout to the recent Christmas On Main event and thanked those involved for their time in putting the event together.
Also announced by Skaggs was a Mix N Mingle that will be held this Wednesday, December 14, at Evergreen Lane and hosted by Main Street Nevada and the Nevada Historical Society. The date was moved up after the printing of Our Nevada for December, so be advised of this change if you are following the December Our Nevada calendar.
Skaggs also commented on the recent successful events of the Camelot Theater Foundation, including the showing of “Home Alone” and this past weekend’s Bryan White concert, which also featured local artist Danny Grause. Councilman Dane Nealson said the concert drew 250 or more people.
Nealson also noted that the Ugly Sweater Run, put on by Runners United Nevada, on Saturday, raised $580 for Food at First.
Councilwoman Barb Mittman, who coordinates for Food at First showed her thanks to the runners Saturday. She also commented at the meeting that she is thankful for a group of City employees who will be using some of their volunteer service hours to help with Food at First this Thursday.
City Clerk Kerin Wright reported that she continues to work on the budget for 2023-24. Wright was also acknowledged and thanked for her sound work on the City Audit by Mayor Brett Barker.
Fire Chief Ray Reynolds thanked Barb Mittman for her help overseeing the kitchen on Saturday at the Methodist Church during the Christmas On Main Firefighters’ Chili & Cinnamon Roll Feed, which featured rolls from the Parks and Rec-sponsored cinnamon roll contest. He said $880 was raised by the event, and that money will be split between the two youth service groups who helped at the event. Reynolds also thanked the leaders of the Methodist Church for use of their kitchen and fellowship hall.
Library Director Erin Coughlin said, “Christmas On Main was amazing. We had almost 300 people through the doors of the library between 3 and 6 p.m., and I’m sure there were more people than that on main street.”
Coughlin also announced that the library has received a Story County Community Foundation grant which will be used to put story boards along the trail in Nevada, bringing some interesting reading/education opportunities to go with the physical benefits of utilizing the City’s trail system.
—Written by Marlys Barker, City of Nevada
