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Supervisors proclaim National Voter Regstration Month

Public Health to install little library

The Hamilton County Board of Supervisors Tuesday proclaimed September 2018 as National Voter Registration Monday and Tuesday in particular as National Voter Registration Day

“We are encouraging all eligible citizens to exercise their right to vote on election day,” said Kim Schaa, Hamilton County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections. “We encourage everyone if they aren’t already to get registered to vote.”

Currently, Hamilton County has 9,709 active registered voters, according to Schaa. She said absentee ballots and early voting for the November general election begin Monday, Oct. 8.

Those wishing to register to vote can do so online at the Iowa Secretary of State website. A valid driver’s license or non-operator ID is required. A voter registration form can also be downloaded at the same website and can be returned to the county auditor’s office.

Shelby Kroona, Hamilton County Public Health administrator, approached the board about the possibility of installing a Little Free Library outside of the health department building.

“The idea was brought to me by one of our staff members,” she said. “Literacy and early literacy is a big focus in a lot of our home visitation programs.”

She said Early Headstart program has given her department books to get into the hands of these families and children. Kroona said she also contacted the Kendall Young Library about the idea.

“They were so excited about the idea of having a little library in our neighborhood because some people have difficulty getting to the library and don’t have to have a library card to access the books in the little library,” she added.

Other little libraries have been placed in several locations around Webster City, including one at city hall, one at the Kendall Young Library and one at Briggs Woods Park. She said the idea behind the little libraries is that people can take a book or leave a book.

“We’re a little different because Early Headstart will provide us with books, too. So we will always have children’s books available,” she said.

She asked the supervisors for permission to install the library and they unanimously supported the idea.

She said she had approached the Rotary Club concerning a donation to purchase or construct the book box. She added that she had also talked with students in the construction class at the high school who might be interested in building the box as a community project.

The board approved a lease agreement with Unity Point Health — The Berryhill Center for office space in the Hamilton County Social Services building.

“This just extends the lease agreement that with have with Unity Point Health. They utilize two offices in the building,” said Supervisor Doug Bailey. The action Tuesday will extend the lease for three more years.

A public hearing was set for Oct. 23 at 9 a.m. on the proposed designation of the Briggs Woods Conference Center Urban Renewal Area and on the Urban Renewal Plan and Project.

The board also approved a commitment for matching funds in the amount of $6,242.60 for an application for funding to the Iowa Finance Authority in support of the Heart of Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund. The project is being jointly done with Webster County, but the matching funds would be used within Hamilton County.

The supervisors acknowledged a resignation, Teresa Monroe, from the Sheriff’s Department, and two changes of status for Jesse Berhow and James Vincent, grader operators from the Secondary Roads Department. Berhow and Vincent will go up one classification with a wage increase of $.11 per hour. David Toftee Jr. was hired to serve as a full time mechanic in the Secondary Roads Department.

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