Windsor Heights Blog

Council Study Session

windsorheightsiowa — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:52:59 +0000

The next Council Study Session is scheduled for Monday, January 30th at 4:00 p.m.

Coffee & Politics

windsorheightsiowa — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:17:31 +0000

The Windsor Heights Chamber of Commerce invites the public to attend its sixth annual Legislative Coffee on Saturday, January 28^th, at the headquarters of 3E, 953 73^rd Street, Windsor Heights, from 9-11 a.m.

Officials elected to represent Windsor Heights’ residents and surrounding areas at the state and county levels have been invited to attend. Those individuals are State Senator Pat Ward; State Senator Brad Zaun; State Representatives Chris Hagenow, Peter Cownie, Jo Oldson, Scott Raecker, Matt McCoy and Janet Peterson; and Polk County Supervisor Angela Connolly.

Each representative will have 10 minutes to give an update, followed by questions from the audience. “This is a lively, casual event. Citizens are able to ask specific questions, and elected officials can address their concerns,” says Barb Niccum, Executive Director of the Windsor Heights Chamber. “The Chamber is pleased to be involved in bringing these kinds of events to the community.”

The Legislative Coffee gives citizens an opportunity to learn more about the issues before the state legislature this session and about issues facing Polk County. The event is open to the public and free of charge.

Collecting for the Food Pantry

windsorheightsiowa — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:35:06 +0000

The Cowles Montessori School, in honor of Maria Montessori’s vision of peace, will celebrate the 100^th day of school by donating cans of food to the food pantry. Each classroom is being encouraged to collect 100 cans of food the week of January 30^th – February 3^rd. On Friday, February 3^rd, the food would be delivered to the food pantry. The whole community can also donate cans of food to the effort at City Hall. There is a barrel in the front vestibule of City Hall and the food will be taken to the warehouse for distribution to the area emergency food pantries at the same time the food collected at the school is taken. Bring your items in now and help feed the hungry families in our area.

Don’t Forget to License Your Pets

windsorheightsiowa — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:15:05 +0000

It is the time of year when dog and cat owners are reminded to have their pets licensed and tagged. This allows the City to quickly notify their owners should the pets stray and be picked up. It also verifies animals have proper rabies vaccinations. Licenses cost $10 for altered pets and $20 for unaltered pets. There is an additional fine if your pet is not licensed prior to April 1, so license your pet as soon as possible. Pets must have proof of their current rabies vaccination from their vet. Registration forms are on the city website or you can stop into city hall and license your pet today!

Join the Windsor Heights Special Events Group!

windsorheightsiowa — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:13:36 +0000

Do you like July 4^th, Oktoberfest, Movies in the Park? Event planning requires a full range of skills including organization, communication, following a budget, implementing a plan – all important. We value your input as a member of the Windsor Heights Special Events Committee. In addition to the events, the Community & Event Center is directly under the auspices of this Committee. .. as is the marketing … So, don’t delay. Should you be interested, the Committee meets monthly on the 2^nd Monday from 5:15 – 6:30 p.m. Give Tracy a call at 645-6821 or e-mail her at tlevine@windsorheights.org

Sustainability Series at the Community and Events Center

windsorheightsiowa — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:35:53 +0000

Windsor Heights values sustainability.

As a community completely surrounded by other cities, we simply cannot grow our borders to expand our city. Instead, we have to improve everything we have. An important step towards a healthy, sustainable community is educating our citizens on the efforts the city has undertaken to become more green. In addition, individuals can do a tremendous amount themselves to make their own home more green. Throughout the year, we will be offering an informational series on sustainability on a variety of topics. Below are two scheduled events.

February 16 • 6:00 pm • Community and Events Center

3E, Electrical Engineering and Equipment Company based in Windsor Heights, will be presenting on different types of lighting, occupancy sensors, etc., available and how evolving technology can be used in a person’s residential home to save electrical costs and help the environment. Specific information on how up-front costs can be negated by the significant long term energy savings will be available.

March 29 • 6:00 pm • Community and Events Center

Every year, the sanitary sewer pipes in Windsor Heights, through broken and deteriorating pipes, leaking joints and manholes and also through private residential lines with the same problems (and other connections like perimeter home drains and sump pumps), send thousands of gallons of rain and ground water into on sanitary sewer lines. As you can imagine, this creates a massive problem for our environment, the city as a whole and sometimes, individual property owners. Not only does all the water in our sanitary sewer lines have to be treated in a waste water treatment plant, costing millions of dollars, but this also causes sewer backups into people’s homes – a problem no one wants to deal with. The City of Windsor Heights has worked with the Windsor Heights-Urbandale Sanitary Sewer District and Polk County to create a fund, administered by the Neighborhood Finance Corporation, to help residents offset the costs with fixing their private sanitary sewer problems. Plan to attend and learn more about financing available to help solve your home’s problems.

Hickman Road and 63rd Street Vision Plan

windsorheightsiowa — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:40:15 +0000

Hickman Road near 63rd Street is one of the last locations with open land in Windsor Heights. The city owns the property and is working to create a master plan vision for what type of growth the city would like to see in that area. Please join us on February 2nd from 5:00-6:00 p.m. for a public open house with the final vision plan presentation at 6:00 p.m. followed up with discussion and questions. The master plan will be a guide as the city looks to grow one of the last remaining open spots within the city. The meeting will take place at city hall and is open to everyone. For more information on the open house and the Hickman Road development, check out the Windsor Heights website at http://www.windsorheights.org/hickman.htm.

Sale of Brownie and the Recipe Benefits Windsor Heights – Order Today

windsorheightsiowa — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:09:05 +0000

Eric Shambaugh is donating his time and hard work to benefitting the Windsor Heights community. The Merrill Middle School 6 grade student is part of a community service project, “Dollars Doing Good.” His grandmother, Windsor Heights resident Mary Beth Craven helped brainstorm the idea after receiving so many accolades each time she served her home baked brownies.

For $5 a wrapped brownie and copy of the recipe is delivered to your home by Mary Beth, Eric and Eric’s younger brother Ryan. The raised money will be used to help pay for a crossing pedestrian light on College Drive.

To purchase a brownie and receive the recipe, send $5 to: Eric Shambaugh, 7804 College Drive, Windsor Heights or call: 276-5505. The deadline to place an order is January 15.

Winter Weather Reminder

windsorheightsiowa — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:10:39 +0000

With winter upon us, the City of Windsor Heights would like to remind residents of the ordinances that pertain to snow and ice. If you have any questions or concerns about the City’s snow ordinance, please do not hesitate to call City Hall at 279-3662.

What are the rules regarding parking a vehicle on the street during the winter? City code states that it is unlawful to park on any street during the time of any snowfall and within the 24 hours following the end of the any snow event (60.10.10). Any vehicle parked on the street during a snowfall or within 24 hours after a snowfall faces the possibility of receiving a $25 parking ticket and/or impoundment. It is important to remember the times when you cannot be parked on the street and that the snow ordinance automatically goes into effect when snow begins to accumulate. This allows for timely removal of snow from the streets and is needed to maintain the safety of our main thoroughfares to get emergency response apparatus to residential areas expeditiously.

What about my sidewalks during or after it snows? It is the responsibility of the abutting property owners to remove snow and ice accumulations promptly from sidewalks. If the property owner does not remove snow and/or ice accumulations within a reasonable time, the City may do so and ultimately assess the costs against the property owner for collection in the same manner as property tax. For purposes of enforcement, a reasonable time period is generally 48 hours after the snow or ice accumulations end. While the City realizes it can be frustrating to finish clearing your driveway and then have the plow come by, the snow removal policy adopted by the City Council indicates that snow placed in driveways by City plows is the responsibility of the property owner to remove. Snow from a private driveway may not be placed on or pushed across a City street.

Special Winter Classes to Boost Creativity to be offered at Windsor Heights Community and Events Center

windsorheightsiowa — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:08:45 +0000

Registration is now being taken for two classes offered at the Windsor Heights Community & Events Center.

Right Brain Journaling ($35.00)

February 27, March 5, 12, 7 – 9 p.m.

Learn a new way to journal that is fun and easy. Use it to solve problems, expand your creative side and pursue your dreams in a relaxed and supportive environment. No writing experience necessary. Just come prepared to try new ideas and share your creative spirit with others.

Colored Pencil Drawing ($44.00)

February 20, 27, March 5, 12, 1 – 3 p.m.

Have fun and try using colored pencils and the new watercolor pencils for a day of interesting experience in drawing with color. A small finished piece will be completed in class. No prior artistic or drawing experience is necessary. All materials provided.