Fayette County
Four seasons of outdoor recreation can be enjoyed in numbers of beautiful parks (including the fabulous Volga River Recreation Area - one of the state's largest). Springtime offers outdoor enthusiasts an opportunity to study nature while searching for wildflowers, hunting for mushrooms, or fishing in the sparkling streams, meandering rivers, or in Frog Hollow Lake (Volga Lake).
Throughout the year, people can participate in activities such as golfing (five courses in the county), camping (outstanding public and private facilities), picnicking, swimming, canoeing, horseback riding, biking, and hiking. Stock car races are offered for spectators as well as a performing arts center and a movie theater.
In winter, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, and skating top the list. Fall offers beautiful foliage during the "changing of the colors". One of four state-sponsored scenic-byways passes though this "award- winning" county.
History buffs wishing to get a glimpse of the past can pick from stops in most Fayette County towns. Among them are: Montauk, home of Iowa's 12th governor; the Union Sunday School which houses the country's largest Kimball pipe organ being used for concerts; along with many one-room school houses, magnificent churches, century-old buildings, fascinating cemeteries, unique barns, statues, bridges, the Stone Man, opera houses and numerous museums.
Convenient motels, bed and breakfasts, public and private campgrounds, and many fine restaurants and shops are ready to serve visitors. Come be our guest and "Explore the Bounty of Fayette County".
Towns include Arlington, Clermont, Elgin, Fairbank, Fayette, Hawkeye, Maynard, Oelwein, Randalia, St. Lucas, Wadena, Waucoma, Westgate, and West Union (the county seat).
News Headlines
UERPC February Newsletter
Posted: Tue, February 21, 2012- Ruling in Open Meetings Violations Case
- Impact Award Winner
- IFA to Provide TBRA funding
- 2012 Keep Iowa Beautiful Grants Available
- We Are Seeking Brownfields Sites
- Welcome to the Board!
- Tweet With Us!
- Audits Complete
Ruling in Open Meeting Violations Case
Posted: Wed, February 15, 2012Judge Thomas A. Bitter of the First Judicial District of Iowa made the ruling Feb. 9. The judge also ruled that trial be held on the remaining count which alleges Upper Explorerland "purposefully" prevented the public from having access at a meeting.
The case originated from a Sept. 23, 2010 meeting in which Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission met to consider whether to buy a building in Decorah to alleviate the over-crowding at the Postville offices.
At that meeting, which included members of the public and a representative from the Postville newspaper, a lengthy discussion was held before a motion was made to buy the property in Decorah, which had been determined to be the most viable of all Northeast Iowa possible sites reviewed. The board unanimously agreed to a paper ballot vote. Each member cast ballots and the ballots were counted, showing 10 in favor of buying the property and six opposed.
On Oct. 18, 2010, the plaintiffs obtained an injunction prohibiting the Commission from entering into a contract for the purchase of real property in Decorah. A hearing on that motion was held Oct. 25 and the court issued a ruling stating that the Commission was enjoined from purchasing the property based on the Sept. 23 vote, but that the court could not prohibit the Commission from holding future meetings on the issue.
At a meeting in October 2010, the Commission voted to "table" the issue for 30 days to consider all options for expansion, and on Nov. 30, 2010, the Commission met and voted to purchase the Decorah property.
On Jan. 19, 2011, the plaintiffs filed an amended petition alleging 51 separate violations of Iowa's Open Meetings Laws dating as far back as 1999. The allegations stated that agendas were not posted properly and that Upper Explorerland did not properly publish the names and salaries of the commission members for the years 1999 through 2009.
Judge Bitter's ruling states the Commission properly posted the agendas on its bulletin board, and also that it properly published names and salaries in the Oelwein Daily Register. Plaintiffs had alleged that the Oelwein Register is not a "newspaper of general circulation" because it doesn't serve the entirety of the commission area.
The remaining count involves the Nov. 30, 2010 meeting in which some members of the public were required to stand in the hallway outside the meeting room because the room was not large enough to accommodate all attendees. Judge Bitter decided that a factual determination needs to be made at trial concerning this allegation. "This is a disputed factual issue," the judge wrote in his decision.
A date for the trial, which will be held in Allamakee County, has not been set.
UERPC Awarded "Impact Award"
Posted: Tue, January 31, 2012Keep IA Beautiful Grant Opportunities
Posted: Mon, January 30, 2012Project Eligibility:
- A community beautification project must have one or more of the following as its primary purpose:
- Litter prevention / removal / education / implementation / public awareness
- Recycling education / implementation / public awareness
- Beautification programs - flower, tree and shrub planting, painting & fix-up and general landscaping.
- Public nuisance abatement.
- Grant limits are $5,000 for beautification projects.
- Projects with long-term or continuing benefits are desirable as opposed to one-time projects without lasting benefit. As an example - a short term project might include flower planting while a longer term value project might be tree planting.
- Projects involving youth with a focus on service learning opportunities are most encouraged.
- The following are not eligible for funding:
- Taxes.
- Vehicle registration.
- Legal costs.
- Contingency funds and / or organization operational costs.
- Proposal preparation.
- Motorized equipment costing more than $1,000.
- Contractual project administration.
- Land / building acquisition, leases, easements, etc.
- Speakers, entertainment, refreshments and food.
- Costs for which payment has been or will be received under another federal, state or private financial assistance program.
- Costs incurred before a written agreement between the applicant and KIB has been executed.
- Office furniture, computers, fax machines and other office furnishings and equipment.
- T-shirts and give-a-way items.
- Outdoor furniture (grants are available under the "Build with Bags" program).
- Administrative and general operating costs of the project sponsor.
- An approved community project must be completed within the funding period.
- Photo documentation and media planning are required giving recognition to grant administrators and fund sources.
- Be prepared to undergo an audit regarding expenditures of the grant.
Keep Iowa Beautiful
Contact:
Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission
POSTVILLE
134 West Greene Street, PO Box 219
Postville, IA 52162-0219
Phone: 563.864.7551 | Fax: 563.864.7535
DECORAH
325 Washington Street, Suite A
Decorah, IA 52101
Phone: 563.382.6171 | Fax: 563.382.6311
Our Mission:
To promote regional cooperation and meet the planning and economic development needs of local governments.
It is illegal to discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin. For deaf and hard of hearing, please use Relay Iowa 711.
Site designed and maintained by Iroc Web Design Services©.
Your Small Business Web Design Solutions.™