City of Blue Grass, Iowa

City Hall Hours

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The Mayor of Blue Grass has declared a "winter weather emergency" effective from 6:00 p.m., Friday, January 18, 2019 until noon (12:00 p.m.) Sunday, January 20, 2019 p.m. The City's Public Safety Building, 606 West Mayne Street, Blue Grass, Iowa, will be open to the public in need.

The City asks that vehicles NOT be parked on City Streets to allow emergency vehicles and snow plows to have full access and that residents and/or businesses do not dispose of snow onto City Streets.

If you have any questions, you may contact Mayor Larry Guy at (563) 349-1359.

7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 5:00 p.m. on the 15th day of the month, if the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, City Hall will be open until 5:00 p.m. the first business day after the 15th.

City Offices will be closed Monday, January 21, 2019 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The regular City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.

Note: Garbage & Recycling pickup - no change, will be picked up on Monday, January 21, 2019 as usual.

Blue Grass Residents: Just a friendly reminder, please remove all refuse containers within 24 hours after the designated collection day. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Blue Grass Municipal Code: 8.14.140 Refuse Containers ─ Location for and penalty.
D. Residents are to return their refuse and recycling containers onto their premises and removed from the street and/or alley within 24 hours of the designated collection day or the Residents shall be issued a municipal infraction and upon conviction shall be subject to a penalty of $25.00. This includes removal of refuge and recycling containers from all sidewalks, boulevards, curbs and rights of way. Residents whose refuse and/or recycling service was interrupted or missed on the designated collection day shall remove their container immediately and shall not be penalized. (Amd. 17-05, eff. 11/27/17)

YARD WASTE DISCONTINUED UNTIL APRIL 2019 Please note beginning January 1, 2019, yard waste stickers will be $3.00 each

CHRISTMAS TREE PICKUP: Christmas tree pickup by Republic Services will be Tuesday, January 7^th and Monday, January 14^th only. Trees must be free of bags or strings and curbside by 7:00 a.m. No sticker needed.

“SNOW REMOVAL POLICY/SIDEWALKS” PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION THE CITY WILL ENFORCE THIS POLICY

Sidewalks: After an accumulative two or more inches (2 inches) of snow has fallen, including blowing and drifting, the owner(s) of real estate within the limits of the City, their tenant(s), agent(s) or representative(s) are required to remove or cause to be removed all snow and ice from the sidewalks upon that portion of the street abutting the real estate so owned, occupied, controlled or represented by them within twenty-four (24) hours after the snow has stopped falling, or, if the ice is too smooth and hard to remove, it must be covered with ashes, sand, or sawdust in such amount as to make said sidewalk safely passable. Twenty-four (24) hours after an accumulative two or more inches (2 inches) of snow has stopped falling, including blowing and drifting, and the snow and/or ice is not removed from the sidewalk or not covered with ashes, sand, or sawdust as required in Section 12.12.010, it shall be the duty of the Public Works Director to remove the snow and/or ice and the cost shall be billed to the property owner(s). Such costs and expenses shall be billed to the property owner a minimum charge of $75.00. All other charges exceeding the $75.00 charge shall be billed accordingly at the City’s current rate. Such expenses shall be assessed, levied and collected as provided in Chapter 12.04.

Property owners shall not deposit snow onto City Streets. The deposit of snow onto City Streets by the property owner shall be a Municipal Infraction subject to a fine $75.00.

Snowblowers: In addition to city policy: No person or persons shall discharge grass clippings and/or any other type of debris onto a City Street, Alley, sidewalk, ditch or public ground. Property owners found to be in violation shall be issued a Municipal Infraction subject to a fine of $25.00 for the 1st offense, $50.00 for a 2nd offense and $75.00 for a 3rd and subsequent offense. So as a courtesy to others, please help our city snow removal crews and your neighbors by blowing your snow away from city streets and neighbors’ sidewalks.

“PLEASE KEEP FIRE HYDRANTS & HANDICAP RAMPS CLEAR OF SNOW & ICE”

The City asks that residents who have fire hydrants on around their property that they keep it clear of snow and ice so that if an emergency were to arise, Fire Department personnel may have easy access to it as it could save a life or real property.

If you have a handicap ramp on or around your property, we ask that you keep it clear of snow and ice so that a wheelchair may be able to maneuver easily having access to the sidewalk.

“SNOW REMOVAL POLICY/STREETS” PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION THE CITY WILL ENFORCE THIS POLICY: The City’s “snow removal policy” will go into effect immediately after the accumulation of two or more inches (2 inches) of snow or ice on the traffic surface of any street in the City or immediately upon the declaration of a snow emergency, and shall remain in effect upon said streets until such time the City has completed their snow clearance operations or until the accumulation of snow or ice dissipates to an amount less than two inches (2 inches). It is unlawful for any person to park or permit parking of any vehicle upon any street in the City when conditions of snow or ice exist in accumulation of two or more inches, whether due to snowfall, sleet, drifting or when a snow emergency has been declared by the Mayor.

Any vehicle located or parked upon any street shall be issued a Municipal Infraction Citation subject to a fine in the amount of $50.00 for the first violation and after such violation the Police Chief finds that the vehicle is in violation a second time, the vehicle’s owner shall be charged a Municipal Infraction Citation and charged a $50.00 fine and shall be removed from said street by the direction of the Police Chief without further notice to the vehicle’s owner. Removal and storage shall be at the expense of the owner of said vehicle and the vehicle shall not be released to its owner except upon payment of all towing and storage charges.

VACATIONING RESIDENTS

Just a reminder…when residents leave their residence for two or more months, they must fill out a form provided by City Hall ten days in advance in order to eliminate the monthly minimum charge for their utility services. This form authorizes the resident to turn their water service off at the meter and turn back on when returning. If water usage is reported from the resident’s Galaxy meter during this time, the resident will be charged for such usage upon returning. Upon returning, residents are responsible for notifying City Hall. If you have any questions, please call City Hall 381-4700. Thank you.

“Parking of Recreational Vehicles”

17.48.080 Off-Street Parking of Vehicles, Recreational Vehicles and Trailers

A. Recreational vehicles, buses, camping trailers, trailers, hauling trailers or boat trailers shall not be parked or stored during the months of November 1^st through March 31^st unless they are located behind the front yard building line, except as authorized on appeal to the Zoning Board of Adjustments. A sixteen foot utility trailer or a sixteen foot pull behind pop-up camper may be stored directly behind the residence all year round. Under no circumstances shall a recreational vehicle or camping trailer, travel trailer, hauling trailer or boat trailer be parked or stored in the public right-of-way or City street. Certain Subdivision covenants shall also apply to this chapter. (Please see the complete ordinance on file at City Hall).

B. Trucks and Trailers – No truck exceeding sixteen thousand and one pound licensed, or utility type trailer or construction type trailer exceeding sixteen foot shall be parked or stored in any residence district, with the exception of utility company service trucks, unless the truck is parked or stored in an enclosed garage.

C. Vehicles, boats with trailers, recreational vehicles, motor homes, buses, trucks, utility trailers, construction trailers, camping trailers, travel trailers, hauling trailers, boat trailers and enclosed trailers under no circumstances will be parked on the front yard.

Chapter 9.40 FIREWORKS: As used in this section “Consumer Fireworks” shall mean and include “Consumer first-class consumer fireworks and second-class consumer fireworks as those terms are defined in Iowa State Code §100.19, subsection 1. Consumer Fireworks includes, but is not limited to, such items as: Aerial shell kits and reloadable tubes; Chasers; Helicopter and aerial spinners; Firecrackers; Mine and shell devices; Missile-type rockets; Roman candles; Sky rockets and bottle rockets; Multiple tube devices that are manufactured in accordance with American Pyrotechnics Association 87-1, section 3.5.

Consumer fireworks does not include “Novelties” as defined and enumerated in chapter 3 of the American Pyrotechnics Association’s standard 87-1 or “Display Fireworks” as defined and enumerated in chapter 4 of the American Pyrotechnics Association’s standard 87-1 as published in December 2001.

Dates and Times as specified. Consumer Fireworks may be used on July 3 and July 4 from 2 p.m. until 11 p.m. and on the night of December 31 from 10 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. The Council may approve by Resolution special occurrences in its discretion for additional dates and times. The special occurrence dates and times so approved do not carryover from year to year.

Permit. A permit to use display fireworks may be issued by the Blue Grass Fire Department’s office pursuant to the criteria and standards adopted from the Uniform Fire Code.

Penalty and Enforcement. Use of any Consumer Firework at a date or time other than those allowed pursuant to subsection B or the use of Display Fireworks without a permit is prohibited and punishable as a simple misdemeanor as follows:

First Offense $125 Second Offense $200 Third and Subsequent $325

Now Hiring

PART-TIME POLICE OFFICER:

The City of Blue Grass is accepting applications for part-time Police Officers. Applicants must be Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) Certified upon applying and must provide ILEA Certificate and verification of current training requirements.

Competitive salary. A complete detailed job description and list of benefits is available at City Hall upon request.

A pre-employment physical, pre-employment drug test and MMPI will be required.

Applications are available at City Hall, 114 N. Mississippi Street, Blue Grass, Iowa or online: www.bluegrassia.org. Applications will be accepted until the position(s) are filled.

The City of Blue Grass is an equal opportunity employer.

Public Notification

2018 Recycle Calendar images/files/users/aschmidt/2018BluegrassRecycleCalendar.xlsx

Water Quality Report

The City of Blue Grass, Iowa has prepared their 2016 Water Quality Report.

2016 CCR Water Report.pdf

Municipal Code Book

2017 08 28 Blue Grass Municipal Code

Notice:

Chapter 10.70 GOLF CARTS

Section:

10.70.020 Operation of Golf Carts.

Golf carts may be operated on city streets by persons possessing a valid driver’s license. A golf cart shall not be operated upon a city street which is a primary road extension, i.e., state or federal highway, but shall be allowed to cross a city street which is a primary road extension through the City prohibited streets include Mississippi Street, Mayne Street, Lauretta Street and Oak Lane. The golf cart shall be equipped with working brakes, a slow-moving vehicle sign, and a bicycle safety flag. The golf cart shall be operated only on the streets from sunrise to sunset. Golf carts operated on city streets need not be registered under Chapter 321 of the Code of Iowa, but must adhere to Chapter 321 Motor Vehicles and Law of the Road, Code of Iowa. Operator must assume all liability.

From The Office Of The Mayor

Please be advised that while City of Blue Grass respects the rights of its citizens to exercise their freedom of speech regarding the issue of a proposed West Scott School, the City of Blue Grass takes no official position, neither for or against the proposed school, and will not provide any official comments on this issue.

The City of Blue Grass has maintained a longstanding, warm relationship with the Blue Grass Elementary School and the Davenport Community School District. The City of Blue Grass has been and will continue to be supportive of the Blue Grass Elementary School and the decisions of the Davenport Community School Board. The City of Blue Grass hopes and expects that any decisions regarding school closures only be made after a thorough review and analysis of the factors involved and not be based solely on the statements of a group of private citizens wishing to create their own school district. The City of Blue Grass is willing to meet and engage in meaningful dialogue with the Davenport Community School Board as it moves forward with this process.

Hello and welcome to the City of Blue Grass' website! Our website is designed to allow you easy access to our elected officials, City staff, various departments, meeting agendas, etc.

If you're already a part of our community, thank you. If you're considering relocating your home or business to Blue Grass, or just simply visiting, please do so as you won't be disappointed.

Blue Grass is primarily a quiet rural community with a quality of life residents experience that doesn't happen by chance, it comes from the efforts of everyone working together. We continually strive to make Blue Grass a friendly, caring community that offers quality schools, family values and a bright future. Blue Grass' 2010 census data shows the City's population count at 1,452 and estimates the 2016 population count at 1,699.

Just right off Highway 61, Blue Grass is centrally located just 10 miles from Davenport, Iowa and 18 miles from Muscatine, Iowa. Interstate 80 is 9 miles from Blue Grass; with Interstate 280 being 5 miles. The Quad-City International Airport is just located 14 miles from Blue Grass; with Des Moines being 160 miles and Chicago, IL being 185 miles.

Blue Grass has all the big City services your family or business needs to feel safe and secure. A medical clinic that offers family or business several health services. A volunteer Fire Department, complete with a full staff of certified EMT's, a friendly local Police Department that offers police protection. Medic EMS is available 24/7. We are a local City Government that continually looks out for the best interest of its City residents and businesses and are always eager to invite visitors or prospective new businesses or residents to their town.

Blue Grass is a community that the residents are proud to call "home". Consider Blue Grass your next home and or business.

Thank you for taking the time to visit our page, we hope that you find it very informative and welcoming. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call City Hall at (563) 381-4700, our friendly staff will be happy to assist you.

Congratulations Mayor elect Larry D. Guy. This will be Mr. Guy's first term as Mayor - 2018-2020 two-year term. Mr. Guy previously served on the City Council for 12 years and has served 36 years on the volunteer Fire Department and during that time he served 14 years as Fire Chief. You may reach Mayor Guy at either (563) 381-4700 or (563) 349-1359.

We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ms. Donna Kinzer and Ms. Emilyne Slagle who were elected to serve on the City Council beginning January 2018 through January 1, 2022. This will both their first term on the City Council.

Alert Iowa

Alert Iowa is a County/Statewide mass notification and emergency messaging system which can be used by State and local authorities to quickly disseminate emergency information to residents in counties that utilize the system. This system is powered by the Wireless Emergency Notification System (WENS) and the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), and in Scott County is under the control of the Scott County Emergency Management Agency and Scott Emergency Communications Center (SECC). This system will be used as an emergency notification system during all hazard and life-safety events. If you sign up through your community website (free of charge) you will receive messages via landline or wireless phone, text messaging, email, fax, TDD/TYY, and social media. If your community does not have a website you may sign up on the Scott County website: www.scottcountyiowa.com. The system is available, free of charge, to all citizens in Scott County and we encourage everyone to register at least one contact method. Messages may contain photo, video and audio attachments to help subscribers better understand the situation at hand, or where to find additional information. These messages will normally be specific to your community or the communities for which you register. However, if you sign up through the Scott County website and do not choose any specific community, you will receive only warnings and information specific to the County and not your specific community.Once you have registered, your information will be automatically entered into the system and you will receive any notices sent out. Nevertheless, should you decide you no longer wish to receive messages after registering, you can opt-out of the system by sending an e-mail or letter to Scott County EMA at 1100 E. 46th Street, Davenport, IA 52807 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your name, address and phone number you registered. The process to remove a phone number takes 24 to 72 hours and once a person opts-out: they will no longer receive any notices.