City of Blue Grass, Iowa

City Hall Hours

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 Hall will close at 4:30 p.m. today, Monday, September 16, 2019 - we apologize for this inconvenience. Thank you.

Attention Blue Grass residents that reside in the City limits only, if you are interested in oak for firewood, the City has trees that have been cut down at Fridley Park at 300 South Moore Street. Residents must sign a hold harmless agreement with the City prior to removing any wood. Please make arrangement with Public Works Director Lonnie Robertson at (563) 349-6989. Thank you.

Road closure: the City of Blue Grass will be shutting down South Mississippi Street from Mayne Street to Garonne Street for approximately 1 week starting today, September 16, 2019 for street repairs. We apologize for any inconvenience - we thank you for your cooperation.

Fall Clean up Day

The City of Blue Grass will have a “free” “Fall Large Item clean up Day” on Monday, September 30, 2019 for Blue Grass residents, within the city limits only. Items must be curbside at 6:00 a.m.

Items that will be accepted include large items, furniture, table, chairs, metals, etc.

Items NOT accepted are: hazardous waste, medical waste, paint, appliances (washer, dryer, stove, refrigerator, water heater, etc.), e-waste (TV, computer, printer, fax, microwave, anything with a circuit board), flammables and/or explosives and tires. There is no charge for this pickup.

Electronic Waste (e-waste) recycling is available: visit www.wastecom.com for more information

The City of Blue Grass will begin their “free” leaf/yard waste pickup for residents of Blue Grass on the following dates:

Monday, October 28; Monday, November 4; Monday, November 11; Monday, November 18

Leaves and yard waste must be in yard/lawn paper biodegradable bags only, and must be curbside by 6:00 a.m.

Tree limbs 2” or smaller must be tied in 12” bundles and no larger than 4 feet long. Residents are not required to call Allied Waste for a scheduled pickup during this “free” pickup.

The last leaf/yard waste pickup for the year will be on Monday, November 18, 2019

Trick – or – Treat Night

in “Boo-Grass”

will be Thursday,

October 31, 2019

5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

CENSUS JOBS! $15.00 - $16.50 per hour

Earn extra income while helping your community. The Census is hiring for a variety of temporary jobs including census takers, recruiting assistants, office staff and supervisors. Pay rates are $15.00 - $16.50 per hour. Apply for one of thousands of temporary #2020CensusJobs.

Apply online at https://www.2020census.gov/jobs external link . For more information or help applying, please call 1-855-JOB-2020. #2020Census

Drop your "box tops" off at City Hall to help the Blue Grass Elementary School earn more money. Let's partner with the elementary school and give them a hand by dropping off your "box tops" at City Hall (which can be found on most General Mills products-check the date, make sure they are not expired). Thank you for your support!

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.

Republic Services is asking that residents leave at least 3 foot or more space between your garbage and recycling cart in order for the driver to successfully dispose of its contents. 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)

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 CROSSING GUARD:

The City of Blue Grass is accepting applications for a part-time Crossing Guard. Position consists of assisting school children across streets designated by the Chief of Police. Must receive a minimum of 4 hours instructions before performing the duties of a Crossing Guard; must be able to complete time sheets and understand instructions; must report to the Police Chief; must be able to hold a hand-held stop sign above the hand in an upright position while in the roadway; must possess the ability to work effectively with children; must assist students by recognizing natural gaps in motor vehicle patterns and safely enlarge natural traffic gaps and be able to display good judgment and respond quickly to emergencies. Hours consist of 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, excluding Holidays and School in-service days.

A pre-employment drug test is required.

Applications are available at City Hall, 114 N. Mississippi Street, Blue Grass, Iowa or online: www.bluegrassia.org.

Applications must be received at City Hall.

The City of Blue Grass is an equal opportunity employer.

Pre-employment Drug Test: All applicants for positions with the City will be required to take a drug test prior to being hired by the City and will be subject to random drug and alcohol testing after hire. Any offer of employment will clearly state that the offer is contingent on successfully completing the pre-employment drug test.

Public Notification

Golf Cart/ATV/UTV Application

images/files/users/aschmidt/GolfCartATVUTVRegistrationApplication.pdf

New Golf Cart Ordinance:

images/files/users/aschmidt/Ch10.70GOLFCARTS.pdf

New ATV Ordinance:

images/files/users/aschmidt/Ch10.80ALL-TERRAINVEHICLES.pdf

New UTV Ordinance:

images/files/users/aschmidt/Ch10.90UTILITYTASKVEHICLES.pdf

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 5, 2019

There are openings for Mayor and three City Council seats this next Municipal election that will be held in Blue Grass, Iowa on Tuesday, November 5, 2019. Just a reminder – Blue Grass is now a “run-off” election designation; therefore, there will be only one election and no primary election.

To hold office in the City of Blue Grass, a candidate must be an eligible elector. To be an eligible elector, the candidate must meet the same qualifications required to vote and be a resident of the city he or she plans to serve. Potential candidates should review their City’s Ordinances or Laws addressing the duties of Mayor and/or City Council. Roles and responsibilities vary from city to city. The first day to file is August 26, 2019 - Candidates filing for City office in Scott County must file in the Auditor’s Office- the last day to file is September 19, 2019 by 5:00 p.m. Nomination packets are available at City Hall or you may download them from the Scott County Auditor’s website: https://www.scottcountyiowa.com/auditor/candidate-resources or the City’s website: www.bluegrassia.org.

For more information visit: http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/cityelections.html

Municipal Code Book

2017 08 28 Blue Grass Municipal Code

Notice:

CENSUS ADDRESS CANVASSING OPERATION

Be aware that Address Canvassing is commencing.

Census workers will be working throughout communities until October 18th, verifying locations of houses, apartments, shelters and other places where people could live or stay.

The purpose of Address Canvassing is to ensure the census address list is accurate and complete for the 2020 Census.

When will Census Bureau employees be in my neighborhood?

Census Bureau employees will be in your neighborhoods knocking on doors from early August through mid-October.

How do I know the person at my door works for the Census Bureau?

Census employees will have:

Badges with photo IDs
Black canvas bags and laptops with 2020 Census Logos

How is the Census Bureau informing the public of the Address Canvassing operation?

The Census Bureau will work with local authorities to inform the public about when Census Bureau workers will be in your area.

Who can I contact to find more about Address Canvassing in Iowa?

Chicago Region (AR, IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, WI):
312-579-1500
Chicago.rcc.partnership@2020census.gov

CENSUS 101

What is a census and why is it important?

Once a decade, America comes together to count every resident in the United States, creating national awareness of the importance of the census and its valuable statistics. The decennial census was first taken in 1790, as mandated by the Constitution. It counts our population and households, providing the basis for reapportioning congressional seats, redistricting, and distributing more than $675 billion in federal funds annually to support states, counties and communities’ vital programs — impacting housing, education, transportation, employment, health care and public policy.

HOW THE CENSUS BENEFITS YOUR COMMUNITY

Federal funds, grants and support to states, counties and communities are based on population totals and breakdowns by sex, age, race and other factors. Your community benefits the most when the census counts everyone. People in your community use census data in all kinds of ways, such as these:

Residents use the census to support community initiatives involving legislation, quality-of-life and consumer advocacy.

Businesses use Census Bureau data to decide where to build factories, offices and stores, and these create jobs.

Local government officials use the census to ensure public safety and plan new schools and hospitals.

Real estate developers and city planners use the census to plan new homes and improve neighborhoods.

The next census is coming in 2020. Counting an increasingly diverse and growing population is a massive undertaking. It requires years of planning and the support of thousands of people.

Ultimately, the success of the census depends on everyone’s participation. The Census Bureau depends on cross-sector collaborations with organizations and individuals to get people to participate.

The 2020 Census is important for you and your community, and you can help.

Learn more about the 2020 Census.