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Iowa City Landfill Fire Status Update

The Iowa City landfill fire continues to burn on approximately 7.5 acres of land. The fire is primarily confined to the unused portion of the City's newest landfill cell. The exposed landfill liner system that contains a layer of shredded tires is actively burning and producing heavy black smoke. City officials are continuing efforts to contain the fire and expect that it will burn for several days. Over the next 24 hours the winds are expected to shift, pushing the smoke plume in different directions and over varying populations. The Johnson County Health Department continues to offer the following precautions to the general public:

Persons in the path of the smoke plume should avoid exposure to the smoke as much as possible. Persons who have respiratory, heart or other conditions which may be aggravated by smoke, pregnant women, and the young and elderly should shelter in places with outside sources of air shut off. Most home air conditioning units recirculate air from the interior and should be sufficient. Businesses and other structures which draw in outside air should close outside air sources if the smoke plume is present. Avoid outdoor activities such as exercising if the smoke plume is present. Nursing homes, day cares and other businesses which care for the elderly, very young and persons with respiratory diseases should take special care to monitor the health of clients and to minimize exposure to the smoke plume.

Local officials from the Johnson County Health Department have been working with personnel from the State Hygienic Lab to monitor air quality. Samples taken Sunday evening in three locations throughout Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty showed normal levels of chemicals expected in smoke. One sample had levels of two chemicals which were higher than the other two samples, but were still under standards for long-term occupational exposure. The City and the Johnson County Health Department, under the advisement of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, will continue to monitor air patterns and test the air as needed.

Landfill Fire Update

IOWA CITY, IA. -- The landfill fire has spread across the containment line constructed last night and has spread to most of the remaining lining system, producing additional smoke. The wind has shifted directing the smoke over more populated areas. To repeat the advice from the Johnson County Health Department:

Persons in the path of the smoke plume should avoid exposure to the smoke as much as possible. Persons who have respiratory, heart or other conditions which may be aggravated by smoke and the young and elderly should shelter in place with outside sources of air shut off. Most home air conditioning units recirculate air from the interior and should be sufficient. Businesses and other structures which draw in outside air should close outside air sources if the smoke plume is present. Avoid outdoor activities such as exercising if the smoke plume is present. Nursing homes, day cares and other businesses which care for the elderly, very young and persons with respiratory diseases should take special care to monitor the health of clients and to minimize exposure to the smoke plume.

The Johnson County Health Department is coordinating with the State Hygienics Lab Air Quality Department to begin air quality monitoring.

More information will be issued as it becomes available.

Iowa City Landfill Fire

About 6:38 pm Saturday the Fire Department responded to a call of a fire at the Iowa City Landfill, 3900 Hebl Ave., one mile west of Hwy 218 in Iowa City.

The fire appears to have started at the working face of the landfill where garbage was dumped earlier in the day.

The fire then spread to the landfill liner system which includes a drainage layer of shredded tires. Once the fire was in the drainage system, strong south winds spread it quickly along the west edge of the landfill cell.

Landfill staff used bulldozers to cut a gap in the shredded tire layer to contain the fire, but the fire spread across the gap before it could be competed.

Staff regrouped cut a second gap that was successful at containing the fire. Approximately 3 acres of the liner system are burning.

Little can be done to extinguish the fire. The strategy is to keep it contained and allow it to burn out. This process is expected to take a number of days.

Strong winds are expected for the next two days which should help to disperse the smoke.

We have been in contact with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Johnson County Health Department for advice on air quality issues that may be associated with this type of fire. Because of the prevailing winds, the Johnson County Health Department has contacted the Linn County Health Department.

The following advice has been provided by the Johnson County Health Department:

Persons in the path of the smoke plume should avoid exposure to the smoke as much as possible. Persons who have respiratory, heart or other conditions which may be aggravated by smoke and the young and elderly should shelter in place with outside sources of air shut off. Most home air conditioning units recirculate air from the interior and should be sufficient. Businesses and other structures which draw in outside air should close outside air sources if the smoke plume is present. Avoid outdoor activities such as exercising if the smoke plume is present. Nursing homes, day cares and other businesses which care for the elderly, very young and persons with respiratory diseases should take special care to monitor the health of clients and to minimize exposure to the smoke plume.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Archer, Dolan talk issues in forum for Congressional seat

TIFFIN, IA. -- Vying to face off against liberal incumbent Dave Loebsack in November, GOP Congressional candidates John Archer and Dan Dolan discussed the issues of the day to an audience of about 75 last night at Clear Creek Amana High School.

Sponsored by the Johnson County Republican Central Committee, the forum was civil and focused on the hot topics of jobs, government spending, taxes and health care.

Archer, an attorney at Deere & Co., and also a part owner of the Schebeler Co., outlined his top priorities of addressing government spending and creating a better environment for job creation. He stated we must confront entitlement spending and privatize the government messes of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, the Transportation Security Administration and Amtrak.  He stressed the need to lower the corporate tax rate and reduce government regulation.

"The United States has the highest corporate tax rate in the world," he said.  "Is that making us competitve?" he asked.

Dolan, a small businessman and the owner of Dan Dolan Homes, addressed the problem of excessive government spending with a proposal to cap federal spending at 20% of GDP.  He wants to take it down from its current rate of 26% and noted the Obama administration proposal to take spending up to 30%.  Offering a couple of examples of where he would start looking to reign in spending, Dolan said cuts to the Department of Education and the Department of Energy were in order.  

"We have to say ‘stop,’” he said to all the federal spending.  

Both candidates agreed that federal overreach destroys jobs and were optimistic that the United States Supreme Court would rule ObamaCare as unconstitutional.  The crowd applauded the prospect. 

Archer highlighted tort reform as one way to reduce health care costs, Dolan stressed the need to allow consumers the ability to purchase health insurance from out-of-state providers.  Allowing insurers to compete for business he said, will reduce costs.

Moderated by University of Iowa Professor Tim Hagle, the forum lasted about an hour and 15 minutes.  The winner of the June 5 primary will face what Dolan aptly described as the "carpetbagger" Dave Loebsack, who moved from Mount Vernon to Iowa City just to keep his seat.

 

Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center Closing at Noon Due to High Winds

Due to high winds, the Iowa City Landfill is closing at noon today. The closure affects all landfill services, including trash, yard waste and recycling

Wind Advisory Today

Weather information provided by WeatherForYou.com

Thursday May 24
	Day: Windy. Mostly sunny in the morning...Then mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High in the upper 80s. South wind 20 to 30 mph with gusts to around 40 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.
	Night: Cooler. Mostly cloudy with isolated showers and thunderstorms in the evening...Then partly cloudy after midnight. Low in the mid 50s. West wind 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph shifting to the northwest around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of rain 20 percent.

http://coralvillecourier.typepad.com/community/weather.html

Road Construction - Lower Muscatine Road

IOWA CITY, IA. -- Weather permitting, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 25, 2012, traffic on Lower Muscatine Road will be reduced to one lane of alternating traffic from Spruce Street to Pine Street. This lane reduction is necessary to facilitate the installation of a fiber optic line in the area.

Motorists are to allow extra travel time when traveling in this area as delays may be possible. As always, caution should be exercised when traveling in construction areas.

For updated information on road construction in Iowa City, visit the City of Iowa City's website at http://www.iowa-city.org/works/roadconstruction.

Sherman In The House Ice Cream Social

Steve Sherman, Republican candidate for Iowa House District 77 will hold an Ice Cream Social Meet and Greet on Sunday, June 3 at the North Liberty Old Towne Park Gazebo from 6-8PM. North Towne Park is directly across from the Cherry Street & Dubuque Street intersection. 

Ice cream will be provided by Isaac’s Creamery of North Liberty.  Everyone is welcome to come to meet and visit with Steve and learn more about his campaign.   A free-will contribution of $10 would be appreciated.  Families are especially encouraged to attend. 

Sherman, an 18 year resident of North Liberty announced his candidacy for this new district seat in March.  

The newly created Iowa HD77 includes the communities of North Liberty, Tiffin, Oxford, Lone Tree, Shueyville, and Swisher along with Sharon Center and Frytown, as well as the unincorporated areas of southern and western Johnson County. 

For more information or to RSVP contact Steve Sherman, at steve@shermaninthehouse.com.  To learn more about Steve Sherman and his campaign, visit www.shermaninthehouse.com

Related Story:  http://coralvillecourier.typepad.com/community/2012/05/iowa-house-district-77-is-an-opportunity-for-republicans.html

City Park Pool & Summer Swim Passes

BEAT THE RUSH!!!

City Park Pool opens to the public this weekend (Saturday, May 26th) at 1:00pm!! Lap swim available from 11:30am-1:00pm

Summer Swim passes and 10-punch cards are now available for purchase at the Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center and at Mercer Park Aquatic Center.

Individual Summer Pass - $69
Family Summer Pass - $135
(Family passes are up to 5 family members; all family members must be listed on your tax return)
Each additional family member - $15

10-punch cards - $26