Dear Citizens of Belle Plaine:

This month’s newsletter will be considerably shorter. Many of you know I am at home recovering from significant pancreas surgery. At the time of this writing, no cancer is involved, including 11 negative biopsies.

How fast I recover will depend on how quickly an old guy can recoup from major surgery. But my plans are to be back for my 55th Class Reunion (BP Class of 1968), my 50th UNI Class Reunion (Class of 1973), to attend all UNI home football games (Go Panthers) & to attend all UNI Volleyball games (Go Cats).

I can discuss the winter seasons later on!

I hope you enjoyed the July 4 celebration and most I have talked to thought it was grand. A special thank you to the Lions Club, BPCDC, (esp. Ashley Drahn), the Fourth of July Committee, the Athletic Booster Club & all Associate groups for all the work & sacrifice they make every year so we can have a two-day celebration.

It takes a city of volunteers to pull off a city-wide celebration.

Just remember the Lion’s Club is limiting their participation in the July 4 part of our celebration. We cannot expect the good folks of BPCDC to take over this part of the July 4th celebration. We must create a new committee & group to handle the 4th. If you are interested in being a part of that group or taking a leadership role, then let either the Mayor know or the City Administrator.

The sooner we start planning, the easier the rollover to the new group will be

So, here are some quick reminders as we head into August. School will start in a few short weeks, so be prepared to see different traffic patterns, especially parents turning on 7th Street off 7th Avenue in the mornings & afternoons. There is a lot more bike activity in that area, and 13th Avenue is full of traffic as high school students, parents, & teachers flood it at certain times to go to the Junior High & High School activities.

Please let’s make the Belle Plaine School Zones the safest in Iowa.

Yes, eventually, there will be different school stoplights on 7th Avenue, and sooner than you realize, the DOT is scheduled for a repaving project on Highway 21 from 1st Street to 15th Street in Belle Plaine.

This will bring some significant changes.

Again, a public service reminder IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. Things that don’t look right must be reported to city hall or the police department.

We live in strange times, as witnessed by the shootings in some of our bigger cities. Please call it in if you see something that does not look right. Our department can’t be everywhere, so please help them by calling in all suspicious activity. This is especially true of drone problems that have been plaguing our community and other towns as well. Please report these problems when they happen and file the necessary FAA forms.

Remember, the 72nd Annual Firemen’s Dance is now August 4 & will be held again this year in Franklin Park from 8 until midnight.

Remember, these guys still make house calls!

We do have city elections coming in November.

Greater details in the future. If I recover from my surgery with little to no adverse effects, I plan to seek re-election for the last time. If the surgery takes a significant toll on my recovery, then I will not seek re-election. I guess this is all in the hands of the University of Iowa surgical team in charge of my health care! More news next month!

School is just around the corner, so hopefully, U will be able to get out and support the XC team, the volleyball squad, the football program, the marching band & the cheerleaders.

As always, “Go Plainsmen.” Remember, it is up to all of us to make Belle Plaine the Best Hometown in Iowa!