The Courier from Waterloo, Iowa • 17

Obituaries C2 Daily Record C2, 4 Courier TT ITIEU? Yadda yadda Hunt for clues about "Seinfeld" finale intensifies. Page C7 Section i mu a 1 1 J2l- Wednesday, April 8, 1998 Nancy Raf fensperger Newhoff, Managing Editor (291-1445) H. James Potter, Regional Editor (291-1451) New Hampton bypass plan runs into snafu I New Hampton CALL THE COURIER Questions concerning local issues are taken on a special Courier phone line at 234-3566. Q. When Is Scott Jordan going to tear down the apartments on Johnson Street and rebuild new ones? A.

Jordan said he is working to secure funding from a federal housing program. No date for any construction has been set. 10 miles If BaK WaverlyT II The Iowa St. Ansgar project funded AMES A $137,000 state grant to pave two roads in St. Ansgar's industrial park was approved by the Iowa Transportation Commission Tuesday.

The Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy (RISE) funds will be used to finance half the project. The city will pay the rest. The two roads Industrial Drive and North Park Street will provide paved access to 10 lots totaling 25 acres in the park. City officials said and businesses there need paved roads to accommodate truck traffic. Transportation Commission Tuesday approved the design of the Highway 63 bypass around New Hampton.

Proposed Improvement Proposed Interchange around the west side of New I lampton. Interchanges would be constructed at intersections of U.S. Highways 63, 18 and Iowa Highway 346 and at La Salle Avenue. A connection to existing Highway 63 would be made at 225th Street, but the existing road would be closed to traffic just north of 235th Street. New Hampton Mayor Ray Klenske hailed the project as long overdue.

"Sara Lee (the city's largest manufacturer) celebrated its 25th anniversary last year," he said. "One of the reasons they came to New Hampton is that we were able to promise them way back then there was going to be four-lane highway in New Hampton. So we're really happy to see that finally accomplished." Businesses also wanted to see truck traffic routed around the city, Hassenstab noted. The road will pass over a railroad spur and travel on an elevated embankment as it goes around the west end of the town, creating a new view of the city. Klenske said the city would be visible to traffic coming from both directions.

"There'll be people who want to shop in a community of our size," he said. Commercial establishments, such as restaurants and stores, are already developing west of town near the proposed bypass route, Hassenstab said. Design would cut some property owners off from access. By PAT KINNEY Courier Business Editor AMES For want of a driveway, a homestead could be lost Such may be the case with some properties in the path of the proposed U.S. Highway 63 bypass around New Hampton.

Iowa Transportation Commission members were chagrined to learn at their meeting Tuesday about a half-dozen properties may have to be bought out because the bypass cuts off their access roads. That would leave them landlocked, and Iowa Department of Transportation policy prohibits the state from acquiring other private land to provide the affected properties an alternative access, staff members said. That may not make sense, commission member Tom Aller of Cedar Rapids said, particularly if it's cheaper for the state to buy land for a new property access than to buy out an entire homestead or farmstead "If it makes economic sense and it satisfies people and it's not illegal, that ought to be part of our thinking," he Q. Is it true that a recent order came from the mayor's office to the city parking ticket writers not to issue anymore tickets on the west side of the river, only on the east side, until further notice? A. Waterloo Mayor John Roof said he didn't make such an order.

He said the city is studying downtown parking and has ordered parking enforcement officers to "pull back" on more specific areas as part of that study. COURIER graphic department has sold off unused portions of state-acquired right of way after the completion of a project The commission also asked Hassenstab to look into a solution to egress problems for Douglas Betten's property- His home is among those properties that may have to be acquired for access complications, Hassenstab said. But nearly two acres of vacant land adjacent to Betten's property may be available for a possible solution. "Our family is hoping to come up with a solution that's acceptable to everyone," Bctten told the commission. In all, some 80 parcels of land owned by 70 owners, including some residen- said.

Commission members approved the design of the $39 million bypass, to be built in 1999-2000, but directed staff to research "whether or not we can provide easements to accommodate landlocked properties as a department poli-cy. Phil Hassenstab, DOT project development engineer, said the agency has refrained from effectively putting itself in the position of a land broker between private property owners in such situations. In other instances, however including federally funded highway and street projects in Waterloo-Cedar Falls over the past 10 years the tial and commercial properties, would be acquired. Highway 63 through traffic would be maintained during construction, requiring staging that would delay completion by about six months, Hassenstab said. He said the adjacent county roads could not handle an anticipated 30 percent increase in traffic if over-the-road trucks and other vehicles were detoured onto them.

The 16-mile bypass would be routed Q. If bids are too high for the bike trail out of Hudson, why doesn't the city of Hudson give money out of the general fund as it did for the public library It will soon be building? A. City officials are rejecting the first bids because they came in too high, and will start the bidding process over again, according to City Clerk Celeste O'Brian. But because your question is more of a suggestion, it would be better to suggest this to your city councilman, or attend a City Council meeting and raise the question to the entire council during the time designated for public comments. The next meeting Is Monday at 7 p.m.

at City Hall. New golf course on its way in C.E Q. In the mutual stocks, why doesn't the Courier list the buying and selling of stocks rather than just the selling? A. We currently run 2,000 mutual fund listings. Adding another column would mean paring that back considerably.

Many of the funds are "no load," which means there is no added cost to a buyer and no need for a "buy" column. 1 jiiiMi we'll have, that we'll soon be recognized as one of the golfing centers of the Midwest as well," he said. The new irrigated golf course will comprise 32 playable acres, nine bunkers and 125 trees. An existing wetlands area will be maintained. Each hole will have four marker colors that will allow the course to play as long as 1,340 yards and as short as 765 yards.

The course will take about an hour to play perfect for seniors citizens, beginners or golfers who wants to practice their short and long irons and putting, said Mark Ripplinger, Park Division manager. The general contractor, The Bruce Co. of Middleton, expects to wrap up construction by June 30. The greens and fairways will be irrigated, so once they're seeded, the turf should grow fast enough to allow a fall opening. Construction is expected to cost $575,000, 11 percent less than projected by the architect, Williams, GUI Associates of River Falls, Wis.

There is also a $100,000 budget for a well, wellhouse, restroom, flags, cups, trash receptacles, signs and other items, Ripplinger said. The cart paths will be grassy trails at first, but could be asphalted in the future. The nine-hole Washington Park Golf Course, open since 1921, has proven popular. Golfers racked up a record 30,000 rounds there last year. Parks officials expect the new par 3 to be a good backup when Washington Park is closed because of flooding.

Washington Park is a par 31 course and the new course is a par 27. By JENNIFER JACOBS Courier Staff Writer CEDAR FALLS Officially, the name of the new $675,000 par 3 golf course under construction in Biriisall Park has yet to be decided. But after a surprise announcement at a ground-breaking ceremony Tuesday, it's safe to presume the nine-hole course may be named in memory of an early Cedar Falls park planner, Walter K. Voorhees. Pete Voorhees and Sara Gregory of Standard Golf Co.

said Tuesday they will donate $200,000 to the new course in memory of their grandfather. Walt Voorhees, who served on the Park Board for 18 years, helped create Island, Tourist and Washington parks. He also was the founder of Standard Golf, a Cedar Falls Industrial Park company that manufactures golf-related products. It's up to the Park and Recreation Commission and City Council, but "the name will probably reflect the gift in memory of Walter Voorhees," said Ward Stubbs, director of the city's leisure services. It's hoped the par 3 golf course will open this fall, he said.

Earthmoving equipment is already in motion, creating hills, valleys, fairways and two small ponds in a 40-acre field next to the existing 18-hole Pheasant Ridge Golf Course. After thanking the Voorheeses, Mayor Ed Stachovic said Cedar Falls is already well known for its recreation trails. "And I believe now, with this new golf course and the increased play that Q. What percent of people living in Waterloo are classified low-income? A. According to the 1990 U.S.

Census, there were 11,067 people in Waterloo, or 16.9 percent of the total population, with income below the poverty level. is Photos by BRANDON POLLOCK Courier Staff Photographer Megan Thome, a second-grader at Immaculate Conception-St. Joseph School In Raymond, holds up freshly dyed Easter eggs for Inspection. She and her classmates were coloring eggs as a community service project for Raymond area residents. Egg-citing times 'f Christopher Wichman checks the progress of one of his eggs.

He is a student of Sister Mellta. Q. Has it been determined who will be building Waterloo Industries headquarters? If so, is it somebody local and will they be expanding jobs? A. Cardinal Construction Co. of Waterloo is the general contractor on the project.

The company currently is not planning to increase its work force for the project, company officials said. Finns have eye on industrial park Q. Why is the Sunday Courier advertised for $1.75, but to get the paper out of the vending machines at Bonanza and Wal-Mart in the Crossroads area it costs i A. Vending machines sales are for $1.75. If there is a problem, call the Courier circulation department at 291-1444.

vv Pro shop Q. Why are two of the Courier's carriers on Greenbrier Road and Cedar Bend Street allowed to drive their cars up the wrong side of the road when delivering? A. The Courier was not aware of 1 that nor does it condone it. BE MetoKote plant next door. Both facilities would have access off Northeast Drive, an extension of Bishop Avenue, which runs through the park north to Newell Street.

City Planner Don Temeyer said adding the smaller firms would create a nice blend in the industrial park. "We have a mix of smaller lots and bigger lots," he said. "This is the kind of development we were expecting." Matcon was interested in the northeast site because of its proximity to the John Deere Tractor Works, its main local customer. "We work in a lot of the Deere plants," said project manager Jim Eddy. "We've got a building in Cedar Falls that we outgrew almost immediately." Matcon supplies rubber pallets and other containers Deere Co.

and other customers can reuse to ship materials, Eddy said. The company also produces storage racks for industrial clients. Eddy said the company has five employees in Cedar Falls, but would expand its work force to eight or 10 with the new plant. QCI Thermal branch manager Scott Pratt said his company sells mechanical insulation systems, including pipe wrap for boilers and tanks. The contractor employs anywhere from a dozen to 30 employees depending on the amount of work available.

The company has been working with the city for a new site for more than a year, Pratt said. "The building we're in is getting old, we've been here for 28 years," he said. "The building needs some work, so we just decided to build a new one. "We work all over Northeast Iowa, but we wanted to stay in Waterloo," Pratt said. "We've always been right here, and the incentives the city offers out there helps, too." The Planning, Programming and Zoning Commission will review the Matcon and Midwest Thermal site plans at its regular meeting Monday.

The City Council is scheduled to conduct hearings on the site plans and development agreements with both companies April 20. Both development agreements are almost identical. The city would agree to give Investments, which will own the Mat-' con building, the 3.2 acre building lot for $1. Midwest Thermal will get a 1.8 acre lot for a similar fee. Both companies also would receive standard industrial property tax abatements graduated over the next five years starting with a 75 percent tax break in the first year ranging to a 15 percent abatement in the fifth year.

Eddy and Pratt said they are eager to begin construction as soon as the council approves the development agreements and transfers the property. Two metro businesses have designs on moving Into area by Tractor Works. By TIM JAMISON Courier Staff Writer WATERLOO Two companies hope to begin construction in the city's Northeast Industrial Park later this month. Matcon, a pallet and packaging company operating in the Cedar Falls Industrial Park, and QCI Thermal Systems, 517 Rhey are planning to join two other companies in Waterloo's 3-year-old industrial part The Cordova, Matcon, which operates plants in Iowa and Illinois, is planning to lease a manufacturing building to be constructed by Investments of Cedar Falls. The building is expected to be 30,000 square feet in size.

QCI Thermal, part of a Quad Cities holding company known as Midwest Thermal Insulation would build a $250,000 manufacturing distribution facility in the industrial park. The company sells mechanical systems for the insulation industry. The companies would join two larger tenants in the industrial park: an $8 Ryder Integrated Logistics warehousing operation and a $2 million (D I Potential r-, --bike Practice wetland A l- Road to be Range i ut-y-j removed Proposed --y; wetlands A Groundbreaking took place Tuesday on a new par 3 golf course next to Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls. Q. How much does the average Courier carrier make per month if he has a 100 customers? A.

A carrier makes $3.15 per customer per four weeks, no matter the number of customers. Parking lot to be removed if Q. When was the Harry Krieg School built? It's off Highway 63 north. A. The school, at East Fourth Street and Ralston Road, was built in 1961 and closed in 1987.

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