Hardin County News

Thinking of Planting a Tree this Spring?
Tree Workshop
March 15, 2010 at 7:00pm
Eldora City Hall, Eldora, Iowa

After last August’s hail storm in Hardin County left many trees battered and bruised, many local area residents may find themselves eager to replant with new trees this coming spring.  Like IRA’s and stock portfolios, shade trees are a long-term investment that can take many years to mature; that’s why the Eldora Trees Forever volunteer group wants to help.

They, along with the City of Eldora, Trees Forever, and Alliant Energy, will be hosting a “Tree Workshop” on March 15th at 7:00 PM at the Eldora City Hall.

This workshop will be free and open to all citizens of the public.  Topics will focus on

  • storm damage assessment,
  • planting techniques,
  • tree selection,
  • site considerations,
  • tree care,
  • and pruning.

Arborists from Trees Forever, Iowa State University, and Iowa DNR Forestry will be on hand to present information and answer your questions.  City Administrator Ian Rigg will also cover rules for planting in street right-of-ways. 

“Is my tree going to survive?  Should I cut it down?”
“What type of new tree should I plant?”
“How close should I plant a tree next to my house?”
“Can I plant a tree in the street/sidewalk strip in my yard?”       

If you have been asking yourself any of these questions as you think forward to spring, please attend this local workshop; then you can rest assured that when it comes to investing in your shade trees, you are as savvy and sage as Warren Buffett!

For more information, contact Joe Herring at 515-460-1316 or heyjoeherring@gmail.com.
   

Friends of Calkins Nature Area Chili & Soup Supper a Success!

The staff and Friend’s of Calkins Nature Area would like to take the opportunity to thank all of the businesses, organizations, and community members of Hardin County and surrounding areas that made donations to our annual fundraiser that was held Tuesday February 2nd.  We are grateful that so many citizens appreciate what Calkins Nature Area has to offer.  We will continue to do our best to offer quality environmental education and recreation to Hardin County residents and beyond.  We are excited to report that donations, attendance, and money raised far exceeded our expectations and broke all other previous year records! 

Once again we thank everyone who participated in this years fundraiser you’ve all been a part of the success of Calkins Nature Area.

Thank you Letter (70 KB) 

New Time of Transfer Requirements

On July 1, 2009 the Iowa Department of Natural Resources implemented Senate File 261 that requires every building or home with a septic system have that septic system inspected prior to transfer of an interest in the property by deed or by other recorded documents.  This new law is codified in Iowa Code Section 455B.172(11). The purpose of the Time of Transfer inspections is to get failing systems repaired and to protect home buyers, the environment and public health.  Inspections will systematically eliminate illegal septic systems, with primary focus on those draining to the ditch, field or streams. 

The Time of Transfer requirements imposed by Iowa law do contain certain exceptions for inspection at the time of recording instruments of conveyance.  Among these exceptions are specific exemptions allowed by agreement with a jurisdiction’s local Board of Health.

The Hardin County Board of Health has formally adopted Agreement Forms for the exemption in certain circumstances from the Time of Transfer inspection required by Iowa Code Section 455B.172(11):  These exceptions include:

  1. Inability to perform inspection at the time of transfer due to inclement weather (such as frozen ground); and
  2. Exemption from the inspection requirements entirely if the Buyer is planning to demolish all structures serviced by the septic system.

Agreement forms are available for download below and on the Environmental Health department web page. There is also a list of Certified Inspectors and Septic System Installers.

For a complete list of Certified Inspectors search the DNR site at http://www.iowadnr.gov/tot.html.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact any member of the Board of Health or Lori Kadner, Sanitarian, at 641-858-5058 or by e-mail.

Time of Transfer Binding Acknowledgment (18 KB) 

Time of Transfer Inspection Waiver for Building Demolition (18 KB) 

Certified Inspectors (105 KB) 

Septic System Installers (110 KB) 

Clerk of Court's Office Experience Reduced Hours

The Hardin County Clerk of Court's Office will be changing hours beginning in December. Effective, December 15th, the Clerk hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays will be 8am to 2:30pm.

The office will also be closed on the following days:

Monday, Feb 15
Friday, March 12
Friday March 26
Friday, April 2
Friday, May 28
Friday, June 18

More information can be found at http://www.iowacourts.gov/. If you have questions, you may call 641-858-2328.

CodeRED System in Hardin County

Hardin County has contracted with Emergency Communications Network to license its CodeRED high-speed notification solution. The CodeRED system provides City and County officials the ability to quickly deliver messages to targeted areas or the entire County.

Douglas Riggs, Hardin County Emergency Management Director, cautioned that such systems are only as good as the telephone number database supporting them. "If your phone number is not in the database, you will not be called." One of the reasons the CodeRED system was selected is it gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their own phone numbers directly into the system's database; this is an extremely important feature. “No one should automatically assume his or her phone number is included,” Riggs said urging all individuals and businesses to click the logo above to the "CodeRED Community Notification Enrollment" page.

Required information includes:

  • first and last name
  • street address (physical address, no P.O. boxes)
  • city
  • state
  • zip code
  • primary phone number
  • additional phone numbers can be entered as well.

All businesses should register, as well as all individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number or address within the past year, and those who use a cellular phone or VoIP phone as their primary number.

Riggs explained, "CodeRED allows geographically based delivery, which means street addresses are required to ensure emergency notification calls are received by the proper individuals in a given situation. The system works for cell phones too, but we need to have an associated street address to provide relevant messages."

Riggs stated, "CodeRED gives those who want to be included an easy and secure method for inputting information. The data collected will only be used for emergency notification purposes."

Questions should be directed to the Hardin County Emergency Management Agency by email or at 641-939-8132


Hardin County Flags Available!

Hardin County Flags are now available for purchase. The cost for each flag is $50. Please contact the Auditor's Office at 641-939-8108 to order.