City of Emmetsburg Newsletter

Public Properties Department Highlight

Please join us in thanking the Emmetsburg Public Properties Department for all they do for our community! From maintaining streets to preparing our campgrounds for visitors, our Public Properties crew works year round to keep the city and its public properties running strong. Crews are seen regularly collecting solid waste or plowing roads in the winter months, but there are many other tasks people don’t even think about because our Public Properties Department is doing its job, and doing it well.

Duties that fall under the responsibility of Public Properties include animal control, cemetery maintenance, street lighting, park maintenance and improvements, solid waste, street cleaning and repairs, tree trimming in the right-of-way, storm sewer, campground care and cleaning, general repairs and maintenance at city-owned buildings including The Shores at Five Island community center and the cabins at Five Island Campground, and the list goes on.

The Emmetsburg Public Properties Department handles projects both big and small. Here are just a few recent and planned projects:

Earlier this summer, Public Properties helped beautify our downtown by distributing the city’s new planters on Main and Broadway, and they improved lake access by extending the north boat ramp.
At Monday’s Council meeting, the city opened bids for FY2022 general street improvements, and the completion of the 17th Street road project is scheduled for this summer.
Working closely with the Parks Board, Public Properties will plant over $5,000 in trees throughout Emmetsburg’s parks this fall, and engineering for Phase 2 of the Five Island Campground RV park will begin.

When something breaks, Public Properties is there to fix it. When a storm hits, Public Properties is there to clean up the mess. These essential workers work hard and, at times, around the clock to take care of our city, often with little recognition. So next time you are out and see a Public Properties employee, give them a wave or say thank you to show your appreciation!

City Announcements

Kitchen Hours at The Shores

Due to limited staffing, the kitchen at The Shores at Five Island (Dockside Lounge) will be open in the evening only effective Monday, July 19. For convenience, quick grab-and-go options will be offered including cold sandwiches, wraps, beef jerky, veggies, and more.

The Shores is Hiring

The Shores at Five Island is accepting applications for additional bartenders, cooks, servers, and banquet staff. Duties, hours of work, and application requirements may vary for each position. For more information and to apply, stop in to The Shores to talk to Sarah Director - Community Center Director or Alissa Kliegl - Assistant Director/Golf & Restaurant Manager. Positions open until filled. EOE.

Did you Know?

To help inform residents and answer frequently asked questions, we’ve started a “Did you know?” series where we regularly share sections of the Emmetsburg Code of Ordinances, helpful “how to…”s, information about various forms and permits, and more. Follow the City of Emmetsburg on Facebook or visit www.emmetsburg.com to stay informed.

Chamber Events & Activities are Back!

Message from the Chamber of Commerce

It is so good to have our Chamber special events back in full swing! Here are some for you to enjoy.

EVENTS: The next Live After 6 concert is this Thursday, July 15 with music by Midland Vibe, formerly The Stringwinders Chick Band, playing from the veranda at The Shores, followed by Scott Larson performing on August 19. Bargains will abound from local retailers at Sidewalk Sales on July 22 & 23. Also the Chamber will recognize our annual award recipients, the 2021 Citizen of the Year, MidAmerican Energy Catalyst Award, and 5 under 40 Awards at a special early evening gathering on August 19.

CHAMBER COFFEES are back! The Palo Alto County Fair will host with Chamber Coffee in the Exhibits Building at 9:30 AM Friday, July 23. Bauer Plumbing & Heating Inc. will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary in business and their new building with a Coffee and Ribbon Cutting on August 6.

BREWFEST: KEMB-LP invites you to the 5th Annual Homebrew Brewfest in Soper Park from 2:00-10:00 PM on August 14. There will be Craft & Wine beer tastings, People’s Choice Homebrew Tasting, Amateur BBQ Ribfest Competition/Tasting along with great food by the PAC Cattlemen and music by The Jeremy DeWall Band from the Jackson area.

All this in just 5 weeks and the fall promises even more great fun!

Deb Hite

Director, Emmetsburg Chamber of Commerce
712.852.2283

Stay in touch with the Chamber on Facebook

Kossuth/Palo Alto County EDC’s “PROJECT HOPE”

For the 22nd consecutive year, area interns from the Kossuth/Palo Alto County Economic Development Corporation Intern Program are giving hope to local youth, teens, and adults by collecting personal care items for people in need. June 21 – July 2 were designated as “Project Hope” weeks in our area, where the goal was to collect personal care items or donations from area businesses, community members and families. These items provide comfort to local children and young adults who have been removed from their homes or no longer have these essentials for themselves.

PROJECT HOPE delivery to Palo Alto Sheriff's Office

PROJECT HOPE delivery to Emmetsburg Police Department

Last week K/PACEDC Executive Director, Maureen Elbert, and City of Emmetsburg Marketing & Retail Coordinator, Gretchen Reichter, delivered “Project Hope” bags to the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s office and Emmetsburg Police Department (pictured above.) Elbert emphasized the importance of the project, “Project Hope is a vital community service project that, over the years, has significantly made a difference for those in need. And this year, more than ever, this service is needed. We are incredibly thankful for the generosity of our community members and hope to increase our ability to bag and distribute more bags this year!”

Library Updates

The Emmetsburg Public Library's programming is nearly back in full swing. The Summer Reading Program is seeing great participation among the children who signed up (you can still sign up and participate), and now favorite adult programs are returning.

Tea-Time Cinema has resumed, which is a classic movie shown at the library every Thursday at 2:00 p.m. The non-fiction book club, "Truer Words..." will resume on the second Tuesday in August at 6:00 p.m. Stop in today to get your copy of the selection, The One-Cent Magenta: Inside the Quest to Own the Most Valuable Stamp in the World by James Barron. This selection is a rather short book. So, there is plenty of time to get it read in time for the discussion.

Looking ahead, at the September meeting we will be discussing Born Survivors: Three Young Mothers and Their Extraordinary Story of Courage, Defiance, and Hope by Wendy Holden. We look forward to seeing you at one of these engaging discussions!

Lastly, we would like encourage everyone to come in and meet Anna Veltri, our new Assistant Director. Donna Mason has retired after 18 1/2 years in the position and Anna was hired to take her place. Look for Anna at the front desk in the library and out in the community delivering items to nursing homes and homebound patrons."

Save The Date - August 11 Community Design Workshop

Residents will have the opportunity to share their ideas for improving Emmetsburg at a public design workshop hosted by the Emmetsburg Community Visioning committee at The Shores at Five Island on Wednesday, August 11th. This workshop is the culmination of an input-gathering process to identify transportation needs and opportunities for enhancements in Emmetsburg. A design team will be working throughout the workshop to develop a conceptual plan. The public is invited to stop in between 3-7 PM to enjoy refreshments and provide input on the designs.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Monday Night Bingo @ VFW
Mondays (starting in May) at 6:30 PM
Early bird bingo at 6:30. Masks required. A light meal will be served between 5:30-6:25 PM.

TOPS® Meeting
Wednesdays at 4:15 PM @ Iowa Welcome Center

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Thursdays at 7:30 PM @ Family Life Center

Tea Time Cinema

Thursdays at 2:00 PM @ Emmetsburg Public Library

Classic movie is shown + tea is served. Free and open to all.

Call library for titles showing and more info: 712-852-4009.

Farmer’s Market on 10th Street
Thursdays from 12 - 5 PM
Saturdays from 8 AM - 12 PM

Live After Six ft. Midland Vibe (prev. Stringwinders Chick Band)

July 15 from 6:30-9:30 PM @ the veranda at The Shores
Come by car or come by boat! Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the music and Five Island Lake from the greenspace.

Sponsored by Thul Law and Farmers Mutual Insurance/Nesheim Agency