The Ottumwa City Council last night voted to purchase the Alliant Energy Building, 550 Gateway Drive, at a cost of $236,00.00. The City will utilize the facility and its 3.5 acres for a variety of purposes, including the indoor storage of seized vehicles from the Ottumwa Police Department. Leftover Capital Improvements funds and some extra money in fund balances will cover the cost of the purchase. City Council Members agreed that the purchase price was more than reasonable, because the facility includes some additional equipment and security measures. Interstate Power Company was the actual owner of the building.

The Ottumwa City Council last night passed a new City Ordinance that reduces the required number of members on the Ottumwa Transit Advisory Board, from a current 9 to 7.

City Officials note that, right now, it is more difficult to find citizens interested and willing to serve on the Board. Currently, the Board is short 4 members, and would still be lacking 2 members under the new requirement.

City Officials note that the required number for a quorum of the Board would be reduced as well, under the new Ordinance.

On February 16, 2012, the Ottumwa Police Department began investigating a burglary that occurred at approximately 9:30 AM the day before at Appanoose Rapids Brewing Company located at 332 East Main Street in Ottumwa.  The owner of the business reported that an unknown person entered the unlocked front door, removed money from the cash register, and then left the building.  Upon reviewing the City’s downtown camera system, police found the person was caught on video entering the restaurant and then leaving the business moments later.  On February 17^th, officers were able to identify the suspect in the video and take him into custody.  The following person was charged with Burglary in the 2^nd Degree: 

Bruce Darneil Pollard.

522 Camille

Ottumwa, Iowa

24 Years Old 

Burglary in the 2^nd Degree is a violation of Chapter 713.5 of the Code of Iowa and is a Class “C” Felony.  Pollard was transported to the Wapello County Jail where he is being held with bond set at $10,000.00. 

The City’s downtown camera system was purchased with a $375,000.00 COPS Technology grant and currently consists of 29 cameras throughout downtown, Church Street, and the Quincy Avenue area.  Police Chief Jim Clark stated, “This is a perfect example of why we wanted to incorporate the camera system into our crime prevention strategy for the downtown and Church Street areas.  I anticipate we will see a significant reduction in crime in the area due to the cameras and that business owners, shoppers, and residents will be able to experience a safer and more secure downtown”.  

On February 14, 2012, the Ottumwa Police Department began an investigation into an armed robbery of a fifteen-year-old male that was reported to have occurred on February 13^th in the 1000 Block of Hackberry Street in Ottumwa.  On February 16^th, police officers executed a search warrant at 920 Ogden and seized a handgun believed to be used during the robbery along with a substance believed to be marijuana and drug paraphernalia.  As a result of the investigation, the following person was arrested on the 16^th and charged with Robbery in the 1^st Degree:

Joel Enrique Herrarte, Jr.

16440 Highway 34, Lot #109

Ottumwa, Iowa

18 Years Old 

City of Ottumwa departments and offices at City Hall will be closed Monday, February 20^th, in observance of the Presidents Day/Washington’s Birthday Holiday.

* The Ottumwa, Calvary and Jewish Cemetery office at 1302 N. Court will be closed on Monday the 20^th.   

* The Ottumwa/ Wapello Landfill and Recycling Center will be closed Monday, February 20^th.   

* City residential trash and recycling normally collected on Monday, February 20^th will be picked up Tuesday the 21^st.   Bulky items normally collected on Tuesdays will be picked up on Thursday February 23^rd.   There is no change for the customers of the City’s rural residential trash and recycling collection.   

* The Ottumwa Public Library will be closed Monday, February 20^th.   

* Ottumwa Water and Hydro Offices will be closed Monday, February 20^th.   

* Ottumwa Transit Authority buses will be operating regular routes and schedules Monday, February 20^th.   

Crews at the Ottumwa, Calvary and Ottumwa Jewish Cemeteries will begin the annual spring clean up on Thursday, March 1st.   Families that wish to keep any tributes or memorial decorations need to remove those items from the cemetery prior to that date.  If a shepherd’s crook is used to hang an arrangement, families may leave the shepherd’s crook, but please remove the arrangement.  Cemetery personnel will remove all floral tributes, decorations and wreaths remaining after that date.  Spring and summer decorations can be placed after April 1st. 

The Ottumwa, Calvary and Ottumwa Jewish Cemeteries are cleaned twice annually (spring and fall).  Residents with questions about the cemetery clean up or the requirements for memorial decorations can call 683-0687.

* City of Ottumwa departments and offices at City Hall will be closed Monday, February 20^th, in observance of the Presidents Day/Washington’s Birthday Holiday.

* The Ottumwa, Calvary and Jewish Cemetery office at 1302 N. Court will be closed on Monday the 20^th.   

* The Ottumwa/ Wapello Landfill and Recycling Center will be closed Monday, February 20^th.   

* City residential trash and recycling normally collected on Monday, February 20^th will be picked up Tuesday the 21^st.   Bulky items normally collected on Tuesdays will be picked up on Thursday February 23^rd.   There is no change for the customers of the City’s rural residential trash and recycling collection.   

* The Ottumwa Public Library will be closed Monday, February 20^th.   

* Ottumwa Water and Hydro Offices will be closed Monday, February 20^th.   

* Ottumwa Transit Authority buses will be operating regular routes and schedules Monday, February 20^th.   

Crews at the Ottumwa, Calvary and Ottumwa Jewish Cemeteries will begin the annual spring clean up on Thursday, March 1^st.   Families that wish to keep any tributes or memorial decorations need to remove those items from the cemetery prior to that date.  If a shepherd’s crook is used to hang an arrangement, families may leave the shepherd’s crook, but please remove the arrangement.  Cemetery personnel will remove all floral tributes, decorations and wreaths remaining after that date.  Spring and summer decorations can be placed after April 1^st.   

The Ottumwa, Calvary and Ottumwa Jewish Cemeteries are cleaned twice annually (spring and fall).  Residents with questions about the cemetery clean up or the requirements for memorial decorations can call 683-0687.

The Ottumwa City Council last night reached a consensus on what might become the City of Ottumwa's goals and priorities for the next two years, following an informal "brain-storming" session at Bridgeview Center.

In no particular order of importance, the Council listed these items as significant:

1. Fixing or repairing the Market Street Bridge- this item has been in the planning stages for several years.

2.Conducting a study to perhaps change the one-way streets in Ottumwa's Downtown Northside to two-way traffic.

3. Installing a "Lazy River" Ride at the Beach Ottumwa.

4. Reducing paperwork going to the City Council, and using more electronic communications.

5. Updating various City Ordinances, licenses, and permits.

6. Coming up with a plan to run Emergency Management Services through the Ottumwa Fire Department, in place of or in cooperation with Otttumwa Regional Health Center Ambulance Services.

Another session to continue the process of finding priorities for the City for the next two years will be held March 1st, at 5 P.M., at Bridgeview Center.

On February 8, 2012, the Ottumwa Police Department took into custody twelve-year-old David E. McGee, Jr. after investigating complaints of harassment from at least twenty-one students at Evans Middle School.  Iowa law states a person commits harassment when the person, purposefully and without legitimate purpose, has personal contact with another person, with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or alarm that other person.  The investigation began after numerous students approached school officials about being harassed by McGee.  Harassment is a violation of Chapter 708.7 of the Code of Iowa and is a Simple Misdemeanor.  McGee was released to a parent.