City-of-Emmetsburg-Newsletter - Benchmark Community

Emmetsburg to Celebrate Grand Opening of Soper Park Splash Pad with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on May 30

The City of Emmetsburg is excited to invite the public to the official Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the Soper Park Splash Pad on Thursday, May 30, at 11:00 a.m. The splash pad will be turned on immediately following the ribbon cutting. Join us under the south shelter near the splash pad in Soper Park for Chamber coffee, cookies and refreshments from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. as we celebrate this major community milestone. Attendees can also enjoy lunch and sweet treats from Hungry Boys and Big Dreams N Ice Creams food trucks on-site from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The Soper Park Splash Pad was born directly from community input during Emmetsburg’s citywide strategic planning process. After hearing strong demand from residents, the City made it a top priority. From securing funding and selecting a site to navigating design, construction, and infrastructure needs, the City remained committed to bringing this much-requested amenity to life.

City Administrator Kim Kibbie expressed her excitement about the project’s completion and echoed its significance to the Emmetsburg community. “The splash pad adds a wonderful new element to Soper Park and reflects our ongoing commitment to enhancing community amenities for residents and visitors alike,” Kibbie said.

The project would not have been possible without the overwhelming support of local residents, businesses, and donors whose generosity helped turn this dream into a reality. The City is proud to recognize the following major sponsors:

Waterfall Level ($25,000+)

Community State Bank (Astra Sponsor)
Emmetsburg Municipal Utilities (Leaf Sponsor)
Palo Alto County Gaming Development Corporation (Sail Twirl Sponsor)

Geyser Level ($15,000+)

Iowa Trust & Savings Bank (Shade Area Sponsor)
Arthur and Audrey Smith Foundation (Cattail Sponsor)
POET (Cattail Sponsor)
Bolton & Menk, Inc. (Seaweed Sponsor)
Palo Alto County Health System (Fish Sponsor)
Dr. Frank and Marit Veltri Family (Turtle Sponsor)
Wild Rose Casino & Hotel (Frog Sponsor)

Earlier this week, Steve Cody presented a $10,000 Geyser Level donation to the City of Emmetsburg on behalf of the Wild Rose Casino & Hotel, sponsor of the frog water feature in the toddler-friendly splash area.

Rapids Level ($5,000-9,999)

Iowa Lakes Electric Members Charitable Foundation
Lost Island Wind
Eric & Mary Woodford
Dan Cooper Builders (in-kind)

Stream Level ($2,500-4,999)

Big Dreams N Ice Creams
Greg and Diane Hoyman
Hughes Pharmacy Services, Inc.
Mikel and Megan Jones
Jana Mathisen Family Fund
MidAmerican Energy Foundation
River Valley Telecommunications

Mikel and Megan Jones and their children Lucy and Louis presented a $2,500 Stream Level donation to the City of Emmetsburg for the splash pad project.

Ripple Level ($1,000-2,499)

Lance Clark Family
Forge & Build
Emmetsburg Kiwanis Club
Jamison Equipment, Inc.
Greta and Brian Rouse

Join us in celebrating a fun-filled addition to our community that will serve families for generations to come!

Annual Fireworks Fundraiser

Incredible fireworks displays are a tradition of Emmetsburg's Independence Day celebration. We hope to continue this tradition in 2025 with your help. For several years, the fireworks displays have been funded primarily through the generous donations of our local businesses, organizations, and citizens. We hope you will consider making another heart-felt donation this year towards this worthy cause.

Donations can be delivered or mailed directly to the City of Emmetsburg - Fireworks Fund. All donations are tax deductible.
Emmetsburg City Hall
% Fireworks Fund
2021 Main Street | PO Box 417
Emmetsburg, IA 50536

Please note that this year our fireworks display will be on Saturday, July 5th.

Residential Clean-Up Week

June 2-6, 2025

Emmetsburg Residential Clean Up Week is scheduled for June 2 - June 6, 2025. A permit is required and must be purchased in advance of your pickup day. Permits can be purchased at City Hall (cash or check only).

Your pickup day will correspond with your normal solid waste pickup day. This is the only day extra garbage will be collected - no return trips. Display your permit facing the normal garbage pickup area.

Items must originate from the residence where it is picked up. Residents cannot combine or share tags with anyone else.

Guidelines:

Place all waste in bags or disposable containers
Furniture must be small enough and light enough to lift into solid waste compactor
Extra tags/fees are required for the following:
- Car tire (no rim) - $12
- Pickup truck tire (no rim) - $16
- Microwave - $12
- Dehumidifier - $22
- Appliance - $22
- Air Conditioner - $22
Rummaging through or removing items placed out for pickup should be done neatly
The City reserves the right to reject any items placed out for collection

NOT Allowed:

No leaves, tree limbs, grass clippings or yard waste
No recyclables or brown goods (computers, TV’s, radios, electronics, toasters, can openers, etc.)
No hazardous waste or toxic chemicals (paint, household cleaners, batteries, etc.)
No building demolition or construction materials (siding, plaster, lumber, carpet, etc.)

Healthy Homes Rehab Grant

Are you planning to paint your home this summer? Maybe you want to install new windows or replace ash trees. The City of Emmetsburg's Healthy Homes grant program can help! The program offers participating property owners a dollar-for-dollar match up to $500 on qualifying exterior improvements. For example, if $500 is spent, a $250 match will be made. If $2,000 is spent, the match is capped at $500.

Eligible improvements include insulation, ENERGY STAR certified doors and windows, exterior paint, trim, shutters, siding, soffit, fascia, flashing, ventilation, gutters, roofing, foundation repair, radon mitigation, sidewalks, mailboxes, house plaques, exterior lighting, and ash tree removal and replacement. Funds may not be used for interior construction, additions, or detached structures.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and approved as funding is available. A competitive scoring process considers completeness of applications, need/impact of proposed improvements on the individual property and the neighborhood, and proximity to other applicant properties. Additionally, preference will be shown to projects with materials purchased locally. After a review process, grant commitments will be issued for selected projects. After the project is completed and a final report is submitted, grant funds will be disbursed as a reimbursement.

Interested homeowners may visit www.emmetsburg.com/healthyhomes to view program guidelines and download an application. Homes must be owner-occupied and located within the city limits of Emmetsburg.

For more information or questions, please contact Gretchen Reichter with the City of Emmetsburg Economic Development Department at greichter@emmetsburg.com or 712-852-2067.

Applications Open for Business Innovation Grant

Grants up to $10,000

Entrepreneurs looking to open or grow their business in Emmetsburg have the chance to get a boost, thanks to the City of Emmetsburg's Business Innovation Grant Program. Innovative entrepreneurs can apply to get a grant of up to $10,000 to support their business startup or expansion plans.

Eligible business projects include:

Business startups
Expansions of existing businesses (i.e. new product or services, physical expansion or capital project)
Acquisition of an existing business (i.e. retirement sale)
Business relocation or expansion to Emmetsburg

Eligible project expenses include, but are not limited to, land or building acquisition, business acquisition, engineering and design, site development, construction or renovation, materials, inventory, equipment, marketing, and legal fees.

Applications are open now and available at www.emmetsburg.com/business-grant. A panel of representatives in economic development, small business, government, and finance will confidentially review and score applications. Top-scoring applications received will be invited to give a presentation to a smaller interview committee to pitch their business projects. Applications will be accepted as long as funding is available. May 30 is the deadline for the first round of review.

For more information and questions, please contact Gretchen Reichter with the City of Emmetsburg Economic Development Department at greichter@emmetsburg.com or 712-852-2067.

Announcing the Emmetsburg Fire Department Scholarship Fund for Firefighter Families

The Emmetsburg Fire Department is proud to introduce the EFD Scholarship, a new fund dedicated to supporting the children of our local firefighters in their educational pursuits. This initiative was made possible through a generous founding donation of $10,400 from Bill and Kim Burdick of GoGutters. The scholarship is designed to assist students with a passion for giving back, especially those considering future roles in firefighting and EMS.

Additional donors and community partners are needed to help grow this fund and expand its impact. If you’d like to contribute to the future of our local first responders, please contact Judd Duhn or Bill Burdick at 712-298-4781.

Together, we can invest in the next generation of EMS professionals and honor the service of our firefighters.

Garage Sale Season

City-wide garage sales are scheduled for Friday, May 23 and Saturday, May 24.

Residents are reminded it is a violation of Emmetsburg City Code to post temporary signs on stop signs, light poles, telephone poles, or other permanent structures. This includes garage sale signs. Emmetsburg City Code Section 168.06(4) states: No signs other than government signs shall be erected or temporarily placed with-in any public right of way.

Updates from The Shores and Five Island Golf

Golf League

This week is officially the start of the men's and women's summer golf leagues. The course will close to the public at 3:30pm on Tuesdays to accommodate the 5:00pm Women’s League start time. On Wednesdays, the course will close at 1:30pm to accommodate Men’s League tee-off times.

Father's Day Buffet

Join us at The Shores for a Father's Day Buffet on Sunday, June 15th from 4:00-7:00 pm. Let us handle the grilling and all the fixings for dad and the whole family. $25 per person, $20 for all dads, and kids 3 and under eat free. Reservations are required. Call 712-852-3422 to reserve your table.

New Concession Shack

A new beverage and snack shack is in the works on hole five to replace the old gazebo. Thank you to Buhrow Construction, McAllister Builders, Dan Cooper Builders, and GoGutters for donating their time to bring this project to life. Want to help us name the new shack? Cast your vote on our Facebook poll. The name with the most votes by Friday, May 16th, will be the official name. Vote away!

Cast your Vote

Golf Course Cleanup

Thank you to the Emmetsburg High School golf teams for helping to clean up the golf course and Shores landscape!

Follow The Shores at Five Island on Facebook

Follow Five Island Golf on Facebook

Emmetsburg Police Department Bike Rodeo Scheduled for June 7

Join the Emmetsburg Police Department for a Bike Rodeo on Saturday, June 7th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Police Station. There will be different bicycle stations, bicycle registration, bicycle maintenance, and a bicycle safety course.

The rain date is Saturday, June 14^th 2025

Live After Six

Music with a Mission

The Emmetsburg Chamber of Commerce is bringing back the Live After Six summer concert series at The Shores at Five Island, and this year it’s music with a mission. Each concert will spotlight a local cause, giving the community a chance to enjoy great live music while supporting projects that make a difference. The first concert will benefit Mural Park beautification, with funds going specifically toward the park’s new mural installations. Attendees will also be encouraged to submit their ideas for future causes to support at upcoming concerts.

Live After Six Dates:

May 29: One Layne Band - sponsored by Dan & Mary Cooper
June 12: Zach Suntken - sponsored by The Dental Loft
June 26: Dave Rowley & Ryan Sather - sponsored by Thul Law/TLC Properties
July 17: Jeremy DeWall - sponsored by Bauer Plumbing & Heating
July 31: Midland Vibe - sponsored by Passel Farms
August 21: Jake McVey - sponsored by Iowa Trust & Savings Bank

Follow the Emmetsburg Chamber of Commerce on Facebook

A "Community Vision" Brought to Life

Emmetsburg Community Visioning Committee Making Major Progress on Mural Park

Plans for Mural Park in downtown Emmetsburg were developed during the Iowa’s Living Roadways’ Community Visioning Program in 2021. The process involved focus groups, surveys, and public input workshops. Based on the community’s feedback, concept drawings were refined and design boards were developed. Since Mural Park received so much positive feedback from the public and is in a highly visible location within downtown Emmetsburg, this concept was prioritized for fundraising and grant writing.

Photo of Mural Park in 2021 during Community Visioning Program

The Community Visioning Committee has taken a phased approach to completing elements of the Mural Park concept plan. Thanks to multiple years of grants from Palo Alto County Gaming Development Corporation and local fundraising efforts, the committee has been able to make major progress in the park.

Last summer, a large patio was completed on the west side of the park, constructed of permeable pavers and featuring a checkerboard inlay. Commercial-grade solar-powered string lighting was added to allow for evening use and make the patio even more attractive. Patio tables and chairs were assembled by the City of Emmetsburg Public Properties crew and placed on the patio this spring.

This spring, four interactive music instruments were installed in the park's greenspace - mushroom gongs, cattail chimes, flower bells, and tree chimes. They produce lovely harmonious sounds and are fun for all ages!

The committee created a new garden bed along the east edge of the park last fall with native grasses and planted two trees in the park's green space. Next week, a row of fun geometric planters will be added to the front of the park, filled with colorful flowers.

The next phase of the plan is to honor the “Mural Park” name and install murals along the east wall and rear of the park, along with additional landscaping. The project includes the construction of two 12' x 6' freestanding murals with raised landscape block garden beds beneath each at the back edge of the park, three smaller 4' x 6' freestanding mural boards along the park's east edge, and additional landscaping around the park’s rear and east edges. This new public art will define the park's character and "Mural Park" name, create a division from the rear parking lot, and create a distinct and memorable place to stop and spend time in Emmetsburg's downtown.

One of the larger 12' x 6' freestanding murals will be an Emmetsburg-themed painting designed and painted by mural artist and Emmetsburg-native Shelby Mitchell (Shell Rae Designs). The community will be called to actively participate in both the design and painting of the second 12' x 6' mural. Community members and students are invited to draw (doodle) the people, places, and things they love about their town and submit them to the Chamber of Commerce. The drawings will be sorted through for highlights and themes, then selected images will be combined to create an Emmetsburg-themed collage. The collage will be designed as a paint-by-number, and outlines will be transferred to the mural board. The community will then be invited to participate in a special painting day this fall.

The Community Visioning Committee is actively raising funds for the materials and labor to construct and paint the mural boards. If you would like to contribute towards the mural project, donations may be sent to:

Emmetsburg Community Visioning

2108 Main Street

Emmetsburg, IA 50536

Click It or Ticket

Seat Belt Safety Campaign

The "Click It or Ticket" seat belt safety campaign reminds driver to buckle up May 19 - June 1, and EVERY DAY.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Emmetsburg Police Department are urging drivers to buckle up ahead of a national Click It or Ticket seat belt safety campaign. The national high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, runs May 19 to June 1, 2025.

During the Click It or Ticket campaign, the Emmetsburg Police Department will be working with fellow law enforcement officers across local and state lines to ensure the message gets out to drivers and passengers. Buckling up is the simplest thing a driver can do to limit injury or save a life during a crash. We see the results of not wearing a seat belt all the time. So often, it could have been prevented.

The national seat belt daytime use rate in 2023 was 91.9%, which is good - but it can be better. The remaining 8.1% still need to be reminded that seat belts save lives. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night.

One of the focuses of the Click It or Ticket seat belt high-visibility campaign is nighttime enforcement. NHTSA data shows a higher number of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities happen at night. Also, seat belt use differs among females and males. Of the males killed in crashes in 2023, more than half (53%) were unrestrained. For females killed in crashes, 41% were not buckled up. Seat belts save lives, and everyone - front seat and back, child and adult - needs to remember to buckle up!

Follow the Emmetsburg Police Department on Facebook

New Kayak & Canoe Launch

Ready to get out and enjoy Five Island Lake? The City Public Properties Department just installed a brand new kayak and canoe launch on the public dock at Five Island Campground!

Announcements & Reminders

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City & EMU Closed on Memorial Day

Emmetsburg City Hall and Emmetsburg Municipal Utilities will be closed on Monday, May 26 in honor of Memorial Day. Monday's garbage route will be picked up on Tuesday, May 27.

Memorial Cemetery Flowers

Floral decorations, real or artificial, may be placed at Evergreen Cemetery seven days before Memorial Day (Monday, May 19) and must be removed seven days after Memorial Day (Monday, June 2).

Driving Golf Carts in Town

Emmetsburg City Code Chapter 77 permits the operation of golf carts on city streets by persons possessing a valid driver's license. Golf carts must be equipped with a slow moving vehicle sign and a bicycle safety flag. The flag must be visible and extend above the highest point of the vehicle/operator/passenger at all times during operation. Regardless of equipment, golf carts are only permitted to be operated on city streets between sunrise and sunset. Golf carts are not permitted on U.S. Highway 18 or 4 or any city street which is a primary road extension through the City, except to cross such roads. For more information and/or to obtain a full copy of Emmetsburg City Code 77, please contact the Emmetsburg Police Department at 712-852-2424.

Grass Clippings

Residents are reminded not to blow grass clippings into the street when mowing laws this summer. Grass clippings can clog storm drains and cause flooding, reduce water quality, and create dangerous conditions for motorcyclists and bicyclists. Thanks for your help to keep our streets clean!

Building & Fence Permits

Emmetsburg residents with plans to build houses, additions, or structures such as sheds are reminded they must first submit an application for a building permit to City Hall along with the required fee - either $50 (minimum fee) or $0.08 per square foot on the ground level including attached garage, whichever is greater.

Similarly, prior to starting construction on any fence, an application for a fence and hedge permit must first be submitted to City Hall along with the required $30.00 application fee.

Both applications and the fence and hedge regulations are available at City Hall and on the city website at www.emmetsburg.com/applications. Please allow up to ten days for your application to be processed.

www.emmetsburg.com

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