REMINDER NOTICE REGARDING TRANSIENT MERCHANT AND SOLICITORS LICENSES REQUIRED BY THE CITY OF SPENCER

As we approach the Clay County Fair, please be reminded of Chapter 3-1 of the Spencer, Iowa, City Code, regarding Registration of Peddlers, Solicitors & Transient Merchants.

This ordinance pertains to the licensing and registration of “transient merchants” (persons who bring into the City any goods or merchandise for sale); “solicitors” (persons who solicit from house-to-house or place to place or upon the public streets or other public property); and “peddlers” (persons carrying goods or merchandise for sale from house to house or place to place or upon public streets or other public property).

The confines of the Clay County Fairgrounds are exempt from these regulations.

Persons wishing to register under this ordinance must apply at the City Clerk’s Office, 418 2^nd Avenue West, at least 24 hours before they intend to begin operations.  The process includes an application form, $25 application fee and $5 per day of registration.  A cash or equivalent bond of $500 is also required.  The bond shall not be cancelled or refunded until 30 days after the expiration of the registration.  A police check will be done on each applicant.

For registration information or a complete copy of Chapter 3-1 of the City of Spencer Code, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 418 2^nd Avenue West, Spencer, Iowa 51301 or call (712) 580-7200, FAX # (712) 580-7236.

The City will accept written sealed bids for the purchase of the property to be submitted to the office of the Spencer City Clerk,  418 2^nd Av West, Spencer, Iowa, until 12:00 noon on Monday August 2^nd, 2010.  The bids shall be submitted in a sealed envelope labeled “714 East 5^th Street Bid”. Thereafter the bids will be opened and reviewed by City staff and presented to the council for consideration at the regular City Council meeting on Monday evening August 2^nd 2010. 

            The city will provide an abstract at its expense demonstrating remarkable title pursuant to the title standards of the Iowa State Bar Association and will convey the property be a municipal warranty deed.

            The property is sold “AS IS” with all faults.

            The residential structure on the property has been determined to be a substandard building by the Spencer City Council, Rehabilitation or demolition shall be accomplished on or before November 1, 2010.  The successful bidder shall contractually agree to rehabilitate the property or to demolish the existing structure on or before November 1, 2010.

            Demolition may include burying masonry portions of the structure in the basement to be covered with at least 18 inches of clean fill material.

            The successful bidder shall provide to the city a performance bond or a deposit of cash or securities in the amount of $10,000.00 conditioned on rehabilitation or demolition of the structure on or before November 1^st, 2010.

            If the property is demolished, sanitary sewer and water connections shall be disconnected by the purchaser in accordance with City and Spencer Municipal Utilities requirements.

            The City is exempt from real estate transfer tax and there are no property taxes levied separately against the property, therefore there will be no proration of real estate taxes.

            Closing and transfer of possession shall be accomplished as soon  after August 2, 2010, as is reasonably possible.

The transfer is subject to all existing easement and utilities.

             The council will consider all bids received and, in its discretion select the best bid, or determine to reject all bids.

            The city shall retain the risk of loss until any sale and transfer is closed.  If the building on the property is significantly damaged or destroyed either the city or the buyer may declare the sale null and void.

_____________________________

Theresa E. Reardon, City Clerk

SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF VANDALISM HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS TO VARIOUS BUILDINGS AT THE CLAY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS AND TO VARIOUS PIECES OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT ON W 11TH ST IN SPENCER.  CRIME STOPPERS IS OFFERING A $1000 REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO AN ARREST AND CONVICTION.  TIPS CAN CALLED TO TEXT A TIP (LINK ON CITY WEB SITE) OR TO CRIME STOPPERS AT 262-6655.

The Spencer Family Aquatic Center will open for the season on Monday, May 31, 2010.  Hours will be daily from 12:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.  There will be NO family swim time this season.

The Spencer Police Department again warns against giving out any kind of personal information to people who call or e-mail you, claiming to be a representative of some group you may belong to.  No group will call and ask for personal or banking information. If you feel you have been victimized in such a way, please contact the Spencer Police Dept.

The Spencer Police Department K-9 unit is now operational.  Officer Pat Westfall is setting dates for talks and demonstrations with Axle. Officer Westfall can be contacted at the department at 262-2151.  The community of Spencer is to ge congratulated for their support to this program.

The Spencer Police Department and the Clay County Sheriff's Office are allowing concerned citizens to send crime stopper tips via text messaging and e-mail.  The tips can be annoymous without fear of the texts or e-mail being traced.  Click on the link to assist law enforcement keep our community safe.

SNOW EMERGENCIES: 

Please be aware that if it snows, a snow emergency MAY be declared which requires ALL vehicles to be removed from city streets to allow for snow removal in a safe and timely manner. 

To prevent missing the snow emergency declaration and receiving a ticket and having your vehicle towed, you may want to take preventative action and make arrangements for vehicles that are normally parked on the street any time the forecast is for snow accumulation. 

SIDEWALK SNOW REMOVAL: 

It is the responsibility of the abutting property owner to remove snow and ice, within a reasonable time, from abutting sidewalks and from around trees, posts, benches and other obstructions to sidewalks. In the Spencer DOWNTOWN district a reasonable time shall be twelve (12) hours from the cessation of snowfall.

 In all other areas of the city, a reasonable time shall be deemed to be twenty four (24) hours from the cessation of snowfall. If an abutting property owner does not remove snow and ice within the time specified in this section, the city may do so and assess the costs, including a reasonable administration fee, against the property owner for collection in the same manner as a property tax.

Open burning within the corporate limits of Spencer is not allowed by ordinance.

To dispose of leaves, grass clippings and other lawn waste or any household waste by burning is illegal.  You may be subject to a fine.

Other means of disposal are available.  You may bag and tag items, which the City will haul away or you may take your lawn waste items only to the designated tree and leaf site located 1 mile north of the intersection of West 18th Street and 18th Avenue West. Please observe all rules posted at the site.  Questions may be directed to City Hall at (712) 580-7200 or the Fire Department at (712) 580-7240.

Effective Friday, November 28, 2008 tagged bags of leaves will be picked up on a call-in basis until spring.  For pick up call (712) 580-7270.

SPRING/SUMMER Hours:Jun1,2010-Sept 30, 2010
7 a.m.-6 p.m Mon-Fri
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
Noon- 5 p.m. Sunday

All vehicles entering the transfer station must STOP at the front office before dumping.

There is a charge for ALL construction materials brought to the transfer station by residents, commercial businesses and contractors. All Commercial businesses and contractors are required to STOP at the front office and pay for garbage or construction materials.

Grass/Brush site North of W 18th @ 18th Ave open 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week