* City of Ottumwa departments and offices at City Hall will be closed Monday, May 30th, in observance of Memorial Day.

* The Ottumwa Public Library will be closed Monday, May 30th.

* Ottumwa Transit Authority buses will not be operating Monday, May 30th.

* Ottumwa Water and Hydro Offices will be closed Monday, May 30th.

* The Ottumwa/ Wapello Landfill and Recycling Center will be closed on Monday, May 30th. Both facilities will be open regular hours, 7 AM to Noon on Saturday, the 28th.

The Beach Ottumwa will be open over Memorial Day weekend. Hours are noon until 8 PM on Saturday, Sunday, and Memorial Day Monday, weather permitting. There is a special opening weekend admission fee will be $4 per person, this weekend only.

Construction of the new children's play area is not complete, so that area will not be open. All other attractions, including the new yellow enclosed slide will be open.

After the holiday, the Beach will be closed again before re-opening for daily summer season operations on Friday June 3rd.  

The Ottumwa City Council has approved a new contract for residential trash collection that begins in July 2011. This new contract will introduce automated collection service that will utilize a 64-gallon rollaway trash container. The contractor will provide these containers to trash collection customers.
No change in curbside trash and recycling routes and collection days is expected.

Customers that have doorstep collection now will continue to have it with the new program. Specific issues about where and how the trash carts will be located for doorstep collection will be worked out.

No major changes are expected in the curbside recycling program. Customers will continue to use the red "bulldog" recycling bins for weekly pickup of household recyclable paper, corrugated cardboard and paperboard, glass and plastic jars and bottles and metal cans. Yard waste will be picked up weekly, April through November, with drop off year-round at the Recycling Center and Landfill.

The Make Ottumwa Shine Committee will be meeting on Wednesday, March 9th to discuss a date for 2011 Make Ottumwa Shine week. The annual spring cleanup event is usually held in late April or May. Volunteers adopt areas of the City that need sprucing up.

The Make Ottumwa Shine Committee is made up of community volunteers working to improve the cleanliness and appearance of Ottumwa. Any members of the community who would care to be a part of the Committee are welcome to attend the meeting and participate. Once a date is established, a list of areas to be adopted by volunteers will be made available.

The water level in the Des Moines River is on the rise and some isolated flooding is possible. The US Army Corps of Engineers is forecasting a river crest near 11.6 feet in Ottumwa on Presidents Day, Monday, February 21st. Owners of bank side property in Wapello County prone to seasonal flooding should take appropriate action as needed.

Motorists are advised that if they do encounter floodwater covering the roadway, they should not attempt to drive through the water. The depth may be too great to allow vehicles to cross safely. High water levels can be very swift and turbulent. All individuals are advised to stay away from the river until water levels recede.

* City of Ottumwa departments and offices at City Hall will be closed Monday, February 21st, in observance of the Presidents Day Holiday.

* The Ottumwa, Calvary and Jewish Cemetery office at 1302 N. Court will be closed on Monday the 21st.

* The Ottumwa/ Wapello Landfill and Recycling Center will be closed Monday, February 21st.

* City residential trash and recycling normally collected on Monday, February 21st will be picked up Tuesday the 22nd. Bulky items normally collected on Tuesdays will be picked up on Thursday February 24th.

* Whaley Waste rural residential trash and recycling collection (normally Tuesdays) will be moved to Thursday, February 24th.

The City of Ottumwa's sixth deer season for bow hunters began on September 11, 2010 and recently concluded on January 30, 2011. During the season, twenty-eight (28) hunters registered with the police department to participate in the program. Forty-one (41) does, six (6) bucks, and one button buck for a total of forty-eight (48) deer were harvested during the four month season. Last year, forty-eight (48) hunters registered with seventy-one (71) deer harvested. Three (3) hunters qualified for buck tags for next year's season.

The deer hunting program was started in the fall of 2005 as a means to reduce the deer population in Ottumwa. Since then, a total of 546 deer have been harvested from within the city limits through the program. The start of the City's 2011/2012 deer season for bow hunters will be announced next summer.

Due to unsafe driving conditions, non-essential travel in Ottumwa is not recommended at this time. Local roads are snow covered and extremely slick with additional snowfall expected.  The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning that will remain in effect until noon Wednesday. Improving conditions are not expected until Wednesday night (Feb 2).

Motorists who must venture out are reminded to lower their speed and plan on longer travel times. Be cautious and brake early when approaching intersections.

The City's Snow Emergency Ordinance is in effect. Vehicles parked out of compliance with the Ordiance are subject to being towed and impounded. Blowing snow is making City plowing operations difficult. Plowing is focused on the snow emergency routes in order to keep the main thoroughfares open. As the storm subsides, City crews begin clearing side streets and residential neighborhoods.

David Barajas Jr. has been named the new Executive Director of the Ottumwa Economic Development Corporation. As executive director, Mr. Barajas is responsible for leading the operational and strategic efforts of the OEDC and reports to its 16 member Board of Directors.

"Over the past months, we carefully evaluated a number of talented candidates for the position, each with a variety of skill sets. David was the clear standout as he brings with him a unique blend of leadership skills and economic development experience with an excellent educational background. As executive director of OEDC, he will provide the guidance and perseverance that OEDC needs, stated Richard Gaumer, chairman OEDC."

City of Ottumwa Public Works Crews will be picking up snow in the downtown area starting Monday, January 17th, weather permitting. Hours of snow removal will be 11 PM o 7 AM Monday through Thursday night. Crews will begin on Main Street at McLean.

The areas to be cleaned are:
Main Street - McLean to Union
Second Street - Jefferson to McLean
Third Street - Market to Washington
Fourth Street - Green to Washington
Market Street - River Drive to Third
South and North Court - Main to Third
Washington Street - Main to Fourth
Marion - Main to Second
Packard - Main to Second