Darin Mapel News Today

After more than 50 years of being family-operated, a Columbus Junction trash-collecting business has been sold to Iowa River Sanitation LLC. A representative for the company said the change may bring lower rates.

According to previous discussions, work started in 2019 on the Locust Street box culvert over Monkey Run, but because of COVID-19 and other extenuating circumstances, the project was never fully closed out, though actual construction was completed in 2020.

The money represents the city’s contribution to the pool and classifying the funds as admissions protected the school district’s Public Education and Recreation Levy.

Jim Rudisill for The Hawk Eye COLUMBUS JUNCTION — The low bid for a previously approved asbestos abatement project for the Columbus School District’s secondary building campus will mean nearly $17,600 in savings, the school board learned Monday. District business manager Neil Mills said Shive-Hattery Associates, Cedar Rapids, which is serving as the engineering consultant for the project, had reported receiving four bids for the summer project. Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation, Inc, Davenpor...

Columbus Junction considers partnership with commercial tree service Jim Rudisill for The Hawk Eye COLUMBUS JUNCTION — An offer from two partners who operate a Columbus Junction commercial tree service may help ease disposal problems at the city’s yard waste disposal site. Jose Leyva and Juan Espinoza, owners of The Iowa River Tree Service and Snow Removal, told city officials during Wednesday’s city council meeting they are willing to separate brush from larger logs and cut the logs into...

Jim Rudisill for The Hawk Eye COLUMBUS JUNCTION — Misuse of the Columbus Junction’s yard waste drop-off site could lead to restrictions at the site or criminal charges, city officials warned Wednesday during the city council’s regular meeting. Councilman Tracy Harris raised the issue, saying he recently was notified it is impossible to even access the site because of large logs and brush apparently apparently disposed at the site by commercial tree trimmers. “I don’t think it’s righ...

Columbus Junction anticipates tax levy drop Jim Rudisill for The Hawk Eye COLUMBUS JUNCTION — Columbus Junction’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget, which includes Total Expenditures/Transfers Out of $2,487,904, received approval from the city council during its regular meeting on Wednesday. The council acted following a short public hearing that did not draw any local residents or comments. Mayor Mark Huston provided an overview of the budget, using two budget information summaries that had been pre...

Columbus Junction School Board appoints Darin Mapel to replace Jayme Storm Jim Rudisill for The Hawk Eye COLUMBUS JUNCTION — Darin Mapel of Columbus Junction was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Jayme Storm on the Columbus School Board during the board’s regular monthly meeting Monday, according to board secretary Neil Mills. Storm, who was elected to board in 2019, announced last month she needed to resign from the board because she and her family had moved out of the district. Afte...