The Kalona City Council Monday night set a public hearing on the proposed 2014-15 fiscal year budget for 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3.

The property tax asking will be increased from $9.60810 per $1,000 taxable valuation in the current fiscal year to $9.61929 per $1,000 taxable valuation in the 2014-15 budget year, an increase of $0.011/$1,000 valuation or a 0.0012% increase, City administrator Ryan Schlabaugh pointed out.

Since the property valuations have increased, the total amount projected to be raised by taxes is $855,498 as compared to $743,966 budgeted in the current fiscal year. That is an increase of $111,472 for the next fiscal year.

Actual taxes collected the current fiscal year was $775,524 due to increases in property values.

See the official public hearing notice on page 3B of this issue of the Kalona News.

Total expenditures are projected at $3,187,431.

City Clerk Karen Christner explained that the city had to dip into reserves because WCRF had made two payments of $211,000 for the downtown street improvements project grant in fiscal 2013-14. The second $211,000 payment was deposited in the reserve account so those funds have to be retrieved from the reserve fund next fiscal year.

Schlabaugh explained that the budget does include hiring a general laborer (at up to $15 an hour) to the public works department. The budget projects a $32,870 increase in streets salaries or a 44% increase to help cover salary and other city benefits.

Capital Improvements

In addition to setting a hearing for the budget, the council gave approval for a Capital Improvements Plan (CIP). Schlabaugh said he would still need council approval before proceeding with each project, but approval of the plan allows him to start getting quotes and rough project costs.

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Kalona sets public hearing of 2014-15 budget

Portland, OR (PRWEB) January 21, 2014

Portland-based Clearwater Exteriors (Clearwater) today announced that Laurence Meadows will join the company as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

Mr. Meadows brings more than 30 years of experience in the specialty contracting industry to Clearwater. He has a proven track record for leading home improvement companies of all sizes, from small start-ups to multi-state operations with more than $30 million in revenues and over 350 employees.

I am incredibly excited to be part of a community that is so passionate about energy efficiency and the entire green movement, Mr. Meadows said. I look forward to leveraging key relationships in manufacturing, banking, and our supply channel partners to bring best-in-class service and the finest products in the industry to the Pacific Northwest, he added.

Mr. Meadows experience and leadership will give Clearwaters strategic marketing platform critical momentum in building its brand in Portland and surrounding metropolitan areas. We will immediately pursue strategic partnerships with local organizations that are aligned with our core values and commitment to the community, Meadows said.

Mr. Meadows has particular expertise in custom windows and siding, and is widely recognized as an industry expert by vendors, lenders and investment funds in the home improvement arena. He has served on the Steering Committee for Harvard Universitys Joint Center for Housing Studies since 2007, and has also served as a member of the GE Money Advisory Board since 2007. Mr. Meadows was also a Finalist for Ernst & Youngs prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2004.

ABOUT CLEARWATER EXTERIORS, LLC Portland, Oregon-based Clearwater Exteriors is a specialty contracting business focused on residential retail sales and installation of custom-built high performance replacement windows and maintenance-free insulated replacement siding.

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Clearwater Exteriors Announces Laurence Meadows to Join as CEO

Augusta, GA (PRWEB) January 20, 2014

The company residents and businesses of the CSRA can always depend on for remodeling and roofing needs has now begun construction on its first custom home.

GSP LLC is currently building a energy-efficient home using green materials, fiber cement siding, paint with low volatile organic compounds, tankless hot water heaters and custom-stamped concrete flooring. GSP LLC is also now a member of IKO ShieldPRO plus+ Contractor Program, and offers the programs Extended Iron Clad Protection for roofing projects. Not only can GSP LLC help build a custom home, but they can also help their clients to design one.

There are several benefits to having a custom home built, the first obviously that it gives the owner everything he or she is looking for in a home, and nothing he or she doesnt want. They are also extremely low-maintenance, as the newest materials will be used to construct it. Custom homes are also very energy-efficient, as energy standards have changed dramatically even just during the past few years. Due to the way they were constructed, its usually extremely difficult to improve efficiency in older homes. Also, theres currently a Federal Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit which allows up to 30 percent of certain green building materials to be deducted from taxes. Finally, a custom home allows the floor plans to be much more modern. Floors in older homes are seldom focused on traffic, making them feel like a collection of rooms. In modern times, the kitchen, living and dining spaces tend to come together in a design that enhances family contact and interaction.

GSP LLCs other services include interior and exterior remodeling, home builder services, design-build services, ASID-affiliated service, windows and siding, painting and padding, air conditioning installation, insurance claim work, frame work and tile, brick and wood work. GSP LLC is located at 3124 Washington Road, Suite H, Augusta, Ga. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.georgiasubcontracting.com, or call 803-430-6245.

About the Company: GSP offers remodeling, custom homes and commercial general contracting. Whether for business or residential, when customers have a desire to embellish their environment, it is GSPs job to answer it. When it comes to construction in Augusta, GA and the CSRA, trust Georgia Subcontracting Professionals (GSP), LLC.

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GSP LLC Now Offering Custom Built Homes

The Coronado Park Senior Village building is the centerpiece of the Coronado Park development as it takes shape on Friday, January 17, 2014, in Eagle River.

ERIK HILL Anchorage Daily News Buy Photo

WHAT: Coronado Park Senior Village, or CPSV, is a place for seniors, aged 55 and older, who raised their families and made their lives in Eagle River and nearby communities and who want to live independently, close to family and friends, in a way that is affordable to people living on a fixed income.

CPSV will consist of a four-story 56-unit apartment building. There will be a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, all of which will be fully accessible and will include sight and sound equipment. The building is designed to meet the 5 Star Plus energy rating and will have the largest alternative energy system in a residential building in Alaska, comprised of an array of solar thermal systems, providing more than 50 percent of the energy needed for domestic hot water. There will be a mix of underground parking and surface parking.

The design and plan of CPSV takes into consideration the Eagle River Central Business Revitalization Plan and the Chugiak-Eagle River Comprehensive Plan Update. The development locates new housing within walking distance of downtown Eagle River businesses and services.

CPSV will accommodate residents with a mix of incomes, from market-rate units to units for residents with incomes equal to 60 percent of Area Median Income (AMI), as set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

WHERE: 16820 Coronado Road, Eagle River

COST: $16.6 million

DESIGN/ARCHITECT: kpb architects

GENERAL CONTRACTOR:Neeser Construction, Inc.

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Building Anchorage: Coronado Park Senior Village

Last week, I addressed short-term options for dealing with ice build-up at the eaves, which many homeowners have experienced this winter. Although the cold and snowy weather has temporarily subsided, more is on the way. As I noted in my last column, cleaning snow off the roof and/or cutting through ice dams are both potentially hazardous, and they are temporary measures. This week, Id like to offer some longer-term solutions.

Icicles, per se, are not necessarily bad, nor are they always cause for alarm. However, if you notice that you have ice that is tea-colored, or that is forming on the side of the house, it is cause for concern. And, if ice is present below siding or the soffits, or you discover that water is leaking into the structure, then it is also cause for concern. If ice forms over doorways or is a threat to pedestrians, steps should be taken to ensure that it does not harm anyone or anything.

If ice does not pose a threat, the best solution is to leave it alone and let it melt naturally. I know this violates the basic instinct of we have to do something, but in the long run its probably the best and safest policy.

However, if your home is experiencing water infiltration due to ice damming, then you should take steps to either partially eliminate the ice or, at the least, control its effects. Some of these measures include removal of snow from the roof and trying to contain any water that enters the house, as I discussed last week. Major roof repairs will likely have to wait until spring or summer.

One additional safe step you can take is to assess the insulation and ventilation in the attic. If there are areas missing or with substandard insulation, adding more as soon as possible makes obvious sense. One exception to this rule is if the existing insulation is wet or may become wet due to the leaking roof.

Plugging any gaps between the attic and the heated envelope of the house is also important since it is warm air escaping into the attic that is the main cause of ice-damming problems in the first place. Plumbing stacks, chimneys, bath fans, open areas over attic stairways and doors, etc., are all routes where warm air can move into the attic. Once the attic is warmed, the heat will escape through the roof and start to melt the snow above. Spray foam around gaps in the attic floor can help isolate the attic from the heated portion of the house.

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One step beyond this is to install a layer of foam between the unheated attic and the heated rooms below. This will likely mean the removal of existing insulation, the application of the foam (typically an inch or so) and then the installation of as much additional insulation as is practical. The ideal total amount of insulation would be to a minimum R-value of 38, however, the architectural design of the house may limit the available space to install that amount.

Please note that I do not recommend installing foam over the attic roof sheathing. This can conceal potential roof leaks and the layer of foam applied directly under the roof shingles can shorten their life.

If youve insulated the attic and closed potential air passages into the attic, one last option is to vent the attic so that it remains as close to the exterior temperature as possible. The addition of roof or ridge vents, or gable vents combined with free-flowing soffit vents (if your homes architecture allows for them) will help keep the attic cool enough so that snow does not melt in the first place. Some of these modifications may be able to be done during the winter months.

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Jerry Ludwig: Warm air in attic is main cause of ice damming

HardiePlank Siding Transforms Old OSB Siding Home - Tulsa Siding Installers, Tulsa Renew
To find out more about the incredible durability of James Hardie siding, visit Tulsa Renew - http://tulsarenew.com or (918) 960-1639 In this video from James...

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HardiePlank Siding Transforms Old OSB Siding Home - Tulsa Siding Installers, Tulsa Renew - Video

Cochenour Blacktop Seal Coating in Circleville, OH
Since 1995, Cochenour Blacktop Seal Coating in Circleville, Ohio, has been serving the seal coating and full-service home improvement needs of customers thro...

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Cochenour Blacktop Seal Coating in Circleville, OH - Video

Habitat for Humanity Quad-Cities is branching out to housing rehab.

The nonprofit Christian housing organization that has built 80 newhomes in this area since 1993 has been donated atwo-bedroomMoline bungalowthat it will rehabilitate for about $30,000 and sell to a low-income family.

The 1920s-era home was givento Habitat by Bank of America via a new national alliance in which up to 2,000 foreclosed-upon properties will be turned over to various Habitat affiliates over the next three years.

Habitat has long shied away from rehab for several reasons, including the fact that older homes can have lead abatement issues, and theycan be "money pits," requiring moreto repair than they are worth, said Dougal Nelson, the director of development for Habitat Quad-Cities.

But the Bank of America homes offer a good opportunity because if Habitat can rehab a solid, existing property to near-new condition at half the cost of a new home, the organization can serve more people, he said.

"It's a great way to serve more families and to improve neighborhoods," he added. "No one wants a vacant home on their street. I'm thrilled."

Habitat provides the bank with postal ZIP codes for its coverage area and a profile of the desired square footage, number of bedrooms and so forth. The bank then reviews its properties, looking for suitable matches.

But because the bank staff is "lookingfrom afar,they dont always have a handle on suitability," Nelson said. "It rests on us to look at the property and be able to get back to them within seven days to say yes or no."

Habitat considersoverall condition, size, tax affordability andenergy efficiency, he said.

The Moline house is "in great shape and the perfect size" at about 1,000 square feet, he said. The taxes are affordable, it has new windows, some new insulation and a high-efficiency furnace, plus it has vinyl siding, meaning less future maintenance.

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Habitat, Bank of America partner on foreclosed homes

South Haven, Minnesota (PRWEB) December 31, 2013

Combining superior quality rigid frame engineering with the proven benefits of tension fabric, Legacy Building Solutions now offers mining companies the industrys first line of tension fabric buildings to incorporate structural steel beams instead of open web trusses. This engineering concept provides a high level of flexibility for storage of bulk material or equipment, vehicle maintenance shops, portable or stationary soil remediation facilities, and other fabric structures used in mining or oil and gas operations.

Legacy buildings utilize a durable rigid frame in place of the hollow-tube, open web truss framing traditionally used for fabric buildings. Unlike hollow tube steel, Legacys solid structural steel beams are not vulnerable to unseen corrosion originating inside a tube. Additionally, the structural steel has multiple coating options, including hot dip galvanizing, red oxide primer and powder coat paint.

The strength of the structural steel frame provides several engineering advantages, including the ability to relocate buildings by towing or crane. The rigid frame also delivers the flexibility to customize buildings beyond the confines of standard shapes and sizes to the exact width, length and height required.

Legacys straight sidewall design allows for the inclusion of a variety of overhead doors, exit doors and dormers along the sides. Structures can be modified to provide desired eave extensions and interior columns. They also can be engineered to carry ancillary systems that need to be suspended, including overhead cranes, fire suppression systems, ventilation and lighting.

Legacy buildings feature high-quality polyethylene fabric roofs that eliminate the corrosion concerns associated with metal-constructed facilities. A wide variety of PVC fabrics are also available. The durable fabric allows natural light to permeate the structure, while insulation can be added when required.

Installation is faster than with conventional buildings, and the design can be adjusted for stationary or portable applications. Sidewalls can be customized and built with any desired material including steel, paneling or siding and then easily lined with fabric to prevent corrosion to the interior. Legacy steel components and fabric covers are backed by a 15-year warranty.

Legacy offers assistance from concept to completion, including renderings, foundation design, installation and project management. To date, Legacys in-house, professional installation crews have constructed more than 30 million square feet of fabric buildings.

Legacy Building Solutions specializes in the innovative design, engineering and construction of fabric-covered buildings for several different industries and applications. For more information, contact Legacy Building Solutions, 19500 County Road 142, South Haven, MN 55382, call 320-259-7126 or 877-259-1528, or visit the companys website at http://www.legacybuildingsolutions.com.

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Legacy Introduces Tension Fabric Buildings for Mining Operations

Dan Dahlgren of Rock Island hops inside his van, turns the ignition and blasts the heat.

He has spent hours climbing ladders installing satellite TV dishes to Quad-Citians' roofs.

Regardless of Tuesday's frigid single temps, business for Dahlgren, who works for a local DirecTV contractor, was no less busy than on any other day of the year.

And being that it was New Year's Eve only added to the number of service calls.

"Try to keep as much skin as possible covered," Dahlgren advises, as the wind chill makes the outside temperature feel like it's below zero.

One installation job takes at least an hour. Tuesday had him zipping from Bettendorf to Long Grove, Iowa, and back to Davenport.

He ascends a ladder with an ice scraper or a snow brush in hand. He clears away ice or snow from an area where he'll install a dish.

He points the dish south or southeast to get the best connection.

In conditions such as Tuesday's, he's careful about drilling into vinyl siding, as it easily cracks in the cold. Then he loops the wires through the holes.

He said working in the snow is the "fun part," and being originally from Minnesota, he's used to freezing weather.

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Layering up to work in the cold