Mayor Makes Proclamation for 2025 Healthiest State Annual Walk Day

Mayor Steve Birdsall made a Proclamation for 2025 Healthiest State Annual Walk Day at the start of the Sept. 25 city council meeting.

He read the following proclamation: "Whereas the health and well-being of the community members are of the utmost importance, and regular physical activity is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Whereas the Healthiest State Annual Walk is a statewide initiative that encourages all Iowans to engage in physical activity by participating in a 30-minute walk on Oct. 1, 2025. And whereas the healthiest state annual walk aims to promote the benefits of walking, including improved cardiovascular health, enhanced mental well-being and strengthened community bonds. Whereas while community coalitions, local businesses, schools, organizations across Iowa are coming together to support and participate in this event is demonstrating a collective commitment to fostering a healthier, more active state. And whereas the Healthiest State Annual Walk provides an opportunity for individuals of all ages and ability to join together in a shared effort to improve their health and the health of their communities. Whereas the participation of local government, community leaders and citizens is crucial to the success of this initiative and to the promotion of culture and health and wellness throughout Iowa. Now, therefore, I, Mayor Steve Birdsall, do hereby proclaim Oct. 1, 2025 as Healthiest State Walk Day in Hampton, Iowa and encourage all residents to take part in this initiative to promote physical activity and community well-being."

Read more about the planned community walk on page A2. 

After this, Amanda Gifford voiced her support for allowing chickens in the City of Hampton during the public comment portion of the meeting. She said her chickens would be contained, if given permission to have them at their property. She also suggested a fee for chickens that stray from home.

During the new business portion of the meeting, the council approved pay estimate no. 9 for Henkel Construction in the amount of $1,995.00 for water treatment improvements. The council then discussed the Image of Pride brochure option presented and created by City Councilor Jerre Grefe and the City Hall staff, which was approved.

Claims as submitted by the staff in the amount of $186,211.71 were approved by the council.

The council approved the following: Resolution 2025-21 (authorizing and implementing a moratorium on Hampton Municipal Code Chapter 57.02, license fees for 12 months); Resolution 2025-22 (establishing an agreement between the City of Hampton and Franklin County, Iowa for the purpose of construction and maintaining a joint brush burn site); and the first reading of Ordinance 407 (amending section 69.08 of the Hampton Municipal Code by adding subsections thereto designating additional no parking zones).

The following consent agenda was also approved: previous minutes as drafted from Thursday, Sept. 11 regular session and schedule the next regular session for Thursday, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Hampton City Council Chambers. (The October workshop will be held on Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. instead of Oct. 6.)

There were no public hearings or old business.

Reports

For his report, Hampton Police Chief Mark Morrison said they will be helping students cross the road during the Hampton-Dumont Healthy State Walk. He also checked in with Officer Brass, who's at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy right now. He told Morrison he's been enjoying his time there. Officer Brass has 13 weeks left in his training.

Next up, Public Works Director Doug Tarr spoke about the compost and brush site moving to its new location on Wednesday, Oct. 1. He thanked the city clerks for updating the brochure and said staff is excited for the new location, as they won't have to city in their cars anymore during uncomfortable weather. He noted the fence at the skate park is now complete. It had been requested by the family that lives next to the park, as a way to buffer noise and other disturbances during park hours. The street project along 12th Ave in front of the high school is now complete, he also reported.

"I felt bad that it went over Homecoming Week," Tarr said. "We were hoping for it to be done a lot earlier this year. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. Weather dictates everything with those projects, as I've stated before."

City Manager Ron Dunt reported that the city firefighters were awarded a $71,000 grant, the roof at the library has been replaced and they've received three written requests to have chickens within city limits. He also mentioned the tuckpointing project at Band Shell Park, which is now underway. When asked if the tuckpointing would interefere with rental of the park, he said he didn't think so.

City Councilor Kristin Roode didn't have a report for the evening.

City Councilor Jerre Grefe began her report by apologizing to the city clerks. During the last city council meeting, she had asked why the clerks couldn't do more to help with the potential giveaway of prizes for those who registered their dogs with the city. She said it wasn't her intention to insult or demean their work.

Grefe also mentioned her time at the Iowa League of Cities conference the previous week, saying she enjoyed a workshop about animal ordinances. She also attended a Chamber Board meeting the week before, where they discussed the bike rack that will soon be placed in Peace Plaza and Halloween Howl. She and the rest of the promotions committee at the Chamber of Commerce are planning to hold bingo games throughout the winter — in Sheffield, Latimer, Coulter, Hansell and Hampton — to raise money for the chamber's annual appreciation dinner, which is scheduled for Feb. 14.

For his report, City Councilor Patrick Palmer said that someone messaged him to say that Hampton seems to have made strides. The person who messaged him hadn't been in town for a while and they appreciated how cleaned up the area looked.

City Councilor Barry Lamos had no report for the evening.

For his report, City Council Jim Davies said they are patiently waiting to hear back about the Main Street accreditation and will report back when they have those results. He also reminded everyone about the Vaudeville show at the Windsor Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 4, the Harriman-Nielsen Historic Farm Fall Festival on Sunday, Oct. 5 and the library's 120th celebration on Monday, Oct. 6.

For his report, Mayor Steve Birdsall spoke about his time at the Iowa League of Cities conference, which he called "very, very informative." Like Grefe, he learned a lot from the animal ordinance workshop, he said. He also mentioned the problem of feral cats, explaining that if someone is feeding feral cats, they would then be responsible for vaccinating those particular cats. This is something that was discussed in the workshop he attended.

Lastly, Birdsall shared some inspiration quotes in honor of suicide month, which is September.

"If you feel you don't have the strength to take another step, ask those you love to pull you," he said. "Sometimes you just need somebody to grab on to and it can be a source of strength."