City Manager’s Column:  RAGBRAI’s Back!

5/18/04

         Welcome RAGBRAI!  

            On July 30, Maquoketa will host the final night of RAGBRAI for the first time since 1994.  The memorable event from that year was when a cyclist had the port-a-potty that he was in shoved over with its door to the ground.  

            For some, 2004 will mark a return visit to Maquoketa.  But, for others from different states and countries, this might be the first time that a lot of you have been to Iowa.  If it is, then let me tell you a little bit about Iowans…  

            Although Iowa’s population has shifted to mostly urban, we still like to think of ourselves as rural.  

            According to the last census, the fastest growing demographic category in our State is people who are over the age of 100.  

            When we go to a restaurant, we often think about what we want to order for dessert before deciding on what we want for the main course.  

            We’re folksy, but I’ve never met a true Iowan that refers to our State as “I-o-way.”  

            We like to see others become financially successful, though not too successful as to be ostentatious.  

            We like the Music Man and are glad that it is about Iowa.  

            We are for better schools, but against raising our taxes to make this possible.  

            No matter where we may go in the world, we’re not the ones who speak with an accent.  

            We give directions to locations by referring to other locations that no longer exist:  “Take the ‘ Red School House Road ’ down to 136 and turn left…”  

            We can be big talkers, but we prize humility in others.  

            We hate to see harm done to the innocent.  It is often more difficult to watch a news account that tells of the mistreatment of an animal than it is to watch a news account that details the mistreatment of a human.  

            If you’re in trouble and not seen as taking advantage, we’d give you the shirts off our backs. 

            In short, we’re probably a lot like you, except, we don’t speak with an accent.  

*          *          *

            If anyone has ever doubted the popularity of chewing gum, then take a look at any downtown sidewalk.   

            It’s everywhere.  It’s pretty durable, too, because none of it shows much deterioration.  I’ve sometimes wondered if there might be some sort of “after-market” use for it.  It seems to weather well, and, unlike many types of pavement, it is resistant to the “freeze/thaw” cycle.     

            As far as etiquette goes, there are plenty of things that we are told we shouldn’t do.  But, apparently, spitting out gum in public isn’t one of them.  

            I remember that, several years ago, they invented a chewing gum that was advertised as a breakthrough because it didn’t stick to most kinds of dental work.  The next breakthrough might be a type of gum that doesn’t stick to most kinds of sidewalks.  

*          *          *

            I was recently at one of our City Council’s committee meetings.  City Council members Tom Schueller, Alvin Barten, and Neil Morehead were present.  

            Prior to this meeting, the Council had debated the replacement of a police car.  The majority approved the purchase of a Ford Crown Victoria because it is a full-sized car and could better fit our taller officers.  Alvin Barten voted for buying a Chevrolet Impala because it costs less, though it is a mid-sized car.  

            At this particular committee meeting, we were discussing the Jackson County Sheriff Department’s request for a monetary contribution to pay for a drug-sniffing dog.  We asked various questions, such as, who would work with the dog, feed it, take care of it, etc.  

            At one point, one of the Council members asked how the dog would be transported.  The Sheriff’s Deputy said that the dog would ride in the patrol car with him.  

            Someone asked, “What part of the car does the dog ride in?”  

            The Deputy said, “In the back seat.”  

            “What if you have a prisoner?”  

            “The dog would ride in the back seat with the prisoner.”  

            Barten asked, “What kind of car is it?”  

            The Deputy said, “An Impala.”  

            Barten then started to laugh and shake rather hard and gave a big thumbs-up because the Impala was large enough for a prisoner and a German Shepard in a cage.  

            Trying to move the meeting along, Schueller began, “So, the next question that we need to decide is….”  

            Then, Morehead broke in, “….whether the dog will ride in a Chevy!”  

*          *          *

            According to a statistic that was mentioned at a city managers’ conference that I attended, 50% of the city managers in the U.S. will retire over the next four years.

            According to my wife, I will not be one of them.