Text Box: With the cut of a ribbon, Lt. Governor Sally Pederson ceremoniously opened the new Historic Hills State Scenic Byway. The event, which was held recently in Donnellson, Iowa, was a part of the Lt. Governor's Rediscover Iowa Tour, highlighting tourism destinations and cultural attractions across Iowa. The Lt. Governor, accompanied by Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director, Anita Walker, and Iowa Department of Tourism Director, Nancy Landess, said the new byway is just one example of what can be accomplished when Iowans have a vision and set goals. "The Historic Hills State Scenic Byway is a great way for Iowans to discover the many cultural and historical attractions all across southern Iowa. It links small communities together and provides a path to many weekend getaways in the area," says Pederson. John McCurdy, Chariton Valley Planning & Development community planner, says the ribbon cutting represents collaborative efforts of the Historic Hills Advisory Committee members. "Over the past several years, the Historic Hills Advisory Committee members Text Box: have worked together on many initiatives to promote the area as a regional tourism destination," he said. Chariton Valley Planning & Development Executive Director, Tracy Daugherty Miller adds that as Chair of the Transportation Committee, State Representative, Richard Arnold was instrumental in the renaming of the Woodlands State Scenic byway as the Historic Hills State Scenic Byway and extending it closer to Lake Rathbun, future site of Iowa’s Premier Resort Destination State Park.” “We can’t emphasis enough the importance of the support and assistance that our legislators provide,” says Daugherty Miller.  McCurdy says the 104 mile stretch of scenic byway begins on the west edge of Donnellson and travels to Davis County where it divides into two routes before it ends near Monroe County. Daugherty Millers says Chariton Valley Planning & Development, with the assistance of the Historic Hills Advisory Committee, will now pursue national byway status for the Historic Hills State Scenic Byway.  Text Box: Lt. Governor Pederson cuts ribbon to open byway Text Box: MONTHLY POST Text Box: Historic Courthouse District 205 1/2 N 13th Centerville, IA 52544 Phone: 641.437.4359 Fax: 641.437.1161

Executive Director,

Tracy Daugherty Miller
Community Development Planner,

John McCurdy

Marketing and Design,

Kathleen Chester

July 2006

Volume 2, Issue 7

MEETING AND MANAGING CHANGE

Above right: Pictured L-R: John McCurdy, Chariton Valley Planning & Development, Donnellson Mayor, Bill Young, Lt. Governor Sally Pederson, Tracy Daugherty Miller, Chariton Valley Planning & Development, and Jane Anderson, Donnellson City Clerk.

 

Right: Donnellson Mayor Bill Young accepts the proclamation, which was presented to both the city of Donnellson and Chariton Valley Planning & Development by Lt. Governor Sally Pederson at the Historic Hills State Scenic Byway ribbon cutting. Chariton Valley Planning & Development Executive Director, Tracy Daugherty Miller displays the scissors used during the ceremony.

 

Below: Historic Hills State Scenic Byway map.
Text Box: State approves nomination of Chariton properties Members of the Lucas County Historic Preservation Commission received notification from the Iowa Historic Preservation Office that their nomination was approved to have five Chariton properties named to the National Register of Historic places. All the buildings were designed by Chariton architect, William L. Perkins, and were built between 1917 and 1935. Buildings include the Chariton Newspapers office building, City Hall, the Masonic Temple, the Hotel Charitone, and the American Legion Hall. The National Park Service will now evaluate the properties for inclusion on the historic register. Chariton buildings previously listed on the National Register of Historic Places include the Burlington Railroad Overpass, Chariton Free Public Library, CB&Q Freight Depot, First United Methodist Church, Lucas County Courthouse, Dual Gables, and the A.J. Stephens House.

gional Planning Affiliations (RPA)15 and 17. 

The group seemed to agree that while limited funding is always an issue, coordinating existing programs could benefit from additional discussion.

 

Workshop participants were given the opportunity to become part of a Transportation Advisory Group (TAG).

 

The TAG groups will meet to discuss ways to fine tune the coordination between
existing programs and
present those findings at a state convention in
September.

Running errands, grocery shopping, or going to a doctor appointment is something many of us do on a regular basis and might take for granted, but for many, those tasks are impossible without transportation assistance. 

 

How to better serve those with needs was discussed during a Mobility Action Planning Workshop held in Centerville on June 19.

 

Chariton Valley Planning and Development hosted the event, which was attended by those interested in making improvements to existing programs, including Iowa Department of Transportation officials, county supervisors, and health care providers from Re

Dennis Ryan, Chariton Valley Transportation Planning Affiliation Chair says he thinks the workshop generated good discussion.

 

"It was a great way of getting the word out to the public sector about what is being done to improve the quality of life of local citizens," says Ryan.

 

The workshop was sponsored by the Iowa DOT and Iowa Transportation Coordination Council and was funded by the Federal Transit Authority. 

Chariton Valley Planning & Development hosts
transit mobility workshop

John McCurdy, Chariton Valley Planning & Development community planner provides an overview of a survey conducted prior to the workshop which was designed to identify areas for possible improvement.
Text Box: The TAG meeting will be held July 20 at 10 am at the Manhattan Steak House in Centerville.