Charles City Council approves Farmer’s Market location

By Thomas Nelson, tnelson@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Farmer’s Market will be on Blunt Street, going from Main Street to North Jackson Street.

The Charles City Council met Monday and approved unanimously the street closings for the farmer’s market. During the meeting the council voted on several other motions, including one that provides an area of land for a sponsored project with the Iowa Soybean Association.

The Charles City Farmer’s Market will be on Saturdays beginning May 6 and concluding Oct. 15.

The request for the street closing came from Charles City revitalization.

The Charles City Farmer’s Market will be trying to have several events this year, said Joyce Knoll, of the Charles City Revitalization.

Nutrition education and musical events are possible for the market, Knoll said.

“I’d like to do two to three events a year,” Knoll said, “mostly educational events.”

The farmer’s market will be on the same street that it’s been on during past years, Knoll said.

“Hopefully in the future we’ll be growing that market and extending,” Knoll said.

Child Abuse Awareness Month

There was also a proclamation for April as child abuse awareness month.

Samantha Soash was present at the council meeting to speak in support of the proclamation.

Soash presented an outline of the campaign to bring awareness of child abuse in Charles City, through fliers and community action.

Currently she is working toward having a kid-friendly activity at the Charles City movie theater where families can bring in children for free to watch a movie, Soash said.

“I’m still working out the details of that,” she said.

Keith Starr, Charles City Council member, asked about the rate of child abuse in the Floyd County area.

“I don’t have the exact number for that. I would say it’s pretty steady,” Soash said.

The council voted unanimously to proclaim April as Child Abuse Awareness Month.

“Our entire community depends on your success,” Charles City Mayor James Erb said after reading the proclamation.

Mayor’s Trip

Mayor Erb went to Washington, D.C., last week as part of a delegation of the Iowa League of Cities.

While there he was briefed on what Charles City may be confronting with future budgetary issues, Erb said.

“Needless to say, the outlook on the federal level is at least bad as the state level in terms of cutbacks,” Erb said. “At the moment there’s certainly cause to be very involved and vigilant about issues, whether it’s dealing with your federal representative or state representatives.”