Committee picks parts of four designs for final Charles City flag ideas

To The Press

What will the new flag representing Charles City look like?

While the final design has yet to be determined, the committee working on the project now has a number of ideas to work with thanks to a recent flag design contest organized by the Charles City Lions Club.

The public was invited to submit design concepts for the new flag, which will be flown over Central Park at the new three-pole memorial built there last fall by the Lions Club in celebration of the club’s 100th anniversary.

The U.S. and Iowa flags are currently being flown on two of the poles, but the third is being reserved for a new Charles City flag.

The Lions Club has assembled a committee of community representatives to come up with the new flag design and invited the public to submit design concepts for the committee to consider. The Lions offered a prize money incentive for the winning design or design elements selected by the committee during a blind judging held on March 24.

Committee members were able to view the entries and accompanying descriptions of what the designs represented, scoring what they liked, but were not able to see the names of who submitted the designs.

There was no consensus on any particular design, but four entries were selected for various design elements in each, which included the cable bridge, flowing blue river, green fields, the incorporation of orange along with the blue and green colors, the use of the letter ‘C’ or ‘CC’ representing Charles City, and possibly incorporating a tractor theme or industrial gear.

At the same time judges also liked the ideas of simplicity and the calm serenity of nature.

Those ideas will all be taken into consideration as the committee moves forward with the new flag design.

Splitting the prize money equally will be the top four scoring entries whose design elements were selected.

They are Angie Muller of Osage, Austin Henning and Randy Fritz, both of Charles City, along with Salvador Duarte of Hobbs, New Mexico.

A total of 12 entries were submitted and will be displayed as a group in the front window of the Community Development Office at 401 North Main St. from April 2-11.

Public comments can be emailed to info@charlescitychamber.com. The selection committee will consider the public input, along with the aforementioned design elements, in coming up with the final design.

The new Charles City flag may or may not be completed in time for the flag pole memorial dedication ceremony in Central Park on May 3. Once the flag is completed, copies will be made available for purchase through the Community Revitalization office.

For more information, call (641) 228-2335 or email the address above.