News and Announcements

Rearrange for a warmer winter - from WPPI

Rearranging your home's furniture can improve your energy efficiency and your overall comfort. Try some of these ideas:
* Build up your bookcase. Push a bookcase against an outside wall and keep it filled up. It will act as a layer of insulation against outdoor temperatures. Hanging tapestries, fabric, or quilts on the wall will have a similar effect.
* Draw the curtains. Use heavy, thick drapes to block drafty windows - and potentially reduce up to 10 percent of your room's heat loss. Open drapes during peak sunlight hours to let in the warmth, then close them during the evening to keep out the chill.
* Cover your floors. Add a pad under your carpet to reduce the loss of heat through your floorboards. If you have hardwood floors, add area rugs to retain heat and keep your feet toasty.
* Don't block your ducts. Move furniture and draperies away from supply and return registers so that warm air can circulate.
* Be choosy with your furniture. Opt for overstuffed pieces with high backs that will block drafts. Recliners and ottomans are good wintertime options because they keep your feet off cold floors. Pull furniture in and away from outside walls to enhance the room's warmth.
* Get your ceiling fans spinning. Reverse your fans during the winter months to pull cool air up to circulate the warm air that's near the ceiling.

CodeRED - Emergency Communication Made Easy

The City of Maquoketa has contracted with Emergency Communications Network to license its CodeRED high-speed notification solution. The CodeRED system provides Maquoketa officials the ability to quickly deliver messages to targeted areas or the entire city.

Police Chief Brad Koranda, cautioned that such systems are only as good as the telephone number database supporting them. "If your phone number is not in the database, you will not be called." One of the reasons the CodeRED system was selected is it gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their own phone numbers directly into the system's database, this is an extremely important feature.

"No one should automatically assume his or her phone number is included," Koranda said urging all individuals and businesses to log onto the City of Maquoketa's website and follow the link to the "CodeRED Community Notification Enrollment" page. Those without Internet access may call City Hall at 563-652-2484, Monday through Friday (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) to supply their information over the phone. Required information includes first and last name, street address (physical address, no P.O. boxes), city, state, zip code, and primary phone number, additional phone numbers can be entered as well.

All businesses should register, as well as individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number or address within the past year, and those who use a cellular phone or VoIP phone as their primary number.

Koranda explained, "CodeRED allows geographically based delivery, which means street addresses are required to ensure emergency notification calls are received by the proper individuals in a given situation. The system works for cell phones too, but we need to have an associated street address to provide relevant messages."

Koranda stated, "CodeRED gives those who want to be included an easy and secure method for inputting information. The data collected will only be used for emergency notification purposes." Questions should be directed to the Maquoketa Police Department 563-652-2468.

Five Tips To Keep You Warm This Winter - From WPPI

It's cold outside, but these energy-saving tips will keep you feeling warm and cozy:
* Close storm windows. Make sure storm windows are closed completely so no air leaks in or out.
* Weatherize doors and windows. A few tubes of caulk and rolls of weather-stripping can help reduce heating bills and increase comfort.
* Maintain your heating system. Schedule yearly maintenance with a qualified contractor and replace furnace filters according to manufacturer's instructions.
* Set your furnace fan to "auto". Setting the fan switch on your thermostat to "on" will cause it to run all the time, whether or not your home needs heating.
* Close the chimney damper. For homes with fireplaces, it's important to close the damper when not in use, to prevent cold air from entering through the chimney.

Boards and Commissions Vacancies

The City of Maquoketa is taking applications for the following boards and commissions vacancies. This application process is in an effort to ensure diversity and representation of our community. Applications may be picked up and submitted at Maquoketa City Hall, 201 East Pleasant Street. For more information, please contact City Hall at 563-652-2484.

Cable Commission (1 open position)
Historic Preservation Commission (1 open position)
Planning and Zoning Commission (2 open positions)
Police Board of Trustees (3 open positions)
Sidewalk Board (4 open positions - 1st, 3rd and 4th ward and an At Large position)
Tree Board (3 open positions)
Zoning Board of Adjustment (1 open position)
Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority

Volunteers Needed

The City of Maquoketa is seeking volunteers to represent the City on the Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority Board. Persons must be willing to attend up to six board meetings per year in Dubuque. Terms are two years.