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Fort Madison Approves Union Contract

The Fort Madison City Council has signed off on a new one-year employment contract between the city and the employees at the Fort Madison Public Library.

The agreement takes effect July 1, 2014.

City Manager Byron Smith says the workers will receive a 3% wage hike in exchange for paying more of the cost of their health insurance premiums.

Starting January 1, 2015, employees with single policies will cover 6% instead of 4% while the employee share of family plans will increase from 8% to 10%.

The city is still negotiating with employees in the water department.

PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

Fort Madison is upgrading its playground equipment.  

The city council has accepted the bid of nearly $250,000 from Boland Recreation in Marshalltown, Iowa for ten modular playground units.

The units are designed for kids ages 5-12.  They will be installed throughout six city parks, including Rodeo, Riverview and Central Parks.

The money for the units will come from the recent bond issue where the city borrowed $12-million for street repairs and park improvements.

TRAIL SYSTEM

Fort Madison is looking to the Iowa Department of Transportation for help in enhancing its recreational trail system.

The city is applying for more than $250,000 to build a trail from Ivanhoe Park to Bluff Road.  The path would eventually connect to the new sports complex on the west end of town.

City Manager Byron Smith says a local group is raising the money needed for a potential local match, roughly $87,500.

Jason Parrott is a former reporter at Tri States Public Radio.