County hears of continuous noise complaint

Gary and Loretta Holzinger of Stone City were present at the Oct. 1 Jones County Board of Supervisor meeting to discuss their ongoing noise complaint with the General Store. 

The Holzingers initially expressed their issues with loud band music emitting from the General Store back in May 2017. After hearing their case, the supervisors added a stipulation to the General Store’s liquor license that they could not have loud music after 10 p.m. 

Gary said the establishment typically has two different types of music: acoustic and amplified. It’s the amplified music that reverberates inside their home, roughly 715 feet away. 

“You can hear every bass note inside my house,” he told the board. 

Gary said he talked to the owner of the General Store, but has gotten nowhere. He also suggested that if the bands face south when performing (versus east, facing the Holzingers’ home), toward the Wapsipinicon River, the noise problem could go away. 

“The bass just carries,” said Gary. 

“It’s not a joy to be in our house when the amplified bands are playing,” added Loretta. 

The Holzingers moved to Stone City in 1975 because it was a “nice and quiet” area. “It’s gotten progressively worse,” they said of the late-night musical events. 

“We’ve tried being good neighbors,” the Holzingers said. “We just hope the owner would do the same thing.” 

Supervisor Ned Rohwedder said he wasn’t sure there was anything the board could do about the situation at the present time. 

The Holzinger just wanted to bring their concerns to the board before the General Store’s liquor license is approved in May. 

“Maybe then you could get the conversation going with the owner,” he suggested. 

In other county business: 

• The board appointed Todd Dirks of Center Junction to the Jones County Veteran Affairs Commission. Dirks replaces retired Commissioner Jim Caswell of Anamosa. 

Dirks is a member of the Wyoming American Legion Post #259. He served in the U.S. Army in Iraq, joining the service just after high school. 

“We’re always looking for someone younger to be on our outreach team,” said Veteran Affairs Administrator Susan Yario. “He’s a great fit for us.” 

Caswell served as a commissioner for 12 years. 

• The board approved the re-hiring of Kaci Ginn as a seasonal Public Health intern from Dec. 23, 2019 through Jan. 17, 2020. 

The Board of Health previously approved the request as well. 

• Supervisor Wayne Manternach who serves on the MHDS (mental health/disability services) regional board, announced their hiring of Mae Hingtgen as the new regional CEO. She starts her new job on Oct. 24, and will be based out of Dubuque. 

• The board approved the appointment of Bridgette Bowers as the Secondary Roads office manager. Bowers was previously hired as the assistant manager, with plans to take over the manager position upon Roberta Robertson’s retirement. Robertson’s last day was Sept. 27. 

“She’s very capable and has done a very good job,” praised County Engineer Derek Snead of Bowers’ work thus far. 

She will have a starting salary of $45,940. 

• Snead provided an update on the 15^th Street project, south of Martelle and Morley. 

Secondary Roads has finished grading and erosion control. All that remains is the placement of contract rock. 

• Snead also announced the retirement of Bill Crowley, the Secondary Roads sign man. His resignation is effective at the end of October. 

Crowely has been with the county for 32 years. Snead said it will be a hard position to fill. 

“By far, we have the best signs in the state. We get comments all the time about how much farther ahead we are with the regulations,” he said of Crowley’s hard work. 

Snead said in Crowley’s time with the county, there has not been one single lawsuit against the county as far as signage goes. 

“He takes his job very personally,” said Snead. “He was a great asset to our department; it’ll be a great loss. It’ll be a difficult transition period.”