Prairie Heritage Week
Prairie Heritage Week Prarie Heritage Week is just around the corner! Be sure to click the More Info button to find out about the exciting programs going on that week to celebrate Iowa!!!

Board meeting
Franklin County Conservation Board will be meeting on Wednesday August 11th 2010 at the lodge in Maynes Grove Park. The meeting will start at 6pm. Items on the agenda include the following.
Old business
Shop heating project

New business
Update on sporting clay shoot
North Hansel shooting range
NRT grant for groomer
Land Acquisition possibility
Web site update
Robinson Berm
Employee evaluations
 

Hunter Education Class
Hunter Education Class Franklin County Conservation will be offering a Hunter Safety Course. The dates for the class are October 12, 14, and 16 2010. Participants must attend all scheduled days for a total of 10 hours.
Times are as follows
Oct 12 and 14 6pm to 9pm
Oct 16 8am to 12pm
The Class will be held in the lodge at Maynes Grove. There is no fee associated with this course.

Call 641 456 4375 or
email jvinson@co.franklin.ia.us
include your name(s) and phone number in your email and indicate that you are interested in taking the course.

Trees are cleared at Maynes Grove
We have been able to clear all the trails at Maynes Grove of fallen and dangerous trees. Keeping trees off the trails is a continuous battle if you come across a down tree over the trails please report it to our office by calling 641-456-4375. Trees are cleared at Maynes Grove

campgrounds will be open
campgrounds will be open Park clean up is complete and Robinson and South Mallory will be open for camping this holiday weekend. Popejoy campground however will remain closed, it is still to wet to host camping.

Internet access at Maynes Grove
Franklin County Conservation is glad to announce free internet access at Maynes Grove. Targets on the move from Ackley Iowa donated the cost to set up the Wild Blue wireless internet system. The wireless hot spot is near the lodge.  

Wild Parsnip
Wild Parsnip To learn more about this non-native invasive plant and see photos that will help you identify it click on the more info button.

Road Right-of-way mowing restriction

House File 2458
Imposes a restriction on mowing within the rights-of-way and medians of interstates, primary highways, and secondary roads before July 15. The restriction applies to the Department of Transportation, counties, and private property owners. This is to maintain adequate nesting areas for native birds. Exceptions to the restriction are allowed for mowing areas within 200 yards of an inhabited dwelling; on rights-of-way within one mile of the corporate limits of a city; to promote native species of vegetation; to establish control of damaging insects, noxious weeds, or invasive plants; for visibility and safety reasons; and within rest areas, weigh stations, and wayside parks. Under the bill, a landowner retains the ability to harvest, in proper season, grass grown on the road along the landowner’s land, as long as the harvesting is done on or after July 15 and does not conflict with an integrated roadside vegetation management plan. The bill allows mowing within 200 yards of a home, and allows mowing for visibility and safety reasons, which can cover most situations such as along lanes and along county roads. There is a specific allowance for mowing around mailboxes and for other access purposes. Habitat for pheasants, quail, song birds, and bees has become limited in Iowa; this bill would help guide the best management of the habitat that is needed for the survival and successful reproduction of these animals. The intent of this bill is to protect those areas while still letting people mow where it is responsible to do so.

Here is the actual section of HF 2531 pertaining to mowing- with the additional exceptions where mowing is allowed.


Sec. 121. Section 314.17, as amended by 2010 Iowa Acts,
House File 2458, if enacted, is amended by adding the following
new subsections:
NEW SUBSECTION. 7. Within fifty feet of a drainage tile or
tile intake.
NEW SUBSECTION. 8. For access to a mailbox or for other
accessibility purposes.
NEW SUBSECTION. 9. On rights=of=way adjacent to
agricultural demonstration or research plots.

Road Right-of-way mowing restriction

Conservation Board Meeting
  Franklin County Conservation will hold their regular meeting on June 9th, at 7pm at Conservation Headquarters locatedat 1002 Central Ave. West Hampton, IA.

Items on the agenda will include:
Shop Heating update project
Rolling Prairie Trail update
Letters Received
Play Equipment at WKW
IACCB dues increase

Recycling program
The containers at the new recycling location can handle all your recycling needs. The west container is for all cardboard products and the east container is for all paper products (including news paper and magazines), plastic, tin, and glass. The south end of this container is for paper products and the north end is for plastic, tin, and glass. If you have any questions regarding recycling please call 641-456-4375. Click the More Info tab to see detailed information regarding recycling.

Please remember this collection site is for rural residents only. Thank you.

Recycling program