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It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always

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Home Care In Atkins, IA

Home Care Atkins, IA

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Atkins City Park gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Atkins, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

In-Home Care Atkins, IA

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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Elderly Care for James T.
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“Always best care provided excellent caregivers to us. I am really happy with the care”

Always best care provided excellent caregivers to us. I am really happy with the care and support they provided to my father. Highly recommended to all!
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In-home Care for Michael H.
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“On behalf of my family, I would like to thank Always Best care for all”

On behalf of my family, I would like to thank Always Best care for all the support your caregivers have provided to my mother. She was very pleased with the care she received. I confidently recommend Always Best Care to all.
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Senior Care for Melanie S.
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“Always Best Care in Cedar Valley IA realy helps me a lot. They have Reliable”

Always Best Care in Cedar Valley IA realy helps me a lot. They have Reliable Caregivers who helped me to take care of my loved one for several years. They are highly trained and managed well the daily routines and activities like bathing and dressing. Caregivers of always best care is dependable and passionate to their work. I am satisfied and so glad that I chose their service. Highly recommend whoever needs their caregiving service!
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always best care provided excellent caregivers to us. I am really happy with the care and support they provided to my father. Highly recommended to all!”

James T.
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TESTIMONIALS

“On behalf of my family, I would like to thank Always Best care for all the support your caregivers have provided to my mother. She was very pleased with the care she received. I confidently recommend Always Best Care to all.”

Michael H.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care in Cedar Valley IA realy helps me a lot. They have Reliable Caregivers who helped me to take care of my loved one for several years. They are highly trained and managed well the daily routines and activities like bathing and dressing. Caregivers of always best care is dependable and passionate to their work. I am satisfied and so glad that I chose their service. Highly recommend whoever needs their caregiving service!”

Melanie S.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Atkins, IA?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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Senior Care Atkins, IA

Types of Elderly Care in Atkins, IA

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming
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Respite Care Atkins, IA
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
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Caregivers Atkins, IA
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Atkins City Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
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Home Care Atkins, IA
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Jose's International Cafe or visit Fort Atkinson State Historical Park, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

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In-Home Care Atkins, IA

Benefits of Home Care in Atkins, IA

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Atkins, IA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Elderly Care Atkins, IA

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your IA's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
Senior Care Atkins, IA

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Atkins, IA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.

Respite Care Atkins, IA

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
Caregivers Atkins, IA

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Atkins Nursing & Rehab Center
  • Senior Living Solutions
  • Valley Housing
Home Care Atkins, IA

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

In-Home Care Atkins, IA

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Atkins, IA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

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Elderly Care Atkins, IA

Latest News in Atkins, IA

AI manipulation of Assassin's Creed character's voice stokes actors' concerns

Voice actor Victoria Atkin worked hard to record the voice of fictional 19th century freedom fighter Evie Frye for Ubisoft’s 2015 adventure, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. But, without Atkin’s involvement, someone using AI has now made Evie speak all the lead character’s lines in Bethesda’s 2011 epic The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.Why it matters: Video game voice actors are fearing that the ability for generative AI to replicate their voices may cost them work and, more fundamentally, control o...

Voice actor Victoria Atkin worked hard to record the voice of fictional 19th century freedom fighter Evie Frye for Ubisoft’s 2015 adventure, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. But, without Atkin’s involvement, someone using AI has now made Evie speak all the lead character’s lines in Bethesda’s 2011 epic The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Why it matters: Video game voice actors are fearing that the ability for generative AI to replicate their voices may cost them work and, more fundamentally, control of their own voice.

Details: Atkin discovered the Evie-Skyrim recordings this month when a friend sent her some files to listen to via a user-made mod, or software add-on, for Skyrim.

What they’re saying: “I was upset and confused,” Atkin tells Axios.

State of play: Voice actors have been raising concerns about generative AI’s impact throughout the year, while receiving minimal protections and public reassurances from the game industry.

One of those negotiators, Zeke Alton, said on Atkin’s Performance Capture Podcast last week he hoped unresolved AI concerns that contributed to the SAG-AFTRA TV and movie actors strike would motivate game companies to come to an agreement with actors in their sector.

The bottom line: Patricia Summersett, who provides the English language voice for the eponymous princess in Nintendo’s recent Zelda games, recently told Axios that AI is the “biggest discussion” for voice actors right now.

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Atkins audit uncovers misspending, lax oversight

Over $100,000 was wrongly spent or went uncollected under the watch of a former city clerk of Atkins, the State Auditor reported in a new special investigation requested by city officials.The office of Auditor Rob Sand said it identified $51,598.59 of improper disbursements, $21,255.38 of unsupported disbursements and $27,941.53 of uncollected utility billings.“However, because City records were not sufficiently maintained, it was not possible to determine if additional amounts were improperly disbursed or if additional u...

Over $100,000 was wrongly spent or went uncollected under the watch of a former city clerk of Atkins, the State Auditor reported in a new special investigation requested by city officials.

The office of Auditor Rob Sand said it identified $51,598.59 of improper disbursements, $21,255.38 of unsupported disbursements and $27,941.53 of uncollected utility billings.

“However, because City records were not sufficiently maintained, it was not possible to determine if additional amounts were improperly disbursed or if additional utility transactions were improperly recorded or not properly billed and/or collected,” the audit reported.

The Atkins City Council requested the investigation, Sand’s office said, because of concerns about financial transactions under City Clerk Amber Bell, who began in 2015 and resigned under a separation agreement in late 2020.

Beyond findings that Bell mishandled money, the audit revealed that members of the council had lax financial polices and didn’t routinely justify or review the spending of tax money — including agreeing to allow a contractor who cleaned city buildings to stay on the city’s dental insurance plan even though she wasn’t an employee.

“Had City officials developed and implemented policies and procedures to segregate duties, review bank reconciliations, required and reviewed utility reconciliations, and maintained supporting documentation, City officials may have identified undeposited utility collections and improper disbursements earlier,” the audit reported. “In addition, the implementation of controls may have reduced the opportunity for the City’s funds to be improperly disbursed or not properly deposited.”

The audit found that Bell was paid too much in salary and overtime and made $2,035.75 in improper purchases with a city credit card, “which included items such as a $50.00 purchase from Nail World in Cedar Rapids for a manicure, food and restaurant purchases, and video on demand purchases.”

The audit questioned why the city spent $405 on memberships to Sam’s Club.

“Based on our review of the City’s disbursements, the City does not make a significant number of purchases from Sam’s Club. In addition, according to City officials we spoke with, the membership is periodically used by City employees for personal purchases which are paid for with their personal funds,” the audit found. “Because the City does not make significant purchases for City operations from Sam’s Club, the public purpose served by the annual membership fees is not apparent.”

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And, the audit found, the City Council allowed holiday bonuses for some of its employees, even though there was no policy calling for it. Bell received a total of $645 in bonuses in 2015 and 2016, the audit found. Five other employees got them also.

“We determined the bonuses were awarded with the City Council’s knowledge and approval. However, the City Council did not document the public purpose served by the payments,” the audit reported.

Textile TapHaus opens satellite taproom in Atkins

ATKINS — A new satellite taproom is bringing a mainstay to Atkins’ Main Street with the fourth expansion of a Dyersville brewery.Textile TapHaus, opened in May, is bringing to this Benton County town a growing trend in Iowa: the rapid expansion of local breweries and taprooms across the state.“You could tell there’s a lot of new homes and neighborhoods around town, and there was nothing really here for them to do,” owner Tom Olberding said. “We thought it would be neat to bring as much of the...

ATKINS — A new satellite taproom is bringing a mainstay to Atkins’ Main Street with the fourth expansion of a Dyersville brewery.

Textile TapHaus, opened in May, is bringing to this Benton County town a growing trend in Iowa: the rapid expansion of local breweries and taprooms across the state.

“You could tell there’s a lot of new homes and neighborhoods around town, and there was nothing really here for them to do,” owner Tom Olberding said. “We thought it would be neat to bring as much of the brewery as we can to this town.”

The new taproom, with more than 20 taps featuring brews from Textile Brewing Company, River Ridge Brewing and other Iowa producers, is solidifying Textile’s rapidly growing footprint across northeast Iowa. After acquiring River Ridge Brewing in Bellevue and opening another taproom in Cascade, the fourth location will be part of the brand’s foundation as it settles.

If you go

What: Textile TapHaus

Where: 76 Main Ave., Atkins

Hours: 3 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday

Website: textiletaphaus.com/

Details: Open for dine-in and carryout with a full menu of locally brewed beers, sours, Bavarian pretzels and flatbreads. Patio service available seasonally.

The space

Inside the restored former Atkins apartment building is a dining room where industrial charm and historic finishes replicate vibes similar to Textile’s Dyersville and Cascade locations.

“Since it has the Textile name, we wanted it to look and feel as much like the brewery as we could get,” Olberding said. “I feel like we did a pretty good job of that.”

The building, which previously served as a general store for what used to be a “railroad town,” brings similar parallels to the brewery’s Dyersville location, which was renovated in 2019 after being built as a gasoline engine factory in 1908 and serving as a sewing factory from 1910 to 2017.

Interior details stitch together authentic historical nods at every turn.

Over the concrete bar, early 20th century sewing machines have been transformed into one-of-a-kind chandeliers by Tomy toy designer Chris Huisman of Dyersville. Functional tap handles feature actual tools of the textile trade, re-employed to pour beer. Edison light bulbs drape the front windows and glow with their old-fashioned wiring at every turn.

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Table tops have been made out of old sewing tables; original hardwood floors have been restored to their former glory; and reclaimed wood from local barns accents walls. Sewing tools, sewing machines and sewing tables are repurposed from the Dyersville factory’s stock left in that building before it was renovated.

The Atkins location also features a full patio for warm-weather months, with an upcoming calendar of summer activities like volleyball.

The beer

Textile TapHaus keeps nine Textile beers, two River Ridge beers and several other rotating guest breweries on tap — all showcasing ever-evolving Iowa talent in a growing local craft beer scene.

“It’s to get people to try new things, really,” said Preston Geerts, manager of the Atkins location.

“Craft beer people tend to like variety and something new. We don’t keep the same thing on tap real long,” Olberding added.

With Textile beers produced using local hops and grains whenever possible, the owner said the brand’s diversity is its strength across beer types, particularly with traditional German and European styles.

“Other breweries tend to focus on one or two styles of beer,” he said. “We feel like we’re solid in all types.”

Light lagers, one of their specialties, showcase a certain talent as one of the hardest beers to brew, he said. Unlike with IPAs, hops cannot be used as easily to cover up imperfections or flaws.

The Atkins Ale, one of their signatures noted as a good “gateway” to the brand’s offerings, is a prime example of their strengths in balanced brews.

Textile’s sours also stand out, he said, because they “still taste like beer.”

“We don’t over fruit our beer,” Olberding explained. “We do have different flavored sours, but it’s more of a subtle flavoring so that the beer still is at the forefront.”

The food

With a full menu of massive Bavarian pretzels, flatbreads and cauliflower-crust pizzas, food is not an afterthought at the taproom.

Adorned with layers of toppings, shareable pretzels become a sweet or savory entree in their own right — from cinnamon rolls to pizza.

“We just wanted something to keep people there for maybe one more beer,” Olberding said. “It’s like being at a festival in Munich — the Bavarian pretzel and the beer cheese.”

With no need for fryers or a full kitchen, the model also works well for adaptive renovations at new locations like Atkins.

The owner

A Dyersville native, Olberding returned to Iowa several years ago after managing pharmacies for CVS Pharmacy in Georgia. After returning to Iowa to do the same, the opportunity to buy a sewing factory and transform it into a brewery presented itself.

With encouragement from a friend, he learned how to make beer and started renovating the building, thinking it would be a side business as he continued to work as a pharmacist.

In less than four years since he first opened in Dyersville, he now runs four locations.

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Atkins leaders won’t say why they censured a council member

The Atkins City Council voted last week to censure a council member who opposed hiring a city administrator for $92,000, but another council member says those things are not related.The five-member council voted Dec. 21 on a resolution for a public censure of Julie DeMeulenaere, who has been on the council since March, ...

The Atkins City Council voted last week to censure a council member who opposed hiring a city administrator for $92,000, but another council member says those things are not related.

The five-member council voted Dec. 21 on a resolution for a public censure of Julie DeMeulenaere, who has been on the council since March, KCRG-TV reported last week.

The resolution was not included with the online meeting agenda and Mayor Bruce Visser declined Monday to answer questions about what caused the censure. City Attorney Ryan Tang stated at last week’s meeting the censure was related to litigation, so city officials couldn’t comment, KCRG reported.

DeMeulenaere provided The Gazette a copy of a short letter Visser sent her Dec. 21. The letter says DeMeulenaere may have violated state ethics standards for elected officials, “communicated with City employees in an inappropriate manner” and “made defamatory statements about employees”-- but then doesn’t describe her alleged action or actions.

“I think this is payback from not wanting to hire a city administrator,” DeMeulenaere told The Gazette.

The council vote Oct. 4 to approve a contract for a new city administrator at a salary of $92,000 a year for two years. The council promoted City Clerk Kelly Groskurth into the new role. DeMeulenaere was one of two council members to vote against the new position, according to minutes from the Oct. 4 meeting.

“I did not believe we need a city administrator for 2,000 people,” she said Monday. “If we start getting bigger, absolutely. Typically a town of 2,000 doesn’t have a city administrator.”

A consultant report also recommended against hiring a city administrator at this time, she said.

Three council members — Heather Rinderknecht, Robert Spading and Joey Svejda — are ending terms on the board at the end of the month. DeMeulenaere suggested they postpone the decision until the new council convenes, but she was overruled. She also proposed lowering the salary to $70,000 with a one-year contract, but other members did not agree, DeMeulenaere said.

Svejda, who is moving to Marion and will leave the Atkins board after serving since 2018, told The Gazette on Monday the censure against DeMeulenaere is not related to her October vote.

“It’s not about hiring the city administrator,” he said. “There is some legal stuff.”

DeMeulenaere said she doesn’t know what her colleagues mean about litigation and says she’s not pursuing a lawsuit. But DeMeulenaere has been frustrated by delays in getting documents she’s requested from the city.

“Have I made a couple comments? Yes, I have,” she said. “But it comes out of frustration for not getting my documents. They talk about litigation, but the city attorney is supposed to protect them, but also protect me.”

The other council member to vote against the city administrator contract was Lana Robison, whose term was to expire in 2023 but who turned in her resignation this month. The council will meet Thursday to vote on someone to fill the remainder of Robison’s term.

Robison, reached by phone Monday, said she is resigning for health reasons and it is not connected to DeMeulenaere or any other council matter. She declined to speak further about the censure.

Svejda said he thinks Atkins needs a city administrator to help with growth and Groskurth is worth the money.

“She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to this city, I can guarantee it,” he said.

Atkins, in Benton County, was hit hard by the derecho, losing 70 percent of its trees and sustaining $2 to $3 million damage to city-owned facilities, Svejda said. Visser and Groskurth have applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency money and other grants to support recovery and to recruit new businesses, he said.

“Our mayor doesn’t get paid, but he’s been near working a full-time,” he said.

The $92,000 salary, while far higher than city administrator pay in similarly-sized Iowa towns, “is an investment,” Svejda said. “She’s got us a lot of grants we didn’t know we could get. I’m 100 percent behind my decision.”

Comments: (319) 339-3157; [email protected]

Benton County land transactions

Recorded Aug. 17Randy L. Schmuecker, Trustee to Josie L. Schmuecker, Blairstown Keck and Herrings Addition, lot 10, block 1.Last will and testament of Mark A Schmuecker, northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 14, township 82, range 11.Recorded Aug. 21Seth Ettleman to Richard S. Ettleman and Linda Ettleman, Vinton High Point Addition, lot 20, block 5.Jeffrey L. and Suzanne M. Parsons to Jeffrey L. Parsons and Suzanne M. Parsons Revocable Trust, Belle Plaine Bl...

Recorded Aug. 17

Randy L. Schmuecker, Trustee to Josie L. Schmuecker, Blairstown Keck and Herrings Addition, lot 10, block 1.

Last will and testament of Mark A Schmuecker, northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 14, township 82, range 11.

Recorded Aug. 21

Seth Ettleman to Richard S. Ettleman and Linda Ettleman, Vinton High Point Addition, lot 20, block 5.

Jeffrey L. and Suzanne M. Parsons to Jeffrey L. Parsons and Suzanne M. Parsons Revocable Trust, Belle Plaine Blossom’s Third Addition, lot 2.

City of Belle Plaine to Delbert W. and Bonnie S. Meeks, Belle Plaine Blairs Second Addition, lot 5, block 34.

Linda H. Snider, deceased, and Charles R. Snider to Charles R. Snider, Walford Clover Ridge Addition Part Five, lot 138.

Charles R. Snider to WWI3 LLC, Walford Clover Ridge Addition Park Three, lot 138.

Lynn Selk and Brenda F. Selk to Jeffrey A. Selk, southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 27, township 84, range 12.

Jill Blank-Gualtier and John t. Gualtier, deceased to Jill Blank-Gualtier, Vinton WF Williams Addition, block 18.

Christopher and Melissa Struck to Alicia A. Sill, Keystone Hamanns Addition, lot 8, block 3.

Recorded Aug. 22

Bradley P. Holst, co-trustee, Byron F. Holst Revocable Trust, Dawn M. Ingraham, co-trustee, to Gary W. Heiser and Vera E. Jordan-Heiser, Atkins Pleasant Hill First Addition, lot 3 and Out lot C, Atkins Pleasant Hill Second Addition.

Jason L. and Jennifer A. Hummell to Keegan A. and Mackenzie M. Wright, Keystone, lots 3, 4 and 5 of block 5.

Jessica M. Lohrer to Chad E. Lohrer, Atkins Pleasant Hill First Addition, lot 14.

Richard Dean Boies, deceased, James Robert Boies, deceased, and Matthew Boies to Matthew Boies, the northeast and northwest quarters of section 15, township 84, range 12, the southwest quarter of section 10, township 84, range 12 and the northeast quarter of section 19, township 84, range 12.

William and Teresa A. Selken to MSP Properties of Minnesota LP, Part D of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 14, township 83, range 12.

David L. and Laurie A. Lempia to Garrett T. and Mataya L. Betenbender, the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 25, township 86, range 9.

Recorded Aug. 23

River Valley Investments LLC to JAB Property Holdings LLC, Belle Plaine Wurtele’s Addition Lots 4, 14, 15 and 16 in block 1.

Thomas and Sarah Young to Travis R. Clark, Urbana Lairds First Addition, lot 12.

Nicole Renae Buck and Nicole R. Cooling to Richard Cooling, the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 23, township 83, range 9.

Linda Vileta to Phillip William and Carrie Fraley, Belle Plaine Blairs Second Addition, lot 5, block 23.

Recorded Aug. 24

Garrett T. and Mataya L. Betenbender to Cassandra J. Collins, Urbana Rich’s Eighth Addition, lot 1.

Recorded Aug. 25

Marvin Wayne Leroy to Franklin J. Peralta and Jessica Jo Susana, Parcel A of the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 6, township 86, range 12.

Eric J. and Kim M. Stenberg to Aaron Russell and Kadi Larie McVay, Southridge Estates First Addition, lot 8.

Sharon Johannsen, James Johannsen, Darwin Flickinger, Evelyn Flickinger and Denise Scott to Darwin and Evelyn Flickinger, parcel C in the northwest quarter of section 3, township 84, range 11.

Sharon Johannsen, James Johannsen, Darwin Flickinger, Evelyn Flickinger and Denise Scott to Sharon and James Johannsen, parcel A in the northwest quarter of section 3, township 84, range 11.

Sharon Johannsen, James Johannsen, Darwin Flickinger, Evelyn Flickinger and Denise Scott to Denise Scott, parcel B in the northwest quarter of section 3, township 84, range 11.

Virginia L. Deterding to Virginia L. and Troy Deterding, Vinton Tilfords Second Addition to South Vinton, lot 3, block 32.

Yvonne L. Burkhard to Bryce A. and Devon Burroughs, parcel C of the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 11, township 85, range 10.

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