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Home Care In Riverside, IA

Home Care Riverside, 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 Harada House 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 Riverside, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

In-Home Care Riverside, 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 DouglasJJIWF
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Caring

“Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the”

Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the caregiver is sick, nobody comes. I would think that they need a little more back up than they have right now. They give me a schedule, and billing is paid by Medicaid.
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“I knew a lady who works for Always Best Health Care that's why I chose”

I knew a lady who works for Always Best Health Care that's why I chose it. The caregiver is very good with a very good attitude. They were able to provide the caregiver for myself immediately. She accompanies me to shopping.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the caregiver is sick, nobody comes. I would think that they need a little more back up than they have right now. They give me a schedule, and billing is paid by Medicaid.”

DouglasJJIWF
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I knew a lady who works for Always Best Health Care that's why I chose it. The caregiver is very good with a very good attitude. They were able to provide the caregiver for myself immediately. She accompanies me to shopping.”

Carol64210350

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Riverside, 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 Riverside, IA

Types of Elderly Care in Riverside, 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 Riverside, 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 Riverside, 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 Fairmount 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 Riverside, 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 Le Chat Noir French Restaurant or visit Peter J. Weber House, 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 Riverside, IA

Benefits of Home Care in Riverside, 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 Riverside, 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 Riverside, 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 Riverside, 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 Riverside, 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 Riverside, 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 Riverside, 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:

  • Citrus Place
  • Magnolia Grand
  • Sunrise at Canyon Crest
  • Meridian of Riverside
  • Raincross at Riverside
  • Senior Care Authority
Home Care Riverside, 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 Riverside, 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 Riverside, 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 Riverside, IA

Latest News in Riverside, IA

Riverside City Council candidate profiles

RIVERSIDEFour candidates, including three current City Council members, are running for three City Council seats in the Nov. 7 election.Each seat carries a four-year term, beginning Jan. 1, 2024. Kevin Kiene, Edgar McGuire and Lois Schneider are seeking re-election; Ryan Rogerson, who has served as chair of the Riverside’s Planning & Zoning Commission, is seeking election.The News asked a series of questions as the election draws nearer.Kevin KieneAge: 71...

RIVERSIDE

Four candidates, including three current City Council members, are running for three City Council seats in the Nov. 7 election.

Each seat carries a four-year term, beginning Jan. 1, 2024. Kevin Kiene, Edgar McGuire and Lois Schneider are seeking re-election; Ryan Rogerson, who has served as chair of the Riverside’s Planning & Zoning Commission, is seeking election.

The News asked a series of questions as the election draws nearer.

Kevin Kiene

Age: 71

Family: Wife, Barb; children, Brett and Kari; granddaughters Ellie, Callie and Rylie

Past public service: Riverside City Council; Riverside Fire Department, one of the founding members of the Riverside First Responders; Washington County Special Deputies, RACC, Chair of Riverside Planning and Zoning, CPR instructor.

Community service: State Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board.

The News: Why are you running for re-election?

Kiene: We have projects that I will outline below, and I would like to see them through. Riverside is headed in the right direction, and I want to be a part of seeing the city move forward.

The News: What are some of the accomplishments you are most proud of as a City Councilperson?

Kiene: Finishing the playground in Railroad Park and completing the 2nd and 3rd street project. Starting the grant process for the Downtown revitalization project.

The News: What are improvements you would like to see in Riverside?

Kiene: Improvement to Hall Park. Get a kayak, canoe and boat access to the English River. Once we get access, work to get the English River included on the DNR Water Trails.

The News: What project(s) will you focus on during the next four years of a new term?

Kiene: During the first two years of the term, I would concentrate on the Hall Park improvements and downtown revitalization.

The News: What is the top priority, in your view?

Kiene: We have vendor/supplier contracts coming due in the next two years. I will concentrate on whether the city is getting the best goods and services from our suppliers.

Edgar McGuire

Age: 44

Residence: Riverside

Family: Brother, Clark, lives in North Liberty; mother, Katherine, lives in Iowa City.

Past public service: Riverside City Council for 5 years.

The News: Why are you running for re-election?

McGuire: I am running for re-election because I feel like we have done a lot in the last five years and I want to continue to see it through. I think it is important to keep things moving forward, we as a council have been working together and doing exactly that.

The News: What are some of the accomplishments you are most proud of as a City Councilperson?

McGuire: Everything. I am very proud of all that we do, no matter how small or how big. I think it's wonderful that we can have different ideas and perspectives and at the end of the day, we will do what is best for the community. I am so proud to represent the people of Riverside!

The News: What improvements you would like to see in Riverside?

McGuire: Well, it has been an expensive endeavor to work on, but infrastructure is priority. The Wastewater plant, the Water Treatment plant, closing old wells and improving roads. I think when you are on the council, you want to split your time between future and current issues. Current issues can and often surprise you, so you want to have goals but don't go overboard. It's a balance of “what would be nice” and “what is really needed.”

The News: What project(s) will you focus on during the next four years of a new term?

McGuire: Projects that I really care about are public safety projects. I think we could do better. We have had talks about an ambulance being in town. Hiring a paramedic. We need to do something sooner than later. We have a large casino that has special needs and if we can, why wouldn't we improve the survival rates of our guests and citizens? As our town grows, we need to meet the needs when it comes to public safety, and I feel like we make it a financial issue when we are missing the point. We have such a wonderful volunteer fire Department, and they have concerns that are brought up and as we all know with government ... things move slowly. Hopefully, we can work together and see the need.

Ryan Rogerson

Age: 45

Residence: Riverside

Family: Daughter, Piper Rogerson; son, Jack Rogerson

Past public service: Chair, Riverside Planning & Zoning

Community service: Multiple times, Children’s Miracle Network telethon; multiple times, Iowa Giving Crew Give Birds

The News: Why are you running for City Council?

Rogerson: I feel it is important to participate in my community. I have lived in Riverside most of my life and it is time to give back.

The News: What are improvements you would like to see in Riverside?

Rogerson: Continued improvement to infrastructure and the overall aesthetics. Attract more businesses to town. Build on our relationships with existing businesses and residents.

The News: What project(s) will you focus on during four years of your term?

Rogerson: Community. Making sure every voice is heard and opinions are considered in decisions. Infrastructure and growth.

The News: What is the top priority, in your view?

Rogerson: I believe growth is the top priority for Riverside.

Lois Schneider

Residence: Riverside

Family: Husband, Robert Schneider Jr.; children include Riverside Mayor Allen Schneider

Past public service: Current City Councilperson; previously, Highland School Board

Community service: Member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church; volunteer, Trek Fest.

The News: Why are you running for reelection?

Schneider: I enjoy working with our new city administrator whose energy is taking the City of Riverside in a positive direction. I see a lot of changes coming for the betterment of Riverside. I would like to be a part of helping promote the city!

The News: What are some of the accomplishments you are most proud of as a City Councilperson?

Schneider: Encouraging applications for Washington County Riverboat Foundation grants to improve the Railroad Park playground area; working with community members and trying to be a voice for their concerns.

The News: What are three improvements you would like to see in Riverside?

Schneider: Continue to support improvements to the store fronts of downtown businesses; help promote Community Building with space for activities for all ages; work with all entities (school, churches, museum, RACC, FD , etc.) of the community trying to work together for the future success of Riverside.

The News: What projects would you focus on during the next four years of a new term?

Schneider: Downtown; Community Building; residential growth in Riverside.

The News: What is the top priority, in your view?

Schneider: My top priority is to see the improvements to downtown store fronts and helping to promote businesses for both owners and businesses who are renting their space.

Keywords

Riverside, City Council, elections

Other items that may interest you

100-plus dogs surrendered to animal shelter after Riverside investigation

Inspection of farm near Riverside finds dogs ‘in distress’IOWA CITY — More than 100 dogs were surrendered this week to Iowa City Animal Services after an investigation of a dog breeder in rural Johnson County, according to a news release from Iowa City Animal Services.The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship performed a random inspection Thursday at Sunset Valley Farm, 3027 540th St. SW near Riverside, which found the 131 dogs on the property were being kept in hot, dirty conditions, and many ...

Inspection of farm near Riverside finds dogs ‘in distress’

IOWA CITY — More than 100 dogs were surrendered this week to Iowa City Animal Services after an investigation of a dog breeder in rural Johnson County, according to a news release from Iowa City Animal Services.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship performed a random inspection Thursday at Sunset Valley Farm, 3027 540th St. SW near Riverside, which found the 131 dogs on the property were being kept in hot, dirty conditions, and many of the dogs were in a “state of distress.”

According to the report, the exhaust fan in the whelping building — where the dogs give birth — was not running when the unannounced inspection started. With the exhaust fan running, the indoor temperature was still 91 degrees Fahrenheit, with 64 percent humidity.

The whelping area was not clean, and nearly all the 16 female dogs and pups were found with matted coats and dirty fur, the report states.

The outdoor area for the dogs to exercise was “not kept in good repair, so as to safely contain the animals therein without injury,” the report states, adding that a golden retriever was loose at the time of the inspection.

The exercise area was covered with weeds and full of holes. Part of the yard enclosure was “damaged and bent with farm machinery,” the report stated.

Inspectors found no method of controlling flies in the whelping building or feeding areas, and there was an abundance of living and dead flies in both areas, according to the report.

Not enough personnel were on hand to care for 131 dogs, and documentation of worming protocols for the puppies was not completed, the report states.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship called the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office after the inspection, according to Don McDowell, the department’s communications director.

Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel said no arrests have been made, but the investigation at the dog breeding operation is ongoing.

Loren Yoder, the owner of the farm, was cited multiple times by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2022. A call to Yoder Friday afternoon requesting comment was not returned.

Donations needed

The dogs are currently being treated at the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center, 3910 Napoleon Lane, Iowa City, and in other locations. They are being evaluated and are expected to be available for adoption at a later date, according to the release.

The shelter is requesting donations — see accompanying list — from the public to help handle the sudden increase of animals. The adoption center will be closed to walk-in traffic until Monday. An area outside the adoption center will be designated for donation drop-offs.

• Puppy food

• Adult dog food

• Bleach

• Dish soap

• Large breed harnesses

• Flea and tick prevention medication

• Cedar beddings

• Paper towels

• Garbage bags

• Poop scoopers

• 5-gallon buckets

• 1-gallon Ziplock bags

• Large trash can with lid

• Blankets

• Towels

• Water buckets

• Crocs footwear

Comments: (319) 398-8328; [email protected]

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at [email protected]

Riverside looks to revitalize downtown

City pulls $315,000 for grant matching in bid to qualify for funds, declares a ‘slum and blight area’RIVERSIDE — Riverside city council members weighed several initiatives intended to spruce up the downtown area of the northeast Washington County town during a meeting Monday night. The agenda included several items related to a Community Development Block Grant application, one of which designated a collection of buildings as a “slum and blight area.”The city expects that the declaration of such an...

City pulls $315,000 for grant matching in bid to qualify for funds, declares a ‘slum and blight area’

RIVERSIDE — Riverside city council members weighed several initiatives intended to spruce up the downtown area of the northeast Washington County town during a meeting Monday night. The agenda included several items related to a Community Development Block Grant application, one of which designated a collection of buildings as a “slum and blight area.”

The city expects that the declaration of such an area, encompassing 11 buildings around the intersection of Washburn Street and First Street, will help it qualify for downtown revitalization funds through a state community development block grant.

"It’s a realistic thing we need to say, that this is an area that hasn’t been taken care of, that needs some work,“ City Administrator Cole Smith said. ”The hope is, at the end of this, many of our issues have been addressed and it will no longer be a, ‘Slum and blight area,’ … I think it’s important to be honest with yourself, and not letting pride get in the way of progress.“

The grant, if it’s approved in January, would require matching funds, which the city plans to split about evenly between its own casino revenue fund and property owner contributions.

That works out to about $315,000 chipped in by the city. While smith said municipal officials had initially budgeted only $200,000 to throw behind the project, rising costs of materials and higher-than-anticipated interest by downtown property owners brought the number up.

A consultant’s assessment of the area last year found 10 of the 11 buildings in “blighted” condition, according to a city report. At Monday night’s meeting, Smith said nine of those had owners interested in revitalization projects.

“We do have the funds available to be able to make that contribution,” he said at the meeting. “I think when it comes to these casino funds that we have, looking for ways to further leverage these and make sure they have a larger impact than just the dollars themselves is always important to consider.”

A memo shared with council members before Monday’s meeting said the city’s casino revenue fund had over $179,000 of unallocated money for the year, putting the $115,000 addition well within reach.

While it’s still a lot of cash from the town of just over 1,000 residents, City Council Person Tom Sexton said the improvements would be worth the investment.

“The work that can happen on these buildings could take them into another century, hopefully. If we get these buildings spruced up, who knows what commercialism can happen down there, and tourism possibly coming in,” he said. “I hate to see funds going out that can’t be used for the general public of residents in town, but I think, in a roundabout way, it will.”

The sum brings Riverside’s ask up to the $650,000 maximum request for downtown revitalization CDBGs from the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

Smith said building owners had been given checklists of exterior improvements by a consultant company. The options include everything from facade improvements to window and door replacements to signage updates to new roofing to tuckpointing.

If the grant is approved, the city’s goal is to address at least half the items on those lists, according to Smith, who said construction would begin next summer and last roughly through 2025.

“It’s really focused on the outside appearance of buildings, bringing those — I’m going to say — in line with original design, while also maintaining modern functionality,” Smith said.

Community members are optimistic about the potential impact of the grant, if it gets the green light. One building owner thanked council members for the effort personally, during a public comment section of this week’s meeting.

Washington Economic Development Group Executive Director Mary Audia said the improvements would be a massive boon.

“The ongoing pandemic, increasing urbanization, and aged infrastructure have all put a strain on existing resources for rural towns,” she said in an email. “It’s an exciting time for Riverside and will be a big boost to their vitality and economy.”

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River City Church bids $10k for downtown Riverside property

RIVERSIDEA Riverside church wants to turn a downtown property into a building that would be home to a café, a daycare center, a seniors dining and community center, and a place of worship.The River City Church Leadership Team has proposed a bid of $10,000 for a downtown property at 40 W. First Street that the city has been attempting to sell since it was given the property in recent months.Nate King, a member of the church’s team, made the proposal to the Riverside City Council at its regularly scheduled mee...

RIVERSIDE

A Riverside church wants to turn a downtown property into a building that would be home to a café, a daycare center, a seniors dining and community center, and a place of worship.

The River City Church Leadership Team has proposed a bid of $10,000 for a downtown property at 40 W. First Street that the city has been attempting to sell since it was given the property in recent months.

Nate King, a member of the church’s team, made the proposal to the Riverside City Council at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday, Oct. 2.

“We’re here to work with you,” King told the Council.

A public hearing on the sale has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 16 at City Hall.

River City Church intends to use the property, which will likely involve the demolition of the current building and replaced by a new one, as a worship and spiritual gathering for its congregation.

“Our desire is not to just build a building that is only used on Sundays, but used by and for the community seven days a week,” River City Church’s leadership team said in a proposal statement.

The church plans to spend up to $3 million on the project.

“I feel real positive about all this,” Councilperson Edgar McGuire said.

River City Church, which is nondenominational, began services in April 2019 and holds them at Highland Elementary School in Riverside. The church’s leadership group includes other downtown owners on First Street, including Rodney and Jodi Gehman, Imagine Therapies, 71 W. First; Steve and Kiff Hall, who are renovating a building at 21 W. First and plan to put in a children’s second-hand clothing store; and Nate and Janene King, who are renovating a building at 31 W. First and plan to put in office spaces.

The proposal also includes the possibility of the closure of Railroad Street.

City Attorney Search

The city is beginning a search for a new attorney or firm that would represent Riverside in legal issues, beginning January 2024.

William J. Sueppel, of Iowa City-based Meardon, Sueppel & Downer P.L.C., is the current city attorney serving a six-month term.

A timeline, which was recommended by City Administrator Cole Smith and approved Monday night by the City Council, calls for a Nov. 9 application deadline, Nov. 27 interviews and a Dec. 4 City Council decision.

Third Street Project

Multiple requests by property owners who live on Third Street were discussed during Monday’s meeting.

The Council approved a reimbursement of up to $815 for a fence that an owner wants to install, but other requests for an additional row of blocks on a retaining wall, and a process for filling in a gap between a wall and stairs were deferred pending more design options that will be presented by Axiom Consultants at the Oct. 16 City Council meeting.

The Third Street requests are the final steps in a water and sewer main project, which cost more than $3 million and began last April. In addition to installing new water and sewer lines, the project included the lowering of Third Street in some areas to, in part, deal with drainage issues.

Speed Bumps

The Council discussed installing a series of speed bumps in the Hall Park area to slow down traffic.

Brian Boelk of Axiom Consultants, the city engineer, said he would provide cost options at the Council’s next meeting.

Council Actions

The Council approved a payment of 67,210.91 to Streb Construction for work completed on the Third Street project.

The Council approved a payment of $11,673.07 to Spectra Build for work completed on the city’s wastewater plant.

The Council awarded a construction contract to All American Concrete of West Liberty for the ADA ramp and project at the James T. Kirk/Star Trek birthplace monument just south of City Hall. The bid is for $35,022, pending a grant request made to the Washington County Riverboat Foundation program.

The Council approved a bid of $3,750 from Gingerich Well & Pump Service of Kalona to plug a well and remove a pump.

The Council approved a five-year lease, at $500 per month, with MMC Iowa LLC (Mediacom) to rent space inside a lift station at Hall Park.

Next board meeting: The City Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting is at 6 p.m. Oct. 16.

“Everybody,” July 21 through August 6

Friday, July 21, through Sunday, August 6Riverside Theatre, 119 East College Street, Iowa City, IAA modern adaptation of the 15th-century morality play Everyman, one of the first recorded stage works in the English language, author Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Everybody enjoys a July 21 through August 6 debut at Iowa City's Riverside Theatre, this beautiful, fluid, and hilarious modern riff lauded by Time Out New York as "a very meta and saucy adaptation," and by The New Yorker ...

Friday, July 21, through Sunday, August 6

Riverside Theatre, 119 East College Street, Iowa City, IA

A modern adaptation of the 15th-century morality play Everyman, one of the first recorded stage works in the English language, author Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Everybody enjoys a July 21 through August 6 debut at Iowa City's Riverside Theatre, this beautiful, fluid, and hilarious modern riff lauded by Time Out New York as "a very meta and saucy adaptation," and by The New Yorker as a work that "fills the heart in a new and unexpected way."

In Everybody, patrons are invited to follow nine actors (one of them chosen randomly by lottery each night to play the title role) on a journey towards life’s greatest mystery -- mortality itself. In the original Everyman work by an unknown writer, the plot finds the good and evil deeds of one's life tallied by God after death, as in a ledger book, and the play is the allegorical accounting of the life of Everyman, tries to convince other characters to accompany him in the hope of improving his life. In Jacobs-Jenkins' Everybody, the story is kept largely the same but with a few exceptions, as the original figures of Fellowship, Kindred, Goods, Discretion, Five Wits, and Knowledge are here renamed Friendship, Kinship, Stuff, Mind, Five Senses, and Understanding.

Jacobs-Jenkins boasts degrees from Stanford, New York University, and Julliard, and his performance-studies background has been instrumental in the progression of his writing career. Many of Jacobs-Jenkins' plays hark back to historic plays or themes, and during his research for the updating of Everyman, the author found that it was a play written to reach the masses, to be easily understandable, and to tell a universal story about humankind that everyone could relate to in a different personal way. Jacobs-Jenkins allows this exploration into humankind to be the core of his play, but also uses modern language, comedy, and cultural references to explore who we are as humans today.

Directing Everybody for Riverside Theatre is Jacob Titus, with additional members of the creative team including: scenic and costume designer Kaelen Novak; lighting designer Merric Bower; sound designer Dakota Parobek; stage manager Maggie McClellan; dramaturg Anna Novak; intimacy director Carrie Pozdol; assistant director Sara Ashbaugh; assistant scenic and costume designer Abigail Mansfield Coleman; and assistant stage manager Zhenya Lougheny. Nine gifted actors, meanwhile, compose Titus' Everybody ensemble: Niyati Deshpande, Mackenzie Elsbecker, Matthew James, Sophia Kilburg, Orlando Lopez, Virginia Muturi, Krista Neumann, Carrie Pozdol, and Barrington Vaxter.

Everybody runs in Iowa City from July 21 through August 6, with performances Thursdays through Saturdasysd at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Admission is $15-35, and more information and tickets are available by calling (319)259-7099 and visiting RiversideTheatre.org.

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