Doug Lindner

Hacking away at budget

Submitted by admin on Tue, 01/22/2013 - 7:30pm
Used leaf vacuum to save city thousands
By
Doug Lindner

SOLON– Snip, snip, snip.
In just over a week, the members of the Solon City Council hacked approximately $170,000 from the projected 2013-2014 budget.
In a special meeting Jan. 9, and again during a regular session last week, the city took the scissors to non-essential budget requests, attempting to narrow the gap with an unanticipated drop in valuation for the upcoming fiscal year.


Spartans keep lid on Mustangs

Submitted by admin on Fri, 01/18/2013 - 5:46pm
Villagrana’s free throws lift boys at Beckman
By
Doug Lindner

SOLON– The Solon Spartans received a good growing experience courtesy of Dyersville Beckman Friday night.
Solon came out of Dyersville with a slim 57-55 win thanks to a pair of free throws by Solon point guard Emilio Villagrana.
“It was a very hard-fought, extremely physical game,” said head coach Brad Randall of the win. “You come out of there with a win, and you’ve really done something.”


Solon girls snap three-game skid

Submitted by admin on Wed, 01/16/2013 - 12:00am
By
Doug Lindner

SOLON– Bouncing back from three straight road losses, the Lady Spartans needed a little home cooking.
They got it against Dyersville Beckman Friday night.
Solon’s girls defeated Beckman, 61-54, to snap a three game losing streak, all of them coming in visitor’s uniforms.
The Lady Spartans had chalked up narrow defeats to Western Dubuque and non-divisional WaMaC foe Clear Creek Amana before a 50-39 loss at Mount Vernon last Tuesday, Jan. 8.
Solon had some opportunities, but cold shooting put the Lady Spartans in a bit of a hole against the Mustangs.


Battling the budget crunch

Submitted by admin on Tue, 01/15/2013 - 7:48pm
Senior Advocates seek city funding for Old Gold Diner site manager
By
Doug Lindner

SOLON– Without senior dining, there’s no way to reach older residents of the community with needed programs.
The Old Gold Diner is the hub of the senior community.
When budget cuts forced the elimination of the site manager position and the introduction of packaged plastic meals, local supporters began rallying the troops.
As a result, representatives of Solon Senior Advocates met with Solon City Council members last week, seeking city funds to match county money for the site manager position.


City to take general fund hit after undeveloped commercial land drops

Submitted by admin on Tue, 01/08/2013 - 7:30pm
By
Doug Lindner

SOLON– The season of giving is over.
It’s time for taking back.
The City of Solon will absorb what amounts to a $10,000 hit in its general fund for the upcoming fiscal year because of a change in the valuation of undeveloped property.
Budget discussions began in earnest for the Solon City Council during a regular meeting last week where city administrator Cassandra Lippincott announced the news.
Undeveloped commercial and multifamily residential lots in the Fox Ridge subdivision have been reassessed by Johnson County as a result of a legislative change, she said.


Solon takes down Maquoketa and Anamosa, remains undefeated

Submitted by admin on Thu, 12/13/2012 - 6:00pm
By
Doug Lindner

ANAMOSA– So far, so good.
The Solon Spartans remained undefeated in the young varsity basketball season last week, capturing wins on the road at Maquoketa and Anamosa, and entering the Associated Press high school poll, ranked No. 4 in Class 3A.
After two lopsided wins to start the season, the Spartans moved to 4-0 against an always pesky Maquoketa team and a surprising Anamosa squad.
“I like where we’re at,” said head coach Brad Randall. Solon has had four of its first five games on the road, and if the Spartans can win Tuesday at Central DeWitt, seven of the next nine will be at home.