The following will give you pertinent information concerning services provided by and for our city.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

Police Dept. – 563-547-3535 non-emergency; 911 for emergencies

Ambulance – 985-2200

Fire Dept. – 911 (emergencies only)

City Hall – 985-2367 Normal office hours are Monday – Thursday 9 am – 1 pm and 1:30 – 4 pm; Friday 9 am – 12 noon.

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GARBAGE COLLECTION

Garbage pickup is done curbside on Monday of each week. City bags must be used for garbage and can be purchased at the following locations: City Hall, Riceville Market Place, Andy’s Mini Mart, Riceville True Value and Casey’s. The cost is $1.00 for a 33 gallon size and $.50 for a 15 gallon size. Garbage rate is $11.40 per month. This charge will appear on your monthly bill. Garbage fee is charged as long as the water service is turned on, regardless if any garbage is set out. Please keep the weight of garbage bags under 35#. Appliances such as refrigerators, dehumidifiers, humidifiers, stoves, air conditioners, console and portable TVs, etc. may be left curbside, but a pickup fee must be paid in advance. Please call city hall to arrange for pickup. Notice: needles CANNOT be placed in garbage. Bio-hazard containers are available at City hall.

RECYCLING

Riceville has an active recycling program to help with waste reduction in compliance with state standards. Recycling is picked up curbside on Wednesday of each week. The recycling material does NOT need to be sorted. You can use paper bags, cardboard boxes, a reusable plastic container, etc. to set your recyclables in. You do not have to use a city bag. If any items are not picked up, it means they are not in an acceptable container or not acceptable for recyclingand should be disposed of in your garbage. A list is attached showing what is and is not recyclable and the proper preparation for each item. Please use discretion when setting out your recyclables. If it’s very windy, either anchor down your containers or wait until the next week.

YARD WASTE

Yard waste will be picked up the last Thursday of the month, April through November. Branches should not be bigger than 4” in diameter and no longer than 48”. Please bundle branches together for ease of handling. Yard waste may also be deposited at the city tree dump located south of town on the West Side of the highway. Leaves can not be left in plastic bags at this dump.

WATER AND SEWER

Water and sewer is provided by the city. Please notify city hall for water hookup and/or shut off. Water and sewer is billed monthly.

  • The minimum water bill is $11.40 per month (base rate) Usage is charged at $2.20 per 1,000 gallons.
  • Sewer is also $11.40 per month, with usage charged at $2.20 per 1,000 gallons of water metered.
  • Bills are due on or by the 15th of the month.
  • There is a $25 late fee assessed on all past due accounts.
  • Renters are required to pay a $130 deposit. When a renter’s final bill is paid, the deposit will be refunded upon request.
  • Requested temporary discontinuation of service will be charged $10 to be turned off, and $10 to be turned back on.
  • Shut off date for delinquent bills are the 25th of the month.
  • Disconnected services will be charged $20 when the water is turned off, and another $20 to have service reconnected.
  • Automatic withdrawal from your checking or savings account is also available. To find out more or to sign up for this option, stop at city hall. There is no charge for this service.

OTHER UTILITIES

Electricity is provided by Alliant Utilities. Their number is 1-800-255-4268.

Omnitel provides telephone and cable service. Their number is 749-2531 (local call from Riceville)

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Our city government is the Council-mayor type. The voters elect five council members and the Mayor. Every two years there is an election due to the staggered terms of the members. The city council meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Monday of each month at city hall and you are welcome to attend these meetings.

Snow removal – City ordinance requires the clearing of snow and ice from sidewalks abutting your property 24 hours after cessation of a snowfall. No person shall park, abandon, or leave unattended any vehicle on any public street, alley, or city off-street parking area during snow removal unless the snow has been removed or plowed from said street and snowfall has ceased.

Weeds or other vegetation- You are required by city ordinance to keep all weeds and other vegetation mowed or under control. Do not blow grass into the streets when mowing.

Building permits – Permits are required for building or re-modeling when you increase the size of the existing building (this includes decks and sidewalks). There is no charge for the permit and it can be obtained at city hall. Make sure to call Iowa One Call for utility locates if you are doing any digging. Iowa One Call’s number is 800-292-8989.

Tax abatement – Riceville’s tax abatement program allows a property owner to receive abatement for a period of 5 years on any additional taxes incurred on the dollar amount of increased assessed value of any new construction or remodeling project that meets certain requirements. For further information on this program, please contact city hall.