Why are no parking signs installed when people ignore them? Your Call the Courier questions

Q: Last summer, two "no parking" signs were put up on the north side of the 700 block of Fowler Street. Why? People continue parking there all the time. 

A: Waterloo’s Traffic Operations Director Safiah Elahi said there is no parking there per city ordinance and the signs were installed to reflect that.

Q: Do Gov. Kim Reynolds’ grandchildren attend private schools or public schools in Iowa? 

A: Multiple of Reynolds’ public Facebook posts until 2024 show that her grandchildren attended Earlham Community Schools. Where they attend now is not known.

Q: Is CBS’s “The Price is Right” evening show ever going to be back on in the evenings?

A: In April, CBS announced there will be a primetime Christmas show in December. During that announcement, the network noted what the primetime shows for fall would be and “The Price is Right” was not listed. 

Q: I’d like to know the business that’s in 2830 University Ave., a great large building that used to be Hancock Fabrics, I think.

A: Looks like it is used for Iowa Liquidation Deals, which sells overstock from stores like Target, Walmart and Sam’s Club.

Q: How old is Svengoolie from MeTV and what was his occupation?

A: The character Svengoolie has been played by Rich Koz since 1979. He is 74 years old.

Q: How will Iowa’s new property tax law affect nursing homes and retirement communities and their residents? 

A: The new property tax law reinstated the multiresidential property class. In recent years, that property class used the same rollback – or percentage of a property’s assessed value which is taxed – as regular residential properties. Now, multiresidential properties – which include nursing homes – will have their taxable share gradually increased to a rollback value that is 6% higher than single-family homes. For example, fiscal year 2027’s rollback rate for single-family homes is 44.53%. A 6% increase would make the rollback for multiresidential properties just over 50%. Since the law was passed this week, how this will directly affect residents is unknown.

Q: We are wondering how much money is Waterloo talking to update and renovate the present City Hall? 

A: In hopes of moving City Hall to the former Courier building at 100 E. Fourth St., the city swapped properties with that building’s owner, Rodney Blackwell. Under that agreement, Blackwell now owns the current City Hall, 715 Mulberry St. and the Carnegie annex building down the street. Under the agreement, the city gave Blackwell $6.2 million to rehabilitate both properties. The Courier previously reported the city stated Blackwell intends to invest at least $14 million into those projects. 

Q: I would like to know whatever happened to Ted Koppel? I think he used to be on ABC. I’m not sure.

A: Ted Koppel was the host of ABC’s “Nightline” from 1980 to 2005. Now, he is a contributor for “CBS News Sunday Morning.” 

Q: What happened to FRAM oil filters?

A: Seems like they’re still sold at places like Walmart, AutoZone and Fleet Farm.

Call (319) 291-1550 to leave a voicemail or email newsroom@wcfcourier.com with your question.