River Valley

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is hosting an open house at Lock and Dam 9 on the Mississippi River, near Lynxville, WI, September 28.

Corps officials are hosting the free event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., to allow people to get a behind-the-scenes view of the site while also getting a better understanding of what the staff do to ensure safe, reliable navigation.

In addition to the open house, Corps staff and partners will have a variety of activities onsite. Visitors will have an opportunity to see some of the boats that are used on the river as well as learn about the importance of wearing a life jacket while on the water.

Lock and Dam 9, located at 24545 State Highway 35, Eastman, WI, was built in 1937 and underwent a major rehabilitation from 1989-2006. The dam consists of a concrete structure 811 feet long with five roller gates and eight Tainter gates. The lock is 110 feet wide by 600 feet long.

submitted by the Iowa Department of Transportation

The flood waters have receded and it’s back to work for the contractors at the site of the new Mississippi River bridge at Lansing. The high water shut down construction for just over a month, proving again that Mother Nature almost always has the upper hand!

When the crews returned to work July 22, they had to clean up and set up the project site. When the flood hit, crews moved equipment and materials to protect them from the water. Before they could resume construction, they had to put things back where they belong and clean materials that may have been covered in water. That includes power washing rebar (as shown in the picture at right). It wasn’t just cleaning and moving equipment and materials, the contractor also had to do a lot of work on the site itself, like hauling in gravel to give them a solid and level surface to drive and work on.

All interested citizens of the community of Lansing, along with all government agencies and public groups should be advised that an environmental review has been performed based on the procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for the proposed agency action taken by the City of Lansing in accordance with Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Project Number W2024-0107A (S2024-0107A), an upgrade to the City of Lansing’s water distribution system and wastewater collection system within certain areas of the community.

The City of Lansing is planning an upgrade to its water distribution system and wastewater collection system. The city has applied for financial assistance through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan program to build the project. SRF is a program authorized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and administered by the Iowa DNR in partnership with the Iowa Finance Authority.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During its regular meeting Monday, August 19, the Lansing City Council approved a Letter of Support for Dave Janzen’s/Lansing Hardware’s application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) for a Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant.

Demonstration of the City’s support is a required component of the grant application, Main Street Lansing Executive Director Andrew Boddicker said in an email interview following the meeting. The project would see five historic downtown properties receive new windows, new facade paint, new tuck pointing, and signage for the hardware store.

According to Boddicker, the Challenge Grant is a 1:1 grant for up to $100,000. It is a unique opportunity for which only Main Street Iowa Communities may apply. Each community can nominate one project.

Main Street Lansing and Locable have announced a joint initiative aimed at revolutionizing local digital landscape in the Lansing area. This partnership will empower local businesses, nonprofits, and civic organizations, enabling them to become more effective at marketing without having to be marketing experts themselves.

“Local businesses notoriously struggle with marketing, and it’s getting worse. However, at a time when nearly every tech company, start-up, and big business is working against local, against communities... We’re equipping community organizations, businesses, and nonprofits to #TakeBackLocal,” shared Brian Ostrovsky, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Locable.

The Celia Sander Garrett Foundation has announced a grant opportunity for up to $1,000 in gifted funding. Those interested should submit their written Request For Proposal or a one-page written  summary of their project that should align with the mission of the Foundation.

Submissions should be made to Celia Sander Garrett Foundation, P.O. Box 414, Lansing, IA 52151 by August 31 of this year. Should additional information be required to qualify for the grant funding, the applicant will be contacted after that date.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

“This is an exercise that’s been a long time in the making,” Mayor Mike Verdon said, as he opened the public hearing on an Urban Revitalization Plan and Proposed Tax Abatement Ordinance during the Lansing City Council’s regular meeting Monday, August 5. Describing an urban revitalization plan/tax abatement, Mayor Verdon said it “offers a tax incentive for people to upgrade or improve a property, therefore increasing the taxable valuation.”

The Allamakee County Conservation Board and Allamakee County Conservation Foundation are hosting accomplished painter and award winning singer-songwriter Chad Elliott Tuesday, August 20 at the Driftless Area Education & Visitors Center located at 1944 Columbus Road, Lansing. Stay afterwards for a concert beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Stop by throughout the day August 20 to watch as Chad Elliott creates a painting inspired by the local landscape. Elliott is a Midwest singer-songwriter who blends folk roots, swampy blues, and soulful writing to deliver music that is unmistakably original. Admission for the concert is by “pass the jar” donation. Those attending are asked to bring their own lawn chair and non-alcoholic beverages.

Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library will host Brenda Kelly, Mississippi River Wildlife Biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a classroom safari-style presentation entitled “A beginners guide to migration and duck identification on the Mississippi River.” Youth and adults alike are invited to attend this program, which will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 14 at the library and is free of charge to participate in.

In her work as a wildlife biologist, Kelly joins forces with a diverse team of federal, state, and non-government partners who share a common passion of the complex ecosystem that is the Mississippi River. In her spare time, she likes to fish, kayak, hunt and hike, and she also enjoys leading paddling field trips annually to entice people to the Mississippi River area who may have never had the opportunity to visit or explore it before.
 

Monday, August 5 more than 100 area kids and their adult chaperones will have the opportunity to explore the Mississippi River with the assistance of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Osborne Nature Center, the Prairie du Chien Rod and Gun Club, Effigy Mounds National Monument, Genoa Fish Hatchery, and Robert Vavra with Maiden Voyage Tours.

Mississippi River Adventure Day (MRAD) is planned to take place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, August 5 at Lawler Park in Prairie du Chien, WI. This is a free educational event with a lunch provided for all participants. Those interested in participating in the event should register online at https://docs.google.com/MRAD.