River Valley

Allamakee County residents urged to report storm damage

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation Monday, June 24 for Allamakee County in response to severe storms and flooding that occurred June 21 and continuing. The governor’s proclamation activated the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Iowa Disaster Case Advocacy program for Allamakee County.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program (IIAGP) may provide up to $5,000 of assistance, reimbursement and/or vendor voucher, for covered items to households with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Households may be eligible for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and repair or replacement of personal items damaged by the severe storms and flooding. Applications must be submitted to the local community action office and must be received within 45 days of the date of the proclamation. The final day to apply is August 8 this year.

Due to recent storms, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds authorized a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency in response to severe weather that occurred and declared several counties in Iowa to be disaster areas. For taxpayers who may have missed deadlines to file or pay Iowa taxes because records were destroyed by those storms, tax penalty relief is available.

Those individuals can request penalty relief by submitting a penalty waiver request online at https://govconnect.iowa.gov/ or by submitting a Penalty Waiver Request on the Iowa Department Of Revenue website at https://tax.iowa.gov/, if they missed a filing or payment deadline falling on or after the date of a disaster proclamation (June 24 for Allamakee County) due to the disaster, and are assessed a late file or late pay penalty. Tax penalty relief is not an extension of the due date for any return or payment due to Iowa Department of Revenue.

The “Out and About” family program to be hosted by Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library Wednesday, July 3 has been moved, because of all the bugs, from Fish Farm Mounds to indoors at the library in Lansing. At 12:15 p.m., Marge Loch-Wouters, a Minnesota Master Naturalist and retired Children’s Librarian, will present a Nature Detective program with a hands-on activity and tips on getting outside and discovering all the surprises nature holds.

At 1 p.m., Raleigh Buckmaster, a Mounds historian regarding the history of conical mounds in the Preserve, will present a program. Fish Farm Mounds State Preserve has about 30 conical mounds. Discussion will also cover the unglaciated landscape and the many hiking, biking and skiing trails in the Preserve. Discussion will also cover the unglaciated landscape and the many hiking, biking and skiing trails in the Wildlife Area. Submitted photo.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During its regular meeting Monday, June 17, the Lansing City Council approved the resignations of Chief of Police Conrad Rosendahl and of council member Lisa Welsh. Chief Rosendahl’s last day is Wednesday, June 26, and he will begin his new position as Chief of Police for the community of New Hampton Monday, July 1; Welsh’s resignation was effective immediately.

The council approved the appointment of Officer Darby Stone as interim Chief of Police starting June 27, 2024. Welsh’s council seat will be filled by appointment (see the Notice of Vacancy public notice printed on Page 25 in this week’s edition of The Standard for additional information on that appointment process).

What better way to kick-off the 100th Anniversary of the nearby and often misunderstood Refuge than to introduce the public to the reasoning behind the creation of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge in 1924, and then to offer excellent opportunities to experience the Refuge by a number of special boat tours?

The following describes actions that were organized and implemented by the not-for-profit Friends of Pool 9 during spring 2024; and expresses sincere gratitude to those who supported, in some way, the activities which helped accomplish the Friends mission.

Anyone who has traveled between Lansing and Harpers Ferry lately may have noticed a construction project in process. AcenTek, the Internet, Voice and Video provider, is bringing the option of fiber internet to over 750 addresses in the Harpers Ferry area. Phase 2 of AcenTek’s fiber project began in May, with an expected completion date of December 1 of this year.

Central Cable vehicles are easily spotted south of Lansing where the project work began. Central Cable is the contractor for AcenTek. Large spools of orange tubing, called conduit, can be seen in various spots where work is being done. The conduit is what holds and protects the fiber strands, once inserted.

Mainline construction is the first step of a fiber build. Construction signs and cones are set out to warn drivers of this construction work, as it often takes place right next to primary roadways. Motorists are asked to use caution when approaching these work areas.

Join Allamakee County Conservation Naturalist Erin Cubbon for a hike up to the Paint Rock Overlook the morning of Saturday, June 29. The hike will be departing from the parking area at the Paint Rock trailhead at 8 a.m.

Participants can expect to see a variety of flowers in bloom typical of the unique “goat prairie” ecosystems found on area bluffs. There is also the possibility of seeing timber rattlesnakes in their native habitat.

No preregistration is required. The hike will be approximately 2.5 miles round-trip, with an elevation gain of around 400 feet. As this is a fairly steep hike during a hot time of the year, bringing adequate water, snacks and sun protection is highly recommended. The trailhead is located off of Paint Rock Road, roughly 3.4 miles south of Harpers Ferry. Dogs must be leashed at all times.

A portion of Valley Street on the southwest edge of Lansing, between Hickory Lane and South Road Drive, was closed Monday, June 3 through Wednesday, June 5 after heavy rains rolled through the Lansing area that Monday. Local reports of two to three inches of rain in a short period of time that Monday forced City of Lansing crews to shut down that portion of Valley Street (as pictured above), with crews working a quick clean-up of the mud and debris that had slid down on to the roadway by the time this photo was taken but remnants of the impact of the heavy rain still noticeable (in the middle of the above photo) on the road at the east end of that closure. The road was able to be opened back up Wednesday, June 5. There were also some additional local reports of small land slides on other properties located south of Lansing. Photo by Bob Modersohn.
 

The public is invited to an informational session related to potential mitigation alternatives for the Upper and Lower Dams on the Upper Iowa River. The session will be held Tuesday, June 18 from 5:30-7 p.m. in Room 102 of Olin Hall at Luther College in Decorah. Parking is available in the Library Lot at Luther College.

Project partners will present potential mitigation alternatives for the Upper and Lower Dams, as well as the results of studies conducted throughout the planning process. There will be time reserved for audience questions. Following the presentation, there will be an opportunity to view and comment on the various proposals.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

After a public hearing on Resolution #1003 authorizing submission of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) water/sewer improvement project application held during its regular meeting Monday, June 3, the Lansing City Council approved both a community development and housing needs assessment and re-submission of the CDBG Water/Sewer application.

An earlier submission of the application, prepared on behalf of the city by Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC), was signed by the city clerk and subsequently was deemed incomplete by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) - by which the CDBG program is administered - because it is supposed to be signed by the mayor.