River Valley

Chris Troendle is new board president, Andrew Boddicker will be new executive director

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Main Street Lansing will have new leadership, beginning this year. Chris Troendle is the organization’s new board president, replacing Bruce Palmborg - who retired in the fall of 2022 after serving in that position for 10 years.  Palmborg, who was one of the people instrumental in getting Lansing designated a Main Street Iowa community, will continue to be involved on the organization’s board of directors. Andrew Boddicker will begin serving as Main Street Lansing’s executive director July 10 of this year, replacing Andy Kelleher - who has held that position since the winter of 2018. Kelleher is moving on to the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City this fall to complete studies for his degree in International Relations and a career with global aspirations.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Aaron Detter, senior transportation planner with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) in Decorah, facilitated the second in a series of work sessions on the Main Street/Highway 9 Corridor Visioning Plan with the Lansing City Council during a special council meeting Monday, May 22 in Lansing City Hall. The work session was open to the public.

The Friends of Pool 9 (FOP9) Board of Directors had made plans for the Annual Pool 9 River Clean-Up earlier this spring, but it was not to be with the spring flooding that took place. Conditions quickly rose to the dangerous level as near-record crests occurred the following weekend of the planned event, reaching the fourth highest level ever recorded in Lansing at 19.6 feet.

Flood waters made it too dangerous to send volunteers out to collect debris, and there will be another year. For historical information, record water levels at the Lansing gauge are as follows: 22.5 feet on 4/24/1965, 19.93 feet on 4/21/2001, 19.90 feet on 6/20/1880, and 19.61 feet on 4/28/2023.

Those looking to start their summer off with a bang - like, as big as a volcano explosion - can join the fun and excitement at “Lava Lava Luau” Vacation Bible School, sponsored by the Sunday School of the United Methodist Church of Lansing. Lava Lava Luau is a four-day adventure where those attending will learn how to “rein in our emotions” and to let God help control feelings of jealousy, anger, envy, frustration, unkindness and change. Together, attendees will learn how God can help “keep our cool”.

Starting at 5 p.m. and running until 7:20 p.m. for four consecutive evenings, May 30-31and June 1-2, this is a Vacation Bible School program no one will not want  to miss. Contact Karen Galema at 563-538-4641 or call the church at 563-538-4352 to pre-register. This is a no cost, non-denominational program open to all. Volunteers are always welcome to assist with the program.
 

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Due to a scheduling conflict, The Lansing City Council has set a new date for a special meeting to discuss the possibility of hiring a city manager. The meeting is now scheduled for Monday, July 10 at 5 p.m. in Lansing City Hall, and it will be open to the public. The council also will discuss development of an urban revitalization policy at that meeting.

Due to some issues with the Urban Revitalization report, a new public hearing regarding the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) budget has been scheduled for Monday, June 5 at 7 p.m. in Lansing City Hall.

ONLINE GUN SHOP
The council approved writing a letter of support for Maison Schoh, of Lansing, for a proposed online gun shop. A letter from the City is required by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), because of zoning concern. Lansing does not have an ordinance for all-online businesses.

by Brianne Grimstad

May 25 of this year Lansing Housing Products will be celebrating 20 years in business with an open house from 2-7 p.m. at its Lansing facility, along with unveiling the rebranding of the business name to Tough Tek Metals®. In 2015, the team at Lansing Housing Products partnered with a branding firm and came up with the name of Tough Tek Metals®, which they felt more accurately represents the quality of their products and what they do in the focus and the operation of their business.

Lansing Housing Products came into existence in 2003, when co-owners Brian Houlihan and Dave Monserud purchased the former RTG, Inc. assets in order to help keep jobs in Lansing and prevent another business from leaving the small river town. When they first began Lansing Housing Products, it was located near the former lumber yard in Lansing, but the business soon moved to its current location at 331 Platt Street in Lansing.

The 70th Jubilee Mass of Father Donald Hawes has been scheduled for Sunday, June 4 at 11 a.m. in Immaculate Conception Church, Wexford. In addition to celebrating 70 years as a priest, Father Donald is also celebrating his 95th birthday.

Donald John Hawes was born December 22, 1928 to John and Ellen (Conway) Hawes of Wexford (rural Lansing). He was baptized December 24, 1928 in Immaculate Conception Church, Wexford. Following the tragedy of his father’s sudden death May 9, 1935, his mother raised Donald and his siblings on the family farm.

Donald Hawes graduated from Loras College in Dubuque in 1949 and from St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore, MD in 1953. He received his sub-diaconate at St. Mary’s Seminary June 6, 1952. Father Donald Hawes was ordained a priest May 16, 1953 in Christ the King Chapel at Loras College, Dubuque.

Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa welcomed students of Kee High School in Lansing Tuesday morning, May 2 to the Senate steps of the U.S. Capitol. During the students’ Senior Trip to Washington, D.C., Grassley answered questions on the importance of bipartisanship, representative government, and internship opportunities in both his Washington and Iowa offices.

“I started my morning meeting with a group of students from Kee High School. I always enjoy hearing what Iowans have to say - particularly young people. Their views help me to better represent the people of Iowa. And of course, I’m happy to meet with a school that shares the school colors of my alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa Panther purple,” said Grassley. Official U.S. Senate photo by John Klemmer.
 

by Julie Berg-Raymond

John Danos, of Des Moines, with Dorsey & Whitney LLP, spoke to the Lansing City Council during its regular meeting Monday, May 1 about a complex of issues related to urban revitalization plans and tax abatement policies.

The council took no action on this item; it was offered as a first step toward further discussions about the possibility of passing a local tax abatement policy for housing development in Lansing. Danos, a frequent presenter on topics related to tax increment financing, economic development, municipal debt and complex local government issues, explained - among other topics - the differences between tax increment financing (TIF) and tax abatement policies, and between urban renewal and urban revitalization.

Although nestled in between the two National Weather Service river level gauges between Lansing and McGregor on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River, there was still plenty of evidence of the river’s flooding water levels around the Harpers Ferry community this past week. A river gauge at the Allamakee County Conservation Boat landing at Harpers Ferry further confirms the height of the river at its crest Friday, April 28, as well as its ranking among the top four crests all-time (behind the 1965 record and two more recent recordings in 2001 and 1997 shown on the gauge).