River Valley

by Macie Hill

Monday, June 5 the Lansing City Council met in its regular session. Discussion circled around an ATV ordinance, hiring new city lawn mowers, dust control, cutting down a tree at Mount Hosmer, and information about the Lansing Swimming Pool.

The Allamakee ATV Club attended the meeting inquiring as to whether or not the City of Lansing will be getting a new ATV ordinance. All council members present agreed that the council needs more time to discuss all of the options in order to make a decision. The ATV club will be back for the July 3 meeting for an answer.

Discussion was held in regard to the need to hire an individual to mow lawn for the City. Four new applications were received and a decision to hire someone will be made in the near future.

June 15 program will feature presentation on Captain Andrew Talcott and surveying of the Iowa-Minnesota border in 1852

Don Borcherding of Rochester, MN will be reenacting surveyor Captain Andrew Talcott (1797-1883) at the June 15 session of the Sesquicentennial programming being held at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library throughout this year. Captain Talcott  surveyed the Iowa-Minnesota boarder in 1852.

In his reenactment as Captain Talcott, Borcherding will be answering the following questions:

District Director Jayne Armstrong of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Iowa District Office is reminding Iowa small businesses of the June 6 deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for economic injury caused by severe weather and flash flooding in Winneshiek County that occurred August 23-24, 2016.

According to Armstrong, small non-farm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. “Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the applicant suffered any property damage,” Armstrong said.

Repairs being made June 5-9 will impact local travel, as well as water quality and availability

In a letter from Mayor Josh Dreps, residents of the City of New Albin were advised that Monday, June 5 through Friday, June 9 the City of New Albin will be performing sewer main line repairs and replacing two main water valves at the intersection of Highway 26 and Ross Avenue. The letter advised residents on street closures as well as alerts in both water quality and availability at times during the weeklong project.

The letter stated both lanes of traffic on Highway 26 will be closed during excavation and repairs, and that the City of New Albin has been working with the Department of Transportation in preparing for the Highway 26 closure to provide detoured routes around the project.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, May 22 to address a full agenda of items, including a Public Hearing for the Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®) Ordinance, consideration of bids for paving a portion of Breezy Corners Road and the consideration of language for the updated ATV ordinance. Chairperson Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order with the current agenda and the meeting minutes of May 15 being approved.

During Public Comments, Executive Director Val Reinke with Allamakee County Economic Development advised that CBS 2/Fox 48 will be doing a "Road Trippin'" television segment on Allamakee County that will include Yellow River Forest, Effigy Mounds, Lansing, WW Homestead Dairy and other locations.

by B.J. Tomlinson

The Iowa Court of Appeals has overturned a March 26, 2015 ruling regarding a suit filed against the City of Lansing by former Lansing City Councilman Bill Burke. The suit centered around a 2012 incident regarding an open meetings law violation and a suit filed against the City of Lansing and its Council members by Allamakee County Attorney Jill Kistler.

Burke was removed from the Council in 2013 for "willful misconduct and maladministration in office" and a trial contesting that dismissal was held in December of 2014. District Court Judge Richard Stochl ruled against Burke and ordered him to pay court costs of $240.80. At the time, Lansing's mayor was Mike Verdon and the Council members, in addition to Burke,  included Deb Volker, Jeff Bechtel, Rebecca Conway and Ross Kolsrud.

District Director Jayne Armstrong of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Iowa District Office is reminding Iowa small businesses of the June 6 deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for economic injury caused by severe weather and flash flooding in Winneshiek County that occurred August 23-24, 2016.

According to Armstrong, small non-farm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. “Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the applicant suffered any property damage,” Armstrong said.

Katelyn Leiran, daughter of Nancy and Steve Leiran of Waterville, has been selected as the 2017 Girls State Citizen by American Legion Auxiliary Unit #722 of Harpers Ferry. She is the granddaughter of the late Willard Leiran and Marlys Leiran of Waterville and of Walter and Francis Gronert of Grimes.

Leiran is currently a junior at Waukon High School. She will attend Girls State 2017 at Drake University in Des Moines June 18-23.

Iowa Girls State is one of the premier programs sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary and was all started by a dream of four women over 70 years ago in hopes of teaching young women about the political process. Girls State is a "learning by doing" program, which takes the girls through the entire political process.

by Macie Hill

Monday, May 15 the regular Lansing City Council meeting was held. During the discussion many things were talked about, including: hazard mitigation plans, consideration of fixing a rain gutter problem for Our Savior Lutheran Church, discussing owners at 459 Wall Street purchasing chickens, a Parks Board position being available, information about the local swimming pool, and using the swimming pool shower facilities during RAGBRAI®.

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (UMRNWFR) is conducting a Compatibility Determination for the renewal of an existing utility right-of-way for Dairyland Power Cooperative, Q-7 and Q-9 transmission lines from Houston County, MN. Public comment is being sought in regard to impact on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.