Supervisors support Lansing's effort to achieve Main Street Iowa status

by Bob Beach

During its regular meeting Monday, November 7, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met with Lansing Main Street Matters Chairman Bruce Palmborg, Lansing Main Street Matters Executive Director Sarah Thompson, Doug Sharp of Lansing and Lansing Mayor Don Peters, who presented the Board with a resolution in support of an application to have Lansing named a “Main Street Iowa” city. Palmborg said that if the application is approved, Lansing businesses will become eligible for consulting valued at $120,000 over three years and will have access to the expert staff in the Main Street Iowa Division.
He explained that Main Street Matters’ goal is to “re-energize” Main Street by sponsoring scheduled events to draw people downtown, by strengthening downtown businesses, by identifying and revitalizing historic downtown buildings and by beautifying the downtown area. Chairman Larry Schellhammer said that he “supports and applauds” the efforts of the Main Street Matters group and the Board unanimously agreed to pass the resolution in support of the group’s application for “Main Street Iowa” status.
During a meeting of department heads, Sheriff Tim Heiderscheit reported that the trial of Christopher Thompson, who faces a murder charge stemming from the shooting death of his live-in girlfriend, Angela Gabel, October 2, 2010, will begin Tuesday, November 8 with jury selection, which may carry over into the next day. Heiderscheit said the trial itself is expected to last between one and two weeks.
The Board also met with County Engineer Brian Ridenour, who presented the Board with a road maintenance agreement with the City of Waukon. Ridenour explained that a similar agreement had been in place previously, but that recent annexations to the City of Waukon necessitated some revisions. The Board approved the agreement.
In other business, the Board appointed Supervisor Lennie Burke as an alternate to the Transportation Policy Board and Bob Beach of Waukon to the Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission.