Jason Parrott

Lee County has started collecting money to cover its share of a potential state grant for a proposed sports complex in Fort Madison.

That is possible because the Board of Supervisors has approved the creation of a Community Development Fund.

The first donations came in shortly after the official vote.  Supervisors Rick Larkin ($1,000) and Larry Kruse ($500) pulled out their wallets and wrote their checks to back up their verbal pledges from last week.

A quick look at news from around the Tri-State Region.

BURLINGTON, IA

The Burlington School District will be adding a culinary arts program to the high school, starting next year.

Superintendent Jane Evans says it will start out as one course and expand in subsequent years.  It will be taught at the high school with field experience available out in the community.

Evans says it will target 9th-12th graders who are interested in working in or managing a restaurant or other aspect of the hospitality industry.

CANTON, MO

Mount Sterling, Iowa will try again when it comes to un-incorporating itself. 

Mayor Tom Allen says Mount Sterling has been operating for years under the assumption that its city council has just three members.  The current roster is Tonya Putnam, DiAnna Allen, & Judy Ash.

That is why no one questioned it when Putnam and Allen voted to discontinue the town of roughly 40 people in rural Van Buren County on April 11. 

Keokuk could make it easier for downtown properties to be developed.

Fire Chief Gabe Rose says city code requires sprinkler systems be added to a downtown building if it is renovated for mixed use. 

Mixed use generally refers to commercial/retail business on the first floor and residential units on the upper level.

Rose is proposing a change that would provide an exemption to the sprinkler system requirement for certain buildings.

The field of candidates for a vacant seat on the Fort Madison City Council continues to grow.

The opening was created by the resignation of Alderman At-Large Brad Randolph upon his appointment as Mayor.  He replaced Steve Ireland, who passed away last month.

Six men have applied for the position, including two former aldermen.

CANDIDATES

Former alderman Neil Boeding feels his experience on the city council would be a value as the panel continues to move the city in what he describes as a “positive direction.”

Major Diana Amick with the Salvation Army of Lee County is this week’s guest on Emphasis.  She and Public Radio’s Jason Parrott discuss the organization’s 125th anniversary in Keokuk and the challenges it faces today.

Amick says the organization reached the United States in 1880.  She says by 1887, the Salvation Army was established in 600 cities, including Keokuk.

“I heard Keokuk referred to as the Gateway to the West,” says Amick of her research in preparation for the 125th Anniversary.  “I am sure that is why the Salvation Army came this direction.”

Burlington residents still have plenty of opportunities to weigh in on a new “blue-print” for the city.

Development and Parks Director Eric Tysland says it has been at least 15 years since Burlington updated its comprehensive plan.  He says this type of document is crucial to future planning and development.

“It looks at all aspects of the city,” says Tysland, “from land-use to streets to infrastructure and public services (police & fire).  Basically every aspect of the city is addressed in the plan in one way or another.”

BURLINGTON, IA

The Burlington School District has wrapped up contract negotiations with its teachers.

The school board and the Burlington Education Association have each ratified a new one-year contract for the 2012-2013 school year.

The agreement calls for a $1,006 increase in the base pay.  The result is that entry-level teachers will start out at around $31,000/year.

Teachers are also in line for pay raises based on their experience and education.

Burlington’s new city manager says he will spend his first few weeks on the job getting to know as many people as possible.

Jim Ferneau comes to town via Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, where he served as city administrator.  He has been involved in city government for about 15 years.

Ferneau says he and his wife grew up in the Marshalltown area.  They have nine children and are in the process of moving to Burlington.

KEOKUK, IA

Keokuk has agreed to sell a home at 2018 Missouri Street to God’s Way Christian Church for $1.

The property was donated to the city by a bank in the hopes it would be used to benefit low-to-moderate income individuals.

The city contacted Habitat for Humanity before reaching out to God’s Way Christian Church, which plans to use the home as a single family homeless shelter.

WEST BURLINGTON, IA

West Burlington Mayor Hans Trousil has named Lt. Frank Newberry as the city’s new police chief.