Lee County, IA –
Canton, MO
The 2nd Extreme Dome Challenge will take place this fall in Canton, MO.
Organizer Jay Hoffman says at least 4 homes will be selected to receive a variety of exterior improvements including painting and landscaping. He says the work will be done, free of charge, by volunteers this fall.
More than 400 people took part in the first EDC. Hoffman hopes to exceed 500 volunteers this year.
Hoffman says additional city, community, or private projects will be done if materials are provided. He hopes the effort will encourage more residents to improve their own homes.
Des Moines, IA
State Representative Jerry Kearns (D-Keokuk) says lawmakers in Des Moines are not addressing the biggest problem facing the entire state.
Kearns says the first of the legislative session has focused on social issues (abortion & same-sex marriage). He says while those issues are important, the top priorities should be job creation and economic recovery.
Kearns says funding for the Iowa Power Fund, I-JOBS, and preschool should be maintained next year. Those areas are on the chopping block.
Fort Madison, IA
The Fort Madison City Council met during the blizzard to make sure the restoration of the Santa Fe Depot remains on schedule.
The panel set February 15th as the date for a public hearing for Phase 2 of the project.
City Manager Byron Smith says if the hearing was not scheduled, the city could have missed the deadline to receive more than $1-million in state funding for the depot.
This is the second time for the city as the council rejected the previous bids for Phase 2 and sought new ones.
Keokuk, IA
The Keokuk City Council will help with the possible redevelopment of the former Steel Castings office at 600 Morgan Street.
A group of investors is applying for $600,000 through the Iowa Finance Authority. The plan is to build 11 low-to-moderate income apartments.
The city will serve as a flow-through if the funding comes through. Aldermen have yet to decide whether to grant a tax incentive for the project.