River Valley

by Joshua Sharpe

At the Monday, March 3 meeting of the Lansing City Council, council members addressed infrastructure projects, safety policies, and administrative concerns, tabling some items for further review. Council members approved the routine consent agenda items, with the exception of a liquor license renewal request due to incomplete paperwork.

RESOLUTION 1042 APPROVED
The council unanimously approved Resolution 1042, which formalizes the contract and performance bonds for infrastructure improvements along North, Platt and 4th Streets. Lansing Mayor Mike Verdon provided a succinct summary of the resolution, stating, “simply the contract and performance bond for the contractor for the North, 4th and Platt Street project.” Following a brief clarification to update the effective date of the resolution to coincide with the meeting date, council member Steve Murray moved for its approval.

The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center will host Conservation Café Wednesday, March 19, starting at 9:30 a.m. This is a new series started at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center to enjoy some social time with a hot beverage and a conservation-focused program to follow. The program will be free of charge, but advanced registration is encouraged.

Join Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) Director Ross Geerdes as he gives a program on one of Iowa’s native venomous snakes, the Timber Rattlesnake. To register or receive more information on this event call the ACCB at 563-538-0401.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is seeking public comments on a draft Environmental Assessment, or EA, for its proposed Blackhawk Park bank stabilization and erosion protection project. The proposed project is upstream of Lock 9 on the Upper Mississippi River on the Wisconsin side, adjacent to Vernon County, WI.

The purpose of the project is to stabilize the bank and shoreline at five sites with seven work areas around Blackhawk Park that were affected by the flooding events in spring 2023. Construction would occur in summer 2025. There will be temporary effects to recreational activities in the immediate area during construction, which will last several weeks.

by Joshua Sharpe

At its Monday, February 17 regular meeting, the Lansing City Council reviewed the formal resolution for the Platt, North, and 4th Street Improvements Project, addressing contract terms and performance bond requirements. Legal and compliance checks were completed, ensuring the project met municipal standards. The resolution formalizes the contract agreement and performance bond requirements for the upcoming street improvement work on Platt, North, and 4th Streets.

However, deliberations revealed that some required bid bonds had not yet arrived, prompting a temporary postponement. Due to that missing element, the approval of the resolution had to be tabled.

Lansing VFW Auxiliary #5981 is hosting its Annual National Vietnam Veterans Day Soup & Sandwich Supper Saturday, March 29 from 3-7 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church Hall located at 648 Main Street, Lansing. A Ceremony of Gratitude, to commemorate National Vietnam Veterans Day and to honor all Veterans, will begin at 5 p.m.

All Veterans are invited to attend. The event will include an expression of gratitude for this nation’s Veterans for their service and remembering their sacrifice to protect this nation during the Vietnam War and wars beyond.  

Mark the calendar for the 15th Annual Eagle Day, a free family-friendly event scheduled for Saturday, March 1 at the Village Community Center on State Highway 35 – The Great River Road in Ferryville, WI. Hosted by the Ferryville Tourism Council and co-sponsored by Friends of Pool 9, this event celebrates the majesty of bald eagles and the beauty of the Mississippi River.

This year, Friends of Pool 9 introduces a new feature, wood duck box adoption. Kids can adopt a wood duck box for free, choose to install it themselves or have a volunteer place it on the river, and track their box’s activity on Facebook. Plus, every child who adopts a box receives a free hooded sweatshirt from Friends of Pool 9.

Bleeding injuries can happen anytime, anywhere. If let uncontrolled, severe bleeding injuries could claim a person’s life in as little as five minutes.

With that in mind, Emplify Health by Gundersen will be offering a STOP THE BLEED® training event Tuesday, March 25 at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library, located at 515 Main Street in Lansing, from 5-6 p.m. Anyone may participate in this training, which is being offered free of charge to the first 10 participants to register by the March 24 at 12 noon registration deadline.

by Joshua Sharpe

The Lansing City Council met in regular session Monday, February 3. The meeting opened with a public hearing regarding the proposed Platt, North and 4 Street Improvement Project, with no comments heard or received in regard to the project. Following closure of the public hearing, approval was given to the plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of cost for the project.

BIDS FOR NORTH 4TH STREET PROJECT
Under the meeting’s first regular business agenda item, the council reviewed bids for the North, Platt and 4th Street Project, which focuses on improving roadway conditions and utility infrastructure. Six bids were received ranging in cost from $925,039.09 to $1,297,322.20. Mayor Mike Verdon emphasized that the resolution passed during the public hearing held earlier in the meeting authorized the approval of plans and estimates, allowing the council to award the contract.

Bleeding injuries can happen anytime, anywhere. If let uncontrolled, severe bleeding injuries could claim a person’s life in as little as five minutes.

With that in mind, Emplify Health by Gundersen will be offering a STOP THE BLEED® training event Tuesday, March 25 at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library, located at 515 Main Street in Lansing, from 5-6 p.m. Anyone may participate in this training, which is being offered free of charge to the first 10 participants to register by the March 24 at 12 noon registration deadline.

Join the Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) and the Friends of Yellow River State Forest for a Moonlight Snowshoe Hike Wednesday, February 12 at 6:30 p.m. Meet at the Yellow River State Forest Headquarters and hike or snowshoe to the only fire tower in the state of Iowa.

If snowshoes are needed, the ACCB will provide them and trekking poles free of charge. For more information call the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center at 563-538-0403.

The Moonlight Snowshoe will be a guided trail hike taking place after dark to enable the participants to see the stars and moon like they have never seen before. The event requires preregistration for those wishing to use snowshoes provided by the ACCB and is open to all ages. However, anyone under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. In the case of inclement weather or poor snow conditions, the Moonlight Snowshoe may be postponed or canceled, and that will be announced via the ACCB’s Facebook page.