River Valley

by Julie Berg-Raymond

The Lansing City Council held a special meeting Monday, July 10, open to the public, to discuss the possibility of hiring a city manager in Lansing. The purpose of the meeting, as stated by Mayor Melissa Hammell, was to consider a city manager position in terms of what it means for a city to have a manager; the pros and cons of hiring a city manager; and whether it makes sense to hire a city manager in Lansing.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During its regular meeting Monday, July 17, the Lansing City Council approved spending up to $225 for three Iowa Great Places signs to be placed at the entrances to the city, pending State approval for placement. Total cost for the three Iowa Great Places signs is $204.30. Money will come from the remaining $145.74 of the RAGBRAI grant awarded to the Iowa Great Places committee, with the rest being paid for by the City of Lansing.

Lansing was one of three communities to receive designation as an Iowa Great Place, joining Grimes and Polk City as new designees this year. The designation gives the City a path forward for development for arts and culture, recreation, and amenities in Lansing’s future. With the designation, the City will also be able to utilize its standing as a Great Place to receive further funding for projects - in particular, a one-time funding opportunity of up to $500,000.

FreedomBank has announced that it is contributing $5,000 towards the Harpers Ferry Museum project in Harpers Ferry. For more than 120 years, FreedomBank has strongly supported community projects that empower success in rural Iowa.

Spearheaded by the Harpers Ferry Area Heritage Society, the museum will be constructed next to the Oil Springs School within the Martell Heritage Park in Harpers Ferry. Once completed, the museum will cover an area of 9,000 square feet and resemble the original Harper Hotel, built in the late 1880s and run by David and Harriet Harper, whom Harpers Ferry was named for.

“The Harpers Ferry Museum will play a vital role in showcasing the rich history of the Driftless Region, enhancing tourism, and serving as an economic driver for Allamakee County. As a 100% employee-owned community bank, FreedomBank is committed to funding projects that preserve our rural heritage for future generations,” said Kathy Mueller, FreedomBank’s CEO and President.

The City of Lansing has partnered with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) to create a community vision for the future of Main Street. The overall goal of the planning and visioning process is to identify needs, desires and concerns that residents, business owners and visitors have for the Main Street/Highway 9 corridor through Lansing. The end product will be a community-derived vision for the corridor that considers things like traffic safety, environmental impacts, historic preservation, lighting, streetscape amenities and more.

“This planning process will help make sure we are prepared to discuss options with the Iowa Department of Transportation when the time comes to redo Highway 9 through town,” said Lansing Mayor Melissa Hammell. “In the meantime, the plan will help us focus our efforts as a community toward finding funding opportunities for Main Street improvements that will make Lansing an even better place to live and visit.”

River Bluff Daze in Ferryville is scheduled to take place in Ferryville, WI Saturday, July 22. All events are free, including the Antique Tractor Pull, a hike, browsing the farmers market and fireworks. The schedule for this year’s event is as follows:

8:30 a.m. - Join Joanne White for a nature hike on the Sugar Creek Bluff Natural Area. Meet at the Ferryville Boat Landing at 8:30 a.m. and carpool to the trailhead. Hikers will see birds, wildlife and wild flowers on the gradual 1.5-mile round trip to the scenic overlook.  This hike is sponsored by Ferryville Tourism Council.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During its regular meeting Monday, July 3, Mayor Melissa Hammel signed a declaration stating that Friday, July 14 is Star City Film Festival Day in Lansing.

The Ferryville Tourism Council will be hosting the second program in its Chautauqua Summer Series Wednesday, July 12 in the Ferryville Community Center at 6:30 p.m. The featured presenter will be longtime Ferryville resident Larry Quamme, whose Norwegian heritage and family roots in Crawford County date back to 1870.

Quamme has taken a very active interest in the history of the Hauge Norwegian Lutheran Church on County B in rural Ferryville, WI. The Hauge movement began in Norway, and it was brought here by the immigrants who settled in southwest Wisconsin. Those who want to know more about how this happened, why it is no longer an active church, and find out information about the existing structure won’t want to miss Quamme’s presentation. Refreshments will be served as well, and everyone is welcome to attend.

The City of Lansing has partnered with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) to create a community vision for the future of Main Street. The overall goal of the planning and visioning process is to identify needs, desires and concerns that residents, business owners and visitors have for the Main Street/Highway 9 corridor through Lansing. The end product will be a community-derived vision for the corridor that considers things like traffic safety, environmental impacts, historic preservation, lighting, streetscape amenities and more.

The Community of Lansing will be able to use the plan in pursuing individual projects and funding opportunities and in making decisions about infrastructure investments. Perhaps most importantly, the plan will be a tool for the community in communicating its vision and goals to the Iowa Department of Transportation when the time comes to reconstruct Main Street/Highway 9 through the town.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is taking public comment on a revision being made in the construction of the new wastewater treatment plant in New Albin that first broke ground in early May 2022. The general public now has the opportunity to comment in regard to the proposed change during a 30-day period that began with the issuance by the DNR of a June 26, 2023 letter of reaffirmation of a Finding of No Significant Impact in regard to the proposed changed, as described below.

The Ferryville Tourism Council will be hosting the second program in its Chautauqua Summer Series Wednesday, July 12 in the Ferryville Community Center at 6:30 p.m. The featured presenter will be longtime Ferryville resident Larry Quamme, whose Norwegian heritage and family roots in Crawford County date back to 1870.

Quamme has taken a very active interest in the history of the Hauge Norwegian Lutheran Church on County B in rural Ferryville, WI. The Hauge movement began in Norway, and it was brought here by the immigrants who settled in southwest Wisconsin. Those who want to know more about how this happened, why it is no longer an active church, and find out information about the existing structure won’t want to miss Quamme’s presentation. Refreshments will be served as well, and everyone is welcome to attend.