River Valley

Upper Iowa Audubon Society is organizing a bird walk at Yellow River State Forest Saturday, May 1, starting at 9 a.m. The two-hour walk will begin at the main entrance to the Forest, approximately three miles off Hwy 76 on County Road B25/State Forest Road near Harpers Ferry.

There are several trail options depending on physical limitations and interests, including combination trails with ponds and some marsh areas. Participants can anticipate possibly seeing Cerulean Warblers, Red-shouldered Hawks and many other uncommon or migrating species. Yellow River State Forest is also home to an eagle’s nest and Iowa’s only fire tower.

After the walk, those who are interested will continue to Lansing for a sack lunch at the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center, scheduled at noon. At 1 p.m. a caravan of birders will leave the Center to look at Peregrine Falcon nest sites near Lansing and stop at other locations where birds are easy to see.

At their March board meeting, the Friends of Pool 9 (FOP9) Directors voted to organize a Pool 9 Mississippi River clean-up for this year, and scheduled it for Saturday, April 24.

There will be no mass meetings of individuals at the Lansing VFW building or elsewhere, as in year’s past, and there will not be a lunch following the clean-up. All volunteers are required to sign the 2021 Friends of Pool 9 Release of Liability form before participating in the event.

“While the need exists to clean our beloved Mississippi River Pool 9, we need to remember the present COVID virus restrictions and limit the scope of the event,” FOP9 leaders shared.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), and program partners, are proposing aerial treatments in Allamakee and Clayton Counties to slow the spread of the invasive gypsy moth. The proposed gypsy moth mating disruptant would be applied in late June by aerial fly-over methods.

In Allamakee County, the proposed treatment sites include two rural areas around Black Hawk Point and Lansing Wildlife Management areas totaling 5,018 acres between Lansing and New Albin along Highway 26. In Clayton County, treatments will focus on a 590-acre site including Marquette and the surrounding rural area. Trapping data has identified these spots where gypsy moth populations are starting to grow.

by Alexis Johnson

The Lansing City Council met in regular session Monday, April 5. The meeting’s consent agenda consisted of council meeting minutes from March 15, payment of claims, Parks Board minutes from April 1, 2021 and a liquor license for TJ Hunter’s Tiki Bar. A motion was made and seconded to approve the consent agenda with minimal discussion by the council.

The council reviewed and approved a building permit with variance for 140 North Third Street. Consideration was also given to a long-term Elm Street levee lot lease with Jesse Weymiller. The council also reviewed and approved a resolution supporting Main Street Lansing submitting an Iowa Rural Innovation grant that would assist in restoring businesses throughout Lansing by helping replace bricks, replacing windows, painting, etc. Approval was given to Maryann Baldwin submitting an Iowa Rural Innovation grant.

Allamakee County is planning to replace the Cota Creek Bridge on Lansing Harpers Road (County Road B25) on the western edge of the town of Harpers Ferry, beginning Monday, April 5. Lansing Harpers Road (B25) will be completely closed to traffic in the area of the Cota Creek Bridge (short red line with black X) as shown on the above map, with a quarter-mile gravel detour past the small electric station - marked with detour signs - allowing vehicles to connect Lansing Harpers Road (B25) with Great River Road (County Road X52/Highway 364) just south of Harpers Ferry, also as shown on the above map (longer red line). According to Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour, the closure is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Monday, April 5 and estimated to be a 14-week closure, pending weather. Submitted image.
 

Lansing’s VFW Auxiliary #5981 is continuing to seek entries for its scholarship contest for local art students in ninth through 12th grades. Patriotic students in ninth through 12th grades with a passion for art are encouraged to enter the 2020-2021 VFW Auxiliary Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest.

Students will compete with other student artists from across the nation for a chance to win one of 10 national scholarships. The first-place winner receives a $15,000 scholarship.

To request entry forms or for additional information about the contest email vfwauxiliarylansing@gmail.com. Entries must then be submitted to vfwauxiliarylansing@gmail.com no later than midnight March 31.
 

Lansing Hardware & Service received the 2020 President’s Paint Award at United Hardware Distributing Co.’s Spring and Summer Virtual Buying Market, held January 11-17. The President’s Paint Award is given to the top 100 stores overall that excelled in paint sales and promotions during 2020. Pictured above displaying their award are Laurie and Dave Janzen of Lansing Hardware & Service. Submitted photo.
 

The City of Lansing is requesting citizen participation in its upcoming Municipal Code Revision. City officials are working with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission in conducting an overall update to the Lansing City Code to bring it more in line with modern day City operations and situations in order to provide greater clarity.

Those who have suggestions for updates to the City Code are asked to submit their proposals - in writing only -  via one of the following three ways: by email at lansingcodeupdate@gmail.com, by mail to Lansing City Hall, P.O. Box 307, Lansing, IA 52151, or by leaving them in the drop-box located outside the Lansing City Hall location at 201 John Street in Lansing. Proposals will be taken until April 16.
 

The City of New Albin was one of the 37 Iowa communities that will soon be greener thanks to grants from Alliant Energy’s Branching Out program. Alliant Energy partners with Trees Forever to help communities develop, select and plant a diverse mix of trees. This year’s funds will help communities plant trees to replace those destroyed by the 2020 derecho, other storms or the emerald ash borer.

The City of New Albin received $1,797 in Branching Out grant funding. The funding will be used to diversify the city’s tree canopy and replace trees lost to storms or disease.

These grants provided a total of $206,000 in assistance this year. Derecho-affected communities applied for grants up to $10,000 to fund new trees that will save energy and improve the environment. Non-derecho communities were eligible for grants up to $5,000.

by Alexis Johnson

The Lansing City Council held its regular meeting Monday, March 15. The meeting centered around the consent agenda, a public hearing, PeopleService update, Parks Board update and the City Clerk’s update.

The consent agenda consisted of council meeting minutes from March 1, 2021 and Park and Recreation minutes from March 8, 2021. A motion was made and seconded to approve the consent agenda.

The public hearing regarding Resolution #948, adopting the Fiscal Year 2022 budget, started at 7:06 p.m. and ended at 7:33 p.m. After minimal discussion, a motion was made and seconded to approve Resolution #948.

PeopleService report included an update explaining that infrastructure and equipment held up well with the colder temperatures over the past month. In April, PeopleService plans to flush the City water pipes when warmer weather occurs.