DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A railroad’s decision to permanently raise tracks along Davenport’s riverfront following recent flooding is ruffling feathers in City Hall. Davenport officials say Canadian Pacific Railway didn’t need permits or city approval for the work that began March 28 because the company has right of way. The Quad-City Times reports that aldermen and city administrators raised concerns Tuesday about accessibility and the possible disruption of road traffic at seven railroad crossings in the city. Some aldermen say they want the state to intervene.

Canadian Pacific spokesman Andy Cummings said in a statement Tuesday that the company has been in “close contact” with the city about the permanent “upgrade.” Public Works Director Nicole Gleason says the company notified the city of its intentions but didn’t provide a start date.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 34-year old Jacob Michael Carnes was arrested at around 9:50-a.m. today (Wednesday), on a valid Montgomery County Magistrate Court warrant for Failure to Appear on a Driving While Suspended charge. Carnes was being held on a $1,000 cash bond.

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — A man who pleaded guilty to thefts while working at a Coralville mall store has been accused of trying to sell some of the jewelry that police say he’d managed to hide away from investigators. Johnson County District Court records say 25-year-old Troy Woods pleaded not guilty to a new theft charge after his arrest Monday. He’s been on probation since March 2018, after he pleaded guilty to a theft charge. Court records say his 2017 thefts while working at a Kay store in Coral Ridge Mall amounted to nearly $51,000.

Coralville Police Chief Shane Kron told the Iowa City Press-Citizen that the jewelry Woods is accused of trying to sell to a New York company since his 2018 sentencing is “additional jewelry he hid.” Kron says Woods reported needing money to pay the restitution from the original case.

Elk Horn, IA– Lisa Steen Riggs, Manager of The Danish Mill Corporation has announced the Danish Mill has received a $44,000 donation from the Mike and Lou Howard Foundation. Riggs says “After receiving the Howard’s generous gift of $100,000 at the Danish Windmill’s Annual Meeting in January from them personally, this additional funding from the Mike and Lou Howard Foundation will help to bring closure to many important capital projects that are works in progress on the Windmill’s master “to do” list.”

Community benefactors Mike and Lou Howard sitting up in the cap frame of the Windmill that recently was restored to working condition (Lisa Riggs photo)

In addition to completing the roofing and historic restoration project, projects currently underway include retrofitting the replica 900 AD Viking smithy’s home (VikingHjem) with museum quality LED lights, repairing the catwalk, building a Miller’s Path, replacing the aged sprinkler system, and much more. Riggs said also, “Mike and Lou Howard have been so generous with the Windmill and the community overall,” Riggs continued. “Everyone is energized by the economic development and revitalization efforts they have initiated and the positive impact of their investments will be beneficial for many, many years to come.”

The Danish Windmill is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit organization. Charitable gifts and donations are the organization’s primary sources of funding. The Mill’s financials are published on the GuideStar® website so potential donors can review public records and non-profit reports. The Mill received the GuideStar® Gold Star of Transparency in 2018. To learn more about the Danish Windmill and how you can support the organization and about the projects, visit danishwindmill.com or contact the Danish Windmill at 712.764.7472.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a Creston man was arrested Tuesday evening at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. 32-year old Jeremy Joseph Lund was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear (FTA) on an original charge of Theft in the 4th Degree. His bond was set at $1,000.

Public Hearings are set for 5-p.m. Thursday in Walnut during the City Council meeting, with regard to a proposed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application. The application is with regard to the FY 2019 CDBG Housing Fund Program. A hearing will also be held with regard to the City Of Walnut’s Housing Rehabilitation Program, and includes comments from SWIPCO’s Alexis Fleener to discuss a CDBG application for the program. Afterward, the Council will consider adoption of a Resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor to make an application to the CDBG Housing Fund Program for assistance to a Housing Rehab Program.

In other business, the Walnut City Council will discuss: The Community Center; A Small Business Start-up Grant Application for “Banana Split,” by Lynn Driver; Discussion about the City Park, including Concession stands and Field rental; a Budget Amendment for the FY 2018-19 Budget by $1-million in the Program of Business-type activities, $30,000 in the General Gov’t. Fund, and $40,000 in the Program of Public Safety. A budget hearing on the latter will be set for 5-p.m. May 2nd.

Other agenda items include discussion of property maintenance, Discussion about a RAGBRAI possible budget, and an announcement with regard to the hiring of a Library Assistant.

Wendy Ensley, Executive Secretary for the Glenwood Municipal Utilities (GMU) reports this (Wednesday) morning, that GMU staff along with the help of Ben Lundstrom, Andy Young and Jensen Well were able to get Well #3 and the Water Treatment Plant running last night. Ensley says “We have been pumping water all night to fill the towers. We are still required to boil water and need everyone to continue to conserve water by reducing use. The DNR is on site today to do testing and monitor the steps we are required to follow to turn over/flush the system. This will require us to drain the water from the towers. The DNR is putting together a press release for us explaining everything and we should have that later today.”

“The hope” she says, “is that we will be running normally and be able to release the boil water and conserve water within the next week. Trucking is continuing today and then we will be stopping that operation.”

A man wanted for Child Endangerment/Substantial Risk and Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense – causing bodily injury, was arrested Tuesday morning, in Carson. 29-year old Jerid James Black, of Carson, was transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail and booked-in at around 11:30-a.m., Tuesday.

(Radio Iowa) — The U-S Small Business Administration is opening a Business Recovery Center in southwest Iowa to help merchants in that area rebuild and recover from this spring’s widespread flooding. S-B-A spokesman Bill Koontz says the temporary office is now open in Glenwood. “This is a center where a business owner can come in and get advice on how to apply for a disaster loan from the SBA for the flooding event,” Koontz says. “This business owner might not have been flooded but might have lost their revenue because their customers are underwater or they’re cut off or whatever the reason might be.”

The center is designed to be a one-stop location for businesses to access a variety of specialized help in order to rebuild using low-interest government loans. “For most folks, they’re below market rate loans,” Koontz says. “A business can borrow money at 4-and-1/8-percent. We can make loans based on actual physical flood damages plus we can also loan for lost revenue. Normally, these loans would be a repayment of 15 or 30 years, based on what the business owner can afford to pay.”

The S-B-A says businesses of any size and private, nonprofit organizations can borrow up to two-million dollars to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Koontz adds, it’s not just business owners who can apply. “The SBA does help homeowners and renters and that will be who we probably help the most because they’re the ones with the most impact,” Koontz says. “Homeowners and renters can get money as low as 2% and we can loan a homeowner up to $200,000 for damage to their residence plus another $40,000 for personal property.”

No appointment is necessary. All services are free. The S-B-A office is in Room 208 of the Meyer Complex at 111 Lacey Street in Glenwood. Contact the S-B-A at (800) 659-2955, via email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or through the website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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