Jason Parrott

The Warsaw School District’s next superintendent has plenty of ties to the community.

The Warsaw School Board and Matt Runge have reached an agreement on a contract that would have him on the job by July 1.  His base pay is expected to be about $105,000.

Runge currently serves as the superintendent of the Liberty School District near Quincy.

He is no stranger to Warsaw as his wife teaches there and his children have either graduated from Warsaw or are still enrolled in the district.

The Keokuk City Council must decide how the city should pay for some highly-anticipated street work.

Keokuk replaced some sewer lines around Wells-Carey Elementary about two years ago.

The project required crews to tear up several streets to do the work.

Keokuk did not immediately replace them, though, because the sewer needed time to settle.  Gravel was added for the time being, but that has led to plenty of complaints from residents about dust.

The Burlington School District is looking into a note left on multiple cars following the recent high school graduation ceremony.

It’s been reported that the note mentioned bullying, intimidation and miscommunication by teachers towards students at the high school.

The signature was from the “Graduating Class of 2012.”

Superintendent Jane Evans says similar concerns were recently raised by a student during a meeting of the School Improvement Advisory Committee.

She plans to meet with the high school administrative team about both incidents.

An expansion and renovation of the Burlington Animal Shelter could get underway this summer.

The city council voted 3-2 to hire Myers Construction to do the work.  The $820,000 bid from the firm out of Sperry, Iowa was the lowest of the three received by the city.

Burlington will split the cost of the project with the Des Moines County Humane Society.  The organization has raised more than $500,000 for the shelter since its fundraising campaign began in 2010.

Fort Madison’s downtown district will receive a makeover this summer.   The city received a $500,000 state grant to help pay for façade improvements for thirteen buildings. 

The grant will cover 70% of the cost of the project with the building owners picking up the remaining 30%.

Fort Madison Main Street’s Executive Director Mary Ottoson says the façade improvements are currently in the design phase.

She says the project should go out for bid in early July.  Each phase will be bid in a way that one contractor will handle all of the painting or masonry, for example.

The Democrats running for the District V seat on the Lee County Board of Supervisors are on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to government consolidation.

It was one year ago, this month, that the board voted to reorganize county government. 

The final proposal resulted in the moving of the Auditor and Treasurer’s offices to the North Lee County Office Building in Fort Madison. 

In turn, the Assessor and Recorder’s offices are now located in the South Lee County Courthouse in Keokuk.

KEOKUK, IA

A four-to-four vote by the Keokuk City Council means A&B Furniture will not be able to display motorcycles in front of its store on Main Street. 

1st Ward Alderman Mike O’Connor says the city must draw the line when businesses want to place vehicles on sidewalks.

The denial also means A&B Furniture cannot place furniture in front of the property.

In the same meeting, the city council approved a sidewalk display for Willow Tree Flowers and Gifts that calls for plants and a framed sign.

LEE COUNTY, IA

Thursday night’s Keokuk City Council meeting had a feeling of Christmas as aldermen opened the boxes containing their new iPads.

The city spent more than $6,000 to purchase the devices for the nine city council members along with the Mayor, City Clerk, Police Chief, Fire Chief, Public Works Director, and Community Development Director.

The iPads are for the specific position or office-holder, not the individuals.  There is a device for the 3rd Ward Alderman, not for Ron Payne, for example.

Keokuk residents have several opportunities to weigh in on the search for a new school superintendent.

The school board has hired Ray & Associates to help the district find a replacement for Doctor Lora Wolff.  She is stepping down to take a teaching position at WIU.

The Cedar Rapids-based firm will hold two public input sessions at the middle school on Tuesday.  The first will get underway at 12:00 P.M. while the second is scheduled for 5:30 P.M.

Those who cannot attend can provide input through a survey on the district’s website.