WIUM Local

The state of Iowa is really getting behind the development of a sports complex in western Fort Madison.  The site will feature multiple football/soccer fields and baseball/softball diamonds.

The Vision Iowa Board’s Community Attraction & Tourism Committee recently wrapped up negotiations with the complex committee on the size of a grant.

The panel announced during its meeting on Wednesday morning that the sports complex would receive $766,000.

The complex committee’s initial request was for more than $900,000. 

Lee County wants to make sure its residents are aware of new farm operations that can be considered controversial at times.

The Board of Supervisors has stayed out of the discussion about hog confinements in the past. 

Lee County has been one of the few counties in Iowa to reject the state DNR’s Master Matrix, which is a scoring system for such facilities.  It has also avoided making a ruling on permits because the DNR has the final say.

There are plenty of streets in need of repair in Macomb and the city council is now looking at options to pay for the work.

Aldermen this week discussed whether to issue bonds.  Sixth Ward Alderman Tim Lobdell said he's debated the idea for a while and now believes it's the city's best solution.

“I hope we see the long-term value in this. You're talking capital projects. They're going to be used in the future. Those people should be paying the interest debt on them in the future as well,” Lobdell said.

A judge in Illinois said electronic messages between city representatives sent during an open meeting should be public record.

The matter went to court when city of Champaign denied a newspaper's request for electronic communications among city council members sent during the board's meetings.

The judge sided with the Champaign News-Gazette, saying the records are public even if they were sent on personal phones and e-mail accounts.

There has been talk about relocating the Police Training Institute to Western Illinois University but it appears those plans have stalled.

The facility would have replaced one in Urbana. The University of Illinois was preparing to close it June 30 because of the operational costs, which it shares with the state.

The U of I questioned the expense of more than $600,000 a year on something that isn't part of the school's academic mission or geared toward students.