Proclamation applies for efficient transportation of soybeans, corn, hay, straw, silage and stover

(DES MOINES) -  Gov. Terry E. Branstad today signed a proclamation to allow the transportation of overweight loads of soybeans, corn, hay, straw, silage and stover.  The proclamation takes effect today, September, 27, 2013, and expires after 60 days.

"Our farmers provide food, fuel and fiber for their families and families around the world." said Branstad. "With the challenging weather conditions that our state has seen over the past several months, this proclamation will help transport our agriculture commodities safely and efficiently."

"We hope this proclamation will provide additional assistance to farmers during this demanding time of the year," said Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds.

"Harvest is an extremely busy time for farmers and this proclamation allows farmers to move crops as efficiently as possible while ensuring roadway safety," Northey said.  "I appreciate Gov. Branstad signing this proclamation in a timely manner so that it is in effect as harvest begins in earnest statewide."

This proclamation is intended to allow vehicles transporting soybeans, corn, hay, straw, silage and stover to be overweight, not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight, without a permit, but only for the duration of this proclamation.  This action is intended to allow loads transported on all highways within Iowa, excluding the interstate system, and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the nonprimary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code §321.463(5)(b), by more than twelve and one-half percent (12.5%), do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is directed to monitor the operation of this proclamation to assure the public's safety and facilitate the movement of the trucks involved.

For more information please visit www.governor.iowa.gov.

At this meeting, Davenport City Council will consider "fast track approval" giving a 65 year lease to a developer in order to build a 5 ½ story office plaza on the Mississippi River where the former Dock Restaurant was located.  This uniquely significant site, literally at the foot of the Lock & Dam 15, will be forever lost to the public if this "deal" goes forward.

The City's Levee Improvement Commission has recommended against the proposal and The Quad City Times has written an editorial favoring the Commission's position.

Last week, an international group of engineers, architects and designers - all experts in waterfront development - recommended that Davenport stop the development.

The planned development is fraught with problems, from safety concerns to environmental issues and not least of which is that legally the City already has an existing agreement with the Isle of Capri for portions of the land under consideration.

Members of Levee Improvement Commission have been hoping to reclaim the site when the gambling boat is gone for public access and development of a public restaurant and interpretative center and for the dam and river and the eagles that congregate at the dam, that would follow the city's comprehensive plan for the river.

If you care about our River and the public's access to our River, please attend this meeting and voice your opposition to this utterly misguided project.

City Circle Acting Company will present Monty Python's Spamalot , October 25 -November 3 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.

Performances are October 25, 26 and November 1,2 at 7:30 pm and October 26 and November 3 at 2:00 pm

Winner of the 2005 Tony for Best Musical, Monty Python's Spamalot is a musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the classic film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". Directed by Krista Neumann, the show tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table and features a bevy of beautiful show girls, cows, killer rabbits, and French people. Spamalot raises silliness to an art form!

Music is by Eric Idle, John Du Prez, and Neil Inne with book and lyrics by Eric Idle. The University of Iowa Credit Union is the supporting sponsor.

Tickets are $12-$27 and can be purchased online at  http://www.coralvillearts.org/ or by calling 319.248.9370 or in person at the CCPA box office at 1301 5th Street and at the Coralville Recreation Center at 1506 8th Street.

ASL interpreters will be translating the performance on Sunday, October 27 at 2:00 pm.  Please call 319.248.9372 to request seating in the ASL section.

City Circle and the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts are sponsoring a food drive during Spamalot to benefit the Coralville Ecumenical Food Pantry.  Anyone bringing a non-perishable food item or monetary donation will be entered into a raffle for two tickets to opening night of City Circle's A Christmas Carol.

"I respectfully disagree with the judge's decision.

"On behalf of Illinois taxpayers, I intend to appeal the decision and seek a court stay that would prevent any legislative paychecks from being issued until this case is considered by a higher court.

"However, this case is about far more than just the Governor's constitutional authority to suspend the appropriations for legislative paychecks.

"The reason I suspended legislative paychecks in the first place - and refused to accept my own - is because Illinois taxpayers can't afford an endless cycle of promises, excuses, delays and inertia on the most critical challenge of our time.

"Illinois' pension crisis is costing taxpayers millions of dollars a day; robbing our children of the education and public safety services they desperately need; and holding our economy back from real recovery.

"I will not accept a paycheck until a comprehensive pension reform bill is on my desk, and neither should legislators.

"Nobody in Springfield should get paid until the pension reform job gets done."

####