11 Apr 2014

Davenport Rotary, Red Cross and Davenport Fire Department Join Forces for Fire Safety Awareness Project

By Rick Best
The Rotary Club of Davenport will be conducting a Fire Prevention and Safety community awareness project, this Saturday, April 12, 9:30 am - 1:00 pm. We are partnering with the American Red Cross and the Davenport Fire Department to distribute educational materials on fire prevention and safety and emergency procedures in the home.
All volunteers will meet in the St. Ambrose parking lot on West Lombard St. just East of North Gaines St. at 9:30 a.m. The Red Cross will provide vehicles to transport everyone around the community. Three neighborhoods will be targeted on the East side, North and Central areas of Davenport.
The press is invited to meet at St. Ambrose at 9:30 and accompany the volunteers at that time, or you may call event chair Annette Horvath on her cell phone (563-508-5982) during the morning to see where they are and join them in progress.
11 Apr 2014

Scott County Board of Supervisor's Tentative Agenda Apr 14-18

By Chris Berge

Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Special Committee of the Whole - 8:00 am
Conference Room 638, 6th Floor, Administrative Center
1. Roll Call: Hancock, Minard, Sunderbruch, Cusack, Earnhardt
2. Discussion with the following Authorized Agencies:
8:00 Community Action of Eastern Iowa
8:30 Iowa at Work
9:00 Quad City Convention and Visitor's Bureau
9:30 Riverbend Transit
10:00 Humane Society
10:30 Bi-State Regional Commission
11:30 Medic - Tour of Medic, 100 S 14th Ave, Eldridge, IA 52748

04 Apr 2014

Regional Planning Council seeking comments on the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

By Theresa Wittenauer

ROCK FALLS, IL - The Blackhawk Hills Regional Council has posted the draft 5-Year Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy plan on their website at www.blackhawkhills.com. A hardcopy of the report may also be viewed upon request at the Regional Council's office located at 102 East Route 30, Rock Falls, IL.

The public is invited to comment on and suggest edits to the document until April 29th, 2014, when the final edits will be made, approved by the Blackhawk Hills Council, and the plan submitted to the Economic Development Administration regional office in Chicago.

Blackhawk Hills Regional Council services include community planning, development assistance, natural resources conservation and protection support, and grant writing and administration. Blackhawk Hills serves Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, and Whiteside counties in northwest Illinois.

Questions about Blackhawk Hills may be directed to Theresa Wittenauer at (815) 625-3854 or  theresa.wittenauer@blackhawkhills.com.

 

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04 Apr 2014

SCOTT COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION Tuesday, April 15, 2014

By Brian McDonough
7:30 P.M.  Scott County Administrative Center 1st Floor Board Room 600 W Fourth Street Davenport, Iowa 52801  AGENDA  1. Call to order.  2. Minutes: Approval of the March 4, 2014 meeting minutes.  3. Site Plan Review - Cook Real Estate Investment / Jeff Cook, Part of the NE¼ NW¼ of Section 25, Blue Grass Township. Site Plan approval request for a new commercial warehouse and self-storage business.  4. Site Plan Review - H.F. Enterprises, LC / Ryan and Associates, Part of the NE¼ NE¼ of Section 26, Blue Grass Township. Site Plan approval request for the expansion of an existing commercial contractor business.  5. Site Plan Review - Gene Coppinger / CDB Utilities, Lot 1 of Jim Schell's 1st Addition, and Part of the E½ of the SW¼ NW¼, all in Section 1 of Buffalo Township. Site Plan approval request for the expansion of an existing commercial utility business.  Public Meeting Procedure - Site Plan Approval a. Chairman reads public notice of meeting. b. Director reviews background of request. c. Applicant /Representative provide any additional comments on request. d. Public may make comments or ask questions. e. Director makes staff recommendation. f. Applicant may respond or comment. g. Commission members may ask questions. h. Chairman closes the public comment portion of the meeting (No more public comments). i. Discussion period for the Commission members. j. Commission members make motion to approve, deny, or modify request. k. Final vote.  Please turn off or silence all cell phones and other electronic devices
01 Apr 2014

City of Davenport to host Davenport RiverVision 2014 Update - Consensus Meeting

By Rick Martin
The City of Davenport and Hargreaves Associates will host a Consensus Meeting on Tuesday April 1, 2014 at 6PM in the Figge Art Museum Auditorium (225 W. 2nd, Davenport, IA).  The 6PM presentation will be immediately followed by a "Gallery Walk" in the Figge Lobby where the public may view images from the presentation, interact with RiverVision consultants, and enjoy free food and beverage (food donated by The Barrel House, water and beer donated by the Davenport Development Partnership, and cash bar available).

The Hargreaves-led team returns to Davenport for the Consensus meeting related to the downtown Davenport riverfront. The scope of RiverVision 2014 encompasses the study area (Fifth, to the north, and from Iowa St to Warren St), reinforcing connections to Credit Island, north to Vanderveer Park, and above the Lock & Dam, providing the City of Davenport with an opportunity to further transform the central riverfront from parking to public space. 

High public attendance is anticipated for this Consensus meeting at the Figge Art Museum, which is the fourth in the series public meetings.  Three previous Public Workshops, hosted by the City and Hargreaves, involved discussions of possibilities for transforming the riverfront, with public input instrumental to shaping anticipated changes.  Hargreaves and the City of Davenport encourage the public to participate in refining the vision.

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28 Mar 2014

Governor Quinn Announces U.S. Treasury Support of New Community Stabilization Effort

By Dave Blanchette

Up to $30 Million in Federal Resources to Eliminate Blighted Properties, Provide Fiscal Boost to Neighborhoods

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced the U.S. Department of the Treasury will support the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) efforts to leverage up to $30 million of its federal Hardest Hit Fund (HHF) resources to eliminate blight in communities throughout the state. Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's commitment to stabilize neighborhoods and return vacant properties to productive use to advance the economy.

"I thank the Obama administration for this important federal resource that will help us continue to keep our communities strong," Governor Quinn said. "Our efforts to keep people in their homes have worked to stem the tide of foreclosures across Illinois. This new program will further stabilize neighborhoods by addressing abandoned and neglected properties that lure crime and reduce property values."  

"Neighborhoods across Illinois continue to struggle with the damaging effects caused by vacant and blighted properties, which hurt home values and weaken efforts to stabilize communities," U.S. Treasury Under Secretary Mary Miller said. "The U.S. Treasury is pleased to work with the state of Illinois as they launch this new effort to eliminate neighborhood blight and strengthen communities hardest hit by the economic crisis."

IHDA will partner with eligible municipalities burdened with high vacancies to collaborate with not-for-profit organizations to implement the new "Blight Reduction Program" by this summer. This new effort builds on existing state programs targeted to help communities hit hard by the national financial crisis. With vacant properties damaging surrounding property values and fostering crime, removing vacant and blighted properties is the critical next step to preventing avoidable foreclosures and contributes to community stabilization efforts.

IHDA was awarded $445 million in federal foreclosure prevention resources under the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Hardest Hit Fund (HHF). Illinois was one of 18 states and the District of Columbia to receive HHF funding. The Blight Reduction Program will be the fourth program launched with HHF resources. The first was the Homeowner Emergency Loan Program, which has provided direct financial assistance to 12,400 homeowners in distress, allowing them to stay in their homes. Two other programs, the Mortgage Resolution Fund (MRF) and the Home Preservation Program (HPP) launched with Hardest Hit Funds provide loan modifications to underwater and delinquent borrowers. Through its partners in these programs, the State has facilitated loan modifications to 395 distressed Illinois homeowners.

In addition to these programs, the Governor:

  • ·         Launched the Illinois Foreclosure Prevention Network (IFPN), a one-stop comprehensive, free resource to connect struggling homeowners with a safe and trusted source for assistance to keep them in their homes and help them from being victims of mortgage fraud. More than 1 million families have accessed this free assistance through the IFPN. Homeowners seeking assistance should visit the IFPN website athttp://keepyourhomeillinois.org/ or call the hotline at 855-KEEP-411.
  • ·         Created Illinois Building Blocks program - available in 15 Illinois communities, buyers of vacant homes can access $10,000 in cash assistance to purchase a home. The program also provides funds for the re-development of vacant homes. To date, over 700 vacant homes have been purchased through this program.
  • ·         Launched the Illinois Homebuyer Rehabilitation Assistance Program - $6.6 million to 16 public and not-for-profit organizations to allow 240 low- to moderate-income homebuyers of vacant homes to apply for rehabilitation grants in seven targeted communities.
  • ·         Administered the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to purchase and rehabilitate 240 rental units and 106 foreclosed and abandoned homes that might otherwise become sources of abandonment and blight. An additional 29 blighted properties have been demolished.

Today's announcement providing resources for blight elimination is part of the next phase of Governor Quinn's ongoing commitment to help stabilize our communities and drive our economy forward.

"Governor Quinn's leadership has positively impacted struggling homeowners and hard-hit communities," IHDA Executive Director Mary R. Kenney said. "The Blight Reduction Program is the latest move in our holistic strategy to help neighborhoods fight the cycle of vacancy and blight and reinvigorate the economy."

For more information about these programs, please seehttp://ihda.org/.

About the Illinois Housing Development Authority

IHDA (http://ihda.org/) is a self-supporting state agency that finances the creation and the preservation of affordable housing across Illinois. Since its creation in 1967, IHDA has allocated $12.4 billion and financed approximately 240,000 affordable units across the state.

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27 Mar 2014

Scott Emergency Communication Center Board to consider Director appointment

By Mary Thee
Larry Minard, Scott Emergency Communication Center Board Chair announces that Denise
Pavlik has accepted a conditional offer of employment as Scott Emergency Communication
Center (SECC) Director with a starting salary of $110,000. It is anticipated that the appointment
will be approved by the SECC Board at their meeting March 31, 2014 at 3:30pm. Ms. Pavlik will
start work on May 5, 2014.
Ms. Pavlik has 15 years of experience in communications. Ms. Pavlik began her E-911 career in
1998 as a dispatcher in Matteson, Illinois. In 2001 when the Matteson Police Center
consolidated as SouthCom Dispatch, Ms. Pavlik became a Supervisor of Communications. In
December, 2006 she was promoted to Deputy Director becoming responsible for operational
development, scheduling, hiring and training of all staff. She was instrumental in the
consolidation of three public safety answering points (PSAP's) into one. In April 2010 she was
again promoted to Director, having control over policy development, budget, grant creations,
technology, and business plan. Ms. Pavlik has several certifications in E-911 and Emergency
Management, including being a certified Emergency Number Professional. She was the
recipient of the APCO Line Supervisor in 2002 and Telecommunications Supervisor of the Year
in 2003. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration.
Ms. Pavlik was selected from a field of 17 applicants following a national search with the
assistance of Bob Murray and Associates, a national search firm. She was the recommendation
of an interview panel of 12 members representing the communities and agencies that comprise
the Scott Emergency Communication Center.
The opening is created by the announced resignation of the former director in July, 2013.
The Scott Emergency Communication Center (SECC) was formed in December, 2007 when
Scott County, City of Davenport, City of Bettendorf, MEDIC EMS, and the Emergency
Management Agency entered into an intergovernmental agreement (aka 28E Agreement) for the
purpose of providing public safety dispatch and communication services. The SECC Board
members are: Chairperson: Larry Minard; Scott County Board of Supervisor's Chair; Vice
Chairperson: Bob Gallagher, Bettendorf Mayor; Secretary/Treasurer: Rob Frieden, Medic EMS
Board President; Bill Gluba, Davenport Mayor; and Marty O'Boyle Eldridge Mayor.
Additional questions can be directed to SECC Board Chair Larry Minard at 340-1390.
###
27 Mar 2014

Gov. Branstad signs 34 bills into law

By Office of the Governor of Iowa

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today signed the following bills into law:

House File 381: an Act concerning horse racing, including the use of purse moneys for harness racing, advance deposit wagering, and restrictions on dosage amounts for phenylbutazone in certain horse races.

House File 2199: an Act relating to conformity with federal law concerning the voluntary shared work program under the state unemployment insurance law and including applicability provisions.

House File 2271: an Act relating to supplementary weighting for shared operational functions of school districts and area education agencies and including effective date provisions.

House File 2288: an Act relating to reporting and other requirements concerning the Department of Administrative Services and other state agencies. 

House File 2324: an Act relating to consumer lending transactions by modifying provisions applicable to certain loan charges and modifying designated monetary limits specified in the consumer credit code, and including applicability provisions.

House File 2326: an Act relating to payments from the indigent defense fund by the state public defender, including effective date provisions, and providing penalties.

House File 2346: an Act relating to solid waste.

House File 2365: an Act relating to employment, disciplinary, and other procedures for entities regulated by the Department of Inspections and Appeals, including applicability provisions.

House File 2368: an Act modifying security freeze provisions, and extending security freeze protection to specified individuals designated as protected consumers, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.

House File 2370: an Act relating to the supervisions of orthotist or prosthetist assistants.

House File 2378: an Act relating to the requirements for psychologist licensing.

House File 2379: an Act relating to crisis stabilization programs authorized by the Department of Human Services.

House File 2389: an Act relating to misconduct under the code of processional conduct and ethics of the Board of Educational Examiners and making penalties applicable. 

House File 2397: an Act concerning liability protection for volunteers on state lands.

House File 2408: an Act modifying notification requirements applicable to underground facility excavations where underground facilities are present. 

House File 2421: an Act relating to transfer of guardianship in child in need of assistance proceedings.

House File 2427: an Act relating to corn promotion, including special referendums, the assessment of a checkoff, and the creation of a task force, and making penalties applicable.

House File 2436: an Act relating to the administration of the streamlined sales tax agreement by the Department of Revenue.

Senate File 2276: an Act relating to adoption investigation and report requirements.

Senate File 2290: an Act relating to identification required for operation of a railroad train.

Senate File 2338: an Act concerning the excise tax on compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas used as special fuel.

Senate File 2313: an Act relating to the removal of clerks of the district court.

Senate File 2250: an Act relating to the licensing of vehicle recyclers.

Senate File 2131: an Act relating to standard valuation and standard forfeiture provisions for life insurance policies or contracts and including applicability provisions.

Senate File 2191: an Act relating to financing work within drainage or levee districts.

Senate File 2192: an Act relating to the definition of motorized bicycle. 

Senate File 2200: an Act relating to the Iowa Business Corporation Act by removing limitations imposed on shareholders making long-term arrangements affecting the affairs of the corporation, and by providing for the delivery of financial information to shareholders

Senate File 2228: an Act allowing a person with a special minor's license to drive to a school for the purpose of participating in extracurricular activities conducted under a sharing agreement with the student's school of enrollment.

Senate File 2255: an Act designating registered architects and licensed professional engineers employees of the state for specified purposes under the Iowa Tort Claims Act.

Senate File 2169: an Act relating to wills including witness testimony, distribution of property, and claims of personal representatives, and including retroactive and other applicability provisions.

Senate File 2120: an Act relating to the use of professional titles or abbreviations by advanced registered nurse practitioners.

Senate File 2104: an Act relating to the regulation of insurance company holding systems and providing assessments and penalties.

Senate File 2056: an Act relating to incentives for whole grade sharing and reorganization or dissolution by school districts.

Senate File 2240: an Act relating to nonsubstantive code corrections.

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26 Mar 2014

SCOTT EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER (SECC) BOARD AGENDA

By Annie Nugent
Board Room, 1st Floor, Scott County Administrative Center,
600 West Fourth Street, Davenport, Iowa
MARCH 31, 2014 at 3:30 p.m.

1. Roll Call: Frieden, Gallagher, Gluba, Minard, and O'Boyle.
Ex officio members: Bruemmer, Frederiksen, Malin, and Ploehn
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approval of Minutes
4. Approval of appointment of Denise Pavlik as the SECC Director
5. Leadership Summit Recertification
6. Interim Director's Report
7. Next meeting date - April 17, 2014 at 3:30 p.m.
8. Adjourn
For previous meeting Minutes, please visit our website at www.secc911.com.
26 Mar 2014

Halligan Coffee Company Building - Redevelopment

By Rick Martin

402 E. 4th Street
Total Investment: $7 million
Public Funds: $842,443 in state investment tax credits and sales and utility tax rebates
Private Funds Leveraged: $6 million
Status: Ongoing
New Housing Units: 45

The second-largest, and arguably highest-profile and most visible of Davenport's Warehouse District buildings, is at long last undergoing a massive renovation, adding 45 more apartments to the burgeoning residential neighborhood on downtown's eastern edge.

The project is another by developer Joe Erenberger and partners Y&J Properties, who recently renovated the Peterson Paper Company building on 2nd Street.

Like the Peterson building, the Halligan Coffee Company Building - constructed in 1907 - was long under-utilized for commercial purposes and was falling into serious disrepair. But the bones of a fantastic building are still evident, from the tall multi-hung sash sets and brick arches, vast 22-foot ceilings, carved stone decorative panes in the building entrance to the stained kiln bricks on the upper floors where coffee was roasted.

Erenberger said converting the 60,000 square-foot, century-old Classical Revival Style factory and office building into a modern loft apartment complex is among his most challenging and ambitious projects yet. But the work he's done downtown so far has led him to learn a lot.

"We're moving faster than we ever have before," he said, adding that leasing could begin in as little as seven months from now. The building will feature seven units per floor - with one, two and three bedroom configurations - and will range in price from $900 to $1,500 per month. All units are market rate. They will also include cable, internet and access to public gathering areas inside and outside as part of the rent. He expects the building to be attractive to young professionals, corporate transplants and empty nesters alike.

One of the other unique challenges to the project has been cleaning up and improving the exterior of the property - both on the building itself and the surrounding lot. Erenberger partnered with the YMCA - which owns the adjacent land to the east of the building - to clear out dozens of invasive trees, weeds and other unwanted plants. In addition to tuck pointing brick and re-painting the historic commercial messages on the outside of the building, he plans on turning the concrete-heavy lot to the southeast of the building into a park-like public area. The outside space is challenging because it once served as the footings of a railroad spur servicing the Warehouse District.

Erenberger said he's enjoyed learning about the history of the Halligan building - and the regional coffee company that was a big part of Davenport's early development - as work has progressed. The company was begun by Thomas Halligan and partners in 1884 and quickly expanded as a distributor of coffee, tea, spices and other food stuffs throughout the upper Midwest. The company grew to more than 100 employees by the early 20th century, necessitating the building of the Halligan Coffee Company Building in 1907. The company ceased operations in 1952 due to global competition from larger distributors.

There will be quite a few nods to the coffee company's history throughout the building, including the possibility of a commercial connection at some point, Erenberger hinted.

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