Bob Saar
for The Hawk Eye
Des Moines County engineer Brian Carter told the county supervisors and department heads yesterday that residents are ready for Des Moines County 99 to open.
But we re going to have to wait.
Chaired by Jim Cary while chairman Tom Broeker is away on family business, the meeting essentially began with Carter s report on the DMC-99 bridge, the Flint Bottom bridge and county roads in general.
Carter said, If it would quit raining two or three inches all at once, that would help our progress as much as anything on projects. He said Monday s storms didn t cause much damage besides a few downed trees.
Bird said he s excited about the residential development going on downtown. He called it a unique opportunity for a town like Burlington.
The community currently has several buildings either being renovated, or yet to be built, that will provide downtown residences. Bird said he thinks younger people are looking for apartments downtown, near restaurants and shopping.
Bird said he believes the key to getting people to move downtown is embracing tourism as economic development.
When folks really can work from anywhere these days, quality of life, recreation, and tourism are more important than ever. I think expanding our downtown shopping and dining experiences would help with that, Bird said.
Monday was Chad Bird s first day on the job as Burlington s city manager.
The Hawk Eye
Chad Bird arrived Monday to City Hall for his first day as Burlington s city manager to find a trail of rubber ducks leading the way from his outer office to his desk overlooking downtown Burlington.
Mailed to city clerk Kathleen Salisbury ahead of Bird s arrival by his former colleagues, the ducks are somewhat of a fixture of events in Decorah, where Bird had served as city manager until taking on the same role in Burlington.
A similar row of ducks this one led by a lame duck with bandaged wings had guided the way out of his Decorah office on his last day there.
March 16, 2021
(Photo Credit: City of Burlington)
Burlington, Ia- At their regular meeting on Monday, March 15th the Burlington City Council decided to pay tribute to their departing city manager Jim Ferneau.
As a tribute to Ferneau, who is stepping down as City Manager in order to pursue a business opportunity, all members of the council donned his usual meeting day attire of a blue shirt and khaki slacks.
“Everybody knows that Jim wears a blue shirt on Mondays,” Said Burlington Mayor Jon Billups. “And so staff and council are all wearing blue dress shirts tonight as a fond farewell to our friend Jim Ferneau.
The search for a new city manager is nearing its completion.
On Friday, the Burlington City Council will hold a public reception for its three city manager candidates. They are going to come in, tour our facilities and tour the town, and then we will have a reception for them. then we start in ernest with our interviews, Burlington Mayor Jon Billups said.
The reception will be at 6 p.m. and will take place in Banquet Room A of Burlington Memorial Auditorium. Those who wish to attend are asked to wear masks and follow COVID-19 protocols.
On Saturday, the council will hold a round of interviews with council members and other selected individuals. These individuals include city staff, council members and a public panel.