By Beacon Staff Chris Roepke is used to being the lone voice of dissent. That’s
 usually because he has a lot of questions, commonly directed towards 
the financial side of a project. He wants to know how much it will cost 
to maintain and how much it will cost if something breaks. These
 are the kind of questions a homeowner would ask before starting a 
remodel, keeping an equal eye towards quality and financial frugality. 
Roepke wants to protect taxpayer money as if it were his own finances – 
very carefully. “A lot of people don’t like questions, because we all like things to be simple. But they’re not,” he said. The pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Burlington, Roepke is a 
defender of what he calls “the old Burlington neighborhoods.” These are 
areas of the city that continue to decline in value due to poor roads, 
increased violence, and abandoned homes. Roepke
 said those neighborhoods have been too often ignored in favor of huge 
development projects, particularly in the downtown district. There isn’t
 anything wrong with taking advantage the TIGER grant to spiff up 
Jefferson Street, Main Street, and the riverfront, but he said the 
project has its limits. The
 dilapidated alleys emptying into Jefferson Street, for example, won’t 
be touched during redevelopment. Roepke doesn’t see how downtown 
Burlington can be a tourist attraction if the rest of the city is 
blighted. He
 also worries about the cost to the city outside of what grants cover, 
arguing that additions such as a million-dollar boat dock take away from
 projects that could be developed elsewhere in the city. “Does that really help the neighborhoods?” Roepke said. Always
 one to welcome nuance into his arguments, Roepke said he doesn’t 
believe the boat dock is a bad idea — just an expensive one. Determining
 how expensive is too expensive would be his primary goal as a council 
member. “I want the city to have amenities,” he conceded. Roepke
 has applied his hawkish spending attitudes to the smallest details, 
even calling into question the permeable pavers in the TIGER grant 
project. The downtown development project is built around a green 
infrastructure, which also will help separate stormwater from sewer 
water. &nbsp; Once
 again, Roepke likes the idea, but worries about the longevity and 
repair cost. The pavers allow water to run through the pavement to 
prevent flooding, and Roepke has heard accounts from other cities of the
 material falling apart after a few years.&nbsp; Roepke
 hopes to bring his pragmatic approach to the recently closed Cascade 
Bridge. For the time being, he suggests replacing it with a cheaper 
pedestrian and bike bridge. He would like to see something capable of 
carrying automotive traffic in the future and said it might be possible to have a new
 bridge if spending is cut elsewhere. “You’re isolating part of downtown from traffic, and that’s not good,” he said. Service,
 both of the public and also of the spiritual kind, seems to run in 
Roepke’s family. His father was a police officer in the suburbs of 
Chicago, where Roepke grew up. Chris heard his call from God years ago and has involved himself in the Burlington community for nearly three decades. 
His call to public service is more recent, taking root when he led a 
petition against swapping on-street parking for bike lanes on Madison 
Avenue. “There is no magic wand I can wave. We just need to take this money we’re spending downtown (aside from grant dollars) and spend it on the old neighborhoods,” he said. Editor’s
 note: This is part four of a six-part series profiling the city council 
candidates. There are six candidates vying for three open seats. In 
Burlington, all city council seats are at-large, meaning anyone from 
anywhere in the city may run for a seat on city council. The council 
election is Nov. 2.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/10/1635137422622.jpeg" alt="Chris Roepke is vying for a seat on the Burlington City Council. Photo by William Smith." />
 <figcaption>Chris Roepke is vying for a seat on the Burlington City Council. Photo by William Smith.</figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon Staff Chris Roepke is used to being the lone voice of dissent. That’s
 usually because he has a lot of questions, commonly directed towards 
the financial side of a project. He wants to know how much it will cost 
to maintain and how much it will cost if something breaks. These
 are the kind of questions a homeowner would ask before starting a 
remodel, keeping an equal eye towards quality and financial frugality. 
Roepke wants to protect taxpayer money as if it were his own finances – 
very carefully. “A lot of people don’t like questions, because we all like things to be simple. But they’re not,” he said. The pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Burlington, Roepke is a 
defender of what he calls “the old Burlington neighborhoods.” These are 
areas of the city that continue to decline in value due to poor roads, 
increased violence, and abandoned homes. Roepke
 said those neighborhoods have been too often ignored in favor of huge 
development projects, particularly in the downtown district. There isn’t
 anything wrong with taking advantage the TIGER grant to spiff up 
Jefferson Street, Main Street, and the riverfront, but he said the 
project has its limits. The
 dilapidated alleys emptying into Jefferson Street, for example, won’t 
be touched during redevelopment. Roepke doesn’t see how downtown 
Burlington can be a tourist attraction if the rest of the city is 
blighted. He
 also worries about the cost to the city outside of what grants cover, 
arguing that additions such as a million-dollar boat dock take away from
 projects that could be developed elsewhere in the city. “Does that really help the neighborhoods?” Roepke said. Always
 one to welcome nuance into his arguments, Roepke said he doesn’t 
believe the boat dock is a bad idea — just an expensive one. Determining
 how expensive is too expensive would be his primary goal as a council 
member. “I want the city to have amenities,” he conceded. Roepke
 has applied his hawkish spending attitudes to the smallest details, 
even calling into question the permeable pavers in the TIGER grant 
project. The downtown development project is built around a green 
infrastructure, which also will help separate stormwater from sewer 
water. &nbsp; Once
 again, Roepke likes the idea, but worries about the longevity and 
repair cost. The pavers allow water to run through the pavement to 
prevent flooding, and Roepke has heard accounts from other cities of the
 material falling apart after a few years.&nbsp; Roepke
 hopes to bring his pragmatic approach to the recently closed Cascade 
Bridge. For the time being, he suggests replacing it with a cheaper 
pedestrian and bike bridge. He would like to see something capable of 
carrying automotive traffic in the future and said it might be possible to have a new
 bridge if spending is cut elsewhere. “You’re isolating part of downtown from traffic, and that’s not good,” he said. Service,
 both of the public and also of the spiritual kind, seems to run in 
Roepke’s family. His father was a police officer in the suburbs of 
Chicago, where Roepke grew up. Chris heard his call from God years ago and has involved himself in the Burlington community for nearly three decades. 
His call to public service is more recent, taking root when he led a 
petition against swapping on-street parking for bike lanes on Madison 
Avenue. “There is no magic wand I can wave. We just need to take this money we’re spending downtown (aside from grant dollars) and spend it on the old neighborhoods,” he said. Editor’s
 note: This is part four of a six-part series profiling the city council 
candidates. There are six candidates vying for three open seats. In 
Burlington, all city council seats are at-large, meaning anyone from 
anywhere in the city may run for a seat on city council. The council 
election is Nov. 2.

Roepke: Campaigning on Fiscal Responsibility

Incumbent city council candidate Matt Rinker has spent most of his life, save for a few years, in Burlington.

He was 19 years old when he joined the U.S. Navy in 2004, just three years after 9/11.

“After 9/11, I was really driven to go into service,” he said.

That took him all the way to Greece. When Rinker came back, he attended Western Illinois University, where he obtained a degree in political science.&nbsp;

Rinker, who is now married with five kids, came back to Burlington and started work as a State Farm insurance agent. It wasn’t long before he was developing real estate on the side and dipping his hand into charity work. He even helped the Burlington Police Department restart the Shop With A Cop program.

“They do all the work for that. I’m just a cheerleader,” he said.

Four years ago, Rinker took his first run at city council and won. Now he’s fighting to stay there, and believes his tenure makes a good argument for Burlingtonians to vote for him again.

“In 2017, there were a lot of things we felt we needed to do, one of the more aggressive being on the housing side of things,” he said. “At the end of the day, the city of Burlington is going to be as good as the housing stock.”

Rinker said the current council has taken notable strides in that direction, but there is still much he would like to do.&nbsp;

“We’ve focused on a lot of nuisance abatement and a lot on beautification,” he said.&nbsp;

Rinker said progress was made by the previous council, which was responsible for securing the federal TIGER grant that is being used to redevelop Jefferson Street, Main Street, and the riverfront area.

It’s not a perfect project, Rinker admitted. He’s been frustrated by the delays, and isn’t happy that businesses along Jefferson Street will lose a good portion of their annual sales due to roadblocks and construction.

But he does believe in the project. He hopes business owners afflicted by construction will, too.&nbsp;

“I’m excited about the downtown that business owners will have,” Rinker said. “If you go back 15 years, and you look at the empty storefronts and empty living spaces that used to be above the buildings, and if you look at the infrastructure now, it’s a complete 180.”

Despite delays to construction, Rinker said the second Tama building will be a big part of downtown development. The timeline of that construction falls on the developer.

“I know a lot of people are frustrated with the time it’s taking,” he conceded.

The city council put the Cascade Bridge project on the five- year plan, and Rinker believes there’s a solution there as well – though it’s going to take more time. Since the bridge is registered as a historic landmark, simply tearing it down and replacing it wasn’t an option.

One day, the passage will reopen, Rinker said.

“I believe in the last four years, we have made a lot of progress, and it’s been taking place at historic preservation meetings and city council work sessions,” Rinker said.

The city council recently tabled a project that would bring solar power to much of Burlington, but plans on reintroducing it after further details are hashed out and the project is rebid.

“Over the next couple of years, you're going to see us move toward more solar. You are going to see us become more effective at ways of cutting costs,” he said.

Along with a neighborhood improvement program that would focus on improving housing nine to 12 blocks at a time, Rinker believes he can keep the city’s momentum rolling.

“Over the next ten to 15 years, you could see massive improvements in a lot of neighborhoods that are more blighted today,” Rinker said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/10/1634939653352.jpeg" alt="Matt Rinker seeks to retain his seat on the Burlington City Council. File photo " />
 <figcaption>Matt Rinker seeks to retain his seat on the Burlington City Council. File photo </figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithIncumbent city council candidate Matt Rinker has spent most of his life, save for a few years, in Burlington.He was 19 years old when he joined the U.S. Navy in 2004, just three years after 9/11.“After 9/11, I was really driven to go into service,” he said.That took him all the way to Greece. When Rinker came back, he attended Western Illinois University, where he obtained a degree in political science.&nbsp;Rinker, who is now married with five kids, came back to Burlington and started work as a State Farm insurance agent. It wasn’t long before he was developing real estate on the side and dipping his hand into charity work. He even helped the Burlington Police Department restart the Shop With A Cop program.“They do all the work for that. I’m just a cheerleader,” he said.Four years ago, Rinker took his first run at city council and won. Now he’s fighting to stay there, and believes his tenure makes a good argument for Burlingtonians to vote for him again.“In 2017, there were a lot of things we felt we needed to do, one of the more aggressive being on the housing side of things,” he said. “At the end of the day, the city of Burlington is going to be as good as the housing stock.”Rinker said the current council has taken notable strides in that direction, but there is still much he would like to do.&nbsp;“We’ve focused on a lot of nuisance abatement and a lot on beautification,” he said.&nbsp;Rinker said progress was made by the previous council, which was responsible for securing the federal TIGER grant that is being used to redevelop Jefferson Street, Main Street, and the riverfront area.It’s not a perfect project, Rinker admitted. He’s been frustrated by the delays, and isn’t happy that businesses along Jefferson Street will lose a good portion of their annual sales due to roadblocks and construction.But he does believe in the project. He hopes business owners afflicted by construction will, too.&nbsp;“I’m excited about the downtown that business owners will have,” Rinker said. “If you go back 15 years, and you look at the empty storefronts and empty living spaces that used to be above the buildings, and if you look at the infrastructure now, it’s a complete 180.”Despite delays to construction, Rinker said the second Tama building will be a big part of downtown development. The timeline of that construction falls on the developer.“I know a lot of people are frustrated with the time it’s taking,” he conceded.The city council put the Cascade Bridge project on the five- year plan, and Rinker believes there’s a solution there as well – though it’s going to take more time. Since the bridge is registered as a historic landmark, simply tearing it down and replacing it wasn’t an option.One day, the passage will reopen, Rinker said.“I believe in the last four years, we have made a lot of progress, and it’s been taking place at historic preservation meetings and city council work sessions,” Rinker said.The city council recently tabled a project that would bring solar power to much of Burlington, but plans on reintroducing it after further details are hashed out and the project is rebid.“Over the next couple of years, you're going to see us move toward more solar. You are going to see us become more effective at ways of cutting costs,” he said.Along with a neighborhood improvement program that would focus on improving housing nine to 12 blocks at a time, Rinker believes he can keep the city’s momentum rolling.“Over the next ten to 15 years, you could see massive improvements in a lot of neighborhoods that are more blighted today,” Rinker said.

Rinker Fights For More Housing and Development In Reelection Bid

In-person
 absentee voting has started for the city/school election has started at
 the Des Moines County Courthouse, and will continue until Nov. 1. The election itself will be Nov. 2., and the most advertised race is for three open city council seats.&nbsp;&nbsp;There
 are currently six candidates vying for three open seats, including 
three incumbents: mayor Jon Billups, Matt Rinker, and mayor pro tem Lynda 
Graham Murray. The new candidates are Antonio Bailey, Christopher Roepke,
 and Terry A. Schnack. Mailed absentee ballots 
must be received in the County Auditor’s Office by Nov. 2 at 8 p.m in 
order to be counted.&nbsp; Please call the Des Moines County Auditor’s Office
 at 319-753-8232 if you have any questions. Monday, Oct. 18, was the 
last day to request an absentee ballot. In Danville, Jerry Strause is running for mayor, and Stephanie Heater is running for city council. In Mediapolis, Denise Dietrick, Monte Hawley, Chuck Massner, Miranda Pfeiff, and Troy Garrison are running for city council. In
 Middletown, current mayor Eric Gerst is running for reelection, while 
Stephanie Gerst and Jordan Fidler are running for city council. In
 West Burlington, Mayor Ron Teater is running for mayor, while Melanie 
Young, John Johnson, and Kathy Newberry are running for city council. 
Hans Trousil, who has been West Burlington mayor since&nbsp; 1993, is not 
seeking reelection. Candidates for the 
Burlington School District include Darven Kendell, who is running for 
re-election. He is the only current school board member vying for his 
seat again. Other candidates include Tammy Anderson, Jennifer 
Lachenberg, Scott Mason, Jennifer Gibb, Christi Burghoffer, and Reyna 
Cadena. Candidates for the Danville School District are Jon Paul Van Buskirk, Taylor Eisenmann, Jason Samples, and Sandy Dockendorff. Candidates for the Mediapolis School District are Richard Whitaker, Peter Pfeiff, John Witte, and Mark Schmidgall. Candidates for the West Burlington School District are Amanda Hancock and Bruce Thuleen. Candidates for the Southeastern Community College board are Lanny Hillyard and Jeff Heland.

By Beacon StaffIn-person
 absentee voting has started for the city/school election has started at
 the Des Moines County Courthouse, and will continue until Nov. 1. The election itself will be Nov. 2., and the most advertised race is for three open city council seats.&nbsp;&nbsp;There
 are currently six candidates vying for three open seats, including 
three incumbents: mayor Jon Billups, Matt Rinker, and mayor pro tem Lynda 
Graham Murray. The new candidates are Antonio Bailey, Christopher Roepke,
 and Terry A. Schnack. Mailed absentee ballots 
must be received in the County Auditor’s Office by Nov. 2 at 8 p.m in 
order to be counted.&nbsp; Please call the Des Moines County Auditor’s Office
 at 319-753-8232 if you have any questions. Monday, Oct. 18, was the 
last day to request an absentee ballot. In Danville, Jerry Strause is running for mayor, and Stephanie Heater is running for city council. In Mediapolis, Denise Dietrick, Monte Hawley, Chuck Massner, Miranda Pfeiff, and Troy Garrison are running for city council. In
 Middletown, current mayor Eric Gerst is running for reelection, while 
Stephanie Gerst and Jordan Fidler are running for city council. In
 West Burlington, Mayor Ron Teater is running for mayor, while Melanie 
Young, John Johnson, and Kathy Newberry are running for city council. 
Hans Trousil, who has been West Burlington mayor since&nbsp; 1993, is not 
seeking reelection. Candidates for the 
Burlington School District include Darven Kendell, who is running for 
re-election. He is the only current school board member vying for his 
seat again. Other candidates include Tammy Anderson, Jennifer 
Lachenberg, Scott Mason, Jennifer Gibb, Christi Burghoffer, and Reyna 
Cadena. Candidates for the Danville School District are Jon Paul Van Buskirk, Taylor Eisenmann, Jason Samples, and Sandy Dockendorff. Candidates for the Mediapolis School District are Richard Whitaker, Peter Pfeiff, John Witte, and Mark Schmidgall. Candidates for the West Burlington School District are Amanda Hancock and Bruce Thuleen. Candidates for the Southeastern Community College board are Lanny Hillyard and Jeff Heland.

City/School Elections Are Nov. 2; Absentee Voting Has Already Begun

A Grimes Elementary School fourth-grader won a brand new bicycle from the Burlington Fire Department through her artistic ability.

The fire department celebrated the nationally recognized Fire Prevention Week from Oct. 3 through 9, which included the return of the department’s annual poster contest.

Fourth graders across the school district were tasked to draw an original poster using this year’s theme of “Learn The Sounds of Safety.”

Grimes Elementary student Gabriella Mason placed first and was awarded the grand prize – a brand new bicycle donated by Bickel’s Cycling and Fitness. The posters were judged by Art Center of Burlington staff.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/10/1634675722599.jpeg" alt="Gabriella Mason poses with her award-winning Fire Prevention Week poster during an assembly at Grimes Elementary School. Photo by William Smith. " />
 <figcaption>Gabriella Mason poses with her award-winning Fire Prevention Week poster during an assembly at Grimes Elementary School. Photo by William Smith. </figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon Staff A Grimes Elementary School fourth-grader won a brand new bicycle from the Burlington Fire Department through her artistic ability.The fire department celebrated the nationally recognized Fire Prevention Week from Oct. 3 through 9, which included the return of the department’s annual poster contest.Fourth graders across the school district were tasked to draw an original poster using this year’s theme of “Learn The Sounds of Safety.”Grimes Elementary student Gabriella Mason placed first and was awarded the grand prize – a brand new bicycle donated by Bickel’s Cycling and Fitness. The posters were judged by Art Center of Burlington staff.

A New Bike – And A New Respect For Fire Safety

The Burlington City Council approved a revised Sidewalk
Improvement Program policy during Monday night’s council meeting, hoping to
incentivize property owners to repair their sidewalks at half the cost.

The program is voluntary, and those who choose to opt-in
would pay for roughly 49 percent of the sidewalk, after requesting reimbursement
from the city through the program. The program itself isn’t new, but the pool
of funds goes mostly unused every year because so few people apply
for it.

Mayor Jon Billups said the program is useless if the bucket
of money isn’t emptied out every year, which is why the council wanted to
increase the incentive to use it.

Those who opt-out of the program after they have been
notified their sidewalk needs repairing won’t have to pay an up-front cost like
those in the program but will have to pay the city back within five years at a 3-percent interest rate through property tax add-ons. City manager Chad Bird
estimates that would be about $1,000 to $1,500 per project.

If the repair or replacement is not completed within that
time frame, the cost of repair will be added to the property tax until it is
paid off.

Any sidewalk on the public right of way would be paid for
entirely by the city. Sidewalks impacted by city trees will also be paid for by
the city.

Burlington's arterial and connecting sidewalks along
high-traffic areas will be evaluated once every seven years. The city will
notify property owners whose sidewalk panels need to be repaired in order of worst
condition.

Any sidewalk that has not been repaired or replaced and
remains deficient at that time will be given notice of such with a time frame
for completion. Failure to complete necessary sidewalk repairs as required will
result in the city contracting to complete the required repairs and assessing
the costs to the property.

By Beacon StaffThe Burlington City Council approved a revised Sidewalk
Improvement Program policy during Monday night’s council meeting, hoping to
incentivize property owners to repair their sidewalks at half the cost.The program is voluntary, and those who choose to opt-in
would pay for roughly 49 percent of the sidewalk, after requesting reimbursement
from the city through the program. The program itself isn’t new, but the pool
of funds goes mostly unused every year because so few people apply
for it.Mayor Jon Billups said the program is useless if the bucket
of money isn’t emptied out every year, which is why the council wanted to
increase the incentive to use it.Those who opt-out of the program after they have been
notified their sidewalk needs repairing won’t have to pay an up-front cost like
those in the program but will have to pay the city back within five years at a 3-percent interest rate through property tax add-ons. City manager Chad Bird
estimates that would be about $1,000 to $1,500 per project.If the repair or replacement is not completed within that
time frame, the cost of repair will be added to the property tax until it is
paid off.Any sidewalk on the public right of way would be paid for
entirely by the city. Sidewalks impacted by city trees will also be paid for by
the city.Burlington's arterial and connecting sidewalks along
high-traffic areas will be evaluated once every seven years. The city will
notify property owners whose sidewalk panels need to be repaired in order of worst
condition.Any sidewalk that has not been repaired or replaced and
remains deficient at that time will be given notice of such with a time frame
for completion. Failure to complete necessary sidewalk repairs as required will
result in the city contracting to complete the required repairs and assessing
the costs to the property.

Revised Sidewalk Program Will Split Sidewalk Repair Costs with Property Owners

By William Smith Community Editor

Terry Schnack makes no bones about his primary platform. He wants to make Burlington a safer place to live.

“I’ve
 seen a change in the city of Burlington in the 14-year span I’ve lived 
here. I see a lot more violence,” said Schnack, who is seeking a seat on
 the Burlington City Council in the November primary.&nbsp;

“I
 think a lot of people just don’t feel safe anymore, and I think that’s 
pretty sad in a town of roughly 25,000. You can’t feel safe to go out at
 night.”

For
 Schnack, the decision to pursue a council seat arose from a personal 
dilemma. His wife of 10 years, Angela Schnack, recently found herself in
 the middle of a high-speed chase on Division Street while running 
errands.

Angela
 wasn’t hurt physically, but she was rattled. So the couple laid out 
three options for themselves. Move out of Burlington, go on about their 
lives as if it didn’t happen, or do something about it.

The answer seemed obvious. Neither Terry nor Angela wanted to run away.

Schnack
 grew up on a family farm out of Stockton, then worked his way south to 
Burlington. A business owner and mechanic, Schnack owned a car repair 
business in Wilton for 10 years, managed an auto repair shop in Mount 
Pleasant for two-and-half years, and opened his own automotive repair 
business in Burlington in 2009.

A
 religious man by nature and upbringing, Schnack wanted to glorify God 
rather than himself when naming his shop, so he called it CARS: 
Christian Automotive Repair Service.

It’s more than a car repair shop, though. It’s also a charity with a slight missionary bent.

“We
 encourage people to go to church. Whichever denomination, whichever 
church they go to. If they bring in a church bulletin for the previous 
week, we give back 10 percent of their repair bill,” Schnack said.

If
 the customer is struggling, he encourages them to keep the money. If 
they are financially comfortable, Schnack suggests they drop the 
discount into the collection plate of the church the customer attends.

“We’ve probably given back $25,000 a year to the community,” he said.

As
 for the TIGER grant-funded redevelopment project set to begin Oct. 18, 
Schnack believes the negative financial impact the construction will 
have on Jefferson Street businesses isn’t worth the end result.

“I
 think the city council’s pecking order of decision-making is off a 
little bit. It seems to me a lot of the grants that are available drive 
programs that come here,” he said.

He
 also worries about other side effects of the project, such as the loss 
of 10 to 15 on-street parking spots once the project is complete.&nbsp;

“People aren’t going to want to walk from a parking ramp,” he said.&nbsp;

He
 is concerned with how much it will cost to maintain the incoming splash
 pad and the damage the roots of newly planted trees might pose in a few
 years.

Schnack said he believes in spending to better the city. He just wants to see said money spent more effectively.

“Cascade
 Bridge was a beautiful, wonderful bridge. But the city didn’t have the 
funds to maintain it,” he said. “I don’t want to see another Cascade 
Bridge project.”

Editor’s
 note: This is part two of a six-part series profiling the city council candidates. There are six candidates vying for three open seats. In 
Burlington, all city council seats are at-large, meaning anyone from 
anywhere in the city may run for a seat on city council. The council 
election is Nov. 2.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/10/1634432385935.jpeg" alt="Terry Schnack is hoping to win a seat on the Burlington City Council. Photo by William Smith." />
 <figcaption>Terry Schnack is hoping to win a seat on the Burlington City Council. Photo by William Smith.</figcaption>
 </figure>By William Smith Community EditorTerry Schnack makes no bones about his primary platform. He wants to make Burlington a safer place to live.“I’ve
 seen a change in the city of Burlington in the 14-year span I’ve lived 
here. I see a lot more violence,” said Schnack, who is seeking a seat on
 the Burlington City Council in the November primary.&nbsp;“I
 think a lot of people just don’t feel safe anymore, and I think that’s 
pretty sad in a town of roughly 25,000. You can’t feel safe to go out at
 night.”For
 Schnack, the decision to pursue a council seat arose from a personal 
dilemma. His wife of 10 years, Angela Schnack, recently found herself in
 the middle of a high-speed chase on Division Street while running 
errands.Angela
 wasn’t hurt physically, but she was rattled. So the couple laid out 
three options for themselves. Move out of Burlington, go on about their 
lives as if it didn’t happen, or do something about it.The answer seemed obvious. Neither Terry nor Angela wanted to run away.Schnack
 grew up on a family farm out of Stockton, then worked his way south to 
Burlington. A business owner and mechanic, Schnack owned a car repair 
business in Wilton for 10 years, managed an auto repair shop in Mount 
Pleasant for two-and-half years, and opened his own automotive repair 
business in Burlington in 2009.A
 religious man by nature and upbringing, Schnack wanted to glorify God 
rather than himself when naming his shop, so he called it CARS: 
Christian Automotive Repair Service.It’s more than a car repair shop, though. It’s also a charity with a slight missionary bent.“We
 encourage people to go to church. Whichever denomination, whichever 
church they go to. If they bring in a church bulletin for the previous 
week, we give back 10 percent of their repair bill,” Schnack said.If
 the customer is struggling, he encourages them to keep the money. If 
they are financially comfortable, Schnack suggests they drop the 
discount into the collection plate of the church the customer attends.“We’ve probably given back $25,000 a year to the community,” he said.As
 for the TIGER grant-funded redevelopment project set to begin Oct. 18, 
Schnack believes the negative financial impact the construction will 
have on Jefferson Street businesses isn’t worth the end result.“I
 think the city council’s pecking order of decision-making is off a 
little bit. It seems to me a lot of the grants that are available drive 
programs that come here,” he said.He
 also worries about other side effects of the project, such as the loss 
of 10 to 15 on-street parking spots once the project is complete.&nbsp;“People aren’t going to want to walk from a parking ramp,” he said.&nbsp;He
 is concerned with how much it will cost to maintain the incoming splash
 pad and the damage the roots of newly planted trees might pose in a few
 years.Schnack said he believes in spending to better the city. He just wants to see said money spent more effectively.“Cascade
 Bridge was a beautiful, wonderful bridge. But the city didn’t have the 
funds to maintain it,” he said. “I don’t want to see another Cascade 
Bridge project.”Editor’s
 note: This is part two of a six-part series profiling the city council candidates. There are six candidates vying for three open seats. In 
Burlington, all city council seats are at-large, meaning anyone from 
anywhere in the city may run for a seat on city council. The council 
election is Nov. 2.

Schnack Seeks to Make Burlington a Safer Place

Burlington resident Bob Krause is running for the Democratic nomination to take on U.S. Senator Charles Grassley in 2022. Krause announced his primary campaign via a YouTube video recorded outside Bluff Harbor Marina in Burlington. "I was eight years old when Grassley was first elected to the Iowa House, and I actually served with him for two years," Krause said in the video. "And then I saw him move on to the U.S. House and to the United States Senate. And 41 years later, I can tell you that those 41 years were not good for Iowa, and they were not good for the nation." A former state representative and veterans activist, Krause is the fourth Democrat to announce a campaign. He joins former U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer, physician Glenn Hurst, and Dave Muhlbauer. Primary elections are set for June 7, 2022. The winner will likely take on Grassley, who is favored to win the Republican primary.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/10/1634435070933.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon Staff Burlington resident Bob Krause is running for the Democratic nomination to take on U.S. Senator Charles Grassley in 2022. Krause announced his primary campaign via a YouTube video recorded outside Bluff Harbor Marina in Burlington. "I was eight years old when Grassley was first elected to the Iowa House, and I actually served with him for two years," Krause said in the video. "And then I saw him move on to the U.S. House and to the United States Senate. And 41 years later, I can tell you that those 41 years were not good for Iowa, and they were not good for the nation." A former state representative and veterans activist, Krause is the fourth Democrat to announce a campaign. He joins former U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer, physician Glenn Hurst, and Dave Muhlbauer. Primary elections are set for June 7, 2022. The winner will likely take on Grassley, who is favored to win the Republican primary.

Bob Krause Announces Senate Run

By William Smith Community Editor

Antonio Bailey of Burlington knows how to lead.

As
 one of the founders of the Burlington Express semi-pro football team 
and a coach at the Burlington School District, Bailey is familiar with 
taking charge.

Bailey
 is seeking to use his leadership experience in a new role — on the 
Burlington City Council. He is one of six candidates seeking a seat on 
the council in November’s city election.

“I really have no set agenda. I want to see the city of Burlington thrive. It’s a beautiful city,” he said.

However,
 a lack of agenda doesn’t translate to a lack of opinion. There’s plenty
 of improvements Bailey would like to help implement – from improved 
sidewalks to more structured activity for youth.

“I’m a new face. A face that isn’t afraid to be upfront,” he said.

Bailey
 is the owner and operator of Express Mobile Details. He and his wife 
Stephanie have two children and met when she became his tutor at 
Southeastern Community College.

“I decided to run for city council at the last minute,” he said. “Everyone was telling me I should do it.”

Bailey
 has kept a mental checklist of city issues he would like to tackle. He 
suggested improving sidewalks by providing incentives for low-income 
residents and getting landlords to pitch in.

“Most of the people around here rent,” he said.&nbsp;

Bailey
 would like to see increased incentives to bring in more industry, 
increased police patrols, and more officers. Expanded hours for the 
Burlington Area Homeless shelter is another of his goals.

Bailey
 recently took in a homeless youth for the night. He was unable to get 
them into the shelter because it was after midnight.

He is also up for pursuing outside grant money for city development projects.&nbsp;

“I would like to see some of that grant money going to help our Farmers Market,” he said.

Bailey
 can’t wait to see the downtown redevelopment project funded through a 
national TIGER grant come to fruition in 2023. Bailey said he 
understands the hardship businesses along Jefferson Street will face, 
but the city needs to evolve.

“The
 TIGER grant is a beautiful thing for the city. It can be used to make 
downtown more presentable, which it was designed to do,” he said.

He is hoping increased advertising and signage can make up for some of the lost business.

“I
 would like to see it not interrupt business, but realistically, there’s
 no way to get around that. That’s a part of growing,” he said.&nbsp;

Though
 Bailey would like to increase police patrols, he doesn’t believe the 
crime and violence are nearly as bad as in other similar-sized cities 
throughout the nation. But being vigilant is important, and that’s where
 the importance of neighborhood watch and similar programs becomes 
evident.

“We
 have one of the best police forces I’ve seen anywhere,” he said. “It’s 
time for us as a community to take our neighborhoods back.”

Editor’s
 note: This is part one of a six-part series profiling the city council candidates. There are six candidates vying for three open seats. In 
Burlington, all city council seats are at-large, meaning anyone from 
anywhere in the city may run for a seat on city council. The council 
election is Nov. 2.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/10/1634426684837.jpeg" alt="Antonio Bailey is seeking a seat on the Burlington City Council. Photo by William Smith. " />
 <figcaption>Antonio Bailey is seeking a seat on the Burlington City Council. Photo by William Smith. </figcaption>
 </figure>By William Smith Community Editor Antonio Bailey of Burlington knows how to lead.As
 one of the founders of the Burlington Express semi-pro football team 
and a coach at the Burlington School District, Bailey is familiar with 
taking charge.Bailey
 is seeking to use his leadership experience in a new role — on the 
Burlington City Council. He is one of six candidates seeking a seat on 
the council in November’s city election.“I really have no set agenda. I want to see the city of Burlington thrive. It’s a beautiful city,” he said.However,
 a lack of agenda doesn’t translate to a lack of opinion. There’s plenty
 of improvements Bailey would like to help implement – from improved 
sidewalks to more structured activity for youth.“I’m a new face. A face that isn’t afraid to be upfront,” he said.Bailey
 is the owner and operator of Express Mobile Details. He and his wife 
Stephanie have two children and met when she became his tutor at 
Southeastern Community College.“I decided to run for city council at the last minute,” he said. “Everyone was telling me I should do it.”Bailey
 has kept a mental checklist of city issues he would like to tackle. He 
suggested improving sidewalks by providing incentives for low-income 
residents and getting landlords to pitch in.“Most of the people around here rent,” he said.&nbsp;Bailey
 would like to see increased incentives to bring in more industry, 
increased police patrols, and more officers. Expanded hours for the 
Burlington Area Homeless shelter is another of his goals.Bailey
 recently took in a homeless youth for the night. He was unable to get 
them into the shelter because it was after midnight.He is also up for pursuing outside grant money for city development projects.&nbsp;“I would like to see some of that grant money going to help our Farmers Market,” he said.Bailey
 can’t wait to see the downtown redevelopment project funded through a 
national TIGER grant come to fruition in 2023. Bailey said he 
understands the hardship businesses along Jefferson Street will face, 
but the city needs to evolve.“The
 TIGER grant is a beautiful thing for the city. It can be used to make 
downtown more presentable, which it was designed to do,” he said.He is hoping increased advertising and signage can make up for some of the lost business.“I
 would like to see it not interrupt business, but realistically, there’s
 no way to get around that. That’s a part of growing,” he said.&nbsp;Though
 Bailey would like to increase police patrols, he doesn’t believe the 
crime and violence are nearly as bad as in other similar-sized cities 
throughout the nation. But being vigilant is important, and that’s where
 the importance of neighborhood watch and similar programs becomes 
evident.“We
 have one of the best police forces I’ve seen anywhere,” he said. “It’s 
time for us as a community to take our neighborhoods back.”Editor’s
 note: This is part one of a six-part series profiling the city council candidates. There are six candidates vying for three open seats. In 
Burlington, all city council seats are at-large, meaning anyone from 
anywhere in the city may run for a seat on city council. The council 
election is Nov. 2.

A Coach, A Mentor, And Now a Council Candidate

Though
 he didn’t offer an exact timeline, assistant city manager for public 
works Nick MacGregor said the intersection of Main and Locust Streets 
will open soon, as well as the portion of Harrison Avenue currently 
under construction.

“The
 rain didn’t help. We had some structures on order for the sanitary 
flow,” MacGregor said of the Main Street construction during Monday 
night’s city council work session.

Though
 some locals were concerned the Harrison Avenue construction would be 
delayed due to an accident in the construction zone this past weekend, 
MacGregor said work will proceed as planned.&nbsp;

New
 concrete was poured on Harrison Avenue at roughly 1 p.m. Friday (Oct. 
8), and a driver mistakenly drove into the construction zone at about 8 
p.m. Burlington Police responded to the accident, but since there was no
 major damage, no accident report was filed.

“It
 doesn’t look like it (the new road) was damaged. It looks like it was 
solid enough to resist the impact of the vehicle,” MacGregor said.&nbsp;

MacGregor
 said construction on Harrison Avenue will resume next year, and several
 more roads will be under construction at the same time. That includes 
Main Street, Jefferson Street, Spring Street and Ninth Street.

“Next spring will not be any better than now, but we’ll have new roads on the back of it,” MacGregor said.

By Beacon Staff Though
 he didn’t offer an exact timeline, assistant city manager for public 
works Nick MacGregor said the intersection of Main and Locust Streets 
will open soon, as well as the portion of Harrison Avenue currently 
under construction.“The
 rain didn’t help. We had some structures on order for the sanitary 
flow,” MacGregor said of the Main Street construction during Monday 
night’s city council work session.Though
 some locals were concerned the Harrison Avenue construction would be 
delayed due to an accident in the construction zone this past weekend, 
MacGregor said work will proceed as planned.&nbsp;New
 concrete was poured on Harrison Avenue at roughly 1 p.m. Friday (Oct. 
8), and a driver mistakenly drove into the construction zone at about 8 
p.m. Burlington Police responded to the accident, but since there was no
 major damage, no accident report was filed.“It
 doesn’t look like it (the new road) was damaged. It looks like it was 
solid enough to resist the impact of the vehicle,” MacGregor said.&nbsp;MacGregor
 said construction on Harrison Avenue will resume next year, and several
 more roads will be under construction at the same time. That includes 
Main Street, Jefferson Street, Spring Street and Ninth Street.“Next spring will not be any better than now, but we’ll have new roads on the back of it,” MacGregor said.

Main, Locust, Harrison Set to Reopen Soon

A semi-truck carrying a large tank for seed storage knocked over a light pole and became stuck on the U.S. 34 on-ramp (heading east onto the Great River Bridge) for roughly three hours Wednesday morning (Oct. 13).

According to the Burlington Fire Department, the grain container was being hauled on a lowboy trailer, and the driver attempted to cut the corner of the curvy ramp too tightly. That caused the tank to scrape against a concrete barrier and knock the light pole over, dislodging it from the trailer.

The fire department said neither the driver nor anyone else was hurt in the accident.

Berg's Towing, out of Galesburg, Illinois, was called to the scene to help remove the semi.  

By Beacon StaffA semi-truck carrying a large tank for seed storage knocked over a light pole and became stuck on the U.S. 34 on-ramp (heading east onto the Great River Bridge) for roughly three hours Wednesday morning (Oct. 13).According to the Burlington Fire Department, the grain container was being hauled on a lowboy trailer, and the driver attempted to cut the corner of the curvy ramp too tightly. That caused the tank to scrape against a concrete barrier and knock the light pole over, dislodging it from the trailer.The fire department said neither the driver nor anyone else was hurt in the accident.Berg's Towing, out of Galesburg, Illinois, was called to the scene to help remove the semi.

Grain Bin Scrapes US 34 Entrance Ramp and Knocks Over Light Pole as Driver Gets Stuck

Des Moines County Sheriff's deputies arrested two suspects on drug charges after conducting a traffic stop.

At about 8:26 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7, a sheriff's deputy stopped a vehicle at Division St. and Flint Hills Dr. for an equipment violation. 

The driver was Phillip Daniel Pugliese, 36, of Wayland. The passenger was Pepsi Dawn Smith, 33, of Burlington.

Deputies found about 33 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, packaging material, and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. 

Pugliese and Smith were arrested for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and failure to affix a drug tax stamp.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/10/1633896867411.jpeg" alt="Phillip Daniel Pugliese, 36, of Wayland and Pepsi Dawn Smith, 33, of Burlington." />
 <figcaption>Phillip Daniel Pugliese, 36, of Wayland and Pepsi Dawn Smith, 33, of Burlington.</figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon StaffDes Moines County Sheriff's deputies arrested two suspects on drug charges after conducting a traffic stop.At about 8:26 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7, a sheriff's deputy stopped a vehicle at Division St. and Flint Hills Dr. for an equipment violation. The driver was Phillip Daniel Pugliese, 36, of Wayland. The passenger was Pepsi Dawn Smith, 33, of Burlington.Deputies found about 33 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, packaging material, and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. Pugliese and Smith were arrested for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and failure to affix a drug tax stamp.

Pair Arrested on Drug Charges

More than 200 people participated in the annual Burlington Walk To End Alzheimer's on Saturday morning, raising awareness and funds to eliminate a disease that causes severe mental and physical impairment.

Some of the walkers participated virtually, an amenity provided by the Alzheimer's Association due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the participants met for a brief ceremony at Westland Mall, holding flowers of varying hues.&nbsp;

Those who carried a purple flower had lost someone to Alzheimer’s. Yellow flowers were held by caregivers for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Those living with Alzheimer’s carried a blue flower. Orange flowers were for anyone who supports the Alzheimer’s Association. One white flower represented the first Alzheimer's patient who will be the beneficiary of a long-awaited cure at some point in the future.

Alzheimer's Walk Engagement Chairman Cody Flietner told stories of those living with Alzheimer's disease during the opening ceremony, breaking into tears midway through his speech.

"I'm thinking of my grandma," he said, taking a brief second to regain his composure.

Flietner also asked for a moment of silence for Alzheimer's Association volunteer Megan Koss. Koss, 39, died Oct. 4 of COVID-19, according to her family.&nbsp;

Last year's Walk To End Alzheimer's did not have a public opening ceremony due to COVID-19, though there was one available online, and this year's ceremony was shorter than usual to help mitigate the possible spread of the virus. Testimonials usually delivered in-person were put online this year.

Walkers at Saturday's event were asked to keep six feet between them when possible, and those who were unvaccinated were asked to wear a mask at all times. Hand sanitizing stations were also present.

Walk organizers originally moved the event from the Port of Burlington to Westland Mall a couple of years ago so participants could walk inside, but that wasn't possible after the pandemic hit.

This year's walk was finally able to happen at the new location, just not inside it. Organizers are hoping the walk can happen inside the mall next year, depending on the status of the pandemic.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/10/1633805101224.jpeg" alt="Participants in the annual Burlington Walk To End Alzheimer's hold flowers signifying how Alzheimer's disease has affected their lives. " />
 <figcaption>Participants in the annual Burlington Walk To End Alzheimer's hold flowers signifying how Alzheimer's disease has affected their lives. </figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon StaffMore than 200 people participated in the annual Burlington Walk To End Alzheimer's on Saturday morning, raising awareness and funds to eliminate a disease that causes severe mental and physical impairment.Some of the walkers participated virtually, an amenity provided by the Alzheimer's Association due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the participants met for a brief ceremony at Westland Mall, holding flowers of varying hues.&nbsp;Those who carried a purple flower had lost someone to Alzheimer’s. Yellow flowers were held by caregivers for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Those living with Alzheimer’s carried a blue flower. Orange flowers were for anyone who supports the Alzheimer’s Association. One white flower represented the first Alzheimer's patient who will be the beneficiary of a long-awaited cure at some point in the future.Alzheimer's Walk Engagement Chairman Cody Flietner told stories of those living with Alzheimer's disease during the opening ceremony, breaking into tears midway through his speech."I'm thinking of my grandma," he said, taking a brief second to regain his composure.Flietner also asked for a moment of silence for Alzheimer's Association volunteer Megan Koss. Koss, 39, died Oct. 4 of COVID-19, according to her family.&nbsp;Last year's Walk To End Alzheimer's did not have a public opening ceremony due to COVID-19, though there was one available online, and this year's ceremony was shorter than usual to help mitigate the possible spread of the virus. Testimonials usually delivered in-person were put online this year.Walkers at Saturday's event were asked to keep six feet between them when possible, and those who were unvaccinated were asked to wear a mask at all times. Hand sanitizing stations were also present.Walk organizers originally moved the event from the Port of Burlington to Westland Mall a couple of years ago so participants could walk inside, but that wasn't possible after the pandemic hit.This year's walk was finally able to happen at the new location, just not inside it. Organizers are hoping the walk can happen inside the mall next year, depending on the status of the pandemic.

Alzheimer's Walk Marches On

With the $21 million riverfront and downtown revitalization project starting sooner than expected – this month rather than next spring – a number of Jefferson Street business owners are concerned about how it will affect business.

They voiced those concerns during a public meeting Thursday at City Hall, addressing the architects of the project, Veenstra and Kimm. The bulk of the project will be paid for with $17.5 million from a TIGER, or Transportation Investment Generation Economic Recovery grant awarded to the city in 2018. The rest will be paid for with other grant funds and $2.7 million from the city.

“I am a proponent of this (project). I love where we are going to be when we get on the other side,” said Suann Wells, owner of The Beancounter on the 200 block of Jefferson Street. “From here to there scares the living daylights out of me.”

Portions of Jefferson Street will be blocked off for several months at a time during different phases of the construction project, two blocks at a time. Construction is set to begin Oct. 18 of this year and will stretch into 2023. The city has hired engineering consultant Veenstra and Kimm and architecture firm SmithGroup to draw up the plans for the project, with Portzen Construction tapped for the building phase.

Both lanes of Jefferson Street in a specific two-block area will be closed. There will be no parking in those blocks, and the street will be closed with fencing. Sidewalks will remain open, as will foot access to all businesses.

Veenstra and Kimm project manager Leo Foley said he is working with the city to provide as many accommodations to businesses as possible, but it will be far from a perfect situation. Nick MacGregor, assistant city manager for public works, is worried about how the project will impact the Sixth Street bridge into downtown Burlington.

Jefferson Street will be closed at the Sixth Street bridge intersection from May 30 to Oct. 7 of next year, and MacGregor would prefer to avoid closing the bridge if possible. He said the bridge is a vital transportation hub as the primary connector between downtown and the south side of Burlington.

“We have to take a look at that,” MacGregor said.&nbsp;

Eric Renteria, the owner of the Hallmark store on the 600 block of Jefferson Street, said the street closure from May 30 to Oct. 7 will effectively kill his business for those four months. Renteria said his business took a nosedive previously when a portion of Jefferson Street was closed in the aftermath of the Tama building fire.

“I just haven’t heard anything that helps deliver my customers to my store during this very challenging time, and I know it’s coming,” he said.

Janet Earp, owner of pride and groom on Jefferson Street and Central Avenue, will lose Jefferson Street access to her business in just a couple of days. The 800 block of Jefferson Street will be closed through the holidays starting Oct. 18, and most of Earp’s customers are elderly. Most of those customers are bringing dogs with them to get groomed, and the combination could make for a hazardous situation.

“I can’t have 80-year-old people with canes and dogs and leashes walking down here. I can’t walk a block and a half to pick up their dog,” she said.

Earp said there are five parking spots along Central Avenue that her customers can use, but those spots are shared with several other businesses. Since there are no alleyways on that end of Jefferson, she won’t have backdoor parking like those further down the street.

“I have nowhere to park. Parking is atrocious there,” she said.

Despite the improvements the project will make to Jefferson Street, Main Street, and the riverfront, the combined downtown area will be losing about 10 to 15 street parking spaces. That doesn’t sit right with Renteria, who thought the point of the grant was to facilitate transportation.

“I don’t know if I get one more customer on the other side of this, which is of great concern to me,” he said. “We haven’t done one single thing to improve the biggest problem (lack of parking) downtown Burlington has.”

To help smooth the upcoming friction with business owners and residents, the city has posted the construction plan on its website, as well as the information from Thursday’s meeting. The city will update the site weekly with the status of the project, and Veenstra and Kimm are meeting with the Greater Burlington Partnership every two weeks to update mitigation plans.

As long as business owners stay in contact with the city, Foley said the process should be as painless as possible. City manager Chad Bird said the city is already considering further mitigation for the construction, including shuttle buses and creative signage.

Bird inquired, “Instead of just putting a road closed sign at the end of the street, can that sign say, ‘Road closed, but businesses open’? And list them?”

Construction will begin this month on the west section of Jefferson between Central Street and North Eighth Street, as well as on some new boat ramps on the south side of the Burlington Memorial Auditorium. Bird said he expects construction to wrap up on both in time for winter. As far as a timeline for the rest of the project, Bird said he expects the entirety of Main Street to be completed by October 2023, all of Jefferson Street by May 2023, and the riverfront by November 2022. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/10/1633750056166.jpeg" alt="Burlington residents Bob Hansen, left, and Chuck Siekman, middle, pore over the plans for the downtown revitalization project funded primarily through the TIGER grant during a public meeting at City Hall on Thursday night, Oct. 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Photo by William Smith." />
 <figcaption>Burlington residents Bob Hansen, left, and Chuck Siekman, middle, pore over the plans for the downtown revitalization project funded primarily through the TIGER grant during a public meeting at City Hall on Thursday night, Oct. 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Photo by William Smith.</figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon StaffWith the $21 million riverfront and downtown revitalization project starting sooner than expected – this month rather than next spring – a number of Jefferson Street business owners are concerned about how it will affect business.They voiced those concerns during a public meeting Thursday at City Hall, addressing the architects of the project, Veenstra and Kimm. The bulk of the project will be paid for with $17.5 million from a TIGER, or Transportation Investment Generation Economic Recovery grant awarded to the city in 2018. The rest will be paid for with other grant funds and $2.7 million from the city.“I am a proponent of this (project). I love where we are going to be when we get on the other side,” said Suann Wells, owner of The Beancounter on the 200 block of Jefferson Street. “From here to there scares the living daylights out of me.”Portions of Jefferson Street will be blocked off for several months at a time during different phases of the construction project, two blocks at a time. Construction is set to begin Oct. 18 of this year and will stretch into 2023. The city has hired engineering consultant Veenstra and Kimm and architecture firm SmithGroup to draw up the plans for the project, with Portzen Construction tapped for the building phase.Both lanes of Jefferson Street in a specific two-block area will be closed. There will be no parking in those blocks, and the street will be closed with fencing. Sidewalks will remain open, as will foot access to all businesses.Veenstra and Kimm project manager Leo Foley said he is working with the city to provide as many accommodations to businesses as possible, but it will be far from a perfect situation. Nick MacGregor, assistant city manager for public works, is worried about how the project will impact the Sixth Street bridge into downtown Burlington.Jefferson Street will be closed at the Sixth Street bridge intersection from May 30 to Oct. 7 of next year, and MacGregor would prefer to avoid closing the bridge if possible. He said the bridge is a vital transportation hub as the primary connector between downtown and the south side of Burlington.“We have to take a look at that,” MacGregor said.&nbsp;Eric Renteria, the owner of the Hallmark store on the 600 block of Jefferson Street, said the street closure from May 30 to Oct. 7 will effectively kill his business for those four months. Renteria said his business took a nosedive previously when a portion of Jefferson Street was closed in the aftermath of the Tama building fire.“I just haven’t heard anything that helps deliver my customers to my store during this very challenging time, and I know it’s coming,” he said.Janet Earp, owner of pride and groom on Jefferson Street and Central Avenue, will lose Jefferson Street access to her business in just a couple of days. The 800 block of Jefferson Street will be closed through the holidays starting Oct. 18, and most of Earp’s customers are elderly. Most of those customers are bringing dogs with them to get groomed, and the combination could make for a hazardous situation.“I can’t have 80-year-old people with canes and dogs and leashes walking down here. I can’t walk a block and a half to pick up their dog,” she said.Earp said there are five parking spots along Central Avenue that her customers can use, but those spots are shared with several other businesses. Since there are no alleyways on that end of Jefferson, she won’t have backdoor parking like those further down the street.“I have nowhere to park. Parking is atrocious there,” she said.Despite the improvements the project will make to Jefferson Street, Main Street, and the riverfront, the combined downtown area will be losing about 10 to 15 street parking spaces. That doesn’t sit right with Renteria, who thought the point of the grant was to facilitate transportation.“I don’t know if I get one more customer on the other side of this, which is of great concern to me,” he said. “We haven’t done one single thing to improve the biggest problem (lack of parking) downtown Burlington has.”To help smooth the upcoming friction with business owners and residents, the city has posted the construction plan on its website, as well as the information from Thursday’s meeting. The city will update the site weekly with the status of the project, and Veenstra and Kimm are meeting with the Greater Burlington Partnership every two weeks to update mitigation plans.As long as business owners stay in contact with the city, Foley said the process should be as painless as possible. City manager Chad Bird said the city is already considering further mitigation for the construction, including shuttle buses and creative signage.Bird inquired, “Instead of just putting a road closed sign at the end of the street, can that sign say, ‘Road closed, but businesses open’? And list them?”Construction will begin this month on the west section of Jefferson between Central Street and North Eighth Street, as well as on some new boat ramps on the south side of the Burlington Memorial Auditorium. Bird said he expects construction to wrap up on both in time for winter. As far as a timeline for the rest of the project, Bird said he expects the entirety of Main Street to be completed by October 2023, all of Jefferson Street by May 2023, and the riverfront by November 2022.

Business Owners Express Frustration With Upcoming Jefferson Street Closures

The mask mandate for the West Burlington School District, passed nearly a month ago, was voted down by the school board Thursday night during an emergency meeting.

Students and staff will no longer have to wear masks starting Friday, Oct. 8.

The board voted 3-0 to end the policy that required students and staff to wear masks inside school buildings, citing a decreased COVID-19 positivity rate in the school. Board members Bruce Thuleen, Andrea Bowen, and Mike Davis voted to end the policy, while board members Lee Boughton and Pam Dodds were not present at the meeting.

The board voted Sept. 20 to consider removal of the mandate if the student COVID-19 positivity rate fell below two percent. Other parameters included a county positivity rate below 11 percent.

Both those thresholds have been met, according to information provided at the meeting. As of Thursday, only two students were positive for COVID-19 – which counts for about half a percent. The Des Moines County positivity rate, meanwhile, is at 10 percent. 

“Should there be increases in illness related to the identified indicators, it (the mask mandate) may be reinstated at a future time,” West Burlington Superintendent Lisa Beames said in a statement on Facebook. “Please continue to take measures to protect you and yours during this time.”

By Beacon StaffThe mask mandate for the West Burlington School District, passed nearly a month ago, was voted down by the school board Thursday night during an emergency meeting.Students and staff will no longer have to wear masks starting Friday, Oct. 8.The board voted 3-0 to end the policy that required students and staff to wear masks inside school buildings, citing a decreased COVID-19 positivity rate in the school. Board members Bruce Thuleen, Andrea Bowen, and Mike Davis voted to end the policy, while board members Lee Boughton and Pam Dodds were not present at the meeting.The board voted Sept. 20 to consider removal of the mandate if the student COVID-19 positivity rate fell below two percent. Other parameters included a county positivity rate below 11 percent.Both those thresholds have been met, according to information provided at the meeting. As of Thursday, only two students were positive for COVID-19 – which counts for about half a percent. The Des Moines County positivity rate, meanwhile, is at 10 percent. “Should there be increases in illness related to the identified indicators, it (the mask mandate) may be reinstated at a future time,” West Burlington Superintendent Lisa Beames said in a statement on Facebook. “Please continue to take measures to protect you and yours during this time.”

No More Mask Mandate For West Burlington School District

Residents of Burlington are invited to a public meeting at 4 p.m. this Thursday at City Hall for discussion of a $21 million riverfront and downtown revitalization project slated to begin construction later this month. The bulk of the project will be paid for with $17.5 million from a TIGER, or Transportation Investment Generation Economic Recovery grant awarded to the city in 2018. The rest will be paid for with other grant funds and $2.7 million from the city.&nbsp;

“It’s a big one, but it’s exciting,” said Burlington City Manager Chad Bird over the phone on Tuesday. “Anytime we can impact a community by improving amenities and infrastructure is exciting because it has a lasting impact on our residents for a long time.”

The TIGER grant is split into three sections: Jefferson Street, Main Street, and the riverfront. Over the course of the next two to three years, the two roadways will receive a facelift in the form of new amenities including added greenery and planters, permeable pavers, wayfinding maps, improved parking, updated benches, and overhead lighting. The stormwater and sanitary sewers will also be replaced. The total work on Jefferson will stretch from Central Avenue to Front Street while the work on Main will eventually cover all the blocks between Columbia and Division streets.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the riverfront will receive new docks and boat ramps, as well as improvements to the sea wall to enhance flood mitigation. New moorings will also be added along the sea wall, enabling river cruise ships to dock downtown.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The city has hired engineering consultant Veenstra &amp; Kim and architecture firm SmithGroup to draw up the plans for the project, with Portzen Construction tapped for the building phase.&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to Nick MacGregor, assistant city manager for public works, construction will begin on Oct. 18 in the west section of Jefferson Street, as well as on some new boat ramps on the south side of the Burlington Memorial Auditorium.&nbsp;

Bird said he expects construction to wrap up on both in time for winter. As far as a timeline for the rest of the project, Bird said he expects the riverfront to be completed by November 2022, all of Jefferson Street by May 2023, and the entirety of Main Street by October 2023.&nbsp;

To attend the meeting remotely, access the following link:<a href="https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/222460685"> https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/222460685</a>

By Mike Anderson&nbsp;Residents of Burlington are invited to a public meeting at 4 p.m. this Thursday at City Hall for discussion of a $21 million riverfront and downtown revitalization project slated to begin construction later this month. The bulk of the project will be paid for with $17.5 million from a TIGER, or Transportation Investment Generation Economic Recovery grant awarded to the city in 2018. The rest will be paid for with other grant funds and $2.7 million from the city.&nbsp;“It’s a big one, but it’s exciting,” said Burlington City Manager Chad Bird over the phone on Tuesday. “Anytime we can impact a community by improving amenities and infrastructure is exciting because it has a lasting impact on our residents for a long time.”The TIGER grant is split into three sections: Jefferson Street, Main Street, and the riverfront. Over the course of the next two to three years, the two roadways will receive a facelift in the form of new amenities including added greenery and planters, permeable pavers, wayfinding maps, improved parking, updated benches, and overhead lighting. The stormwater and sanitary sewers will also be replaced. The total work on Jefferson will stretch from Central Avenue to Front Street while the work on Main will eventually cover all the blocks between Columbia and Division streets.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, the riverfront will receive new docks and boat ramps, as well as improvements to the sea wall to enhance flood mitigation. New moorings will also be added along the sea wall, enabling river cruise ships to dock downtown.&nbsp;&nbsp;The city has hired engineering consultant Veenstra &amp; Kim and architecture firm SmithGroup to draw up the plans for the project, with Portzen Construction tapped for the building phase.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to Nick MacGregor, assistant city manager for public works, construction will begin on Oct. 18 in the west section of Jefferson Street, as well as on some new boat ramps on the south side of the Burlington Memorial Auditorium.&nbsp;Bird said he expects construction to wrap up on both in time for winter. As far as a timeline for the rest of the project, Bird said he expects the riverfront to be completed by November 2022, all of Jefferson Street by May 2023, and the entirety of Main Street by October 2023.&nbsp;To attend the meeting remotely, access the following link:<a href="https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/222460685"> https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/222460685</a>

TIGER Grant Construction Meeting Tonight

Jeffrey Knotts is presumably no longer in the city council race.

The primary election on Tuesday narrowed seven city council candidates down to the six who will go on to run for three open council seats in November.

Voters were to select no more than three candidates; those who picked fewer were counted as an undervote. No overvotes were counted.

According to unofficial election results, a total of 648 people voted on Tuesday, comprising 3.85 percent of the 16,840 eligible voters.

Going into the November election, current Burlington Mayor Jon Billups, mayor pro tem Lynda Graham-Murray and council member Matt Rinker are vying to retain their council seats, while Antonio Bailey, Chris Roepke, and Terry Schnack are attempting to claim them.&nbsp;

The unofficial vote tallies below were provided by the Des Moines County Auditor’s office:&nbsp;

Jon D. Billups – 468 votes, 26.79 percent

Lynda Graham-Murray – 327 votes, 18.72 percent

Chris Roepke – 192 votes, 10.99 percent

Antonio Bailey – 171 votes, 9.79 percent

Terry Schnack – 169 votes, 9.67 percent

Jeffrey Knotts – 136 votes, 7.78 percent

By Beacon StaffJeffrey Knotts is presumably no longer in the city council race.The primary election on Tuesday narrowed seven city council candidates down to the six who will go on to run for three open council seats in November.Voters were to select no more than three candidates; those who picked fewer were counted as an undervote. No overvotes were counted.According to unofficial election results, a total of 648 people voted on Tuesday, comprising 3.85 percent of the 16,840 eligible voters.Going into the November election, current Burlington Mayor Jon Billups, mayor pro tem Lynda Graham-Murray and council member Matt Rinker are vying to retain their council seats, while Antonio Bailey, Chris Roepke, and Terry Schnack are attempting to claim them.&nbsp;The unofficial vote tallies below were provided by the Des Moines County Auditor’s office:&nbsp;Jon D. Billups – 468 votes, 26.79 percentLynda Graham-Murray – 327 votes, 18.72 percentMatt Rinker – 284 votes, 16.26 percentChris Roepke – 192 votes, 10.99 percentAntonio Bailey – 171 votes, 9.79 percentTerry Schnack – 169 votes, 9.67 percentJeffrey Knotts – 136 votes, 7.78 percentUndervote – 197 votes

Council Candidate Eliminated in Tuesday Primary

A Burlington man allegedly ran over a fire hydrant and a stop sign before crashing into a house at the corner of Sunnyside Avenue and Brick Street. 

He then backed into a squad car before being arrested by a Des Moines County deputy.

Richard Laurence Thompson, 34, was arrested Monday (Sept. 27) and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, speeding, reckless driving, failure to maintain control, striking fixtures on a highway, and lack of liability insurance.

According to a press release from the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy observed a vehicle traveling at 55 m.p.h. in a 30 mph zone on Sunnyside Ave near Brick Street.

The deputy turned around tried to stop the vehicle when it ran over a stop sign and a fire hydrant. It then crashed into a house at the intersection. The suspect vehicle, a 1996 Chevrolet Caprice, then backed into a Des Moines County Sheriff squad car before coming to a stop. 

The driver was detained and identified as Thompson, who showed signs of intoxication and admitted to drinking. Thompson was transported to the Des Moines County Jai in Burlington.

At the jail, Thompson was asked to complete a standardized field sobriety testing. Thompson failed those tests and was then offered a preliminary breath test. Thompson consented and gave a breath sample over the legal limit. 

Thompson’s bond was set at $1000.00 cash or surety.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/8/1629639586517.jpeg" alt="239124325_819919488713244_5913515535301472004_n.jpg" />
 <figcaption>239124325_819919488713244_5913515535301472004_n.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon StaffA Burlington man allegedly ran over a fire hydrant and a stop sign before crashing into a house at the corner of Sunnyside Avenue and Brick Street. He then backed into a squad car before being arrested by a Des Moines County deputy.Richard Laurence Thompson, 34, was arrested Monday (Sept. 27) and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, speeding, reckless driving, failure to maintain control, striking fixtures on a highway, and lack of liability insurance.According to a press release from the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy observed a vehicle traveling at 55 m.p.h. in a 30 mph zone on Sunnyside Ave near Brick Street.The deputy turned around tried to stop the vehicle when it ran over a stop sign and a fire hydrant. It then crashed into a house at the intersection. The suspect vehicle, a 1996 Chevrolet Caprice, then backed into a Des Moines County Sheriff squad car before coming to a stop. The driver was detained and identified as Thompson, who showed signs of intoxication and admitted to drinking. Thompson was transported to the Des Moines County Jai in Burlington.At the jail, Thompson was asked to complete a standardized field sobriety testing. Thompson failed those tests and was then offered a preliminary breath test. Thompson consented and gave a breath sample over the legal limit. Thompson’s bond was set at $1000.00 cash or surety.

Authorities: Burlington Man Ran Over A Stop Sign, Fire Hydrant, Then Crashed Into A House And A Squad Car

By Beacon Staff Edward Stone Middle School in Burlington has been damaged by a student challenge adopted from the popular social media platform TikTok. The "Devious Lick" trend involves students posting videos that show them stealing, damaging, or showing off items taken from school. According to Urban Dictionary, a "lick" is a "successful type of theft which results in an acceptable, impressive and rewarding payday for the protagonist." Burlington Superintendent Pat Coen told the school board Monday night that the challenge went local and caused damaged to a bathroom at Edward Stone Middle School. A garbage can was destroyed, soap dispensers were kicked from the wall, and one soap dispenser was missing. The area had also been toilet-papered. The student who vandalized the Edward Stone bathroom last month has not been identified. "Kids all over the world are doing this, and this aspect of social media is not a positive thing. We are aware of it, and we are taking steps to mitigate that," Coen said at the meeting

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/10/1633217216132.jpeg" alt="244252524_846540972717762_3493828860553816458_n.jpg" />
 <figcaption>244252524_846540972717762_3493828860553816458_n.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon Staff Edward Stone Middle School in Burlington has been damaged by a student challenge adopted from the popular social media platform TikTok. The "Devious Lick" trend involves students posting videos that show them stealing, damaging, or showing off items taken from school. According to Urban Dictionary, a "lick" is a "successful type of theft which results in an acceptable, impressive and rewarding payday for the protagonist." Burlington Superintendent Pat Coen told the school board Monday night that the challenge went local and caused damaged to a bathroom at Edward Stone Middle School. A garbage can was destroyed, soap dispensers were kicked from the wall, and one soap dispenser was missing. The area had also been toilet-papered. The student who vandalized the Edward Stone bathroom last month has not been identified. "Kids all over the world are doing this, and this aspect of social media is not a positive thing. We are aware of it, and we are taking steps to mitigate that," Coen said at the meeting

Edward Stone Middle School Bathroom Damaged By TikTok Challenge

The sewer separation construction project on Locust and Main streets has continued well beyond the targeted end date. That being the case, it has created a lot of "heartache," according to Nick MacGregor of the city's public works department. 

Construction began on Aug. 23, and the closure of the intersection was intended to last for a week. Due to unforeseen sewer infrastructure design, however, it will not open until mid-October. MacGregor spoke to the city council during the closing minutes of Monday's council meeting.

“You don’t encounter that very often, where you have one sewer line inside another,” MacGregor said. He noted that two water lines have been moved, but sanitary connections have to be installed.. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/9/1632270711037.jpeg" alt="Photo by William Smith" />
 <figcaption>Photo by William Smith</figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon StaffThe sewer separation construction project on Locust and Main streets has continued well beyond the targeted end date. That being the case, it has created a lot of "heartache," according to Nick MacGregor of the city's public works department. Construction began on Aug. 23, and the closure of the intersection was intended to last for a week. Due to unforeseen sewer infrastructure design, however, it will not open until mid-October. MacGregor spoke to the city council during the closing minutes of Monday's council meeting.“You don’t encounter that very often, where you have one sewer line inside another,” MacGregor said. He noted that two water lines have been moved, but sanitary connections have to be installed.. The construction is part of the initial phase of a decades-long sewer separation project. Two of the three sewer basins are already separated by storm and wastewater. However, the basin currently being separated is the largest and most complex. Burlington is under mandate by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/9/1632270775824.jpeg" alt="Photo By William Smith" />
 <figcaption>Photo By William Smith</figcaption>
 </figure>

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