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Spending by pro-gambling campaign lobby $103,000 and counting

on Wed, 10/20/2010 - 22:00   by Editor

The Isle of Capri Casino, Inc. has spent more than $100,000 to convince Scott, Black Hawk and Clayton County voters to renew its "riverboat" gambling franchises in Bettendorf, Davenport, Waterloo and Marquette.

The $103,116 spent by the four Isle lobbying groups as of Oct. 19 includes $19,000 for polling and surveys, $15,000 in miscellaneous "unitemized" expenses, $14,000 for campaign brochures, $3,700 for yard signs and more than $14,000 to pay casino employees for campaign travel/planning, yard sign distribution and campaign calls/presentations.

The four registered campaign committees - Citizens for The Continuation of Gambling in Scott County; Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.; Isle of Capri Bettendorf, L.C.; and Isle of Capri - Davenport, Inc. - are funded entirely by the Isle from donations by its casinos. Not a single individual is listed as having contributed either money or in-kind services to the casino campaigns.

Record street spending in fiscal 2010 offset by record level of debt costs

on Wed, 10/13/2010 - 22:02   by Editor

A record $36.5 million was spent in fiscal 2010 for street construction, repairs and maintenance in Bettendorf, but soaring principal and interest payments meant fewer dollars were actually available for upgrading and maintaining city roadways.

According to street financial reports filed with the Iowa Department of Transportation, city spending on streets increased from $28.7 million in fiscal 2009 to $36.5 million for the fiscal year ended June 30.

PV school district to seek legislative changes for TIF approvals

on Mon, 10/11/2010 - 20:14   by Editor

After the city of LeClaire ignored its objections to the creation of yet another tax increment financing (TIF) district, Pleasant Valley school officials say they plan to seek changes in state law to give schools "a real voice" in the TIF approval process.

City discharges millions of gallons of sewage into Mississippi River each year

on Wed, 10/06/2010 - 01:19   by Editor

A series of pumps stand along Bettendorf's riverfront ready for use when heavy rain seeps into the Davenport and Bettendorf sewer system and creates peak flows the Davenport treatment plant is unable to handle. That's when the equipment begins pumping untreated sewage (diluted with the rain water) into storm water pipes that discharge into the Mississippi River.

New urban park next to library, family museum takes shape

on Fri, 09/24/2010 - 22:52   by Editor


Click on image for larger view

Native prairie grass plantings, a grove of oak trees, a "marketplace court" with sail-covered pavilion, a large open area with small berms, pathways of permeable pavers, a rain garden and themed perennial gardens are planned for the vacant lot adjacent to the city's library and family museum.

USDA broadband grants dictate winners, losers in Iowa marketplace

on Fri, 09/17/2010 - 18:24   by Editor

A federal program to bring high speed internet service to rural America will likely drive out many local private businesses now serving those very communities.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded millions of dollars to private firms across the country with the aim of boosting the speeds of Internet connections available in rural areas.

City wants to begin charging for providing public records

on Tue, 09/14/2010 - 23:59   by Editor

Bettendorf city officials want to begin charging for preparing and copying public records requested by citizens.

State law allows cities to charge a "reasonable" fee for complying with public record requests, and City Administrator Decker Ploehn told alderman the proposed ordinance is needed because of an increase in the number of requests for public records.

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