Bettendorf Alderman Gary Mohr will step down from his at-large council seat Dec. 31 following his election to the Iowa House of Representatives in last November's general election.

The resignation creates a one-year vacancy, which can be filled by either an interim appointment by the council or by a special election.

In accepting Mohr's resignation letter at its Nov. 15 meeting, the council did not discuss which method the city would choose to fill the opening.

The election of Donald Trump may have many meanings around the country, but in Bettendorf one of the most immediate impacts will be higher interest rates on new city debt.

And, that translates into higher costs for the coming slate of capital improvements, ranging from a new $250,000 ice-skating rink to $1.4 million in downtown redevelopment to $700,000 for a Great Lawn in the new Forest Grove Park.

The higher interest rates also prompted the city to scrap a $28-million General Obligation (GO) bond refinancing plan, at least temporarily.

Voluntary initiatives by the U.S. EPA and 10 states bordering the Mississippi over the past 20 years have largely failed to rein in harmful nitrogen and phosphorus pollution by cities, farms and industry, according to a scathing report issued today (11/17) by an environmental and legal group focused on protecting the Mississippi River watershed.

"Though the EPA has consistently and emphatically urged states to take measures to combat nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, its encouragement has come without enforceable regulations, specific deadlines or funding for implementation," the report by the Mississippi River Collaborative says. "Not surprisingly, the problem persists, especially in the Mississippi River, despite a variety of Clean Water Act tools and viable regulatory options available to states."

The analysis of nutrient pollution of lakes, rivers and streams in the Mississippi River watershed – entitled "Decades of Delay" – says the 10 states bordering the country's longest river have failed to establish any numeric limits for nitrogen discharges and only two states have set numeric limits for phosphorus pollution.

The long vacant and highly visible southeast corner of Middle and Crow Creek Roads would be developed into a retail hub with a drive-up bank, restaurant and offices under a plan approved by Bettendorf planners and set for city council approval Tuesday (11/1).

AMF Realty, owned by the same company that has developed the Wyndham Hills subdivisions on both sides of Middle Road south of Crow Creek, is seeking approval to build Wyndham Town Center with four commercial buildings at the busy intersection.

A Des Moines developer would tear down the deteriorated Twin Bridges Motor Inn in downtown Bettendorf and construct two five-story apartment buildings worth a total of $22 million under a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) deal worked out with city officials.

The development agreement would provide Twin Bridges Associates LP, a unit of Newberry Living, with a $750,000 forgivable loan and rebate 100 percent of the incremental property taxes from the 135-unit apartment project for 20 years.

At the current tax rate, the 20-year TIF would be worth approximately $12 million. The property currently is assessed at $799,780 and pays $24,139 annually in property taxes.

[The public hearing on the TIF and forgiveable loan is on the Tuesday, Dec. 6 city council meeting agenda.]

After hearing presentations on "The Leadership Role for City Officials" at the annual Iowa League of Cities conference in September, Bettendorf's city administrator and five aldermen adjourned for dinner at the 801 ChopHouse Restaurant, a downtown Des Moines steakhouse "modeled after the classic New York steakhouses of the 1920's," according to its website. Very expensive also would describe the restaurant.

Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. said today (10/13) it has agreed to sell its Marquette, Iowa casino to CQ Holdings, Inc. for $40 million, less an adjustment for working capital.

The deal with CQ Holdings' affiliate Casino Queen is specifically permitted under the agreement announced September 19 in which the Isle agreed to be acquired by Eldorado Resorts, of Reno, Nevada, in a $1.7 billion transaction, according to the company's news release.

Residents annoyed and awakened by loud motorcycles might hope the recent federal crackdown on Harley-Davidson for selling equipment to bypass air pollution control units would carry over to aftermarket muffler manufacturers whose products fail to meet either national air pollution or noise standards.

But, don't get too optimistic.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials say they're focused on enforcement of air pollution regulations, not motorcycle noise standards, while Bettendorf police wrote just two tickets for loud motorcycle mufflers over the four-year period 2010 through 2014.

Consequently, motorcyclists with illegal mufflers – two to four times as loud as the federal limit of 80 decibels – operate with impunity throughout the city, often late at night and early in the morning.

Heavy rains and flooding has forced more than three dozen communities in north central and northeast Iowa to release untreated sewage into nearby streams and rivers, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

Resident living near those communities with private wells for drinking water are being cautioned by the IDNR about using those sources.

The rain and the resulting flooding caused overflows to a total of 37 wastewater treatment plants, forcing the facilities to bypass treatment to prevent backups of sewage into homes and businesses.

As Davenport and Bettendorf complete the third year of a court-ordered sewer system improvement program, dumping of raw sewage into the Mississippi River remains an issue during summer months after heavy rains.

However, there are signs the effort to seal leaky sewer lines and fix blockages in riverfront interceptors is reducing the volume of raw and partially treated sewage that is pumped into the river.