City, Old Fort group reach agreement

FORT MADISON – A new letter of intent with the City of Fort Madison is helping kick start efforts with the Old Fort Preservation non-profit that is taking over operations of the Old Fort along the riverfront in Fort Madison.
At Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Fort Madison City Council, Bill Napier, a founding member of the non-profit, said the letter helps the group begin fundraising as it assures the city’s role in supporting the group’s efforts.
Napier said he’s had conversations with city officials including City Manager Laura Liegois, and the mood was to get something down in writing outlining each side's commitment.
“I talked with Laura and we decided we needed something in writing that indicates what the respective parties are expected to do in this process. We realize it’s a long way from finality,” Napier said.
Napier said the city recognizes the complexity with the Fort, but has always been supportive.
“What you need to focus on is the letter of the Intent. The first part lays out the background. There were a couple of stabs at doing away with the Fort as it fell into disrepair and we were losing patronage,” he said.
“It was put out to the public to see if anyone was willing to step forward, and in April of 2024, there was a public meeting at the library with about 40 people and we formed a committee. They then formed a corporation and received a 501c3 designation with a board of 10 people. Now there are 280 supporting members from around the country, but the majority are in town.”
The agreement says the city will continue to handle mowing and snow removal, pay for utilities, and make an annual commitment of $37,000 from hotel/motel tax. The non-profit will be responsible for maintenance and any new construction as well as programming the site with revenue generation at the forefront of operations.
Napier said if that relationship holds out, the Fort is in for a strong future.
“This tells if we do what we say we’re going to do, and you do what you say you’re going to do, we will have one heck of an improvement in the City of Fort Madison,” he said.
The non-profit board has been meeting every Monday and membership is invited once a month for an update.
“We have achieved an incredible amount. I don’t want to give you the whole breakdown, but I want to let you know we need this agreement so we can go to donors and supporters. We need to hand them something and say this is the deal,” Napier said.
Dustin Yager asked after reviewing the letter of intentif the city would still be responsible for maintenance and upkeep.
Napier said that wasn’t the case and compared it to the lease agreement the city has with the new marina.
“It will belong to the city and sit on city property so we will have some shared responsibility, but the operation of it will be like the marina with a non-profit organization. As the mayor famously pointed out, the city doesn’t want to be in that business.”

He said the main thing is that when the agreement is in place, the non-profit has the freedom to operate it for the next 50 years as they see fit. Plans are to keep the Fort open year around with multiple functions going on throughout the year.
Liegois said the letter is giving the group assurances that allow them to move forward with expansion of the Fort.
The group will be using Convergence Group as a fundraising organization that will be helping raise funds for the Fort. It’s the same group which was used to raise funds for the Marina.
This is being designed to generate revenue, Napier said. People inside Fort Madison and outside will come back and enjoy it month after month after month.
“I told American Cruise Lines when they came begging for water, they would be coming back in the next few years,” Napier said.
Fort board member Sharon Sholl-Nabulsi said the intent is to make it a national attraction.
“It really was the first fort built west of the Mississippi,” she said. “I think people need to get more involved in their community to keep it thriving.”
Napier said he hears from visitors who say we don’t know what we have.
“Well, they will.”
Mohrfeld also proclaimed Oct. 23, 2024 as Jordan’s Way Day in the city of Fort Madison and encouraged residents to adopt a pet or volunteer at the Fort Madison P.A.W. Shelter.
He also proclaimed October as Domestic Awareness Month in the city.
In other action, the council:
• voted 5-0 to approve a federal swap of $780,000 to the reconstruction project of Avenue L from 20th Street west to 30th Street. The work is to be bid out in April.
• voted 5-0 to appoint Mike Ehlers to the Civil Service Commission with term expiring March 31, 2028.
• discussed the hiring of two firefighters to assist with retirement transitions of Chief Joey Herren and Capt. Jay Blanchard.