Liegois updates council on city projects

FORT MADISON – The Fort Madison City Council got an update on their five-year plan at Tuesday’s regular meeting.
City Manager Laura Liegois updated the council on the progress the city has been making on the benchmarks that are associated with the plan. She said the city had put together new vision and mission statements when she was hired and wanted to give an update on those goals.
She said fiscal responsibility, accountability in actions, and ordinance reviews were a big part of the city's direction going forward. The city approved nine new ordinances out of that review, but those pertained to economics, quality of life, and a new bee ordinance.
She mentioned the new construction underway on the new public works building and, very soon, the new fire station. The city is also planning sewer separation projects starting with 10th Street.
One of the key projects is the new playground in Riverview Park. Leigois said the city is waiting on finalizing up to half a million dollars in grants – from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the National Park Service. She said the city was approved by the park service in the fall, but being a federal grant, will come along slowly.
She said there is also a $250,000 local grant in the works.
The city has created a reformulated park committee to start some major fundraising in the near future and did a soft kickoff this past fall.
She said the city is engaged with the YMCA for a new facility that could also bring along a new city swimming pool.
“We have a great partnership already with the Y, and I appreciate them wanting the city to be a part of this process,” she said.
“More details will be coming, but the initial start has kicked off.”
Another goal was the park master plan and the park board has updated that plan. She said city staff wants to continue to work with the park board as far as amenities and park experiences.
“That is something in the visioning plan where each park should have something unique to it,” Liegois said.
She said skate park renovations are on hold as grant funding “fizzled out”.
“If we have a group that’s interested in upgrading our skate park, that is something that we should have a conversation around with Public Works Director Mark Bousselot, and also, too, the park board.”
She said preserving historical areas is also ongoing with energy.
“We have had several presentations with the Old Fort Preservation, Inc. I know (Mayor) Melinda (Blind) and I plan to have a meeting here probably in March to hear more about their plans and how does that move forward,” she said.
She said the Historic Preservation Committee has been very active with a revamped board and they have been working hard on the City Cemetery standing up fallen head stones and cleaning in the cemetery.
The city will also be participating in a countywide housing study and Liegois said she is sitting on a steering committee for that project, as well.
"We are participating in that and I serve on that group that includes Keokuk and other small communities, the county, and economic development. That will be kicking off and we’ll start to the see the work on that,” she said.