FOR THE 2ND DAY IN A ROW...A HIGH OF 47. YESTERDAY, WE GOT 43/100 OF AN INCH OF RAIN.

THE JACKSON COUNTY SUPERVISORS VERBALLY AGREED THIS MORNING
TO CONTRACT WITH HILLCREST FAMILY SERVICES FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR JACKSON COUNTY RESIDENTS. THE PROPOSAL CALLS FOR THE COUNTY TO PAY $70,000 OVER THE NEXT 15 MONTHS FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO QUALIFY. HILLCREST WILL ALSO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC FOR A FEE. SERVICES BEGIN MONDAY.
HILLCREST WILL NOT OPERATE FROM THE DOWNTOWN OFFICE WHERE THE GANNON DID, BUT INSTEAD, AT OFFICES THEY ALREADY HAVE IN MAQUOKETA AT 714 WEST PLATT STREET.

LAST NIGHT AT A SPECIAL MEETING, THE MAQUOKETA CITY COUNCIL APPROVED ALTERNATIVE FUNDING FOR THE ARC WITHOUT USING GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. THAT MEANS THERE WILL NOT BE A VOTE THIS SPRING BY NEARLY 500 RESIDENTS WHO SIGNED PETITIONS FOR A VOTE. THE REASON THERE WILL NOW NOT BE AN ELECTION IS BECAUSE THE PETITIONS OBJECTED TO THE CITY USING G.O. BONDS TO PAY FOR
THE ARC. WHAT THE COUNCIL APPROVED LAST NIGHT WOULD BE A $1 MILLION DOLLAR LOAN FROM THE CITY RESERVES AND USING $750,000 IN TIF FINANCING REVENUE BONDS WHICH WOULD BE PAID BACK FROM THE TIMBER CITY INDUSTRIAL PARK TIF ACCOUNT. CITY MANAGER BRIAN WAGNER SAID THE PLAN WILL NOT USE TIF REVENUES FROM THE PROPOSED NEW SUPER WALMART AREA. NEXT STEP, TO OPEN BIDS FOR THE ESTIMATED $4.6 MILLIONS DOLLAR ARC NEXT TUESDAY. A SPECIAL MEETING WILL BE HELD THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY NIGHT TO MAKE A DECISION ON THE BIDS. IF THE BIDS ARE NOT OVER THE ESTIMATE, THE ARC PROJECT WILL BE ON THE WAY TO CONSTRUCTION, WITH THE CITY'S INVOLEMENT AT $3.2 MILLION OF THE PROJECT COST. IF THE BIDS ARE OVER, THERE WILL BE MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT TO DO.

NO BIRTHS OR DEATHS TO REPORT....

THANKS FOR THE VISIT.

DENNIS VOY