River Currents
H O U S I N G ,
D E V E L O P M E N T &
T R A N S P O R T A T I O N
G R A N T S
Southeast Iowa RegionalPlanning Commission211 N Gear Avenue,Suite 100West Burlington, IA52655
S E R V I N G D E S M O I N E S , H E N R Y , L E E A N D L O U I S A C O U N T I E SS I N C E 1 9 7 3
S E I R P C & S E I B U S
N E W W E B S I T E S !
A Newsletter from the
seirpc.com I www.facebook.com/SEIRPC I www.instagram.com/seirpc I 888-753-5107
M A R C H 2 0 2 1
Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission
W e s t B u r l i n g t o n
T R A F F I C S P E E D
D A T A A P P L I C A T I O N S
Thank you to our dues-paying members!
City of Burlington
City of Columbus City
City of Columbus Junction
City of Danville
City of Donnellson
City of Fredonia
City of Fort Madison
City of Grandview
City of Hillsboro
City of Houghton
City of Keokuk
City of Letts
City of Mediapolis
City of Middletown
City of Montrose
City of Morning Sun
City of Mount Pleasant
City of New London
City of Oakville
City of Olds
City of Salem
City of Wapello
City of Wayland
City of West Burlington
City of West Point
City of Westwood
City of Winfield
Des Moines County
Henry County
Lee County
Louisa County
Dues enable SEIRPC to perform grant writing and technical assistance services tomembers by matching federal planning grants. Since 1973, SEIRPC has securednearly $250 million in outside funds for southeast Iowa.
SEIRPC serves its members through free grant writing services, grant administration,planning, technical assistance and managing public programs and funds.
THANK YOU
If you've happened to visit the website of SEIRPC or SEIBUS in the last two months, you'llhave noticed that they look quite a bit different than before. It's no secret that our oldwebsite was long in need of an upgrade, to ensure that users have access to the samequality and level of service as they would find when interacting directly with ourhardworking, dedicated staff members.
The results clearly speak for themselves. From the sleek, modern design of the text andgraphics, to the user-friendly arrangement of drop-down menus and document links, thisnew website has got everything you need to obtain the information you're looking for.
New SEIRPC/SEIBUS Websites!
SEIRPC staff worked with a private consultantto create a template for the new website, withspecial attention given to enhancing the easeof navigation for all users, from public officialsand staff to members of the general public.Visitors will find easy access to pastnewsletters, board packets, plans, publicationsand many examples of past work andsuccessful projects. Special recognition iswarranted for our Regional Planner, KanshaTiwari, for many hours spent coordinating thelinks, graphics, attachments, and maps nowfeatured on the website.
Haven't had a chance to check them out yet? Visit www.seirpc.com, or www.seibus.org.
SEIRPC Annual Public Service AwardsAt its January 28th Board Meeting, SEIRPC staff recognized two Southeast Iowacommunity members for their service to the region, through the presentation of our twoannual public service awards.
Mr. Keith is a retired civil engineer formerlyemployed by Klingner & Associates of Burlington.He is also a volunteer and board member withHeritage Trust, and was instrumental in the adaptivereuse project that created Preservation Station at213 Valley Street in Burlington. He has beeninvolved in numerous historic rehab projects in theregion, including the Union Block in Mount Pleasantand the Typewriter Shop in Burlington. He has alsoserved for many years on the Des Moines CountyZoning Commission, including 9 years as Chairman.
system, and development of the West Point and Country Lane Subdivisions. Mayor Walkersaid that it has been a pleasure to work for a community like West Point, which despite itssmall population size and rural location, has managed to accomplish many great things inrecent decades.
Next, the Leroy Meyer Award was presented to Dick Keith of Burlington. This award wasnamed in memory of LeRoy Meyer of Wayland, and it recognizes outstanding volunteercontributions to community development by a non-elected individual.
First, the Leland McCosh Award waspresented to Mayor Paul Walker of WestPoint. This award was named in memoryof Leland McCosh of Winfield, and itrecognizes outstanding public service by apublic official or employee on behalf of hisor her community. Walker has served asthe City's Mayor for 25 years. Among hismany accomplishments are: re-pavingAvenue D, replacing the City Squareplayground equipment, construction of theplayground and ball fields at South Park,upgrading the City's wastewater lagoon
Mayor Paul Walker (right), with SEIRPCExecutive Director Mike Norris (left)
Photo Source: Chuck Vandenberg, Pen City Current
Dick Keith (left), with SEIRPCExecutive Director Mike Norris (right)
Mr. Keith noted that he grew up in a different part of Iowa, but after coming here for careerpursuits and spending several decades in Southeast Iowa (where his wife is from), he hasno intention of ever leaving now that he is retired.
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$38,850 $44,400 $49,950 $55,500 $59,950 $64,400 $68,850 $73,300
Max.AnnualFamilyIncome
In early 2020, Great River Housing, Inc. was awarded a$690,000 Competitive Affordable Housing Grant fromthe Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines. This grantwill provide rehab work for 30 homeowners in our 4-county region. The grant will focus on rehab items suchas a new roof, windows, insulation, siding, electrical, g
Great River Housing Receives Grant forRegional Home Rehab Projects
INCOME GUIDELINESNumber of People in Family
Funding is still available for homeowners in HENRY and LOUISA Counties. If interested,please contact Carolyn Lees at SEIRPC for an application - (319) 753-4320.
furnace, and plumbing. Homeowners must be below the income limits for their householdsize to qualify for the program - Please use the table below.
The Federal Home Loan Bank is a system of 11, regionally-based,government-sponsored banks that supply lendable funds to localfinancial institutions, to support community investment in housing, jobs,and economic growth. It was initially established by the US Congress in1932, during the Great Depression. SEIRPC previously received fundingfrom this program in 2014.
Rehabilitation of this home in Mount Pleasant were funded by aprevious grant from Federal Home Loan Bank (2014).
The SEIRPC loan review committee has exercised some of the flexibility available withthe CARES Act RLF funds, offering loan clients 0% interest for 12 months and 1%interest for an additional 12 months.
To receive more information about these funds, and the SEIRPC Small Business GapFinancing Program, contact RLF Administrator Tracey Lamm at 319-753-4306 [email protected].
J&M Displays is a fireworks distribution business withheadquarters in Des Moines County, just west of theBig Hollow Recreation Area near Sperry. It wasfounded in 1980 by brothers James and Michael (J&M)Oetken, and since then has grown into a successfulnationwide enterprise. Unfortunately, this business wasseverely affected by the cancellation of most largescale events caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Theyhave struggled but succeeded in keeping most of theirstaff employed, waiting for the economy to recover.
Fortunately, SEIRPC has been able to assist J&M in their recovery, partly through theuse of funds made available by the Economic Development Administration (EDA)CARES Act. SEIRPC loaned $500,000 to the company through our Small Business GapFinancing Program, which is a type of Revolving Loan Fund, or RLF. Funds for the loancame from three loan pools administered by SEIRPC, with $375,000 coming from EDACARES Act funding.
Local Business Assisted by EDACARES Act Funding and SEIRPC Loan
Photo Sources - Left: jandmdisplays.com; Right: Jim Slosiarek, The Gazette (2016)
On March 2, 2021, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA)announced that it would be awarding $6.18 million to 18 communitiesacross Iowa, through the Community Development Block Grant(CDBG) program. The City of Burlington was one of the 18 awardrecipients, receiving $81,375 in the CDBG category of Career Link(Employment Transportation).
When SEIRPC assisted Burlington with their CDBG application in late 2020, it was largelythe work of Aya Higuchi, who had served as our Planning Intern over the previoussummer, and stayed on to assist us as needed following her graduation from Iowa StateUniversity. Aya deserves special recognition for persevering through the unique challengesof a professional internship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of the time, she did herwork remotely from Ames, which unfortunately prevented her from going out and gettingdirectly acquainted with the places and communities that her work was assisting.
Burlington Receives CDBG Grant forHope Haven Transportation Program
*In Appreciation*
Aya grew up in the Mie Prefecture in Japan, and attended ISU inAmes through a student visa program, earning a Master'sDegree in Community and Regional Planning. At SEIRPC, shewas involved in updating our Passenger Transportation Program(PTP), conducted and pedestrian traffic counts, and helpedprepare grant applications, including two that successfullyobtained funding - CDBG and State Recreational Trails.
We'd like to express our thanks to Aya for her hard work,flexibility and dedication over this past year. This played nosmall part in helping SEIRPC navigate through multiple largeprojects during an especially strange and challenging year.
The City applied on behalf of the Hope HavenDevelopment Center, with SEIRPC assisting inpreparing and submitting the application. The projectwill support expansion of Hope Haven’s supportedemployment program. This program assists SoutheastIowans with disabilities in obtaining and maintainingemployment. A crucial component of this is providingthese individuals with transportation to and from work.
That’s where SEIRPC’s traffic speed indicatorscome in! The signs have a ‘stealth’ function,where the lights are turned off, but the signcontinues to record vehicle speeds. The City usedthe signs to gather data on east and westboundtraffic over a 2-week period, and the results speakfor themselves: the average vehicle speed was 38mph, and 63% of all vehicles were traveling at 40mph or less.
The data gathered by the speed indicators waspresented to the City Council as evidence thatlowering the speed limit to 35 mph on AgencyRoad was justified. Following the approval of thischange to the City ordinance, the change wentinto effect in early March 2021.
For a number of years now, SEIRPC has had a Traffic SpeedIndicator Sharing Program, in which participating cities, lawenforcement agencies, and school districts can share in usingour four speed indicator devices.
In late 2020, we were pleased to see one of those cities applyour speed indicators in a novel way, which had a direct impacton public policy.
For decades, the speed limit on Agency Road in West Burlington has been 45 miles perhour. However, over that period, this area of the city has transformed from a long stretch offarmland to a well-developed commercial corridor. In 2020, the City contemplated loweringthe speed limit to 35 mph, which would be more appropriate for a roadway lined withnumerous business driveways. They also had anecdotal evidence that most motorists werealready driving around 35 mph anyway. But how could they know for sure?
West Burlington Uses Traffic SpeedIndicators for Local Policy Change
And to bring things full circle, our speed indicators were put in place under the normalsetting (with speeds displaying to drivers), to help enforce the newly decreased speed limit.Congratulations to West Burlington on using these handy devices to help makeimprovements in your community!
For information on our Speed Indicator program, contact Jarred Lassiter at (319)-753-4321.
When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit in March 2020, SEIBUS ridership quicklydecreased from 200 rides per day to 40 rides per day, an 80% decrease. Following asteady rate of low ridership through June, things had picked up by July, with anothersteady plateau of around 110-120 rides per day through the end of October. Coincidingwith the high rate of infection in Iowa in November and December, ridership dipped again,before heading back up to 120 rides per day in January. Ridership is now graduallyincreasing toward pre-pandemic levels, with around 150 rides per day in March, which isstill only 3/4 of the normal rate.
SEIBUS Update
SEIBUS has started the process to update our bus and van signage with added colors anddesign. We believe this will help make our vehicles more visible and easier for passengersto identify. Some examples of the new color scheme are shown below.
SEIBUS - Average Number of Rides Per DayBy Week, March 2020 to March 2021
Next, Robin Pieper has been hired as the AssistantScheduler for SEIBUS, and will serve in this positionon a part-time, temporary basis. This position waspreviously held by Judy Holden.
Robin will primarily be helping schedule SEIBUS ridesand coordinate drivers, but she will be involved with anumber of other miscellaneous tasks as well. She willbe out front in the atrium, available to assist buildingvisitors in getting where they need to go.
Robin grew up in Illinois and graduated from WesternIllinois University in Macomb, with a degree in HumanServices, majoring in Social Work.
STAFFING CHANGES AT SEIRPCWe would like to introduce you to two new members of the team at SEIRPC & SEIBUS, oneof whom is a full-time hire, while the other is part-time and temporary.
She has worked in a variety of settings, including mental health, family services,sales/project management, and IT. She enjoys being able to help others meet theirtransportation needs. Her hobbies include camping, hiking/running, traveling, homerenovations/decorating, cooking, and spending time with her family.
First, Julie Rappenecker has been hired as FinanceAssistant for SEIRPC. This position was previouslyheld by Lisa McPherson, and before that it was SherriJones, who now serves as our AdministrativeAssistant. The primary responsibility of this position ishandling accounts payable for SEIRPC and SEIBUS.
Julie grew up in Oakville and graduated from IowaWesleyan University in Mount Pleasant, with a degreein Elementary Education. She has extensiveexperience in professional offices. Her hobbiesinclude baking, bike riding, traveling, reading,watching movies, and most of all, spending time withher family.
Upcoming/Ongoing Funding Opportunities
Note: Deadlines and eligibility requirements are subject to change. Contact SEIRPC for moreinformation if you are interested in finding out more about a particular program.
SEIRPC Office Staff Listing (with years of tenure, as of January 2021)
DEBBIE BLACKLEDGE, RECEPTIONIST: [email protected] (2 yrs)
SUSAN COFFEY, ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR: [email protected] (27 yrs)
CHRIS CROWNER, TRANSIT SCHEDULER, [email protected] (3 yrs)
JORDAN FRAHM, REGIONAL PLANNER, [email protected] (<1 yr)
LORI GILPIN, FINANCE DIRECTOR: [email protected] (8 yrs)
SARA HECOX, GRANT ADMINISTRATOR: [email protected] (15 yrs)
ZACH JAMES, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: [email protected] (15 yrs)
SHERRI JONES, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT: [email protected] (12 yrs)
ROGER KELLER, TRANSIT DIRECTOR: [email protected] (4 yrs)
DAVID LAHVIC, TRANSIT MAINTENANCE MANAGER: [email protected] (< 1 yr)
TRACEY LAMM, REG. DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR: [email protected] (13 yrs)
JARRED LASSITER, REGIONAL PLANNER: [email protected] (6 yrs)
CAROLYN LEES, HOUSING ASSISTANT: [email protected] (2 yrs)
FRANK MASON, BUILDING SUPERINTENDENT: [email protected] (1 yr)
MIKE NORRIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: [email protected] (17 yrs)
JULIE RAPPENECKER, FINANCE ASSISTANT: [email protected] (<1 yr)
KANSHA TIWARI, REGIONAL PLANNER: [email protected] (3 yrs)
