City of Keokuk to Contribute Funds to Big Dam Street Festival

After some consternation from the council, the city of Keokuk has agreed to contribute financially to the Big Dam Street Festival. At the July 6^th Keokuk city council meeting the council voted to give 5 thousand dollars to the Lake Cooper Foundation for the carnival set to take place August 24^th through 27^th. LCF organizer Doug Matlick explained to the council that the funds would be used only towards security, portable bathrooms, and advertising for the event, which he hopes to make an annual undertaking. The funds will come from the city’s hotel/motel tax revenue which council member Susan Dunek stated is an appropriate use of those funds. Dunek also added that there is precedent for the contribution as the city has given similar amounts of money to events like the Rollin’ on the River Blues Festival. In other business, the council also passed the final reading of an amended sewer rate ordinance which will raise rates by 5.5 percent annually to pay for the mandated 78 million dollar sewer separation project.