Keokuk City Council Meeting Wrap-Up and Other News

The Keokuk City Council met on Thursday night and began the meeting by approving a consent agenda that included appointing Cole O’Donnell to the SEIRPC Board of Directors, Diane Bramhall-McWilliams to the City Planning Commission and Jeff Arntzen to the Rand Park Pavilion Commission.

They also approved different forms of liquor licenses for Hy-Vee Food Store and Rascal’s Pub & Grub.

James F. Dennis was officially named City Attorney, a move that will save the city money as they will only have to use outside lawyers for special situations.

A new budgeted dump truck will be purchased for the Sewer Department. The purchased truck came in nearly $65,000 under the originally budgeted $170,000.

The final plat for the re-subdivision for Lake Cooper Pastime Properties was approved. There was no re-zoning required as the land has always been residential, but the approval allows for the three parcels of land to be remade into a new number of parcels.

Ocean Technical Services was awarded a contract to complete an inspection of the Keokuk Barge in the amount of $10,000.

A bid from Dore and Associates in the amount of $247,900 to demolish the old Odd Fellows building located at 629 Main Street was accepted. The area on 7^th Street from Main Street to the alley north of the building has been closed since Dec. 6 due to the fear of the building collapsing.

Dore and Associates bid came in over $100,000 under the bids from other local contractors.

The council also approved an application for the Iowa Transportation Alternative Program. This application will be for a grant for funding towards the trail improvements in the city.

Finally, a closed session was held for an employee performance review of City Administrator Cole O’Donnell.

After the meeting was opened back up to the public, the council approved a part of O’Donnell’s original contract that will result in a $5,000 raise to the annual salary.

Earlier this week, the Hamilton School Board pushed through a resolution for a bond not to exceed $8.2 million for repair and construction on schools in the district.

The resolution was approved 6-1 vote and can be accomplished without a community vote due to safety concerns from the board.

Old Fort Players in Fort Madison is hosting a Blues Jam on Sunday, Dec. 23 at 6 PM.

Local Musicians Jim French, Dennis Albee, Ted Brooks, Eric Bartholomew, Joe Sanford and first timer to Iowa, Mark Sobus, all come together to do what they love while helping raise money for Old Fort Players’ upcoming productions and needed upgrades at the theatre. The blues jam is an evening of music with the musicians listed. Due to the time restraints, it will not be an open jam. Old Fort Players’ concessions will be open during the event.

There will be no charge at the door, but donations will be welcomed. The proceeds will go to OFP Community Theatre, a non-profit entertainment organization. You can reserve your seat online by making a donation.

In sports news, the Keokuk girls’ basketball team moved to 4-0 in conference play with a 60-47 win over the Fairfield Trojans on Thursday night.

Senior MacKenzie Northup led the way for the Chiefs with 27 points while junior Michenna Davis finished with 14 as well. Classmate Cassidy Koeber contributed five points to go with a double digit rebounding performance and earned John Hawkinson State Farm Player of the Game honors.

In boys’ basketball action, Keokuk fell to Fairfield 72-40 and found themselves down big early in the game. They fell behind by double figures in the first quarter and went into the halftime break trailing by 26.

Sophomore Isaiah Seay came off the bench to lead the team with 13 points, hitting several threes in the second half, he was also named Player of the Game.

Senior Alex Wolter was the only other Chief in double figures with 11 and also blocked a couple shots as well.

These were the final basketball games for the 2018 calendar year for the Chiefs and they will return to action after the new year.

Keokuk wrestling participated in a dual at Solon High School on Thursday night with the matches yielding the following non-forfeit results.

Midland (MIDL) 42.0 Keokuk (KEOK) 12.0

285: Hunter Shoaff (MIDL) over Jordan Salyers (KEOK) (Fall 0:43) 120: Damon Huston (MIDL) over Tres Merydith (KEOK) (Fall 0:49) 132: Griffin Gravel (MIDL) over Levi Boudewyn (KEOK) (Fall 0:47) 138: Cayden  Miller (MIDL) over Ashtin  Tibbits (KEOK) (Fall 0:51) 160: Kolbe Barnes (KEOK) over Alex Smith (MIDL) (Fall 0:54)

Vinton-Shellsburg (VISH) 54.0 Keokuk (KEOK) 5.0

285: Chris King (VISH) over Jordan Salyers (KEOK) (Fall 0:25) 120: Bryce Radeke (VISH) over Tres Merydith (KEOK) (Fall 3:26) 132: Bryce Laton (VISH) over Levi Boudewyn (KEOK) (Fall 3:39) 138: Brock Radeke (VISH) over Ashtin  Tibbits (KEOK) (Fall 1:42) 160: Scott Betterton (VISH) over Kolbe Barnes (KEOK) (Fall 1:44) (KEOK coach penalty -1.0)

Solon (SOLO) 78.0 Keokuk (KEOK) 3.0

182: Seamus Poynton (SOLO) over Zack Glasscock (KEOK) (Fall 0:15) 285: Michael Broghammer (SOLO) over Jordan Salyers (KEOK) (Fall 0:15120: Tres Merydith (KEOK) over Lucas Kampman (SOLO) (Dec 6-5) 132: Zeb Gnida (SOLO) over Levi Boudewyn (KEOK) (Fall 1:28) 138: Aidan Dall (SOLO) over Ashtin  Tibbits (KEOK) (Fall 2:44) 160: Andy Brokaw (SOLO) over Kolbe Barnes (KEOK) (Fall 1:56)

West Hancock boys’ basketball picked up a win on Thursday night with a 52-34 final against Clark County. Drake Hammel led the team with 20 points while Peyton Dooley scored 15 and Lucas Dorethy added 10 as well.

The win moves the Titans to 9-1 on the season and they will play in the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament at 10:30 AM, next Wednesday.