Local, area leaders ready take on Washington

Annual D.C. lobbying trip is this week

By BILL SHEA, Messenger staff writer
Congressional staffers will get a crash course this week on the projects deemed crucial for the growth of north central Iowa.

Thirteen local leaders will head to Washington to seek federal government help for things like widening U.S. Highway 20 and redeveloping the old Fritt Industry site in Humboldt.

The group will be in the nation’s capital Tuesday through Friday.

Fort Dodge representatives have made lobbying trips since 2000. For the second year in a row, they will be joined by people from the Mid-Iowa Growth Partnership, a group committed to developing Calhoun, Hamilton, Hardin, Humboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Webster and Wright counties.

In a letter accompanying a booklet of material sent to congressional staffers, Fort Dodge Mayor Terry Lutz described 2007 as a very successful year for the city and Webster County.

‘‘Our continued pursuit of economic development resulted in several of our existing companies announcing expansion plans in our area, with additional imminent growth on the horizon,’’ he wrote. ‘‘2007 also saw the completion of two very important studies for the future of our community, the Envision 2030 Fort Dodge strategic plan as well as a business retention study. With the groundwork being laid for growth and expansion, the sky is the limit for our region.’’

‘‘With your ongoing support, we will continue to build the accomplishments of our region,’’ he added.

The group’s agenda includes the ongoing Fort Dodge riverfront project. The Army Corps of Engineers is now preparing plans for trails along the Des Moines River. The local delegation will be asking for $1.5 million from the federal government to continue the process.

That project has been discussed during every Washington lobbying trip. Since 2003, the federal government has committed $879,808 to it.

Dennis Plautz, the city’s director of business affairs and community growth, said the Army Corps of Engineers has been in close contact with Shive Hattery, the West Des Moines firm doing the recreation master plan. He said the final trail plans will be linked to the recreation master plan.

Other items on the delegation’s agenda include:

• Continuing the Lincoln neighborhood revitalization in Fort Dodge.

• Removing rundown buildings on Fifth Avenue South between 17th and 20th streets.

• Building an additional road and railroad spur at the North Central Ag Industrial Park in Webster County.

• Expanding the Advanced Manufacturing Training Center at Iowa Central Community College.

• Securing additional money for the Law Enforcement Training Center at Iowa Central.

• Widening U.S. Highway 20 to four lanes.

• Keeping the Essential Air Service program that supports flights to and from Fort Dodge.

• Installing additional aviation radar to cover northern Iowa.

• Redeveloping the Fritt site in Humboldt.

• Improving U.S. Highway 169 between Fort Dodge and Humboldt.



Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net