State I-JOBS figures benefit area
$5M slated for local roads and bridgesBy BILL SHEA, Messenger staff writer
Fact Box
I-JOBS money for area cities
Algona - $55,629
Clarion - $28,759
Eagle Grove - $35,969
Emmetsburg - $37,829
Fort Dodge - $254,929
Gowrie - $10,058
Humboldt - $43,139
Manson - $18,343
Pocahontas - $19,089
Rockwell City - $21,550
Sac City - $22,945
Webster City - $79,224
I-JOBS money for area counties
Calhoun - $210,447
Greene - $208,090
Hamilton - $211,314
Humboldt- $168,389
Kossuth - $373,590
Palo Alto - $198,351
Pocahontas - $217,788
Sac - $217,215
Webster - $316,770
Wright - $209,682
About $5 million from Iowa's new I-JOBS program will be invested in roads and bridges in the Fort Dodge area over the next two years, state officials reported Thursday.
Fort Dodge will receive $254,929, the most of any local city, according to information provided by Gov. Chet Culver's staff.
Among area counties, Kossuth County will be the biggest I-JOBS beneficiary. That county is slated to receive $373,590.
Culver announced the funding levels Thursday morning. Local officials have yet to decide how to spend the money.
''We're reading through the qualifications now to make sure that our road projects will qualify for what they want us to use the money for,'' said Ed Sadler, the city manager in Webster City.
Webster City will receive $79,224. Sadler said that thanks to the I-JOBS money, a repaving job will probably be done earlier than planned.
While local officials still must decide how to invest the money, specific amounts are earmarked for work on state-owned bridges. Three bridges in the Fort Dodge region will be repaired or replaced with I-JOBS money.
Those bridge projects are:
Repaving the Iowa Highway 7 bridge over the Canadian National Railroad tracks in Calhoun County ($620,000);
Rehabilitating the Iowa Highway 15 bridge over Beaver Creek two miles north of Rolfe in Pocahontas County ($500,000);
Replacing the U.S. Highway 71 bridge over an unnamed stream about two miles south of Lake View in Sac County ($731,000).
The Iowa Highway 7 bridge work is the latest project announced for that route, which is now being repaved between Fort Dodge and the border of Webster and Calhoun counties. Money from the federal stimulus law called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is paying for that job.
''I-JOBS is about creating jobs, improving our infrastructure and strengthening our economy,'' Culver said in a statement issued by his office. ''Today, I'm proud to announce that, within a matter of days, these funds will be flowing to every community in Iowa. I-JOBS will not only fix our roads but create new jobs and new opportunities for our communities and build a stronger, safer Iowa.''
Creating I-JOBS topped Culver's agenda this year. On March 17, he came to Fort Dodge and asked residents to lobby their legislators for passage of the program.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net
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Paladin
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07-26-09 1:15 PM
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Never-the-less happyface, the rains were enough and spread out that they did impact the work. If you don't believe it, fine. No, I am not the contractor. I have nothing to do with the project other that I support it as a good idea and a much needed improvement and I am willing to wait for the improvement while they do the job. You would think people have never been around construction projects before they way the complain about them. If we do them complain, if don't do them complain. How can you possibly be a happface? I remember the widening of highway 20 in 1975-76. Took a long time. I lived right on the street. It was worth the wait.
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hybernation
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07-24-09 8:36 PM
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i wonder if this means 1st ave. north & 1st ave. south will be repaved, those roads are awful!
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hybernation
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07-24-09 8:34 PM
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guess that was a big waste of money resurfacing the karl king bridge then to find out it's not a safe bridge. if it was me i would of inspected it before i started resurfacing it.
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happyface
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07-24-09 2:20 PM
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That means our average rain toatls for April thru July is 18.41" and we have only received 9.75" (unless we get more than 8" in the next week).
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happyface
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07-24-09 2:17 PM
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Well, it's a good thing we have been below the precipitation averages for the year so far or this project could turn into a 4 year plan. By the way, does the roundabout need to be redone? Here are the precipitation totals and averages since the beginning of April: April 4.43" average - 1.81" actual May 4.38" average - 2.76" actual June 5.12" average - 3.54" actual July so far 4.48" average - 1.64" actual Are you the contractor???
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Paladin
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07-24-09 12:31 PM
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They have the money unhappy. Rain delayed the project.
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happyface
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07-24-09 9:40 AM
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Maybe they can use some of this money to finish the 2 year project for North 32nd. How the heck can a 1/4 mile stretch of road take sooooo long? I hope the contractor never gets another bid in this city.
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