Vision Iowa Update - Extension
Office of the Mayor
and City Council
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
DuFBtJduE
~<k~
November 28, 2006
Andy Anderson, Chairman
Vision Iowa Board
Iowa Department of Economic Development
200 E. Grand Avenue
Des Moines Iowa 50309-1819
Dear Chairman Anderson,
As you may recall on March 8, 2006, the Vision Iowa Board approved
amendments to the Vision Iowa Grant Award Agreement between the Vision
Iowa Board, the City of Dubuque and the Dubuque County Historical Society to
allow for additional completion time for certain projects. I am writing to provide
you an update on these projects and to request an extension for one of the
projects.
Project:
Project:
Project:
Service
Third Street Overpass improvements - Completed
Component: Visitor Amenities, Greenways and Smart Growth Initiatives
Original Completion Requirement: June 30, 2005
Previously Approved Extension completion: July 30, 2006
This project provides for the replacement of chain link fencing with
decorative railing similar to what is installed on the Riverwalk at the Port
of Dubuque. This project is located on an IDOT designed bridge.
Art Elements - Completed
Component: Visitor Amenities, Greenways and Smart Growth Initiatives
Original Completion Requirement: June 30, 2005
Approved Extension completion: December 30, 2006
This project provides for the installation of rotating public art at the Port of
Dubuque.
Shot Tower Restoration - Extension request
Component: Visitor Amenities, Greenways and Smart Growth Initiatives
Original Completion Requirement: June 30, 2005
Approved revised completions: June 30, 2006 and December 2006
People
Integrity
Responsibility
Innovation
Teamwork
Update:
This project provides for the restoration of the historic Shot Tower. This
Shot Tower is one of few remaining shot towers in the United States and
the only shot tower west of the Mississippi River.
The City of Dubuque has been awarded a $295,000 Save America's
Treasures grant by the National Park Service to address structural
problems and provide an opportunity for interpretation of the historic
Dubuque Shot Tower. The State Historical Society of Iowa has awarded
the City a $100,000 Historic Sites Preservation grant for stabilization of
the Shot Tower and a $15,500 Historic Resource Development Program
grant for an archeological survey of the Shot Tower. The City has
committed $200,000 as part of the America's River project at the Port of
Dubuque for rehabilitation and interpretation of the Shot Tower.
The Shot Tower Rehabilitation Project includes stabilization of the tower
structure, an archeological survey in and around the tower, construction
of a non-combustible interior stairway leading to the top of the tower for
improved maintenance access and increased stability, a new roof to
prevent further deterioration, installation of an observation deck on the
roof and installation of protective barriers to safeguard the Shot Tower
from vehicular damage from rail cars and semi-tractor trailers that serve
the adjacent industrial use.
The federal Save America's Treasures grant requires an archeological
investigation in and around the Shot Tower. This survey also will provide
valuable structural information about the Shot Tower for the City's
National Historic Landmark nomination. This survey is underway, with
completion expected by the end of 2006.
The City has contracted Tower with Hasbrouck Peterson Zimoch
Sirirattumrong (HPZS) of Chicago, Illinois for architectural, engineering
and historic preservation services for the rehabilitation and stabilization of
the Dubuque Shot. HPZS is still providing revisions to the National Park
Service for the interior stairway and observation deck. The National Park
Service has advised us that a 12-month extension of the Save America's
Treasures qrant to November 2007 is advisable to allow for approval of
the construction drawinqs. bid and award of the rehabilitation contract,
and the actual rehab work itself.
Revised request for completion November 30, 2007
We are excited about what the America's River partners including the State of
Iowa Vision Iowa Board have achieved for Dubuque and the State of Iowa with
Phase I of the America's River project. We are grateful to the Vision Iowa Board
for providing the City of Dubuque and the Dubuque County Historical Society the
financial means to create a signature project for Iowa. We, in turn, have
implemented the project in a professional and fiscally responsible manner. The
success of our partnership can be seen in the tremendous recognition all parties
have received for the America's River project. We thank you for your continued
support.
Please feel free to contact City Manager Michael C. Van Milligen or Budget
Director Jenny Larson at 563-589-4110 with any technical questions you may
have regarding this request.
Sincerely,
Roy D. Buol
Mayor
Cc: Alaina Dierickx, IDED
Dubuque City Council
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Dawn Lang, Budget Director
Jennifer Larson, Budget Director