From the desk of Mayor Jon Crews

Following the major flooding that took place during the week of June 9th in Cedar Falls and many other Iowa cities there have been and continue to be many efforts to assist residents and business owners. Cedar Falls has benefitted from the efforts of FEMA, Red Cross, and many faith based groups which provided immediate aid and clean up. Samaritan's Purse operating out of Prairie Lakes Church has been here for number of weeks and will plan to continue clean up efforts until mid Agust. Our Cedar Falls Utilities did and continue to do a magnificant job in keeping us all supplied with electricity, water, natural gas, cable tv, and internet services even though their main facilities were flooded. The city experienced much assitance from UNI, our public schools, and many local businesses. The levy on the south side of the river was maintained which protected a major Western Home facility, our sewer treatment plant, Downtown Cedar Falls and a number of homes and apartments. Also over 160 homes that had been flooded in 1993 and/or in 1999 had been bought out prviously and did not get flooded this time.

That being said there were a number of homes and businesses that suffered some sort of damage in June (many of which had never been flooded before). Following the flood of 1993 the mayor and city council in the mid 90s worked with the Corps of Engineers and others to see if levees were feasible on either the north or south side of the Cedar River. The Corps of Engineers determined that a levy could be built on the south side to connect with higher land west of the former Broom Factory and near the Western Home property near 12th Street. Because of the generally flat land near the North edge of the river and much vacant park and open space land with no buildings on much of the land north of the river, the Corps determined it would not work on a protection system on the Northern side. There are reports and data that conveyed those points available for anyone to see at city hall. On Sunday June 8 and Monday June 9 the city worked to warn citizens in areas we believed would flood to prepare for flooding and leave. We also provided sand and sand bags at Gateway Park and the North Cedar Fire Station for individuals and businesses for personal use. We worked one day on the levy on the south of the river bank when the river level was projected to rise to the top of the levy by early Wednesday morning. We continued to have police, fire personel, and National Guard units in Northern Cedar Falls who performed hundreds of rescues for trapped citizens.

After the flood crested the city asked for and received help from the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Black Hawk County Health Dept., Food Bank, FEMA, and many volunteers to provide a number of immediate food, water (drinking), shots, and answers to numerous questions at North Cedar School. Streets such as Center Street and Dunkerton Rd were repaired and reopened. Debris was begun to be picked up at the street from residents and city building dept. staff began to assess flood damage to all affected neighbothoods. Some citizens want to rebuild or repair their homes and many others want to be bought out. The city is trying to assist both those efforts. The city council suspended charging for any building permit for any property damaged by flooding and are preparing to apply for buyout money for those who want to sell their home and land to begin elsewhere. As mayor I asked for up to 100 FEMA mobile homes that people could live in up to 18 months. I have been told that 71 Cedar Falls families of various sizes have been approved for FEMA manufactured/ mobile homes which will be placed mostly in existing trailer parks in the metro area. All children attending North Cedar School last year will be able to continue going there no matter where their trailer is located if they want to. The city is also preparing to apply for federal and state assistance to offer voluntary buyouts of flooded homes. We have about 195 requests for buyouts.

On Monday July 28 the city council also approved the creation of a 11 to 13 member citizen task force to look at how we can work to improve Northern Cedar Falls as we move forward into the future. Two city councilmember are also working on a statewide Rebuild Iowa Task Force. Feel free to call me at 268-5119 with any questions or ideas. Many groups are continuing to raise funds to assist with short term and long floof related issues. The Cedar Falls Civic Foundation has at least two additional fund raisers scheduled by them and others and are looking toward cooperating with others to see if we can address issues such as safe drinking water.

The recent tornado that swept through north of our city had tragic consequences for many people who live in surrounding communities. As of now there are seven deaths reported, hundreds of homes seriously damaged or totally destroyed, and many injuries. These types of disasters bring out the best of responses from many Iowans. I know that Cedar Falls sent fire officers, police officers, public works employees and city utility employees to assist calls for help from Parkersburg - which was the hardest hit community. I ask our fellow citizens to consider joining myself and others by contributing to relief efforts to assist individual families through the local chapter of the American Red Cross Hawkeye Chapter, 2530 University Ave., PO Box 1680, Waterloo, Iowa 50704. Any check should indicate on it that you want it to go to tornado victims.

Thank you for anything you can and chooose to do.

At the city council meeting of April 28 the Cedar Falls council approved a contract with JJR a land use consulting firm from Madison, Wisconsin to work with local stakeholders to review possible uses of the former Broom Factory Restaurant site and some city owned land next to it. On May 13 at city hall there was an open meeting that any citizen could come and share their thoughts about what should be done with that site. The consultants had been sent information about the site before arriving that day and had met with various groups before the open meeting. Following the public meeting the consultants meet with 13 people representing city staff, the Chamber of Commerce, Cedar Falls Community Main Street, the Cedar Falls Historical Society, the Oster Regent Theater, the private developer, and the Overman Park Neighborhood Association. The consultants took ideas expressed by the group and developed 6 potential land use drawings including open spaces, parking and development. The consultants met with the citizen group over the lunch hour on May 14th and then narrowed their concepts down to two major proposals which were discussed extensively for almost 3 hours that evening. After that discussion they went back to Madison where they will refine their recommendtions and make a three demensional model to present back to the committee by May 28th. Eventually a recommendation will be forwarded to the city council for their review. The city was asked by a number of citizens and organizations to step back from the proposals that had been initially presented and think seriously about the best long term use for that prominant corner of our city. I believe the process the council adopted is accomplishing that desire.

I am pleased to announce that I have created this page for periodic posting of information concerning Cedar Falls city issues. City mayors and city managers across the country have begun posting to blogs to inform citizens about city issues. This blog is meant to encourage discussion and information dissemination. While citizen comments left here will not be posted, I will receive and review this valuable feedback. My phone number, 268-5119, and city e-mail address, jon.crews@cedarfalls.com, are still available to reach me, and I receive mail at 220 Clay St., Cedar Falls, IA 50613.

Here I will concentrate on issues that I believe are complex and may need additional clarification. We have a great city and I remain committed to making it better. Please feel free to e-mail me with issues that you feel could use some additional information.