LEE COUNTY – Keokuk Mayor Kathy Mahoney is pumping Lee County Supervisors for help in quashing discontent in the city of Keokuk over a turbine donated by Ameren.
At Monday’s regular meeting of the supervisors, Mahoney spoke during the public comment section of the agenda asking the supervisors to explain that it was their decision to approve the turbine being located in Estes Park, a park in the middle of the city that is actually owned by the county.
Supervisor Chair Garry Seyb said he was on the board several years ago when the decision was made by supervisors to not oppose putting the turbine in the park.
“There was a lot of caution there,” Seyb said.
“I talked to the mayor (Tom Richardson) and he didn’t have a problem with it. Main Street wasn’t in favor, but they said if the Dam Museum wanted it there, they would step back from it. I talked with several officials and there wasn’t a whole lot of pushback.”
Seyb said any contention that the county wanted the turbine in the park is not accurate, but that supervisors weren’t opposed to putting it in the park after speaking with city officials about the donation.
“We’re two years into it and I don’t think we’re at a place now to back away from that,” Seyb said.
Ground is close to being broken to start putting the foundation in to support the 90-ton turbine donated by Ameren.
Seyb said he believes the turbine is still in Illinois.
Mahoney said there has been some discussion of late that the turbine could be placed in Riverfront Park or in the middle of Estes Park so it’s not in the corner near the streets.
“Now that we’re getting ready to do this, apparently there are those that didn’t pay any attention to things two years ago,” Mahoney told the board.
“I’m asking the board of Supervisors, since Lee County owns that property, to put an article in the paper; step up; at least say something to the citizens of Keokuk on why you want it in that park; don’t want in the park; why it was put there in the first place - just something so that the citizens realize that you, as a board of supervisors, chose for it to go there.”
The county has offered to turn Estes Park over to the city, but that has been rebuffed in the past, and Mahoney confirmed that sentiment Monday.
“The city doesn’t own that, they don’t want to own the property, this is your park and if there is a compromise that’s great, but we would ask that you guys take a little initiative to say that this is a Lee County and Dam Museum project and not the city of Keokuk project,” she said.
Mahoney asked if the county would consider moving the turbine’s planned location to a more central area of the park so it wouldn’t be considered an eyesore by some.
“I’m wondering if it couldn’t be located more centrally in the park. I know there is a gazebo there, but I also know that there may be a little leeway to set it some other place on that property so that people who think it’s an eyesore - it’s not.”
Mahoney said people think it’s the city’s project and would like it clarified as to why the turbine was placed in the park.
Work crews are ready to start digging into the ground to create the foundation for the turbine display, however Seyb said he doesn't believe the turbine has been delivered yet.
Mahoney said there could be a compromise, saying she spoke to Ameren and getting the turbine to Riverfront Park is an option.
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