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Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974

1971-12-15 Gordon M. Lane to The Honorable Wilson L. Davis Page 1

City of Fort Madison
GORDON M. LANE, MAYOR
FORT MADISON, IOWA, 95627

December 15,, 1971

The Honorable Wilson L. Davis
Iowa State Senator
911 Grand Avenue
Keokuk, IA 95632

Dear Will,

Following our November 11th, 1971 information meeting on the US-61 highway relocation.  I sent out self addressed envelopes to all those present, inviting answers to the question.  There were twenty three contacts made and just eight people replied.

Whether or not this is indictive is questionable but five of the answers favored the Highway Commissions recommended south route through the city and three stated a preference for the by-pass around the city.

Incidently, during my absence on vacation the first two weeks of December, another meeting was called by a committee to coordinate a protest against the southroute recommended by the Highway Commission.  According the the paper, this committee was made up of William Holvoet, Lee Co. coordinator of S.E. Iowa CAP, Virginia Harper, Secretary of the Fort Madison branch of N.A.A.C.P., Fidel Alvarez, Chairman of the local LaRaza Unida and Casey Lopez, Fifth Ward Councilman elect.

Also, according the the paper there weree 130 people present at the meeting including Mr. Henry Bagby from Ames, a representative of the State Highway commission right of way and planning section.  They voted at this meeting and the results of the balloting showed 120 persons favored a by-pass to the north around Fort Mdn, while only 13 present favored the south route through the city.

My main concern, on the matter, is that the Highway Commission will in some way act soon to relieve this long standing congestion, within our community.  As mayor, I feel obligated to listen to all the peopole and to pass along what I hear.

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City of Fort Madison GORDON M. LANE, MAYOR FORT MADISON, IOWA, 95627 December 15,, 1971 The Honorable Wilson L. Davis Iowa State Senator 911 Grand Avenue Keokuk, IA 95632 Dear Will, Following our November 11th, 1971 information meeting on the US-61 highway relocation. I sent out self addressed envelopes to all those present, inviting answers to the question. There were twenty three contacts made and just eight people replied. Whether or not this is indictive is questionable but five of the answers favored the Highway Commissions recommended south route through the city and three stated a preference for the by-pass around the city. Incidently, during my absence on vacation the first two weeks of December, another meeting was called by a committee to coordinate a protest against the southroute recommended by the Highway Commission. According the the paper, this committee was made up of William Holvoet, Lee Co. coordinator of S.E. Iowa CAP, Virginia Harper, Secretary of the Fort Madison branch of N.A.A.C.P., Fidel Alvarez, Chairman of the local LaRaza Unida and Casey Lopez, Fifth Ward Councilman elect. Also, according the the paper there weree 130 people present at the meeting including Mr. Henry Bagby from Ames, a representative of the State Highway commission right of way and planning section. They voted at this meeting and the results of the balloting showed 120 persons favored a by-pass to the north around Fort Mdn, while only 13 present favored the south route through the city. My main concern, on the matter, is that the Highway Commission will in some way act soon to relieve this long standing congestion, within our community. As mayor, I feel obligated to listen to all the peopole and to pass along what I hear.