Flagpole to be removed at the Muscatine County Courthouse

By DAVID HOTLE – Muscatine Journal, Iowa (TNS)

The flagpole extending on top from the roof of the Muscatine County Courthouse will be permanently removed.

Use of the flagpole ceased years ago and now that work is being done to the courthouse, the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors has determined now is a good time to remove the flagpole altogether. During Monday’s regular meeting, the supervisors approved a change order of $12,752 to Renaissance Roofing to remove the flagpole on the roof and cover the roof hatch it protrudes from.

Planning and zoning administrator Eric Furnas said there is no way to remove the flagpole from the bottom and that workers would have to put scaffolding up over the top of the flagpole, cut it into manageable pieces, and lower them to the ground.

courthouse

the Muscatine County board of Supervisors chose Monday not to reestablish a compensation board to determine elected officials’ compensation.

“It’s kind of a monster,” he said. “Its heavy-walled hollow aluminum. The cable system on it has been broke for years. We haven’t put a flag on it for several years because it’s very difficult to raise the flag up and down.”

The supervisors unanimously approved accepting the bid.

He said the contractors had recently given the county the bid to remove the flagpole. Furnas said the bid is to completely remove the flagpole and the hatch, not to replace it. Furnas also said that many years ago staff members had fallen off the roof trying to raise a flag on the pole.

Furnas said that after receiving the bids, he had examined the flagpole, feeling there should be a way to lower the flagpole down on the inside. He said the pole’s base is about 10 feet tall and anchored into concrete. He also said to approach the base, a person has to stand on a ledge.

“We thought this would be the opportune time to remove the flagpole and the hatch,” he said. “Any penetrations into a roof are a leak waiting to happen.”

For years, the courthouse has used a flagpole on the ground to display the flag. He said the holes left by the pole and the hatch would be roofed over.

“I think that location at that height is just not good to have,” said Supervisor Jeff Sorensen.

It was also announced that the supervisors would meet on Dec. 30 and would also meet on Jan. 2, 2025. County administrator Nancy Schreiber said that by law, the supervisors needed to meet on the first non-holiday day of the new year to hold its organizational meeting.

Photos: Pleasant Valley wins, Davenport Central places 3rd, Muscatine is 5th and Bettendorf, Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln and Davenport West also compete in Class XIII Pom at ISDTA state meet (Dec. 6, 2024)

Pleasant Valley captured the title in Class XIII Pom, Davenport Central was third and Muscatine took fifth on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association state championship in Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Bettendorf, Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln and Davenport West also competed.

Eagles soar at Lock and Dam 16 across from Muscatine

Eagles are visible flying near Lock and Dam 16 across from Muscatine on Wednesday, January 17, 2024.

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