In the past five years, the City of Bettendorf's debt has nearly doubled, increasing from $57 million in fiscal 2006 to $105 million at of the end of June 2010.

An additional $17.3 million in general obligation bonds are due to be issued in the coming fiscal year beginning July 1.

Bettendorf residential property taxes would go up an average of 3.65 percent next year under the 2011/12 budget recommendation being considered by the city council.

While the city administration is recommending keeping the municipal tax rate the same as last year, increased residential property assessments are projected to boost most homeowner tax bills between 3 to 4 percent.

A downtown Bettendorf used car dealer -- forced to relocate because of the planned reconstruction of Interstate 74 -- wants the city to rezone a lot at the opposite end of the downtown corridor to keep the firm downtown.

The city's Planning and Zoning Commission recommended against the zoning change over concerns a used car lot would not fit with the new downtown master plan and streetscaping improvements under way in the downtown corridor.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is asking for nine new employees and seeking a ban on open burning of residential waste in all municipalities to begin addressing high levels of fine particulate pollution.

The open burning ban and funding request to staff educational programs and enhanced monitoring of PM 2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter) emissions are part of a comprehensive reported submitted to the governor and legislature January 3.

First quarter earnings at Lee Enterprises, parent of the Quad City Times, were 42 cents per share, a 32 percent decline from 62 cents per share reported for the same quarter a year ago.

The company trumpeted its double-digit growth in online ad revenue in its quarterly earnings release, but the media conglomerate's overall advertising revenue fell nearly 2 percent compared to the first quarter a year ago.

National air quality standards were exceeded a record 85 times at various monitors in Iowa during 2010, including 33 instances in Muscatine, 10 in Clinton and nine in Davenport.

Four people, including a Bettendorf man and the former director of the Iowa Film Office, now face felony criminal charges in connection with state tax credits issued by the Iowa Film Office.

According to Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller those charged Monday (1/10) in Polk County Court were:

Issue similar to Bettendorf/Davenport problems

The city of Keokuk must begin addressing its raw sewage discharges into the Mississippi River under an agreement announced Wednesday (1/5) with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Under the administrative compliance order, Keokuk will develop plans and begin work to upgrade its sewer and stormwater systems to reduce sewage overflows into the Mississippi and its tributary, Soap Creek.