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Hendricks officials giving ‘due diligence' to project
By Cindy Iutzi/Gate City Staff Writer
The City of Keokuk and Southeast Iowa Regional Economic and Port Authority are waiting for a decision from Hendricks Holdings of Beloit, Wis., about the status of a proposed wind turbine tower plant in Keokuk.
“They continue to give due diligence to the project ... work out the bugs,” Keokuk Mayor David Gudgel said. “There is no doubt in my mind that if Mr. (Ken) Hendricks was still alive this would be going faster. If they do make a decision to come here, it would be a significant investment.”
Hendricks Holdings management is studying the wind turbine plant that Hendricks announced would be built in Keokuk at a press conference with Gov. Chet Culver in October 2007. Hendricks planned to begin construction shortly after and have the plant with 350 jobs in operation this fall.
However, Hendricks, billionaire entrepreneur and champion of the working person, died about two months later after a fall at his home in Wisconsin. His family and staff were left to run his companies and exam his plans for building the tower plant.
In addition to property for the wind turbine tower plant, Hendricks bought land and options on land in Keokuk. He purchased two additional Mississippi riverfront businesses, Orba Johnson Trans-shipment and Gateway Terminal, which were renamed Hendricks River Logistics and Southeastern Iowa Port Terminal, respectively. Both companies continue to operate and plan to expand.
Gudgel said that one of the biggest hurdles for the tower plant is the availability of rail transportation and how rails would cross U.S. Highway 61- under, over or across the highway “at grade.”
“IDOT (the Iowa Department of Transportation) has given permission, but BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe) tries to keep from going at-grade as much as possible,” Gudgel said.
Although an at-grade crossing is the most economical solution, he added, BNSF tries to avoid liability exposure as much as possible.
Gudgel describes the rail logistics as probably being a spur off of the main line before it crosses Carbide Lane through several properties owned by other industries, crossing the Highway 61 bypass, enter Kindustry Park and then go from west to south to the property Hendricks Holdings has an option to buy at Highway 61 and Johnson Street Road.
“We're in hopes of them making a final decision in June,” Gudgel said. “But I wouldn't be surprised if they need more time.”
Gudgel talked to a company representative Monday and is in contact with the company about every 10 days.
The incentive package the city and the state have put together is not a question for Hendricks Holdings.
“They know we're ready to help them,” he said. “The City of Keokuk has done everything necessary to help make a decision and we will help with an (easement) agreement with ADM. We're waiting to hear from the Burlington Northern railroad.”
Gudgel said the Southeastern Regional Economic and Port Authority board decided to remain intact for two more years to allow completion of projects like the wind turbine tower plant, Foreign Trade Zone designation, port authority master plan and port authority grant projects.
To preserve the board's continuity, the members amended its bylaws to allow Gudgel, Fort Madison Mayor Steve Ireland and Lee County Board of Supervisors Chairman George Morgan to keep their seats for one more term. Their terms expired last week in accordance with the bylaws, which call for the board to be free of political officials after the port authority's initial two years.
The amendment vote started at a port authority board meeting Wednesday and was finalized at a reconvened board meeting held by conference call Monday.
Board members Al Zastrow and Morgan, neither of whom attended the board meeting Wednesday, voted by phone in favor of the amendment during the three-minute meeting Monday. Their votes were added to the three aye votes cast Wednesday by acting board chair Gudgel, Bob Winckler of Fort Madison and Ireland.
No votes were cast against the amendment at either meeting.
The conference call was attended by Gudgel, Winckler, Zastrow, Morgan, Steve Larson of the Iowa Treasurer's Office who serves as an ex officio board member, Yvonne Knapp of the Lee County Economic Development Group and several reporters.
“We realize our main goal is to be an instrument of economic development,” Gudgel said. “It's taken the board two years to understand what it can and can't do. We have a number of projects coming up ... We've got a lot of fishes to fry.”
The Foreign Trade Zone application is still in the works in Washington, D.C. The FTZ designation, which Gudgel describes as “critical to Keokuk” to open up new sources of revenue, is being held up pending reconsideration of a drive-time study from the Davenport area to the Southeast Iowa region.
Steve Story of Indiana is working for the port authority on the FTZ project as an advocate and consultant. Staff members for U.S. Sens. Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley and Rep. Dave Loebsack also are helping.
Also, the port authority master plan is under way with Hanson Professional Services, Inc., Springfield, Ill.
In addition, the port authority board will continue to monitor several grant projects in the area.
The next port authority board meeting is at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 18.
“They continue to give due diligence to the project ... work out the bugs,” Keokuk Mayor David Gudgel said. “There is no doubt in my mind that if Mr. (Ken) Hendricks was still alive this would be going faster. If they do make a decision to come here, it would be a significant investment.”
Hendricks Holdings management is studying the wind turbine plant that Hendricks announced would be built in Keokuk at a press conference with Gov. Chet Culver in October 2007. Hendricks planned to begin construction shortly after and have the plant with 350 jobs in operation this fall.
However, Hendricks, billionaire entrepreneur and champion of the working person, died about two months later after a fall at his home in Wisconsin. His family and staff were left to run his companies and exam his plans for building the tower plant.
In addition to property for the wind turbine tower plant, Hendricks bought land and options on land in Keokuk. He purchased two additional Mississippi riverfront businesses, Orba Johnson Trans-shipment and Gateway Terminal, which were renamed Hendricks River Logistics and Southeastern Iowa Port Terminal, respectively. Both companies continue to operate and plan to expand.
Gudgel said that one of the biggest hurdles for the tower plant is the availability of rail transportation and how rails would cross U.S. Highway 61- under, over or across the highway “at grade.”
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Although an at-grade crossing is the most economical solution, he added, BNSF tries to avoid liability exposure as much as possible.
Gudgel describes the rail logistics as probably being a spur off of the main line before it crosses Carbide Lane through several properties owned by other industries, crossing the Highway 61 bypass, enter Kindustry Park and then go from west to south to the property Hendricks Holdings has an option to buy at Highway 61 and Johnson Street Road.
“We're in hopes of them making a final decision in June,” Gudgel said. “But I wouldn't be surprised if they need more time.”
Gudgel talked to a company representative Monday and is in contact with the company about every 10 days.
The incentive package the city and the state have put together is not a question for Hendricks Holdings.
“They know we're ready to help them,” he said. “The City of Keokuk has done everything necessary to help make a decision and we will help with an (easement) agreement with ADM. We're waiting to hear from the Burlington Northern railroad.”
Gudgel said the Southeastern Regional Economic and Port Authority board decided to remain intact for two more years to allow completion of projects like the wind turbine tower plant, Foreign Trade Zone designation, port authority master plan and port authority grant projects.
To preserve the board's continuity, the members amended its bylaws to allow Gudgel, Fort Madison Mayor Steve Ireland and Lee County Board of Supervisors Chairman George Morgan to keep their seats for one more term. Their terms expired last week in accordance with the bylaws, which call for the board to be free of political officials after the port authority's initial two years.
The amendment vote started at a port authority board meeting Wednesday and was finalized at a reconvened board meeting held by conference call Monday.
Board members Al Zastrow and Morgan, neither of whom attended the board meeting Wednesday, voted by phone in favor of the amendment during the three-minute meeting Monday. Their votes were added to the three aye votes cast Wednesday by acting board chair Gudgel, Bob Winckler of Fort Madison and Ireland.
No votes were cast against the amendment at either meeting.
The conference call was attended by Gudgel, Winckler, Zastrow, Morgan, Steve Larson of the Iowa Treasurer's Office who serves as an ex officio board member, Yvonne Knapp of the Lee County Economic Development Group and several reporters.
“We realize our main goal is to be an instrument of economic development,” Gudgel said. “It's taken the board two years to understand what it can and can't do. We have a number of projects coming up ... We've got a lot of fishes to fry.”
The Foreign Trade Zone application is still in the works in Washington, D.C. The FTZ designation, which Gudgel describes as “critical to Keokuk” to open up new sources of revenue, is being held up pending reconsideration of a drive-time study from the Davenport area to the Southeast Iowa region.
Steve Story of Indiana is working for the port authority on the FTZ project as an advocate and consultant. Staff members for U.S. Sens. Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley and Rep. Dave Loebsack also are helping.
Also, the port authority master plan is under way with Hanson Professional Services, Inc., Springfield, Ill.
In addition, the port authority board will continue to monitor several grant projects in the area.
The next port authority board meeting is at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 18.
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