Nothing is easy, ever. Don't forget.

So, rather than getting a quick resolution from the County Attorney, the DNR Director has now said that it is not safe for the bridge to go back in the same place. I don't know what his safety issues are, and it is not his project anymore, so cost should not be his issue. I just think he doesn't really want us out there.

So what to do. I've called in the big guns at the State Historical Preservation Office and we will see what needs to be done. I will be going there next week for a meeting with the Director. She also encouraged me to break down the grant writing process and deal with the bridge lift with the matching funds that we currently have in place. Pretty cool and a good idea.

Getting ready to put our needs out on the Pepsi Refresh grant site, so all you watchers will have to go and vote for that.

Going Forward

My job has been defined to looking and writing for grants, getting all of the details settled for the big bridge lift, creating the event for Vern and creating the music scene with benefits including increased awareness and eventual monies for the bridge.

To that end our last event grossed $281 less band expense (100). Not bad for #2. Word of mouth, a bit of guerilla advertising, facebook have all been great tools for getting the word out. It doesn't hurt that these musicians are some of the most talented. I helped subsidize the first raffle to establish the value and now we are on to the 2nd - a year's worth of haircuts from MickeyPat's in Grinnell. This is $120 value - raffle tickets are on sale now.

The event brought more musicians to the table and they knew others. It seems like we have the potential to have great fun with this - planning through the end of June with Vern's Seminar being the culmination of this run. Next fall - September through November - more Tuesdays? IT's been discussed.

midApril closing in

Time to figure out how to raise the last funds for the big bridge lift. Any ideas. Bakesales, bunny hops, egg rolls, kayaks, canoes. More, big donations would be great. Who has $1000 for us?

How to Raise Money in a Storm

Put it off to next week. Hail, wind, rain and power failure put a stop to the Lonnski's Pub & Deli benefit for the Skunk River Bridge. David Zollo had just finished his first set and the night was over. not much money raised, but a rain date has been established for May 4th. Almost Acoustic Tuesdays advertised in the Datebook Section of the Des Moines Register so that is good. Andrew Fleming is next.
Still working for the lift of the bridge, rain doesn't help. We'll see ya in the spring. Off to grant writing in a big way.

Friday - again

Poster is in good shape and hanging from walls all over town, hoping for a really good turn out, estimating bringing in $500 per show, that is my goal anyway. Need to create the Seminar handout so we can start getting sign ups, figure out what photos will go in the slide show, have receipts that can be filled out for any major donations, get the raffle together, have a table set up near the door that captures people's attention, maybe a free cookie or slice of pumpkin roll. Bake sale. So profit centers are a percentage of the take on that night which works out to us taking all the beer money, a wash and it should work out great. Raffle should bring in $100, plus the 100 from the bar take and 100 from donation at 20 people at 5 per, and half of the tips, less the artist rate. And then, the bigger donations for the bridge lift and to support Vern. I hope this works as a fundraiser...

Then engineer suggested that we do the following work while the bridge is stil over the water and until it gets lifted. Should I pursue with Peterson Contractors?


- The transverse outrigger support member under the bridge is hanging
down ready to catch debris. We should attempt to pull it up or
partially remove it so it doesn't hang down.

- Some of the stiffening (x-bracing and top strut) between the arches
will add stability to these eccentrically loaded members due to the
deformations.

- There may be other areas we could reinforce or ideas to catch debris
before it hits the bridge that could be considered.