The City of Keokuk is moving ahead with plans to raise tolls on the railroad bridge over the Mississippi River after the Keokuk City Council rejected a proposed maintenance partnership with Keokuk Junction Railway.
At Thursday’s regular meeting, council members weighed two options: a memorandum of understanding with the railroad tied to a possible federal grant for bridge repairs, or an ordinance increasing the bridge toll from $37 per rail car to $70 starting July 1, with annual 3% increases after that.
City Administrator Jim Ferneau recommended the ordinance, saying the higher toll would move the city closer to covering the bridge’s operating costs while building funds for future repairs.
The council approved the first reading of the $70 per car toll. Because members did not vote to waive additional readings, the measure must come back before the council at least one more time before becoming final.
