Damm looks around for a second. “Yeah,” he tells the driver, “it will. Always does.”

Matt Milner can be reached at (641) 683-5359 or via e-mail at mwmilner@mchsi.com

Some areas still closed around city

OTTUMWA — While the Market Street Bridge and West Second Street at Harrows Branch are both open to regular traffic, some areas around the city will remain closed.

The Municipal Parking Lot by the Hydro Electric Dam and the adjacent skatepark parking area remain closed to the public. The only exception is for customers going to the Ottumwa Water and Hydro office rear entrance through the Municipal Parking Lot. The Water Works have established a bill payment drop-off box and customer service desk at the back door of the water plant. 

Some the paved sections of the Ottumwanoc Tribal Trail on the levee system has been re-opened to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Trail users can utilize all paved sections of the levee trail on the south side of the Des Moines River. The paved section on the north side levee from the Skate Park to the old Wabash Railroad Bridge is open to the public as well. All other parts of the levee trail, however, remain closed.

Persons using the open sections of the trail should remain cautious near floodwaters and stay away from the water’s edge. Touching debris that has washed up from flood waters is strongly discouraged as these materials are considered contaminated with bacteria and viruses. Hikers and bikers are asked to not disturb any equipment, hoses or sandbags on the levee system. Residents are asked to stay off all unpaved portions of the levee system.