Demolition on Davenport's riverfront should begin this week as crews prepare to take down the land-based entrance to an old riverboat casino, while the effort to move the 30,000-square-foot barge is still in limbo after months of delays.
The old Rhythm City Casino barge is now the responsibility of the city of Keokuk after Davenport donated it to whoever agreed to pay the moving costs.
But Keokuk city administrator Aaron Burnett says the move has been delayed because potential contractors weren't able to get ahold of the proper equipment required to move the barge.
"When the flooding occurred it kind of backed up a lot of commodities traffic along the river, so those goods were not moving up and down the river which meant was a backlog which meant that kind of had to work it's way throwing the system," Burnett said. "You know it's kind of like trying to get a last minute airline flight -- there's only so many seats and frankly you're kind of subject to whatever planes are moving."
Burnett says the Keokuk City Council hopes to choose a contractor to move the barge by next week.
Even if a contract is awarded, he's not sure how soon the barge will be moved after that.