It's slated to be another dramatic week at the Davenport City Council if Mayor Bill Gluba does what he's promised and advise the council to cut ties with The Dock developer.
The Dock Renovation Project has been in the works for two years. Todd Raufeisen, The Dock's developer, has planned a three-story, $11.2 million dollar project that will include restaurant, retail, and office space.
The City of Davenport gave Raufeisen an extension on the project's necessary paperwork until June 25. The city also agreed to fund $3.6 million of the project up front through a tax increment financing district, to pay for parking lots, utility line, landscaping, and an elevated walkway.
On Saturday, Raufeisen told News 8 he was ready to go with a valid lease and a valid agreement from the involved companies.
However, Mayor Gluba disagreed, and said Raufeisen didn't have proper financing ready for the project. Mayor Gluba said he planned to advise the council to "pull the plug and set [Raufeisen] loose."
Mayor Gluba said the Davenport City Attorney and Assistant Administrator told him Raufeisen wasn't telling the truth about his preparedness. The Mayor also said there is no way Raufeisen will start construction next week.
However, the City Council has always been in support of the project and members who spoke to News 8 on Saturday said they believe the project is still good to go.
"[Raufeisen has] made a lot of headway but this is not an easy project. If this was an easy project we'd have all kinds of people jumping ahead of him," said Gene Meeker, Alderman at Large for Davenport City Council.
"I know the mayor is not in support of it, he never was right from the beginning. I think he prefers green space, as do some other people, but as the council has said, we already have nine miles of green space along the river front. We need places for people to come, things to do, rather than just looking at green space along the river front."
Meeker said the City Council is set to discuss the project's status on Tuesday and decide whether or not to keep Raufeisen as the developer.
If they do vote Raufeisen out of the project, the City of Davenport will tear down the old Dock Restaurant through a different construction company, but Raufeisen will still have to pay for it.