Governor Culver at the Old Capitol today

Governor Culver Makes History at Old Capitol
By Jami Brinton, Reporter
By Jami Brinton
Story Created: Mar 4, 2009 at 5:26 PM CST
Story Updated: Mar 4, 2009 at 5:26 PM CST
IOWA CITY - Today Chet Culver became Iowa's first sitting governor in more than 150 years to work out of the Old Capitol in Iowa City.The Governor went straight to work early this morning, signing a proclamation declaring that March is "flood awareness month." Then, at a town hall forum, he heard what city leaders and homeowners say must be done to make sure history doesn't repeat itself. The Governor certainly got an earful today about what is working, and more importantly, what isn't working as Johnson County, the University of Iowa, and homeowners try to rebuild."It's about as complex and complicated as a recovery could be," said Governor Chet Culver.To help illustrate how history can play an important role in setting the stage for the significant rebuilding work that lies ahead, Governor Chet Culver picked this poignant place to reflect on what our ancestors taught us. "People who lived here a century and a half ago literally built Iowa and now it's fitting that we're back here in Iowa City - a city whose citizens are now rebuilding this community and helping us rebuild this state we all love," the Governor said. Among the many who gathered in the old Senate Chambers was flood-victim Louise Wolf-Novak."We didn't have any debt so we didn't qualify for anything. I thought you were supposed to live that way," exclaimed Wolf-Novak.Wolf-Novak lost her home in the Parkview Terrace neighborhood, and wasn't eligible for a city buy-out.She's now trying to rebuild her home and wants the Governor to remember those who seem to be falling through the flood recovery cracks."We're concerned about the future of our neighborhood and our neighbors," said Wolf-Novak.The Governor paid particular attention to Wolf-Novak after the town hall forum concluded.Governor Culver told T-V Nine he's glad she was willing tell him how homeowners are still struggling after the water has gone."It's really important to put a human face with disaster to really empathize and understand what people are going through," said Governor Culver. Wolf-Novak invited the Governor to take a tour of her Parkview Terrace neighborhood with her.The Governor says he'll do that when he comes back to work at the Old Capitol in April.