T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY Marshalltown Mayor Joel Greer is pictured presenting information on the city’s tornado recovery efforts to the Pachyderm Herd club Friday at Legend’s American Grille.

Marshalltown Mayor Joel Greer told the local Pachyderm Herd Friday he was a little disappointed he didn’t get longer with President Donald Trump in Dubuque Thursday.

“It was only about three seconds … the fastest receiving line off an airplane I have ever seen,” Greer sad. “The president asked how we (Marshalltown) were doing. I said we needed help.”

Greer said the president moved down the line and greeted the mayor of Bondurant.

“The president’s staff asked we bring a first responder, so Deputy Fire Chief Chris Cross came,” Greer said.

Greer said he was also disappointed he did not have an opportunity to meet two of the president’s staff.

It was Greer’s understanding from the White House he was also to meet them in Dubuque.

Greer was prepared to give them information about local organizations who were accepting donations on behalf of residents or businesses.

Late yesterday afternoon Greer said the White House called to inquire how things had gone. Greer said he was disappointed he did not have an opportunity to get the materials to the president or his aides. On the latter, the telephoner asked Greer to email documents to him, which Greer did.

The mayor also candidly addressed the possibility getting Federal Emergency Management Agency help. In a visit Friday, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) talked about how lengthy and sometimes unlikely the process can be to obtain FEMA funds.

“I am not expecting a FEMA check next week or next year,” Greer said.

Regardless, Greer said the trip netted extremely fruitful conversations with Gov. Kim Reynolds, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg and a Iowa Department of Natural Resources representative who gave Greer valuable information how pork producer JBS could get rid of building materials containing asbestos resulting from last week’s EF-3 tornado.

“I am a Democrat, and I love the governor for the way the state has stepped up to help us,” Greer said.

Greer also complimented Rep. Dean Fisher (R-Montour) for his assistance.

The mayor, in his first year of office after being elected last November, also praised Alliant Energy.

“I was extremely impressed with how they dealt with 10,000 customers being without electricity on Friday to having approximately 4,000 Saturday,” he said.

Greer also rebutted rumors going around.

“There has been no looting and our water is not bad … we have the best water in the state,” he said.

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Contact Mike Donahey at 641-753-6611 or mdonahey@timesrepublican.com