Businesses Prepare for Obama Visit - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |

Leah Uko

Council Bluffs, IA (KPTM) - A visit from the President Barack Obama will make for a big day in Council Bluffs Monday. President Obama is on a three-day campaign trip. His first stop is at Bayliss Park Downtown.

The set up started Saturday and has affected some businesses in the area.

Rainy clouds move in on Sunday afternoon, but the weather forecast shows Monday morning will be sunny. This means President Barack Obama's visit to downtown Council Bluffs is still on.

And so crews continued to set up for the big day.

They closed many street entrances, blocked many roads and brought with them a headache for business owners like Arlo Burk.

"We had a reception yesterday for 200 people and I found out at 9:30 in the morning they were going to bag all of the meters and have all of the streets blocked," said Burk who own Bayliss Park Hall –a reception hall near where the speech will take place.

To avoid another run-in like this, Burk says he won't work Monday.

"They put a fence up on both sides of my building," said Burk. "And I had to talk somebody into letting me onto my own property this morning."

Even if the set up causes a major inconvenience, blocked roads and heavy traffic some business owners say it's okay because it only lasts for one day.

Other businesses like Godfather's Pizza around the corner are preparing for the expected foot traffic they hope will brings lots of customers.

"There are definitely people scheduled here from 11 o'clock on so—they've added one or two more people actually," said Godfather's Pizza's assistant manager Kelly Rose who is taking Monday off to see Obama.

An early audience also scrolled by Bayliss Park for a preview.

"I think it's phenomenal that he's coming back to the Midwest because this is the heart of the country," said Sally Norton who is volunteering with the Sarpy County Democrats.

Those against President Obama are preparing for his visit Monday also. The Republican National Committee of Iowa will hold a rally in support of President Obama's opponent Governor Mitt Romney.

"Three years of failed economic policy, three years of lack of economic growth now has made Iowa up for grabs," said David Overholtzer who is a Romney volunteer.

But all agree that it is nice to have a big name come to their small city—to make a big day.