Cementing work on Iris and Grand

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

Concrete will be flowing today and tomorrow in Mt. Pleasant as ?pours? are planned on Grand Avenue and South Iris Street, according to Jim Warner of Warner Engineering, the project engineer for both projects.

?They plan to pave South Iris Friday morning and do it all in one shot,? Warner told the Mt. Pleasant City Council during its regular meeting Wednesday night. ?They are well ahead of schedule.?

Grand Avenue paving is planned for today. Concrete will be poured between Baker Street and Winfield Avenue.

?We are also ?cutting out? the Mapleleaf (Drive) intersection and the intersection will remain closed,? Warner added. He said the intersection is going to remain closed because of a near accident with a construction worker and motorist. The motorist was confused, Warner said, because the intersection has been periodically closed and then reopened.

The engineer also said that sewer replacement work is ?progressing well up the hill. We should have sewer up there this week. There will be a lot of benefits from the construction. The next few days should be wonderful for progress.?

Finally, the alley reconstruction project near Two Rivers Bank and Shelter Insurance has begun, Warner added.

In other staff reports, Gary Grunow, city parks and recreation director, said the new outdoor cardio and weightlifting equipment will be erected at East Lake Park. ?In two weeks, we hope to have the equipment installed,? Grunow told the council. The 10-piece set will be erected east of the tennis court.

Staff reports highlighted in otherwise mundane meeting.

The council also received a report from Hal Morton of the Des Moines County Solid Waste Authority. Morton told the council that they could expect a $1 per ton increase in tipping fees over the next several years to offset construction costs.

Council members approved setting a public hearing for July 24 at 7 p.m. on the sale of a portion of West Washington Street right-of-way (500 block) to the current homeowner. The excess property is from the time when the state purchased additional land to increase the size of old Highway 34 and proceeds all the way to the front of the homeowner?s house. Since the reconstruction of Washington Street, there is no need for such a large right-of-way.

In another property matter, the council waived the city?s subdivision requirements on the Barton Estates Subdivision plan on 249th Street. Bartons have purchased the property of the Phillip?s pallet company and wants to break off the building from the remaining lot so it can be sold to Triple Seven Trucking. The planning and zoning commission approved the plan.

In remaining agenda items, the council:

? Approved Mayor Steve Brimhall?s reappointment of Mike Gardner (current board chairman) to a three-year term on the airport advisory board.

? Approved a request from Access Energy to allow the east-west road through McMillan Park to be closed Aug. 6 for Access Energy Cooperative?s 75th anniversary event. The event will be from 4-8:30 p.m. Access Energy made the request to ensure the safety of people who will be attending the meeting and crossing the road between activities.

? Okayed a memorandum of understanding with the Fellowship Cup if the city were to use the service of the retired senior volunteers program (RSVP). Approval was needed because The Fellowship Cup has taken over the program and needed an agreement on file.

Council members meet again in regular session Wednesday, July 24, at 7 p.m. in City Hall.