City looks to increase the bite in nuisance ordinance

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

Mt. Pleasant is on a mission ? a mission on how they handle nuisances.

Mayor Steve Brimhall said that dealing with nuisances is one of the most frustrating aspects of city government.

?The ordinance committee is frustrated about some of the clutter in town,? Brimahall said during last night?s council meeting. ?It is frustrating to sit in on the (ordinance) committee meetings and have people yell about the city not doing anything.

?We want to make the city look good by having people take care of their property,? he continued.

Brimhall said city officials have sought and received the City of Cedar Falls Nuisance Ordinance and may model a new ordinance after the one in Cedar Falls.

?It (nuisances) is becoming a big issue,? the mayor noted. ?We are looking at changing our ordinance. We want to make the town look better.?

He said the council will take precautions not to make the ordinance to restrictive while retaining its effectiveness.

A council work session, still to be scheduled, is planned to discuss not only the nuisance issue but also the animal ordinance. The city has sought residents to form a committee to study the deer problem in the city, but only two citizens volunteered to be on the committee.

Another matter that may be discussed at a work session is handicapped accessibility ramps for businesses along the square.

Ted Wiley, representing Bob Dowell, the owner of the Subway franchise in Mt. Pleasant, said Subway?s corporate headquarters had received a complaint of the lack of handicapped accessibility to its building at 125 W. Monroe St. (northwest corner of the square).

?We had a person complain that he could not get into the building with a wheelchair,? Wiley informed the council.

A request for a temporary ramp to the entrance was turned down by both the community development committee, which met earlier yesterday, and the council last night.

Wiley said Dowell was hesitant to request a permanent ramp because of the city?s sidewalk improvement plans in the downtown area.

City officials also noted granting such a request could open a huge can of worms since there are 16 other businesses on the square with a slight step to the entrance of the business.

Subway does have a button near the entrance of the building that people can use for assistance.

What compounds the problem is that there is no other legitimate entrance to the building, officials noted.

?If there are 16 other businesses in town (with an entrance incline), I think it would have some impact on our decision,? remarked City Administrator Brent Schleisman. ?Sometimes it is tough to accommodate new laws.?

Wiley said business districts in most communities across the United States have the same problem.

In yet another public improvement matter, Jim Warner of Warner Engineering, the engineering firm handling the Washington Street reconstruction project, said plans are to ?pour 1,000 yards of concrete Friday. We can see the end.?

Warner also commented that driveways have been finished at Family Video, Medicap Pharmacy and Casey?s.

Council members approved the hiring of Ryan Pilling to fill a vacancy on the city police force. Pilling has been employed by the Henry County Sheriff?s Department the past seven years.

?Our officers are familiar with him and know him,? stated Police Chief Ron Archer. ?I think he is a great applicant.?

Pilling will not be required to attend the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.

Five bids were received to demolish a city-owned house at 417 N. Broadway St. The low and accepted bid was from David Calhoun, representing Big Creek Contracting of Mt. Pleasant for $4,968. The remaining bids ranged upward to $14,780. Work must be completed by Oct. 31, 2012.

In remaining business, the council authorized the city to apply for an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant to replace 12 existing high pressure sodium street lights and add an additional 46 LED light fixtures on North Grand Avenue.

The lighting will be similar to that on Washington Street, Schleisman said.

?There is not a lot of light on Grand,? Schleisman said. ?This would provide additional light and be a great improvement if we get it.?

He said he had been notified by the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission that grant funds were still available for lighting projects.

Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities will be covering the 50 percent match with the total grant request amounting to $125,891.50.

Council members meet again in regular session Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. in City Hall.