First female firefighter joins Mt. Pleasant Fire Department

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

History was made Wednesday night by the Mt. Pleasant City Council as the governing body appointed the first female firefighter to the force.

Amanda K. Beik was appointed a fire department reserve, along with Michael J. Forbess. Council members said after the appointment that Beik will be the first female on the force.

Most of the council?s action fell under the ?routine? label as several ordinance amendments received second and third reading, a rezoning ordinance was read for the first time and the council will be refinancing debt and incurring new debt for street projects.

Ordinances read for the third time and adopted included a pair increase sanitary sewer and solid waste recycling and base rates.

The sanitary sewer flow rate will increase from $4.40 to $4.60 per 1,000 gallons of water. The Des Moines County Regional Solid Waste Commission is increasing its monthly cost from $3.35 to $3.45 for the recycling and administrative fee and the city?s base solid waste rate will increase from $2.50 to $2.75 per month.

Council members passed the second reading on a proposed amendment to an ordinance on swimming pools and where pools can be located on residential property.

A swimming pool is defined in the ordinance amendment as ?any structure, whether site-built or manufactured, intended to be used for swimming or recreational bathing, and that has the capacity to contain water more than 24 inches deep.?

Pools should be located in any required other than a front yard and be 10 feet or more from adjoining property lines, or if in a side yard or rear ride that adjoins a public street or road, set back from property lines in accordance with the setback requirements for the principal structure.

The final ordinance amendment will rezone property at the intersection of South Street and South Jefferson Street (Arbor Village South) from R5 to R3 (multi-family). ?At the time of the construction of the facility, it was outside the city limits. When the owner wanted to come into the city limits, it should have been zoned R3, so this is correcting a mistake,? explained City Administrator Brent Schleisman.

Council members also approved refinancing $3.9M in debt. Tim Oswald of Piper-Jaffray was at the meting and said by refinancing, the city will save $240,000 in interest and related costs. The average interest rate on the 15-year note is 2.25 percent.

While refinancing existing debt, the city will acquire new debt of $2.19 million. Money will be used for the Iris Street and Mapleleaf Drive street projects and to purchase a new fire truck.

Mt. Pleasant is hoping to receive a United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant to defray the cost of 10 new vests for the police department. Police Chief Ron Archer said the grant would fund about 35 percent of the $700 cost of the vests. He said the vests have a five-year life expectancy and deteriorate due to water and sweat.

The city?s Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance premium will increase 5.91 percent effective June 1. The monthly single premium will rise from $324.75 to $343.96, and the family premium from $811.89 to $859.88. Scheisman said he was ?real pleased? with the new rate.

In another fire department matter, Ben Calhoun and Alex Skubal were appointed as full-time fire fighters. They has been serving on the reserve roster.

Jim Warner of Warner Engineering told the council that workers have begun grading for the walking trail and placing storm sewer along North Iris Street. He added that progress has been slowed by the weather.

Warner?s firm, Warner Engineering and Associates, Inc., was awarded the contract to replace the air piping at the city?s wastewater treatment plant. The firm will be paid approximately $9,500 for the work.

In closing remarks, Mayor Steve Brimhall said city officials are thinking about starting some small street projects.

?We have about $150,000 in road use tax funds to use,? he remarked. ?If the sales tax passes, we will have another $800,000 to spend. The sales tax is the best way to proceed with the work?We have made a lot of progress but still have a lot of work to do on streets inside Mt. Pleasant.?

Council members meet again in regular session Wednesday, April 22, in the council chambers of the Municipal Building.