Lt. Ron Archer appointed new Mt. Pleasant police chief

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

Lt. Ron Archer, a nearly 29-year member of the Mt. Pleasant Police Department, was appointed the new Mt. Pleasant Police chief, effective June 3, 2012.

Mt. Pleasant?s City Council unanimously approved the appointment Wednesday night during its regular meeting.

Archer began his local service as a patrolman on Oct. 10, 1983, being promoted to sergeant on May 27, 1990, and moving to the rank of lieutenant on Feb. 13, 1995. Archer will be paid an annual salary of $61,900.

?We?ve heard really good comments from citizens about the police department,? said Mayor Steve Brimhall. ?The citizens have complimented them (police officers) on their professionalism. My understanding is that the department is happy with the selection of the new chief.?

Current police Chief Terry Sammons announced his retirement, effective June 1, last month. Sammons has been police chief for 16 years.

Council members passed the second reading of a proposed ordinance prohibiting parking on the north side of the 300 block of West Madison Street, but may amend the ordinance on the third reading.

The request was made due to the fact that the street is narrow and several accidents have occurred at Hannum?s Plumbing, which is located on the south side of the street. Accidents have occurred as vehicles have backed from Hannum?s Plumbing as parking places for the business are located in front of the business. The only way to exit the parking lot is by backing across the street.

?It (Madison) is an extremely narrow street and parking along any (portion) of it is not advisable,? noted Councilman Stan Curtis.

Council members discussed prohibiting parking in the area only west of the alley, which would cover the portion across from Hannum?s. The council decided to take a look at the street before the third reading of the ordinance, scheduled for the April 25 council meeting.

In other ordinances, the council hosted the third readings and adoptions of two ordinances which will increase city fees, effective July 1, 2012.

The first will increase solid waste charges from $3.05 to $3.15 monthly. The increase is due to the Des Moines County Regional Solid Waste Commission increasing its administrative/recycling/hazardous waste fees by 10 cents.

A second ordinance was adopted, increasing the sanitary sewer base and flow fees. The increase is needed largely to finance an inflow/infiltration study last summer by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and repair deficiencies detected by the study. The project will cost the city around $1.4 million. The monthly base fee will rise from $6.50 to $7.50 and the flow fee will increase from $4 per 1,000 gallons of water to $4.20 per 1,000 gallons of water used.

Council members approved the vacating and sale of North Lafayette Street between West Madison and West Henry streets. The city does not use that portion of street. The city will retain easement rights on 20 feet of side of the street. Two of the parcels were sold to Tom Maddy and the third parcel was purchased by Community of Christ Church. The parcels sold for $160 each.

Brimhall, in comments prior to the close of the meeting, urged motorists to drive carefully in construction zones along Washington Street. He noted that in many cases construction is occurring within several feet of traffic.

He also said that a revised tax-increment financing (TIF) bill passed by the Iowa House Wednesday could be devastating to cities. ?It is a very difficult bill for cities to deal with. It would undermine our economic development plans used in the past and make it difficult for us to do anything in the future. If there are no changes in the bill, it will put us in a very bad situation in the future.?

The bill must pass the Senate and be signed by the governor before it becomes law.

Remaining business saw the council:

? Pass the second reading of an ordinance restricting parking on the north side of the 500 block of East Webster Street.

? Approve a change order which saves the city $1,711.19 on the Marion/Monroe and Marion street improvement project.

Council members meet again in regular session Wednesday, April 25, at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.