Mayor says LOST's passage is a must for city projects

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

It is said Christmas is a season of reflection and hope coupled with a look ahead.

During the Dec. 23 Mt. Pleasant City Council meeting, Mayor Steve Brimhall did provide a look into the future ? from the financial end.

Brimhall noted that the taxable valuation of property within the city limits will be dropping by about a million dollars. ?That makes the sales tax (local option sales tax or LOST) vote in May very important,? he said. ?We get about $800,000 (annually) in LOST so if it doesn?t pass, some things won?t get done.

?We will be prioritizing what we do next year in terms of capital projects,? the mayor added.

The city has had the local option tax for 20 years but a 10-year extension of the tax was defeated in Mt. Pleasant (as well as New London, Olds and Coppock) during the November general election. There cannot be another vote on the referendum for six months, making May 2015 the earliest possibility for an election. The measure needs a simple majority for passage.

Jim Warner of Warner Engineering, the city?s engineering firm for the North Iris Street project, said the street is paved to the north side of the railroad tracks. ?We hope to get it sealed Friday (Dec. 26) and then it will be opened. We are glad to have that much done, there has been a lot of excellent effort?If we don?t get it sealed Friday, we will do it on Saturday.?

Warner said that earlier this month Shipley Contracting (general contractor for the project) poured about 1,400 yards of concrete in two days. He added that the concrete plant, which supplied concrete for the project, ran out of materials during the last paving or else the street may have been finished a few hours sooner.

Council members approved a pair of engineering services agreements.

McClure Engineering of Clive will design and observe construction of a new runway lighting system at the Mt. Pleasant Airport. This is a Federal Aviation Agency (FAA)-approved project and the city will receive grant funds covering 90 percent of all costs.

Warner Engineering of Mt. Pleasant will be the designer and construction supervisor of the Savannah Street project at a cost of $40,000. Savannah Street is located just east of Hy-Vee and is anticipated to be home of a new business (Endotronics) next spring.

Brimhall noted it was essential that the city open the street (Savannah) as quickly as possible.

Bradley Gillis, a former officer with the Mt. Pleasant Police Department, was appointed as a police officer. Gillis served as an officer in 2007 and takes the place of Troy Melville to seek other employment. Because Gillis has served as a law enforcement officer, he will not have to return for training at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and that will save the city training expenses.

Chief of Police Ron Archer said Gillis ?did an excellent job? when he was with the police force previously ?and we are happy to have him back.?

Gillis left the force in 2007 only because he was living in Marion, and unable to relocate his family to Mt. Pleasant at that time, Archer said in a letter to the council.

?Brad is well-known and respected by officers in our department since most of them worked with him in the past. I personally find Brad to be one of the most pleasant people I have ever known,? Archer added.

Gillis? start date will be Jan. 5, 2015.

In the remaining agenda item, City Administrator Brent Schleisman was re-appointed as the city?s representative on the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission Board of Directors. Schleisman, a former president of the board, has served on the board for a number of years.

Council members meet again in regular session Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall.