Sidewalk concerns voiced during city budget hearing

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

Sidewalk program?

Mt. Pleasant City Council members adopted a $22.04M city budget Wednesday but not before Councilman Tim Gray told his peers that he hopes to see more money for sidewalk repair in future budgets.

City leaders kept the 2016 property tax levy at $12.18 per $1,000 taxable valuation.

?I find it disturbing that we only put $5,000 to $7,000 a year in sidewalks (in the budget),? Gray began. ?The sidewalks are a safety issue when it comes to schools. I just think we are underfunding it. We?re not being very proactive.?

City Administrator Brent Schleisman said next year?s budget has $5,000 allocated for sidewalks. ?It is mainly for re-patching (sidewalks) around the square,? he said.

?Recreation trails are great,? Gray continued., ?but if you walk around town pushing a stroller, it becomes nearly impossible.?

Mt. Pleasant had a sidewalk program in the past but disbanded it four years ago, Schleisman said. The program was funded through road use tax revenue. ?If we re-instituted it, I would like to take the money out of the general fund or local option sales tax,? the city administrator said.

Mayor Steve Brimhall agreed with Gray saying, ?We definitely need more sidewalks around town.?

Brimhall also commended city staff on its work on the budget. ?I think we put together a pretty good budget and are able to keep the levy the same.?

During the special meeting, the council also approved the second readings of proposed ordinances regarding electrical permit fees, electrical permits required, and electrical contractor qualifications and adopting the National Electrical Code.

Following is the proposed electrical permit fee schedule:

? Commercial/residential: $0 for minor work in an existing panel (no new circuits added);

? Commercial/residential: $10 for adding up to two circuits;

? New residential: $50 per unit, single or duplex, plus $5 per branch circuit;

? Existing residential: $35 per project exceeding two circuits, plus $5 for each new branch circuit;

? Commercial work adding more than two circuits: $25 per $1,000 of the electrical contract, $800 maximum charge.

? Regular inspections: $0;

? Correctional order inspections: $25.

Permits and inspections for all installations and alterations are required, unless all of the following conditions are met: the installation/alteration is performed by a licensed electrical contractor, residential electrical contractor or their employees; the installation/alteration does not in any way involve work within a new or existing switchboard or panel board; the installation/alteration does not exceed 30 amps; the installation does not exceed 277 volts, single phase.

New language in municipal code includes the following definition for an electrical contractor: ?Those who perform electrical work in the city must be licensed by the State or Iowa, or by another state having a reciprocal agreement with the State of Iowa, unless specifically exempted from license requirements by the State of Iowa. Those who perform electrical work must work within the scope of their license.?

It also amends violations of the code from misdemeanor to a municipal infraction.

Finally, the amendment includes adoption of the National Electrical Code for the city.

Mt. Pleasant council members meet in regular session Tuesday, March 10, at 5:30 p.m.