Union Block project to receive up to $100,000 in city TIF funds

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

It is impossible to discount the importance of the Union Block building as the centerpiece of the Mt. Pleasant square.

Occupying several store fronts and located in the center of the northern block of the square, the building is the cornerstone of downtown Mt. Pleasant.

That may be one reason why the Mt. Pleasant City Council, meeting in regular session Aug. 24, readily agreed to pledge TIF funds for the next five years to the building?s restoration project.

The three-story Union Block building, located at 109-113 W. Monroe St., celebrated its 150th birthday this year and earned a pot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. The building was extensively damaged in a January fire.

Main Street Mt. Pleasant recently purchased the building and will spearhead the estimated $3.2 million restoration project.

?This is a very energetic, but also a very worthwhile project,? remarked Mayor Steve Brimhall.

Main Street Director Lisa Oetken said the group will be applying for a $500,000 community development block grant (CDBG) for the project and as many state and federal grants as possible before turning to the private sector for donations.

?My goal and the committee?s goal is to start reconstruction of the exterior in the spring,? Oetken told the council. Tentative plans include using the first floor of the 16,875 square-foot building for a couple of retail businesses. The second floor will house the Mt. Pleasant Chamber Alliance and office space as a non-profit support center. The third floor will be restored to the original appearance of the Union Block Opera House and available for community meetings and gatherings.

The TIF money from the city also will provide the match for a $100,000 Challenge Grant from the State of Iowa.

The three tentative phase of the project include:

Phase I (which has been completed) ? field measurements and digital photos; schematic architectural study for re-use; detailed structural analysis.

Phase II ? renovation of the exterior shell of the building using the findings from phase one.

Phase III ? renovation of the interior of the building.

In other agenda items, council members tabled the awarding of the bid for Washington Street sanitary sewer project. The contract letting was basically tabled because the city has not worked with the low bidder and wants to get more information and references on the firm.

MEPCO of Wever was the low bidder at $610,708, which was $1,000 over the engineer?s estimate for the project. Shipley Contracting of Burlington bid $664,225.45 and the five bids ranged upward to $738,070.

Jim Warner of Warner Engineering, the city?s engineering firm for the project, said the project includes replacing all sanitary sewer and manholes that are either in Washington Street or across Washington Street from Z?s Quickbreak to Marion Street or roughly 2,400 feet. It also includes replacing waster lines from Locust to Marion streets. ?When we photographed the sewer lines, we found out the pipes are terrible,? Warner noted.

The project is expected to begin this fall and must be completed before Washington Street is reconstructed next summer.

City Administrator Brent Schleisman said the city will keep business owners and residents informed about possible street closures, etc. ?One we get a plan from the contractor, we will let the people know how we are going to deal with it,?

In remaining agenda matters, the council:

? Vacated an alley running north and south adjacent to the 700 block of South Locust. City Building and Zoning Administrator Barb Welander said she hasn?t learned of any opposition to the project. ?Everybody I have talked to has been in favor of it,? Welander told the council.

? Passed the third reading and adopted an ordinance redefining city voting wards. Wards have to be redrawn every 10 years following the official census to accurately account for population. There are only minor changes in the city?s four wards.

? Set Wednesday, Sept. 14, as the date for the sale of alley tracts in the Highland Subdivision adjacent to the 700 block of South Locust Street.

? Approved authorizing an easement for a pond for Jeffrey Lorenz in the right of way at 2485 S. Grand Ave.

? Was reminded by Mayor Steve Brimhall that for any sponsored event, sponsors should contact the city to learn of the requirements for use of any city-owned property or right of way. ?We are not trying to eliminate but coordinate,? Brimhall said.

Council members meet again in regular session Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. in the council chambers of City Hall.