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Ribbon cutting marks opening of MPCSD RTM Facility
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MT. PLEASANT — The Mt. Pleasant Community School District officially cut the ribbon on its new Receiving, Transportation and Maintenance facility, hoping the modern space will ease long-standing operational strains and support future growth.
A ceremony held Wednesday, Oct. 1 marked the opening of the building at 1515 East Monroe Street. An “Alive After 5” open house, hosted by the school district and the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce, gave the community a look inside the long-awaited building.
MPCSD board members approved the land purchase and construction planning for the project more nearly two years ago. In October 2023, the board purchased the property for $150,000, with a 90-day due diligence clause. With due diligence panning out, the district moved forward with a desire to create a central receiving building that would serve multiple departments in the district, receiving, transportation, and maintenance.
Continuing to pursue this idea, the district contracted with engineering firm Thomas McInerney for $180,000 plus reimbursable expenses to design the combined bus garage, receiving center and grounds facility in November 2023. The motion to accept that contract passed — all but one board member voted in favor.
Transportation staff say the new facility represents a dramatic improvement over their aging prior site. According to MPCSD Transportation Director Ted Carlson, for many years employees found the old bus barn lacking. Staff often parked vehicles off-site and asked some employees to take cars home when space ran out.
“They deserve this new building,” Carlson said, referring to the drivers. “This is not a want. We didn’t want this. We needed this.”
Assistant to the transportation director Anna Carlson added that the new building provides much-needed functional upgrades, including more than one bathroom.
“We have a wash bay, a propane fueling station, and … our dumpsters and our parking … they’re not all on top of each other,” she said.
She pointed out that the former arrangement forced staff to jockey buses, vans and personal vehicles in tight quarters.
“That’s all behind us now, so we’re thrilled,” she said.
District officials acknowledge the move-in process was not fully complete at ribbon cutting, but said the transportation department had already relocated and central receiving was nearly finished. The board sees the project as part of a long-term facilities plan to modernize infrastructure and better support district operations going forward.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
