Author: Theresa Rose

The Mount Pleasant City Council passed the fiscal year 2024 budget at the regular meeting held Wednesday.  The tax asking will be $12.55 per $1,000 of taxable valuation.

The first reading of an amendment to the Ordinance code increasing the cost of the Recycling/Hazchem center fee that the City is charged by Des Moines County Regional Solid Waste Commission. The increase would be ten cents from $4.15 to $4.25 cents beginning July 1.

Several contracts were approved…Johnson Controls will continue to provide technical support for the Library/Civic Center HVAC system. The Air Advantage contract for management of the Municipal airport was approved for another year and the agreement with the Mount Pleasant Benefitted District was renewed for another two years.

Dustin Thomas was appointed to the fire department as a fire fighter on the recommendation of Chief Drew Schumacher.

The Council approved the site plan for Whaley Auto Works at 915 West Washington.

The National Weather Service Red Flag Warning continues until 8 pm Thursday, 4-13-23. This warning is for Eastern Iowa, Northwest Illinois, and Northeast Missouri. Several conditions exist that are creating this extreme fire weather danger…strong southwest winds gusting 25 to 35 miles per hour, unusually warm temperatures, very low relative humidity levels and dry vegetation. Avoid outdoor burning, as well as any other activities with open flames or sparks, don’t use vehicles or equipment on dry grass.

DES MOINES, IA — Marijuana laws are changing across the country. What hasn’t changed are the legalities behind impaired driving. In Iowa, recreational consumption and possession of cannabis is illegal. On April 20, also known as ‘420’, there may be an increase in cannabis consumption. To help keep drug-impaired drivers off the road, the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau is partnering with law enforcement to remind drivers; drug-impaired driving is dangerous and illegal.  If You Feel Different, You Drive Different.

In Iowa, from 2020-2022, preliminary data shows 36% of impaired driving fatalities involved drug use. If you think being high won’t affect your driving, you’re wrong. It has been proven marijuana can slow reaction times, impair cognitive performance, and make it more difficult for drivers to stay in their lane.

GTSB’s Todd Olmstead, coordinator for Iowa’s Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Program, says, “High, stoned, or wasted: it doesn’t matter what term you use, if you are impaired, do not get behind the wheel. Our DRE Experts assist local law enforcement in the detection of drug-impaired drivers. If you think you can get away with driving high, you’re mistaken.”

Those who plan to consume cannabis on ‘420’ (or any day) should not drive. If you find yourself drug-impaired and stranded with your vehicle, give your keys to a sober driver. If you have a friend who is about to drive high, take the keys and help them get home safely.

By working together, we can save lives and help keep Iowa’s roads safe.

AGENDA

April 13, 2023

Approve Agenda

Approve Minutes

Approve Claims

9:00 Caleb Waters, Conservation Monthly Update

Other County Business as time allows

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

April 14, 2023

At Mt Pleasant Community High School

9:00 To Speak at Career Day

The National Weather Service has updated the Red Flag Warning for the rest and Wednesday, 4/12 and all of Thursday, 4/13. Very high to extreme fire danger will be found across the area through this evening and again Thursday afternoon and evening.

Unseasonably warm temperatures peaking in the lower to mid 80s, gusty southwest winds of 25 to 40 mph, and minimum RH values of 20 to 25 percent will lead to critical fire weather conditions for much of eastern Iowa, northeast Missouri, and northwest Illinois into the evening today and again tomorrow afternoon and evening.  Outdoor burning should be avoided.