Mount Pleasant, IA- The City of Mount Pleasant held their City Council meeting last night at City Hall with last discussions of RAGBRAI, approvals of different projects, and a public hearing on the appeal of a dangerous animal determination.
Once roll call was finished, the meeting began with an approval of old business, which included:
-Amplified sound permits for Paul Revere’s Pizza from 7 pm to 2 am and Lisa Pforr for 5 pm to 7 pm for Friday July 26th.
-Renewal of a Class C Retail Alcohol License for Jefferson Street Grill and Main Street Mount Pleasant and an amended Class C Retail Alcohol License for Westside Tap to include outdoor service for RAGBRAI.
-Lastly, a request from the Knights of Columbus to have alcohol at the East Lake Park Softball Complex on August 2nd and 3rd.
The Council also approved the resolution in support of the property tax levy for Emergency Medical Services-Essential Services in Henry County. More information on the tax levy:
-A public vote of at least 60% majority on September 10th would ensure that this service will continue. In this instance, the $0.27 cent current tax levy would be removed from the hospital budget and replaced with a new $0.75 cent essential services tax.
Rachel Lindeen of the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce and Lisa Oetken of Main Street Mount Pleasant reminded everyone that the downtown roads will be closed after 4 pm on Thursday with everything being reopened on Saturday with the police department helping with traffic flow.
Additionally, at 7:30 pm on Friday, along with RAGBRAI Gives Back, there will be a donation of at least $5,100 towards Lee Town Parks. The duo also thanked the council and the community for all their help preparing for RAGBRAI.
In terms of new business, there was a public hearing to appeal the dangerous animal order issued by the Mount Pleasant Police Department to Ryan and Wie Yeager, owners of a dog that attempted to attack a victim and their dog.
Community Service Officer Jared Walker led off the hearing discussing a few of the 12 reports of aggressive behavior over the past two years against the Yeager’s dog, Coco, with the first event occurring back on June 8th, 2023.
The dog had exhibited aggressive behavior in terms of chasing, barking, and scratching a victim, resulting in a potentially dangerous animal order being placed on the dog. The orders involved building a fence for their backyard, supervision outside the house, or muzzling the dog when outside.
The orders were not followed leading to more reports against Coco bringing about the dangerous animal order. The argument for the order being that the animal, despite not biting anyone, is “not naturally tame nor gentle.”
The Yeager’s, who have been communitive during the entire process, understood and took responsibility but were asking for some leniency.
Ultimately, the council voted to affirm the dangerous animal determination. The Yeager’s can now appeal the notion and resolve it in court, move the dog out of city limits, or put the dog down.
After the public hearing, the council approved the resolution to accept the HES Industrial Park-Sanitary Sewer Extension and approved a change to Order #2 that involved a decrease of $6,200.
The council also approved:
-A new Retail Permit for Cigarette/Tobacco/Vapor Sales for Mount Pleasant BP.
-The hiring of Marcus Mullin as Parks Supervisor.
-The Change Order #2 for the Waste Water Treatment Plant Disinfection Project. A decrease of $3,296.10 as a result of balancing the cost of designed quantities compared to actual as built quantities.
-An acceptance of the Main Waster Water Treatment Plant Improvements-Disinfection Plan project as it has been completed in conformance with the contract documents according to Shane Oyler, Project Engineer. A project several years in the making.
-Bruce Oviatt and Beau Bergmann reappointed to 3-year terms on the Airport Advisory Committee.
-Lastly, a resolution for the mayor to execute a Mortgage Release on behalf of the City Council for mortgage assistance that was granted under the City Housing Assistance Program. The owner will pay back the balance of $8,200.
The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 14th, at 5:30 pm at City Hall, the second-floor meeting room.