It’s spring. That time of year when temperatures warm, mushrooms pop up and the outdoors beckon. Visit our parks and count on better air quality. Air pollutants are down, according to Iowa DNR’s emissions inventories. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide have decreased the most—down by nearly 90 and more than 70 percent. The DNR is looking out for Iowans’ health. The annual emissions inventory tallies reports from facilities that emit pollutants. Tracking air pollutants helps DNR ensure Iowa companies comply with pollution regulations designed to protect public health and the environment.

If you want to dig into the data, emission reports, and modeling and monitoring data are available on the air quality webpages. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency summarizes long-term air quality data across the U.S. And, just published, the American Lung Association’s State of the Air report shows Iowa has clean air. Find out more about air quality trends in Iowa and your neighborhood. Or, explore a few ways you can help keep Iowa’s air healthy. 

Air quality awareness week is May 2 – 6.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and The Iowa Departments of Public Health and Human Services are urging Iowans to prioritize their mental health. After the last two years of pandemic living, many people are realizing that stress, isolation, and uncertainty have taken a toll on their well-being. The state of Iowa is launching a multi-platform, multi-audience suicide prevention messaging campaign. The campaign targets Iowa youth as well as adults who are influential in the lives of young Iowans. Messages will run on platforms frequently used by a younger demographic, including TikTok and Snapchat; and placed on broadcast television and social media sites with an older audience demographic. The call to action for both campaigns is to reach out to Your Life Iowa. Your Life Iowa provides free, 24/7 support available for anyone dealing with mental health concerns, thoughts of suicide, substance use, problem alcohol use, or problem gambling. You can reach Your Life Iowa by calling 855-581-8111, or by visiting yourlifeiowa.org.

Access Energy Cooperative would like to alert the public to scam telephone calls that are occurring. Access Energy has received reports that community members have been receiving telemarketing calls self-identifying as “the utility” and requesting over the phone payment before utilities are shut off. Access Energy would like to make the public aware of these scams and inform the public that utility companies, including Access Energy and the Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities, will not call you and ask for your information. If you receive a call alerting you to pay over the phone before your utilities are shut off, please decline to respond, and remember to never give personal information over the telephone.

The Mount Pleasant Board of Education SITE COMMITTEE will meet at 4:30 PM on Thursday, May 5, 2022, to review/discuss:

1. 2021-2022 Buildings and Grounds Projects
2. Public Hearing Information for HVAC Retro-commissioning Phase 1
3. R & M Multi-Services Contract
4. Master Planning Update
   1. Traffic Study Update
   2. HS Line Locates and Survey
5. Pre-k Playground Update

The meeting is open to the public and patrons are welcome.

The Mount Pleasant Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on May 10, 2022,
at 5:30 p.m. in Mount Pleasant City Hall, 307 E Monroe St., in the large conference
room.
AGENDA:
1. Call to order
2. Approve minutes from the April 12, 2022 meeting
3. Make recommendation to city council and board of adjustment on Middle School
Parking Lot Site Plan.
4. Open forum
5. Adjourn