Iowa Wesleyan University’s closure has conjured speculation and questions as to what would happen to the surrounding buildings and property. Answers have slowly started funneling their way to the community.

A private individual, a well-known developer in Southeast Iowa, has purchased the East Hershey and West Hershey buildings along with both dorm buildings.

A different local buyer has purchased the Science Hall and Nemitz Suites; however, no information has been released on the plans for the buildings due to a non-disclosure agreement. The same local buyer is also discussing the possibility of purchasing the library, but the closing entity on the Iowa Wesleyan University has repairs to complete before closing can occur.

The City of Mount Pleasant is in conversations to purchase the white building closest to The Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities building. The City of Mount Pleasant was also planning on buying the Old Gym building, but an inspection revealed that the tuck pointing is almost nonexistent and an overwhelming presence of asbestos. Asbestos will need to be removed before anything can be done with the building, and demolition costs are estimated between $300,000 and $800,000.

Concerning the Harlan Statue and the Belle Babbs Mansfield Statue, both are set to stay on campus. If there are any unseen issues leading to the necessary movement of the statues, then the first location would be the Henry County Courthouse.

The Harlan Lincoln House has been excluded from discussions, even though it is listed as collateral on the USDA loan, due to the important historical value. Instead, the Harlan Lincoln House will be entrusted to its own 501C3 non-profit organization, spearheaded by Elizabeth Garrels.

Another important historical building on campus is Old Main, also known as the birthplace of P.E.O. Doug Moore updated that the P.E.O organization in Mount Pleasant as well as the Southeast Iowa Symphony have been able to keep their important items locked away on Campus.

The Mount Pleasant School Board meeting scheduled tonight at 6 p.m. in the high school media center will have an important topic of discussion: the consideration to approve the purchase of the Iowa Wesleyan University Practice Fields and the Central Campus. The Chapel, Howe Student Activity Center, and Old Main would all be included in the defined Central Campus.

AGENDA FOR NEW LONDON CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
AUGUST 14TH, 2023 – MONDAY EVENING – 6:00 P.M. CITY OFFICE – 112 W. MAIN ST.

1. CALL TO ORDER REGULAR MEETING: Mayor Kirk Miller
2. ROLL CALL: Travis Benz, Brad Helmerson, Dan Berner, Scott Campbell and January Benjamin
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
4. INVOCATION: Kirk Miller
5. REPORTS:

• a. Police Dept.
• b. Fire Department (1)
• c. Public Works (2)
• d. Parks & Recreation
• e. Utilities (3-6)
• f. Child Care
• g. Mayor

6. OPEN FORUM:
7. CONSENT AGENDA:

• a. Approve minutes of previous meetings (7-11)
• b. Accept Clerk’s Financial Reports (12-14)
• c. Approve Payment of Claims (Handout)
• d. Approve liquor license for Woobies (15-16)

8. OLD BUSINESS:

• a. Approve the engagement agreement with Ahler’s & Cooney regarding the commercial
  development east of the baseball diamonds (17-20)

NEW BUSINESS:

• b. Approve pay estimate #2 for Hickey Contracting for the Division St. Paving & Storm
  Sewer (21)
• c. Approve advertising for the full-time equipment operator position in the Public Works Department (22)
• d. Discuss and take action on Ryan Wilka’s request to extend the deadline or get paid for his unused vacation (23)
• e. Discuss and take action on Rober & Cynde Lemley’s request for a refund for sewer services provided from watering the grass at their property at 500 S. Pine St. (24-25)

9. MEETINGS:

• a. Public Works Committee, August 16th, 2023 at 6:30 A.M., Shop at WWTP
• b. Public Safety Committee, August 16th, 2023 at 6:30 P.M., City Office
• c. Regular City Council Meeting, September 11th, 2023 at 6:00 P.M., City Office

10. ADJOURNMENT

NEW LONDON CITY COUNCIL – OPEN FORUM NOTICE
The Open Forum portion of the New London City Council meeting is a time where the public is allowed to speak.
This is a courtesy that is extended to you. During this portion of the meeting the following guideline will be in
effect:
1. Upon being recognized by the Mayor, please stand if possible, and state you name and address for the record.
2. Unless you are a scheduled, approved organization making a presentation, you will have 3 minutes to
respectfully express your thoughts. Guest organizations will be under the discretion and management of the
Mayor as the presiding officer.
3. Understand that no formal motions or actions will be taken on items during this time. Your concerns may be
forwarded to the appropriate committee for further considerations and/or discussion.
4. All comments and discussion will remain respectful in nature to all parties.
5. Similar topics will be acknowledged, and forwarded to the appropriate department. However, repetition of
topics will be limited.
6. Any deviation from these guidelines will end you allotted time and you will be asked to be seated. Failure to
abide by these guidelines may lead to removal from the meeting at the order of the Mayor and possibly
charges of disorderly conduct if so warranted.
7. Your involvement on agenda items will be limited to the presentation of factual material as determined by the
Mayor. This the Council’s time for dealing with matters and will not include public opinions or question and
answer time; this is done during Public Hearings.

An Agency man has been arrested after allegedly leading Wapello County deputies on a high-speed chase, fleeing a traffic stop, and assaulting a deputy.

According to the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy stopped a Chevy Trailblazer in the 10000 block of River Road just before 8:10 PM on Wednesday due to expired tags. According to court documents, the vehicle’s driver, 42-year-old Kevin Cantu, was traveling 90 mph in a 35 mph zone and did not have a license. The chase entered Ottumwa’s city limits before coming to a halt at a house on South Davis St.

Cantu attempted to flee the pursuing deputy on foot but was restrained until the Ottumwa Police Department arrived on the scene.

The deputy allegedly hurt his left hand, right forearm, and left knee during the altercation.

According to court filings, a loaded handgun with a removed serial number fell from Cantu’s pants as he got up.

Cantu was arrested and transported to the Wapello County Jail where he has been charged with Eluding, three counts of possession or custody of a handgun by a felon, driving with a suspended license, and interference with official acts. Cantu’sbond has been set at $16,000.

A Burlington man has been charged with theft for stealing copper piping, and other items from an area residence.

On April 29th, 2023, Des Moines County Sheriff’s deputies took a report of a burglary at 6871 Highway 61.  The victim reported copper piping was cut and stolen from the residence between April 20th and 29th.

The estimate to repair the copper piping was over $11,000. There were also some miscellaneous items stolen from the residence including a set of antique wrenches.

In May, detectives learned that 32-year-old John Stanley Kephart Jr. of Burlington had taken about 250 pounds of copper and mixed brass to a local recycling center only days before deputies took the report of the stolen property.

The video surveillance from the recycling center showed Kephart Jr. scrapping two antique wrenches along with over 50 2-3-foot long sections of copper piping and couplings during those two visits. The victim identified the antique wrenches as being stolen from the residence.

On Tuesday, August 8th, detectives met with Kephart Jr. at the Des Moines County Correctional Center.

Kephart Jr. was charged with Theft 1st Degree, a C Felony. The investigation into the burglary of 6871 US Highway 61 is ongoing.

The Burlington Fire Department confirms no one was injured in a house fire that occurred last Saturday.

At about 7 PM Saturday, the Burlington and West Burlington Fire Departments responded to a reported structure fire at 417 ½ S. Marshall St. in Burlington.

Firefighters arrived to find smoke coming from the attic of a two-story residential duplex.

The building is owned and operated by Boom Rentals LLC and was occupied by first-floor tenant Babette Boulton and second-floor tenant Stephanie Moore. Both occupants were home at the time of the fire and were alerted to the fire by working smoke detectors.

The cause of the fire has been ruled as undetermined and appears to be electrical in nature. No one was injured.