Access to childcare in Southeast Iowa is always a concern. On Friday, the Fort Madison YMCA informed families of children under their care at the Donnellson facilities that both facilities will be closing at the end of the workday this coming Friday, August 4th.This includes both The Fort Madison Family YMCA Early Learning Center and the Fort Madison Family YMCA Learning Center.

Ryan Wilson, the Fort Madison YMCA Executive Director, said the YMCA is looking at different avenues for the childcare centers and they have no reopening date set. He said more staff is needed along with necessary training before any reopening could occur.

The center had recently closed an investigation by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services over a complaint filed with the department on June 23. The complaint is the fifth at the two centers since 2022. The YMCA purchased the centers in the spring of 2020.

The most recent complaint was around a 4-year-old boy who was left unattended for anywhere from three to seven minutes. The boy had been sequestered due to an illness waiting for a parent to pick him up.
According to a report filed by HHS, staff took two different groups for walks and forgot the boy was sleeping at the time. When he awoke, no one was in the building. The center was assessed two violations for not being aware of the children in the center, and not following procedures for a sick child.

Through the investigations, no licensure changes were administered by the state, but the center was cautioned that additional violations could result in licensure status changes.

Wilson said the issue was resolved and staff training was initiated, but the board had already decided to close the centers due to staffing shortages.

Wilson said anyone with questions concerning the closures can contact him at 319-372-2403 ext. 5 or at ryan.wilson@fortmadisony.org.

Members were welcomed to the Access Energy Cooperative annual meeting of members last night, August 1, 2023, and the weather was perfect at McMillan Park in Mount Pleasant for the celebration. The theme for this year’s Access Energy Cooperative annual meeting was “Navigating Change.”

A parachuter with the help of the US Army dropped in with the American Flag as “God Bless America” played over the speakers to kick off the annual business meeting.

Speakers of the evening included President of Access Energy Cooperative Marvin Newton, CEO of the cooperative’s power supplier Northeast Power Doug Aeilts, General Manager of Access Energy Cooperative Kevin Wheeler, and 2023 Youth Tour Award recipient Alexis Wagner of Mount Pleasant who shared about her experience traveling to Washington D.C. for one week with student leaders from around Iowa and the country.

Highlights of the event included an outstanding performance by Jake McVey and a great meal served by Mount Pleasant Hy-Vee. Homemade Ice Cream from Hinterland Dairy of Donnellson was served for dessert. Members enjoyed drive-a-tractor by the Proennecke brothers and Dick McGohan, inflatable activities for the kids from Fields of Fun, pony rides by Windy Acres, various other lawn games, refreshing sno cones, a live line demonstration on being safe around electricity by Access Energy Cooperative employees, and information from Henry County Public Health and the Henry County Sheriff. Access Energy Cooperative appreciates their participation and everyone else who helped make the event a success for the members.

The Grand Prize of a $500 bill credit was drawn along with many other prizes. Dividend checks for 2023 were available for members to pick up at the meeting. For those who were unable to make it to the meeting, checks will be mailed out in the next few weeks.

Access Energy Cooperative is an electric distribution cooperative, owned by the members who use the services, located in and serving over 9,000 meters in ten counties in southeast Iowa.

The Henry County Board of Supervisors approved plans for the TK Bolin Residential Subdivision to be located at the end of 245^th street intersecting Franklin Avenue in Mount Pleasant at their meeting Tuesday morning. The Henry County Supervisors will meet again this Thursday, August 3^rd at 9 a.m. in the Henry County Courthouse. The Agenda is as follows:

• 9 am – Monthly Department Head Meeting
• 10 am – Jake Hotchkiss, Engineer Weekly Update
• 10:15 am – William R. Jahn, Jr. Request to Reconsider the zoning decision of July 25th
• Other County Business as time allows
• Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

The Henry County Supervisors met on Tuesday, July 25^th to discuss the rezoning of a part of Southeast section 7 center township from agricultural to industrial for the construction of a concrete plant. The decision was made at this meeting to send the approval to beginning steps. It is now up to the party looking for rezoning to provide an improved site plan to begin the approval process again. The request to reconsider the zoning decision has been made by the party hoping for rezoning to bypass the restart of the approval process.

Regular Meeting Agenda
Wayland City Hall @ 7:30 P.M.

1. Roll Call
2. Consent Agenda
   Note: These are routine items and will be enacted by one motion without separate discussion unless a Council member requests an item be removed for separate consideration.
   a. Minutes of July 19, 2023
   b. Bills for Payment
   c. Treas. Report
   d. Clerks Budgetary Report
   e. Utility Dept. Report
   f. Police Dept. Report
   g. Firefighter Dept. Report
   h. Building Permits
3. Citizen Forum
   The Mayor and City Council welcome comments from the public for items not listed on the agenda. You are asked to state your name and address for the record and to limit your remarks in order that others may be given the opportunity to speak. The Order of Business is at the discretion of the Chair. No action will be taken.
4. Unfinished Business
   a. Ord. 17-2023 “An Ordinance To Amend The Wayland Zoning Ordinance To Remove Restrictions on Prior Re-zoning of Certain Real Property From “R-2 (Medium Residential District) to “C-2” (General Commercial District)” 2nd reading
5.  New Business
   a. Set Dates/Times for Main Street Greet & Treat & City-Wide Trick or Treat
6. Adjournment