The Fourth of July holiday is Tuesday, July 4, and local government and businesses will be closed for the holiday, including Mount Vernon and Lisbon City Halls.
Garbage pick-up for Republic Services in Mount Vernon will extend by a day due to the holiday, meaning garbage picked up on Tuesday, July 4, will move to Wednesday, July 5, up through the weekend, with those whose garbage is usually picked up on Friday, July 7 to be picked up Saturday, July 8.
Johnson County Refuse garbage pick up days in Lisbon will also shift by a day. Those who have their garbage usually picked up on Thursday, July 6, will move to Friday, July 7.
Mount Vernon swimming pool will be open for lap swim 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and open swim from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Lisbon Splash Pad will open for the day from noon to 8 p.m.
Mount Vernon Bank and Trust, Bridge Community Bank, Hills Bank and Trust, United States Post Service and Southeast Linn Community Center will also be closed for the federal holiday.
The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun will have an early deadline of Friday, June 30 at 11 a.m. for content for the Thursday, July 6, newspaper. The newspaper office will be closed Tuesday, July 4, for the holiday as well.
Nearby celebrationsMount Vernon Lisbon Community Development Group’s Lincoln Highway Nitty Gritty Antiques festival will be held Tuesday, July 4, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. First Street will be closed beginning early in the morning to set up for the festival in uptown Mount Vernon.
The City of Mechanicsville will be holding their annual fireworks display at the Mechanicsville School and ball diamond at dusk on the Fourth of July.
North Cedar School and Mechanicsville will also be holding a ribbon cutting for their new Children’s Celebration walking path that circles the school and baseball diamonds in Mechanicsville, with the ribbon cutting taking place at 5 p.m., and a one-mile walk on the new path beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Fireworks As the Fourth of July approaches, the City of Mount Vernon and Lisbon also remind citizens that use of consumer fireworks is not allowed in city limits.
The use of consumer fireworks is allowed in unincorporated Linn County July 4 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Fireworks in Linn County may only be used with property owner permission.
Please see Linn County’s fireworks resolution for a definition of consumer and display fireworks. The Linn County Board of Supervisors passed this resolution in 2019 in response to requests from rural residents.
The Board of Supervisors authorizes the use of display fireworks by permit only. Applications for display fireworks permits are available on the Linn County website LinnCountyIowa.gov.
Fireworks may not be used on County property without an approved permit and are not allowed in County parks.
The penalty for illegal use of fireworks is defined in Iowa Code Sections 727.2(3)©(1) and 727.2(2)(b)(1) as a simple misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars.
The sale of consumer fireworks is regulated by the State of Iowa. Each city in Linn County has its own rules governing the use of consumer fireworks within its city limits.
For people who want to watch fireworks locally, Mount Vernon’s Heritage Days will have fireworks Friday, July 7, at dusk at Cornell College’s Van Metre Field at Ash Park. Picnic foods and beverages will be sold by Bon Appetit beginning at 7 p.m. at the stadium as part of this year’s festivities.
County/state closuresMost Linn County governmental offices will be closed on Tuesday, July 4, in observance of the Fourth.
The following services will continue to operate:
• Juvenile Detention and Diversion Services
• Mental Health Access Center
• The Sheriff’s Office will be closed; however, continuous operations will be available for routine and emergency responses. This includes the Patrol Division, Communications Division and the Correctional Center. In an emergency, always dial 911.
Vehicle registrations can be renewed online at any time at www.iowataxandtags.gov.
All Iowa Department of Transportation business locations will be closed Tuesday, July 4, in honor of Independence Day.
Iowa DOT driver’s license service centersAll Iowa DOT driver’s license service centers will be closed Tuesday, July 4. The service centers will resume operations Wednesday, July 5, at 8 a.m.
Many people, including commercial driver’s license holders, may be able to complete driver’s license business online at www.iowadot.gov.
Special note to
motor carriersThe Iowa DOT recommends that commercial vehicle operators plan ahead if they will need services from the Iowa DOT immediately following the July 4 holiday.
No movements of oversize/overweight loads will be permitted in Iowa from noon Monday, July 3 until 30 minutes prior to sunrise on Wednesday, July 5.
Because the permit center typically experiences a heavy workload on the day following the holiday, customers are urged to submit applications for oversize/overweight permits, especially those more than 156,000 pounds, several days before needing the permit.
July Fourth closures, celebrations
June 29, 2023
About the Contributor
Nathan Countryman, Editor
Nathan Countryman is the Editor of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun.