Mount Vernon mayor Tom Wieseler gave an update on a number of projects in process in the city of Mount Vernon.
Wieseler said he attended a seminar at the League of City conventions with Habitat for Humanity.
“The organization might be interested in building in any infill lots that are in the Mount Vernon communities, as long as the city or other entity is willing to help subsidize the lot to allow for the construction,” Wieseler said. “As the council starts talking about low to moderate income housing, that could be a potential for the city to address those areas.”
The funds for Mount Vernon established by the Garners with the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation will have the board members set up beginning Nov. 21. The inaugural members of the community foundation for Mount Vernon are Pete Rian, Taryn Kuntz, Collete Nakielski, Tom Wieseler, and Amanda Rhomberg.
Work continues updating the historical newspaper archive. A committee has identified the gaps of newspapers not properly digitized from the newspapers of the Mount Vernon and Lisbon communities over the years.
“It’s a resource that Grace Rowray, director of Cole Library, and the newspaper have noted people ask about or refer to on a monthly basis,” Wieseler said. “Citizen Marsha Driscoll has identified where the gaps are in the collection, and the next step is finding what the cost would be to digitize those records if they can be located and make that budget request during the budget process.”
Wieseler said he attended multiple sessions of the community input for the superintendent at Mount Vernon Community Schools. One of the needs that was brought up at multiple sessions was an issue the community has been aware of – childcare in the Mount Vernon and Lisbon communities.
Another issue brought up at those sessions, however, was the need for more entry level housing in Mount Vernon.
“Citizens are correct,” Wieseler said. “That is an issue that needs to be addressed.”
The council is working on a development for a housing development that would cater to people over 55 to be built in the Hwy 30 bypass area, but that more could be done.
Council member Debra Herrmann noted the housing commission had identified that as a continuing need for the community. While there are phases in the two housing developments being built in Mount Vernon that identified multifamily options, those are in the final phases of each development but may still be several years from being constructed.
The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Childcare Solutions group was able to raise roughly $33,000 during the month of October from local donations. The state doubled the amount of matching donations for the counties raising money matched by the government, which means that the group has raised almost $100,000 to benefit Lisbon Early Childcare Center and Kids Club at Mount Vernon. The money will help with retention and hiring of childcare workers, and be part of an annual ask to businesses to help bolster childcare in the community.
Council member Craig Engel said the childcare issue also came up at the meeting between the college, city and Mount Vernon school district, and that further talks on the issue could continue, including a joint meeting of the city council and Mount Vernon School Board.
Six interviews are being conducted right now for the streetscape project contractor, with a final decision to be made by the council in early December.
Public works purchases rear
blade for tractorThe Mount Vernon public works department will be purchasing a nine foot rear blade for the John Deere tractor for $7,620.26 from P and K Midwest.
Public works director Eldon Downs said the blade would be useful, especially for maintaining the shoulders along Business 30 and Bryant Road.
“We currently are at the mercy of when Linn County Secondary roads are able to run a grader along Bryant Road when they are in our area,” Downs said. “This blade will allow us to do this maintenance work.”
It would also allow for work on ball diamonds.
Downs noted that there is a spot in between Mount Vernon and Lisbon along Business 30 where the asphalt and shoulder of the road is deteriorating because the shoulder hasn’t been as well maintained. The blade would especially beneficial during snow removal in the winter.