A public comment at Monday, Dec. 4, Mount Vernon city council drew later comments from mayor and council members.
Jaye Delancey was upset with the council for the choice to award the old fire station to a development deal as opposed to a center for veterans in uptown Mount Vernon.
“This was a perfect opportunity for the city to have done something with this building for our veterans,” Delancey said.
Delancey chose to describe the experiences of Vietnam War soldier’s experiences in graphic detail in one sentence at the podium, and mayor Tom Wieseler asked for Delancey to reconsider the language he was using. A few families and children were in attendance for an early item on the agenda, the swearing in of two new officers for the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Police Department.
Delancey also asked if the Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center is currently operating in the black, another building the city has constructed in the past five years.
At the end of the council meeting, city administrator Chris Nosbisch said the LBC has not operated in the black yet, but the city had anticipated that in the first few years of opening and balanced that with the Local Option Sales and Service Tax funding for the construction of the building. He also noted the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the center.
“The center has a healthy balance to deal with maintaining the apparatus and equipment in the building,” Nosbisch said.
When it came to the old fire station building, Nosbisch also reminded citizens that the future of that building was discussed in several city council meetings ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic, and when it came to development of the building, only two applications were made.
“This is the first time that using that space as a veteran’s facility was even heard,” Nosbisch said.
Nosbisch said the facility received a matching grant from the State of Iowa for $100,000.
Nosbisch also said the council has shown before and in the past they are very supportive of veterans in the community.
Mayor Tom Wieseler reminded citizens that while city council meetings are held in public, they are not of the public. It is a chance for the council to work on the business on behalf of the city, and this is the council’s meeting, not the public’s meeting. The chance to bring up things not on the agenda is a spot for the council to listen to concerns and council members can choose to take up causes at future meetings, but it is not a discussion between citizens and the council.
“Civility in comments made in these chambers matter,” Wieseler said.
Council member Debra Herrmann also said that the comments describing the experiences in the Vietnam War was inappropriate.
“We had children who were here to celebrate their fathers being enlisted as officers,” Herrmann said. “I felt bad that people were exposed to that type of language at a public meeting.”
Water tower improvementsCity administrator Chris Nosbisch will be negotiating with Verizon for improvements to the base of the water tower to allow a new 5G tower.
Verizon approached the city about the potential improvements to support the additional weight for 5G towers.
Nosbisch said the improvements are not necessary for the city to complete, as the water tower’s base still allows it to function.
“The reason we’d consider this is because of the revenue we get for renting the space to cell phone providers and they are choosing to upgrade their towers,” Nosbisch said.
The cost for the improvements would be roughly $150,000, and that would be split between the city and Verizon. Because the tower still functions without these improvements, Nosbisch does not think a 50/50 split is fair.
“Yes, there will be a benefit for citizens with improvements to cell phone reception with a new tower, but that doesn’t necessarily warrant a 50/50 split,” Nosbisch said.
If the city did reach an agreement with Verizon for improvements and other companies want to install their own 5G tower, Nosbisch said he would think about a portion of the costs of those improvements being addressed in those new contracts to pay for the infrastructure improvement.
Council member Scott Rose asked if adding hot spots for internet at the pools and park could be a potential way to negotiate with Verizon.
Nosbisch said that could be a spot for negotiations, but that might be something the city explores on its own as well.
Two officers take oath of office
Austin Oats and Kyle Vaughn took oaths of office to join the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Police Department.
Oats has worked with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy sheriff, and is currently working with the University of Iowa. Oats will serve as a part-time officer with the police department.
Vaughn currently is an employee with the City of Mount Vernon and will be a reserve officer.
Hearing set for Jan. 2 for CHI Cottonwood projectThe city council set Tuesday, Jan. 2, as the public hearing date for the CHI Cottonwood project. The project will be adding a 30-unit senior living complex in an area in the Hwy. 30 bypass plan area, with potential construction starting next spring. The zoning hearing would change the approved district to house multi family residential and the proposal is in accordance with items proposed for the Hwy. 30 bypass plan area.
Extension of Stoner Plaza to east The council also approved an extension of Stoner Plaza 10th addition, stretching Glenn Street further to the east for an additional 7.25 acres. Utilities had previously been placed in this property in 2007 anticipating other future development along Glenn Street towards the east. The 3.06 acre lot to the south will be ready for potential development. On the north side of that development is an area that will allow for stormwater management for additional projects along Glenn Street and Business 30 until a plan for development is created. On the east side of the plat will be a proposed street connecting to Business 30 on the north just opposite of the southeastern corner of the St. John Catholic Church property.
This will be a controlled intersection in the future, allowing safe pedestrian crossing between the north and south lanes of Business 30.
Discussion on old fire department gets heated, draws rebuke from council, mayor
December 14, 2023
Austin Oats and Kyle Vaughn are administered the oath of office by mayor Tom Wieseler at Mount Vernon City Council meeting Monday, Dec. 4.
About the Contributor
Nathan Countryman, Editor
Nathan Countryman is the Editor of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun.