Back in December 2022, the Sun made a list of items that should be goals for the community in 2023. This is our yearly check-in on what goals were accomplished in 2023.
Childcare solutions This goal will probably need to remain an ongoing goal, as we have another in-home daycare announcing closure at the end of this school year in Lisbon. But the community made terrific strides on this area, with Lisbon’s Early Childcare Center opening a west location at Budget Blinds location, where Turtle Club once sat. As well, the Mount Vernon-Lison Childcare Solutions group raised funding through the month of October, money that was matched by the State of Iowa two to one. Those dollars will help to incentivize the wages of childcare workers in the community and other decisions by the committee moving forward. The group continues their discussions on necessary fixes to the childcare deserts of Mount Vernon and Lisbon.
Construction on CTEConstruction has started on the Lisbon Career technical education wing and weight room. There was still some value engineering to the project that happened over the summer, but work is definitely visible on both sides of the high school building, with some walls slated to be installed over Christmas break to allow work to progress inside.
Traffic flow at
Mount Vernon schoolsThe Martha Parsons Family Activities Complex officially opened this fall, and during the first few weeks of games at the new facility, there were some packed lots around the schools. But even when thee facility was packed, people were able to quickly depart after the events concluded, and according to Mount Vernon-Lisbon Police chief Doug Shannon, there was minimal impact to Stonebrook housing division and emergency vehicles traversing the road. The school, Cornell College and city continue to review traffic flow issues on the west portion of the city. This year as well, elementary concerts at Mount Vernon were spread over additional nights to help ease those traffic concerns seen in 2022.
Water radio meter
read projectThis was one of the capital improvement projects that was moved to other years and is still being explored by the city.
Other things accomplished in the communities in 2023 The Business 30 roundabout was reduced to one lane in all directions, which has greatly improved the navigability and safety.
Work has continued on Lisbon’s activity fields with the grass being established and a pavilion finally constructed after a storm in early March damaged the former one. The Pleasant Grove Nature Park is also continued to be in development.
Work finished on Palisades Road west of the area schools to Business 30.