Pool work has begun

Work on the Mount Vernon Swimming Pool has begun, and one of the change orders discovered that the pool wasn’t properly grounded.

“That was discovered by Linn County when they were looking at the pool before work began,” said city administrator Chris Nosbisch.

That additional charge will come to roughly $100,000. Nosbisch said he wanted to get this approved so the project could stay on target for the Memorial Day weekend opening.

The alternative solution is to add grounding along the pool’s deck. Nosbisch said that would require cutting into the deck of the pool, adding more additional seams to the pool. With a basin of the pool so old, adding more seams to the pool that could leak was decided it was not a smart match.

Nosbisch said this was an unexpected cost to the project, and why they bid one of the slides for the project as an alternate, as it is something that can be tackled via value engineering if there are enough funds in the end.

Council member Stephanie West and Mark Andresen commended the focus on keeping the project on time and choosing the safety of people using the pool.

Water meter replacement ongoing

City administrator Chris Nosbisch said even new homes or people who installed a new meter will need to have water meters replaced by Ferguson as part of the water meter project.

That is because the new meters will allow the city to conduct remote radio reads.

Ferguson has been contacting homeowners to schedule their water meter replacements.

As part of the project, the city is also inspecting to make sure the water connections from the city are not lead lined. The city will replace any lead lines that are discovered connecting from the street to the meter. Lead lines discovered in a home from the meter are the responsibility of the homeowner to replace.

Accessory dwelling units ordinance passes first reading

The first reading of an ordinance allowing accessory dwelling units passed at the Oct. 17 Mount Vernon City Council meeting.

The planning and zoning commission had created the ordinance for passage, after a work session with Eastern Iowa Council of Governments conducting a meeting into the facilities earlier this year.

Council member Stephanie West said that the ordinance is in keeping with the city’s comprehensive plan.