Mount Ayr Council Holds Discussion Regarding Judge Lewis Pool

Mount Ayr’s Board of Aldermen approved dates for two public hearings and discussed the city pool situation during a meeting held on Monday night.

Council Ken Robertson began the pool discussion regarding the cost effectiveness of continuing to operate the Judge Lewis Pool. The city and and another interested group have previously attempted to find solutions for either upgrading the current pool facility or initiating a project for a new pool facility. City Administrator Brent Wise has been requested to find members that may be part of a group that could be organized to find funding options that could be used toward a solution. He will try to have names for such a group at a future meeting.

Council members approved the request of the Mount Ayr Library Board to provide a 3 percent wage increase for the Mount Ayr Library staff.

The council did not second a motion that would reduce the speed limit on the city’s portion of 240th Street. A request for the reduction came from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources as a way to control dust. The DNR received an anonymous complaint of dust from vehicles using the road.

City Administrator Wise discussed the possibility of obtaining trail cameras for the Loch Ayr Lake due to numerous reports of damage and vandalism.

Iowa Pump Works provided a sewer pump report to the council. Mount Ayr may receive some American Rescue Plan funding for new pumps.

The council received a franchise agreement from ITC to be considered at a future meeting.

Mount Ayr’s council approved public hearings to sell the city property located at 106 West Webster and using the Southern Iowa Council of Governments for a pending housing grant. Those hearings will be at the next council regular session.