Mount Pleasant City Commission focuses on maintenance

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Mount Pleasant is focusing on keeping infrastructure in good repair instead of branching out further for the next five years.

The Mount Pleasant City Commission was presented with highlights of the proposed 2011-2015 Capital Improvement Plan Monday.

The proposed plan provided an overview of the infrastructure projects planned for the next five years.

Finance Director and Assistant City Manager Nancy Ridley presented the plan and said $2.9 million in projects are scheduled for 2011.

“The plan focuses more on maintenance instead of improvements,” Ridley said.

The projects include renovations for downtown parking lots and alleys, storm drain system maintenance, sewer relining and crack sealing and resurfacing for major and local streets.

Most of 2011’s planned projects are focused on fixing up Mount Pleasant’s infrastructure.

No one from the public made any comments about the plan, which faces an adoption deadline of June 14.

Water Flouride

The City of Mount Pleasant Fluoride Task Force submitted its recommendation on the future of water fluoridation in Mount Pleasant to the City Commission.

The task force, a subcommittee that began meeting in 2009, was created to examine the effectiveness, health and safety issues of adding fluoride to the city’s municipal water system.

Commissioner Kathleen Ling, chairwoman of the task force, had commented briefly about the recommendation.

“Until we feel that we can say with a high degree of certainty that water fluoridation is doing no harm, we believe it is prudent to stop using it until the safety issues raised in the most recent reports are addressed,” she said.

She said elected officials have an obligation to watch over the public water system.

The discussion of the Fluoride Task Force’s recommendation was approved for the next City Commission meeting on June 14.

Monday was Commissioner Jeffrey Palmer’s last Mount Pleasant City Commission meeting.

He thanked the city commissioners and staff, and encouraged the public to get more involved with the commission.

“We want to see an active and involved citizenry,” he said. “Commissioners do listen, they want your input. Get involved, take time to have your voice be heard, and know that you can make a difference in your city.”