Mount Pleasant council discusses rezoning along 500 West, trims budget and sets $70,000 for two trucks

The Mount Pleasant City Council met May 26 in a work session to discuss proposed changes to zoning along 500 West and to review the draft fiscal year budget ahead of formal hearings. City staff outlined options for rezoning and the council agreed to pursue narrower changes near commercial properties while asking for further review by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

City staff member Dave Oxman described concerns about the existing Commercial Manufacturing Zone along 500 West and presented options to reclassify portions of the corridor. Councilmembers debated whether parts of 500 West should be rezoned to RA (residential/agricultural) with a commercial overlay in specific stretches. The council expressed support for rezoning the parcel adjacent to O'Reilly Auto Parts to commercial zoning and asked staff to continue discussions with the Planning and Zoning Commission about broader map revisions.

In the budget review, the council reached consensus to remove a line item for crack sealer. Colter Allen requested funding for a work truck and a cemetery truck; Oxman said he would include $70,000 in the budget to cover both vehicles. Councilmembers also discussed proposed salary increases for the mayor and council and decided to include those raises in the budget draft.

The council adjourned the work session at 6:27 p.m. after a motion by Councilman Russell G. Kiesel and a second by Councilman Cade A. Beck. The minutes note that, because this was a work session, no formal final action was taken on the rezoning or budget items; staff will pursue the additional planning commission conversations and refinements to the draft budget prior to any formal vote.