Speakers in the citizens forum at the West Des Moines City Council’s June 2 meeting promoted community events and recognized public-safety work while also raising complaints.

Catherine Harrington, president and CEO of the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, invited the public to the Chamber’s fifth annual Raccoon River Palooza at Raccoon River Park. Harrington said the festival runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., offers live bands, a business expo with about 35 businesses, food trucks, bounce houses and a cardboard-boat race with paddles and prizes; she noted Microsoft and Superstorm Restoration among sponsors and said the event is free and family-friendly.

State Representative Mary Madison of District 31 spoke from the audience to thank the West Des Moines Police Department, in particular Chief Scott and detectives, for their work and for the empathy shown to a family in the recovery of a missing 13-year-old. Madison said she and Mayor Trimble participated in a press event on Memorial Day and credited coordinated law-enforcement work across jurisdictions in locating the youth.

An online commenter, Amy Buehrer, identified herself as a West Des Moines resident and raised several complaints: she said she had been assaulted by a construction worker and alleged another assault by a city staff member (named in her remarks), and she asked whether water quality at a pond used for the cardboard-boat activity would be checked. Buehrer also complained about loud construction noise she observed on Memorial Day and urged that construction quiet down on federal holidays.

Council members and the mayor pro tem thanked the police for their work and noted collaboration across agencies in the missing-child case. Council members also acknowledged the Chamber’s festival announcement and encouraged residents to participate. The council took no action on the complaints raised by Buehrer during the citizens forum; the meeting record indicates her concerns were noted.