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Mount Ayr board votes to board up vacant structure after safety concerns
Summary
The Mount Ayr Town Board approved a motion directing staff to prepare a bid and board up doors and windows at a vacant property after members reported children entering dumpsters and other hazards; the vote was taken by voice and individual tallies were not recorded on the transcript.
Karen, a member of the Mount Ayr Town Board, moved that staff begin preparations to secure a vacant property by boarding up doors and windows and removing hanging material.
The motion, introduced during a discussion about safety around the vacant house, followed several members’ reports of children climbing in nearby dumpsters and the structure’s open doors. One board member described seeing “two little heads popped out of the dumpster,” and urged immediate action to prevent injuries.
Board members weighed options: temporary construction fencing would keep people off the property but was described as far more expensive than boarding. A participant who had priced options said, “boarding it up…is quite a bit cheaper than temporary fencing.” Another asked whether the goal was to keep people off the property entirely or simply to keep them out of the structure; the board agreed the immediate priority was to secure entry points.
Karen made the motion that Nick be authorized to prepare a bid and proceed with boarding and safe removal of loose materials. The board conducted a voice vote; the transcript records the call for “all in favor” and “all opposed,” but does not provide a roll-call tally or record of individual votes.
The board also discussed follow-up steps if boarding proved insufficient, with members indicating they would revisit fencing or additional measures if trespassing continued. Karen said the board hoped to have at least one estimate from a company by the next meeting.
The action is procedural: staff were directed to solicit a boarding bid and take immediate steps to secure the structure; the transcript does not record a contract award, dollar amount, or implementation timeline beyond the instruction to prepare a bid.
