City of Mount Vernon, Iowa

04/09/2026

03/30/2026

SPRING CLEAN-UP 2026

Brush Pick Up

Monthly brush collection starts on March 23, 2026. Pick up begins on the 4th Monday of each month and continues through November. Brush should be to the curb by 6:00 a.m.

• Residents may leave three (3) stacks of brush for pickup per month.
• Stacks must be stacked neatly at the front of the curb.
• Stacks may not exceed 4’ x 4’x 4’, with
all branches less than 6″ in diameter.

Leaf Pick Up

Leaf pickup will run for the two weeks beginning April 13th and 20th, 2026. Leaves should be debris-free and raked to the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the Monday of collection week. Must be able to collect the leaves so no parking in front of piles. If truck passes that week then they will not come back for pick up. Do not rake leaves in the street place on the curb. Mother Nature determines leaf fall, so some weeks will be slower or faster on days of pick up.

Cemetery Clean Up

All arrangements at the cemetery will need to be removed prior to April 13, 2025, to allow for spring clean-up. New arrangements may be placed on April 19th. If you place something you consider irreplaceable or valuable, please remove this week and place back on when cemetery clean up is finished.

Street Sweeping will begin Monday, March 30, 2026.

Hydrant Flushing

The City will begin flushing water mains and hydrants the week of April 20, 2026.

Households may see a temporary drop in water pressure and discoloration of the water.

03/26/2026

Leaf pick up will start in the City of Mt Vernon on April 13th, 2026 and go through April 24th, 2026. If leaf fall is very heavy it may be extended but for now these are our dates of pick up. Have your leaves prior to 7 am on Monday of the 13th and they will come around as they can. Leaf pick up can be light so they may be there on time, or heavy which may make their day move slower. They have the full week to come around the town. Be patient, make sure no parked cars on in the way of your piles, no debris in the leaves like branches or yard waste. Make sure its not in the street and on the curb.

03/13/2026

REMINDER ABOUT GARBAGE PICK UP TODAY. THE WINDS HAVE CLOSED DOWN THE SOLID WASTE AGENCY SO THERE WILL NOT BE PICK UP FOR THOSE ON THE FRIDAY ROUTE. IT WILL BE PICKED UP ON SATURDAY FOR BOTH GARBAGE AND RECYCLING.

PLEASE DO NOT PUT YOUR CAN S OUT TODAY FOR PICK UP.

PICK UP WILL BE SATURDAY INSTEAD OF TODAY FOR BOTH GARBAGE AND RECYCLING.

YOUR GARBAGE IS DELAYED ONE DAY DUE TO HIGH WINDS!

03/12/2026

GARBAGE PICK UP CHANGE FOR THIS WEEK:

All residents who are normally picked up with Garbage and Recycling on Friday, this week will be picked up on Saturday. Tomorrow is supposed to have high winds in the area, this will close down the solid waste agency and garbage and recycling will not be able to be dropped off by Republic. We appreciate your patience with this weeks change.

If you are normally picked up on FRIDAY MARCH 13, 2026 for garbage services you will be picked up on SATURDAY MARCH 14TH, 2026 due to high winds.

03/09/2026

Chalk the Walk announces 2026 dates, times, and application links. This festival is to honor the 250th Anniversary of the United States while showcasing internationally recognized artist, author, and motivational speaker John Bramblitt.

The City of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation and the Mount Vernon Area Arts Council (MVAAC) have announced the dates for the 21st annual Chalk the Walk, Iowa’s first and largest Madonnari Festival. The two-day festival will take place Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day along Mount Vernon’s historic 1st Street.

The committee has chosen John Bramblitt’s “Lady Liberty” as its large community piece this year. For a $10 donation to the festival, any interested festival participant will be given a set of chalk sticks to create a single 2’ by 2’ square of a portion of this giant 40’ x 80’ colorful depiction of our Country’s Statue of Liberty. When finished, a re-creation of the artwork will appear on Mount Vernon’s historic 1st Street—created by dozens of artists of all ages and abilities.

This year’s event also will feature the work of up to 166 artists creating original art in 8’ by 10’ rectangles chalked directly onto Mount Vernon’s historic 1st Street. Last year’s 1st Place Winner, Autumn Zaehringer has been invited back to the event as the 2026 featured artist. Outdoor food vendors, children’s activities and live music also will take place throughout both days of the event.

More than $1,375 in cash prizes will be awarded to chalk artists this year, with a formal check presentation ceremony to take place Sunday afternoon, May 3.

Questions can be directed to Matt Siders, (319) 895-9513 or Catherine Poduska, (319) 551-9445 [email protected]

Connect with us at facebook.com/chalkthewalk

Downtown Mount Vernon, Iowa -- hosts Chalk the Walk annually on the first full weekend of May. Iowa’s first and largest Madonnari Festival presents the work of more than 160 artist squares and a community piece, using the main street as the canvas.

02/19/2026

02/18/2026

** Update: Hwy 1 has reopened.

Hwy 1 Mount Vernon at railroad tracks closed

Gillette Lane is also closed. N. Washington in Lisbon is open. The train has broken down. They estimate at least a few hours before the train will be moved.

02/18/2026

Due to the high winds the landfill is closing early today and your recycling pick up will be delayed until Friday. Garbage will still be picked up but recycling will be delayed. We are sorry for the inconvenience.