Missouri Valley prepares for July 4 Holiday

City Council notes, June 23

Posted

MV City Council - June 23, 2026

Missouri Valley prepares for July 4 holiday weekend

 

By Lee Zion, Editor

Harrison County Times-Reporter

 

The town will hold a special concert in advance of the Fourth of July celebration.

 

“Down in the city park, we will have Music in the Park on July 2 — a 250th celebration,” said Jeannie Wortman, with the Missouri Valley Chamber of Commerce. “Azria Health will be grilling hot dogs; we’ll have chips and water. There will be cookies with a Fourth of July theme decorated on them. I think a popcorn machine, also.”

 

Another possibility is a hula hoop contest, Wortman said at the Missouri Valley City Council meeting on June 16.

 

The hot dogs will be ready at 6 p.m.; Rick Powell will perform at 7 p.m.

 

Also, red, white and blue bunting will be hung on the gazebo. The coffee group that meets at the community center has paid for the bunting. At the meeting, she offered a bit of sideways thanks toward

 

Richard Gochenour, the public works director and street superintendent for the city.

 

“I’ve already spoken with Rich, and I’m hoping that on Thursday, the weather’s cooperating. He will provide the ladder for me. And he says he’ll hold it while I climb the ladder,” she said.

 

The bunting will stay up until the second week in July, Wortman said.

 

In other news ...

  • Gochenour also addressed the council at the meeting last week. The flagpole out front of the community center, and a new one will go up in front of the police station, he said.

 

The swimming pool has been fixed up as well, Gochenour said.

 

“The concrete looks great,” he said. “They finished everything at the pool?” asked Councilman Sherman Struble.

 

“Yes, they did. Looks great. Everything’s sealed up. Every crack’s ground out,” he said. “It’s not leaking?”

 

“It’s not leaking, Sherm. We actually had to empty water out of it. I think it made water,” Gochenour said.

 

  • Sara Everts was hired as the administrative clerk for the town. Her pay will be $21.50 an hour. The vote was unanimous.

 

  • The council voted to hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. June 29 to discuss any changes to the 2025/26 town budget. Some tobacco licenses will also be discussed.

 

  • The council voted to set a public hearing July 7 to discuss Missouri Valley’s comprehensive plan.