Community Profile

Pledge Status

Active

Pledge Date

Friday, April 24, 2026

Program Year

2026

Links and Uploads

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Action Item Report

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Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon, IA

Thomas Wieseler

Mayor

Pledge Summary

Mount Vernon is a bedroom community of 4527 situated in east central Iowa between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. Our citizens are focused on all things involving sustainability and that includes earning certificates like Tree City, Bee City USA and of course as a monarch friendly community. Our cause is helped with an 1100 student private college, Cornell, in our town.

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2026

Communications and Convening ▸

Issue a proclamation to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat. This proclamation must incorporate a focus on monarch conservation.
Engage with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.
Engage with city parks and recreation, public works, sustainability, and other relevant staff to identify opportunities to revise and maintain mowing programs and milkweed / native nectar plant planting programs.

Program and Demonstration Gardens ▸

Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.

Systems Change ▸

Remove milkweed from the list of noxious plants in city weed / landscaping ordinances (if applicable).
Change weed or mowing ordinances to allow for native prairie and plant habitats.

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Mayor Thomas Wieseler	2026	4/24/2026		View Pledge
Mayor Thomas Wieseler	2025	12/7/2024	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor Thomas Wieseler	2024	4/7/2024	Signatories	View Pledge