Category Archives: General Updates

MHNA Meeting on April 20

MHNA’s quarterly meeting is this Thursday (April 20) at 6:30 p.m. at the Northwest Community Center on Franklin Avenue. Here is some of what’s slated:

-Business spotlight: University Vacuum (formerly Windsor Vacuum)
-Updates from Hillis Elementary School staff
-Polk County Treasurer Mary Wells
-Merle Hay Corridor Plan update from Chris Albrecht of Bolton & Menk
-Public safety updates from MHNA’s Neighborhood Based Service Delivery Officer

Please join us and bring a neighbor!

SCRUB on April 15

The Merle Hay Neighborhood Association (MHNA) will once again partner with Des Moines Public Works to host the annual Spring Clean Up to Reduce Urban Blight (SCRUB) from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 15 in the parking lot behind the ramp on the north side of Merle Hay Mall. Please note the new location!

SCRUB allows Des Moines residents to discard unwanted items including furniture, televisions, appliances, tires, hazardous waste, and other materials for free.

This is a largely volunteer-driven event and MHNA welcomes your help. Volunteers primarily help answer questions and direct traffic.

If you would like to volunteer, please sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c48aca82daafcce9-scrub#/

Yard and tree debris can be dropped off at the Des Moines Compost Site at 1601 Harriett St. For complete SCRUB program details, visit the Des Moines Public Works webpage at dsm.city/publicworks or call 283-4950.

MHNA’s Annual Meeting on Jan. 19

Please join the Merle Hay Neighborhood Association for its annual meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 19 at the Northwest Community Center, 5110 Franklin Ave. We plan to be joined by Stephanie Murphy from the Neighborhood Finance Corp. to hear the latest about home lending opportunities (some forgivable!) in our neighborhood. We also hope to receive an update on the Merle Hay Corridor Study, and we’re working on having a neighborhood business join us to tell us a little about their business and answer questions.

We’ll also have public safety updates, President April Wyss’s annual report, neighborhood news, and officer and board elections. As always, we welcome ideas and
suggestions from residents and businesses on what we should focus on in 2023. Feedback may be submitted in advance by email to merlehayneighborhood@gmail.com
Please mark your calendars and invite your neighbors!