Fire, Police Protection
Expands

During the sixties, Pleasant Hill gained a full-time police force. Robert Eike, who had been a part-time marshall, was made a full-time chief. He operated with the aid of part-time officers. In 1968, Charles Dales was appointed chief of police. Dales started as the town's only officer, but shortly after this Jean Anderson joined him.

Also updated was the volunteer fire department. Ralph Grant resigned his position as fire chief after he became a town councilman. To replace Grant, the volunteers elected Cliff Lex, and the council approved. The department continued to update its equipment and become more proficient in fire fighting. Ray Davis and Bill Woodly were sent to the state fire school in Ames. Lecturers from Des Moines and the state school would instruct the entire department in new techniques.

New equipment was purchased during the 1960's. The only fire truck was the 1937 International, so a second truck was purchased in 1962. This was a new American LaFrance, completely equipped.

In 1964, the volunteer department bought a panel truck that was converted into a rescue unit. There had been a problem with having to wait for an ambulance to arrive from Des Moines. Now the volunteers could take those in need to the hospital in half the time. Finally, in 1968, a third fire truck was purchased.

One major fire, which occurred in 1962, was the explosion of the county maintenance shed east of the cemetery. Vic Peterson was filling the county's gas storage tanks when something ignited the fumes inside the shed. If it had not been for someone waving to Peterson just before he was to go in, he would have been injured worse than he was. He escaped with hand and facial burns.

The true story of the 1960's can be seen plainly in the census figures. In 1960, the population was 397. By 1970, the population had grown to 1,535. This growth of 286.6 percent was the result of planning and developing by the local residents. It was to precede even more growth in the 1970's.