The fire department under Lex's leadership continued to upgrade its service. In 1971, a second fully equipped rescue unit was purchased. Sometime in the early 1970's the department added a water tank truck to its fleet of vehicles.

The issue in the 1971 election for mayor and council was annexation. Some residents just outside the town limits on the east side wanted to be part of Pleasant Hill. The annexation of residential property tends to increase a town's expenditures because the cost of extending city services exceeds the amount of increased tax revenue. Mainly because of this fact, some people were opposed to the annexation.

Mayor Hopper decided to run for re-election. He was opposed by Ralph Grant, who was making a bid for another term. Grant won, becoming mayor in January 1972. Elected to the council for the next two years were Richard Hall, Roy Christian, Richard Delk, Don McGillivray, and Michael Hoffman. The annexation eventually did occur.

Pleasant Hill Regains A School

The most significant event of 1972 for the town was the regaining of a Pleasant Hill school. The school age population of the town had grown so large that the Des Moines district decided to build a new school instead of continuing to bus elementary students into the city. Costing $660,000, the building was constructed on the corner of Pleasant Hill Boulevard and Oakwood Drive.

The school, meant to accommodate 420 pupils, was built on the open spaces design with thirteen teaching stations, four in each of three large open learning centers, and one room for kindergarten. In addition, there was a music room, art room, media center, and a combination gymnasium/cafeteria.

Kenneth Rouse became the first principal at the Pleasant Hill Elementary School. He was at the school until 1975, when Melvin Kiner became principal. Since the new school was only through the sixth grade, the older students continued to be transported into Des Moines. Seventh, eighth, and ninth graders went to Woodrow Wilson Junior High. High school for most Pleasant Hill teens was East High School, though some went to Tech High.