The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Airgas Inc. facility in Ankeny that was scheduled for today at 11:30 a.m. has been postponed due to weather conditions.

The city has moved some of its services to avoid potential flooding. Permits and Development, Traffic and Transportation, Legal Litigation, Human Rights and Community Development offices and customer service functions have moved to temporary facilitates at Central Library. Every attempt is being made to offer full services to the public as soon as possible. However, the public is asked to defer all non-essential business until Thursday, June 12.

Furthermore, several state of Iowa departments are moving from leased commercial spaces to avoid potential flooding problems. Offices at 401 S.W. Seventh St., and 920 Morgan St. Street are vacating; all offices at 400 S.W. Eighth St., 535 S.W. Seventh St. are vacating; offices at 601 S.W. Ninth St. are vacating and relocating; offices at 200 E. Grand Ave. have not made any decisions concerning vacating; and the Iowa Workforce Development office is moving to 430 Grand Ave.

Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) is moving all office operations and call centers to Lincoln High School. All routes will continue to operate through the anticipated flood. However, many detours are already in place, with the potential for delays. Due to the closing of the bridges downtown, local routes 1, 4, 5, and 7, DART’s D-Line Shuttle, and all of DART’s express routes will cross the Des Moines River by accessing the Interstate 235 bridge via Second Avenue & East Sixth St. DART is located along the Raccoon River and experienced 11 feet of water during the Floods of 1993.

All Des Moines school classes and programs are canceled today; however, administrative offices are open and operating.

Des Moines public pools, wading pools and neighborhood park and recreation centers are closed so workers can aid in sandbagging efforts.