DUBUQUE, Iowa — Members of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative mayor’s association have chosen Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland as co-chair.

Copeland will share the chairmanship with St. Paul, Minn., Mayor Chris Coleman.

MRCTI is an organization tasked with bringing atten-tion to the Mississippi River’s natural and industrial re-sources.

The organization seeks to address such matters of concern as river water quality and habitat restoration, river management and improvement, water conservation, sustainable economies and the celebration of river culture and history.