The second half of the answers from Marshalltown mayoral candidates Mike Ladehoff and Gary Thompson are printed below.

Ladehoff

The condition of the city’s infrastructure is a frequent topic of discussions at council meetings. If elected, how would you prioritize street repairs, and do you believe that amenities such as the Linn Creek District projects also play an important role in making Marshalltown a better, more attractive community in the future?

Ladehoff: Currently our Main Street is under construction and will be for the near future. Highland Acres Road from Lincolnway to Main Street and East Main Street from 5th Avenue to 12th Avenue is due for construction very soon. 3rd Avenue from Anson Street will be redone by the IDOT in 2027 depending on budget.

This is good, but if elected Mayor, I propose a Steering Committee be formed to look at our side streets for conditions and priorities. 7-9 people with 1 or 2 Councilors included to focus on and make recommendations for the path going forward. I already have 3 names in mind.

Thompson

Thompson: Streets have to be repaired and rebuilt. Plain and simple. All councilors seem to be in agreement on that issue. However, ask yourself why we could not muster four votes to make it happen? I would make it a priority to honor the residents’ wishes to fix the streets. Like I stated earlier, it is time to take care of the people that have chosen to live here.

We have a Pavement Condition Index that rates the quality of the streets and we can use that rating to prioritize the repairs. I believe we should not use the quantified index that takes into account traffic volume. If traffic volume is taken into account, then your neighborhood street will never be repaired even if it is on the list.

I like the quality-of-life improvements taking place like those in the Linn Creek District. My only concerns are the amount of taxpayer money being spent in proportion to other projects and we are not concentrating on filling the vacant lots in the downtown area first.

Do you agree with the council’s decision to grant a 20-year TIF incentive for the redevelopment of the Marshalltown Mall (now known as the Shops at Marshalltown), and what would your strategy be to ensure that it becomes a productive asset for the city and keeps more Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) dollars within Marshalltown?

Ladehoff: This was a no-brainer for me. YES! The Chamber found the “needle in the haystack” — a developer willing to invest $36,000,000 of funds to purchase and develop the Marshalltown Mall. 20 years is a long term for a TIF agreement, but the expertly crafted agreement by John Hall and Carol Webb and Company calls for a “stair stepped” incremental tax return for the City in tax receipts and requires a 70 percent occupancy.

Plus the increase in Local Option Sales Tax sales helps the city budget. Good for the city’s residents and good for the developers! This development helps the leakage of money that Marshalltown residents spend out of town. No more dead malls with owners that simply don’t care.

Thompson: I voted against the TIF for the mall as no one has shown me how we recoup that investment. I project the mall owners will make $60 million dollars over the twenty-year period, if they continue to own the mall that long. Do we really need to give them another $7 million? In addition, the tax abatement is front loaded so the majority of the rebate will occur in the first ten years.

I disagree with others that say the LOST dollars will increase due to the mall being here. No one seems to be taking into account that the majority of the local sales will just be replacing the online sales which we already receive LOST dollars for.

To keep the mall viable, we need to support the businesses that will be there. Just like we need to shop local at every opportunity. I do not think the majority of residents understand the importance of supporting local business ventures. I can be an advocate for all businesses in town if elected.

Do you feel that the downtown reconstruction project has been positive for the city, and how would you advocate for supporting businesses that may be struggling as a result of it?

Ladehoff: I think the downtown reconstruction will be a positive for Marshalltown. It will be amazing when done. Studies have shown that after a Main Street goes through this process, that foot traffic increases 30 percent for the businesses after completion. With utilities collapsing underneath, and sidewalks buckling, we really had no choice but to move forward.

I continually tell people to PLEASE SHOP UPTOWN. The shops, restaurants and businesses uptown need your support during this time. It is very hard on them financially. Let’s help get them through. The City has offered facade grants, rear entry construction cash assistance, vault removal assistance, free sprinkler fire lines and does its very best to keep sidewalks open during a very complicated construction process that involves sewer, water, electrical, data lines, concrete and amenities construction.

Thompson: The reconstruction project is very positive for the future of the downtown and Marshalltown as a whole. I have been visiting with store owners in the downtown area and sharing low-cost marketing ideas. During the continuation of the construction process, if elected, I would step up those efforts utilizing my previous experience with my own business. The UPS Store in Marshalltown was located in the smallest market in the state of Iowa, for a UPS Store, yet we were the number one store in the state for four of the 12 years I owned the store. Also, my store in Ames was located in a 25-business strip mall. Because of that, I learned the importance of helping all stores in the strip mall be successful. It is a proven fact that business drives business in any area.

Do you believe the city should take ownership of the former downtown hospital property, and what, if any, role do you think the mayor and council should play in the redevelopment process?

Ladehoff: Yes, I believe the city should aggressively pursue ownership of the old hospital. Like any abandoned property (like after the tornado or derecho) at the end of the line, the property falls into the city’s hands.

This is not taking the issue lightly. The costs of demolition will be high. Perhaps the city can secure some grant funds to help offset the cost. But first, the city needs to own the property. The city has repeatedly tried to work with Mr. Covalt but has come up empty. The city has warned him, cited him, fined him, and has mowed the property because he doesn’t. He hasn’t paid anything, including taxes, fines, utilities, securing the building, or liens.

After possession, I feel the city should look to see if any of the building has any value for redevelopment, but barring that, knock it down and market the site. It’s time to move on.

Downtown deserves better than this. Let’s get to work!

Thompson: This decision was put in motion as soon as UnityPoint sold the property. It was never a question of “if” the city would need to take ownership of the old hospital, it was just a question of “when.” I find it hard to believe that any private investor is going to come along, purchase the property at the Sheriff’s sale, demolish the buildings, remediate the contaminated soil, and then invest in new construction without massive city tax incentive help from the taxpayers. It will actually cost the taxpayers less if the city takes ownership now. I am convinced that demolition costs will be less than the tax incentives we would have to give to a new developer of the property if purchased in the condition as it is now.

If it hasn’t already been alluded to in the previous questions, what do you believe is the single most important issue currently facing Marshalltown, and how would you address it if elected?

Ladehoff: The most important issue in Marshalltown is to finish all the projects we have currently going. Main Street, the Water Plaza, the Trailhead and bike path, The MACC Center and Martha Ellen Tye Playhouse, Miller Middle School, Franklin Field, The Marshalltown Mall. I am including side streets that need much attention.

Thompson: Actually, there are two issues. The first is affordable housing. We need to break the rental housing stranglehold on low-income individuals. Some families, no matter how hard they work, will never escape the rental housing trap. We need to find a way to build small affordable starter homes. I believe home ownership is the foundation to a prosperous town.

Secondly, we need to listen. Really listen. We need to stop the labeling of groups of like-minded individuals. We need to come together for one, and only one, purpose – and that is to make Marshalltown the nicest, safest, and cleanest town of 27,000 in the country. Then and only then will Marshalltown grow. And it will be an organic growth. A manageable growth. We need to stop thinking we can compete with Ames, Bondurant, Ankeny, etc. We are not them. We need to find our identity and market that identity.

Ladehoff: I feel that I am the best qualified to be the next Mayor because of my 11 years total on City Council, 4 years as Mayor Pro Tem for the past 4 years, my involvement in several improvement committees, involvement in several city groups such as the 4th of July Committee, the Homeless Task Force, Diversity in Leadership and Marshalltown United for Ukraine, ReImagine Miller Middle School and the Ukrainian Sister City group.

If I do have a talent, it is bringing people together for a good cause. I am just like so many people in Marshalltown. We are a one income family that wants to live in a beautiful, unique, authentic, engaging community with plenty to do.

Thompson: My lower middle-class roots, my varied work history experience, my education, and my love for my home town and its people makes me the best choice for our next mayor. My track record has proven I listen to everyone and I care about the issues. I am conservative in spending the taxpayer’s money and I believe in simple solutions to complex problems. With the voters’ assistance, I know I can help make Marshalltown better.