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This coming week, the old Keen Edge brick building along Madison/Nevada Street should be demolished. Our Housing Department and City Administrator plus other staff has helped this project along. The owner of the property is taking the building down and paying all costs to do so. Good for them, another eyesore removed! It will really make the area look very different.
McDonald's has paid their construction permit and anticipates starting construction on the new McDonalds on the corner of North 3rd Avenue and East State Street this spring. Expect a 70-100 day construction pending weather and opening in early summer.
Word on the street is that over 2,000 trick or treaters with parents attended the Haunt the Block last week. Good job Marshalltown, showing up and showing out.
Marshalltown Public Library is losing our longtime Library Director Sarah Rosenblum to retirement. Words cannot properly express my appreciation for the work that she has done keeping our public library moving along with upgrades and different services and programs. In a ribbon cutting last weekend for the new spaces in the library, I called our public library one of the "Crown Jewels" of Marshalltown, and I meant it. Sarah has had more than a hand in making it that way. Job well done!
I am going to miss her hugs, big heart and possibly the best cookie maker in the Midwest.
Fear not for the Library though, Katie Fink will be taking over for Sarah as Temporary Library Director for 6 months. The Library Board of Trustees will then look for a permanent Library Director. Katie is smart, ambitious, and knows the Library well having served as Assistant Director for the past few years. I have nothing but good things to say about her.
Our Parks and Recreation Department and Engineering Department has put together an interactive map of the equipment at various parks including special needs kids. Just go to the City of Marshalltown web page, click on Departments, go to Parks and click on Accessible Playgrounds and Bathrooms. A complete list of different Parks with descriptions of accessible equipment is listed. If you scroll to the bottom, an interactive map can help you and the kiddos plan a great park tour. Why not hit 2 or 3?
The Council meeting on Monday night might just be a record. 4 hours and 27 minutes, gavel to gavel. We had regular business plus went over the new data center changes to our Ordinances. Much good discussion was had, amendments were made, but eventually voted down, an extension of the Data Center Moratorium was discussed and eventually tabled. Citizens from Marshalltown and the surrounding area had several chances to speak up and give their opinions, which is very good. Eventually, the matter was sent back to Planning and Zoning for some minute changes. Now, go vote!
"Bad libraries build collections, good libraries build services, great libraries build communities.” -- R. David Lankes
Mike Ladehoff is the mayor of Marshalltown.