Dear Community,

Living in Marshalltown is a choice we have each made, and I have always believed it is a good one!

I moved back to my hometown in 1998. Over the decades, I’ve been impressed and proud of our small town’s might and constant forward momentum. Examples include a new YMCA, aquatic center, library, hospital, police/fire station and futsal courts; improved school facilities, city beautification and downtown development; and private investments providing us with better housing, enriching child care, the best burger in Iowa, the finest bowling, and the list could go on and on.

After attending a few recent City Council meetings, I am fearful our town’s positive momentum is in danger. I admit, I am guilty of not attending Council meetings in the past. My absence was not apathy, but it was a blind faith that our elected officials are “Marshalltown Strong” and are making the best decisions to move Marshalltown forward.

As individuals, we may not always see eye to eye on the details of how to prioritize public funds and the details of how to spend those dollars, but as exemplified by the lists above, in the end, voices are heard and good progress for our community is made.

I am by no means suggesting that amenities should outweigh basics like smooth streets and clean and safe neighborhoods. My heart goes out to the gentleman frustrated by junk cars piled next door, and we’ve all driven by an unmowed property and questioned how that can be allowed. But let’s not let these basic necessities impede forward development for our community.

I encourage everyone to contact our City Council members, to get to know our City Council members, and to attend City Council meetings. I tend to believe the number of us that want to make Marshalltown a better place to live, work AND play outnumber the voices that are proving themselves louder.

Bill Fisher’s legacy is exemplified in the Christian Petersen sculpture he commissioned standing proudly in the center of the pond at Center and Anson Streets — a man raising a child to the sky. We are here to lift the next generation! May that legacy live on in Marshalltown!