Starting Jan. 1, a new Mayor (myself), a new Councilor with a seasoned veteran returning will be seated along with a returning Councilor that the residents saw the wisdom to re-elect. I am going to miss the smarts of Barry Kell, he was definitely an asset on the Council helping jump-start our progress in Marshalltown that you see today. But his kids are only young once.

Our intrepid Mayor Joel Greer will be able to slide into a private life again. Joel has led us through a tornado, a derecho, a pandemic with a steady hand on the wheel. Kudos sir.

To put it mildly, I am “wound up” with the Council, staff and employees going forward. Very diverse in all areas, representing the very best of service to Marshalltown’s residents. Also, kudos to the people that didn’t quite make it. It takes courage and commitment to throw your hat in the ring. Your voice was heard.

Now it is time for ALL OF US to write the next chapter in Marshalltown’s rich and amazing history. In 100 years, we will all be gone and our names will be long forgotten. Our pictures and videos will look as old as those in 1925 look to us.

So, what will this chapter say? ALL of us have a part in writing the story of Marshalltown.

What I hope it says is that the residents joined together to make Marshalltown become the very best city in Iowa to work, raise families and live very full lives. The Marshalltown people showed up and despite their differences, joined together to reach higher. Volunteering, donating to organizations that help the less fortunate. The people of Marshalltown donated their precious time to schools and projects to push Marshalltown forward. I hope that the story says that we danced and sang, held festivals, created and imagined, inspired and laughed out-loud. That Marshalltown welcomed new residents with open arms and helped get them established.

I am not looking through rose colored glasses though. There will be challenges, problems, issues and hurdles to overcome. And we will succeed.

The story is ours to write. Let’s get to work.