×

Main Street Fort Dodge gets started

Now that Fort Dodge has returned to the Main Street Iowa program to benefit the downtown area, there are a few chores that must be done.

The city’s Self-Supported Municipal District Board, which met for the first time Tuesday in its new capacity as the organization leading Main Street Fort Dodge, tackled a few of those tasks. The board approved some spending and received an update on the search for an executive director for Main Street Fort Dodge.

Main Street Iowa provides expert guidance on downtown economic development and historic preservation, free architectural services and training for city staffers.

Fort Dodge was previously in the program until 2001. Early this month, state officials announced that the city was being admitted into the program once again.

On Tuesday, the Main Street/SSMID board approved spending $350 to pay the annual membership dues for Main Street America.

The board also approved spending $300 to send a member to the Main Street Iowa Team Building Event to be held Oct. 11-12 in Ottumwa.

The local program will have an executive director. Associate City Planner Maggie Carlin told the board that applications for the job will be accepted until 5 p.m. Sept. 15. She said interviews will be held in late September and October. An executive director will likely be hired in November or December.

Although a Main Street Fort Dodge logo featuring buildings and the clock tower at First Avenue South and 12th Street appears on the city government’s website, board members expressed interest in potentially getting a different one. Board member Ryan Smith suggested asking graphic design students at Iowa Central Community College to submit ideas.

On Aug. 8, Michael Wagler, the state coordinator of Main Street Iowa, presented local officials with a pair of two-by-three-foot signs that say “Now Entering Main Street Iowa Community.” The board will have to decide where to put them, and board President Steve Pederson said three or four more of those signs will probably be needed to mark the entrypoints of downtown.

Carlin said additional signs can be purchased for $100 apiece.

In other business, the board members elected Natalie Newell to join their ranks. She will complete the unexpired term of Bryan Dowd, who resigned because his new job requires him to be out of state often. Newell’s term will expire in December 2019.

The Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District is a roughly 33-block downtown area in which property owners pay an extra tax to finance improvements there. That district is also now the area included in the Main Street program.

Main Street survey responses wanted

Fort Dodge and Clarence, the two newest communities in the Main Street Iowa program, are now engaged in a friendly competition.

The objective is to see which city can get the most people to participate in an online Main Street Iowa survey, according to Steve Pederson, the president of the Main Street/SSMID board in Fort Dodge.

To complete the survey, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FortDodge_OnlineSurvey.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today