Public Areas Department proposed in Fort Dodge
It would consolidate maintenance chores
In Fort Dodge, there are places and situations in which the city’s Development Services Department is responsible for mowing the grass and shoveling the snow.
However, that department doesn’t own a mower, a shovel or a snowblower.
A new agency called the Public Areas Department has been proposed to take care of all city properties and relieve other departments, such as Development Services, of the need to figure out how to get things done that don’t really seem like part of their main mission.
Assistant City Manager Ryan Maehl said Monday that implementing this new agency would actually save money by bringing maintenance work in-house, eliminating the need to hire contractors.
He added that it will allow other city departments to “do what they should be doing” instead of mowing grass and shoveling snow.
“We’re excited for it,” he said.
The concept of the Public Areas Department was introduced to the City Council Monday evening during a budget workshop.
In the fiscal year that begins July 1, it would have a proposed budget of $2,387,519.
The new department would be in charge of these tasks:
• Parks maintenance
• Custodial services
• Streetscape maintenance
• Upkeep and operation of the cemeteries
• Forestry work
It would be staffed by transferring employees from other city departments, most notably the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. That department has an eight-member parks and forestry crew which would become the nucleus of the new agency.
The new department will provide “seamless and improved services for all the growth we’re seeing,” said Lori Branderhorst, the director of parks, recreation and forestry.
Maehl said the plan is for the new department to start operating in April.
None of the council members commented on the planned Public Areas Department.
Also on Monday, the council reviewed these proposed budgets:
Fire Department
Current budget: $3,286,093
Proposed budget: $3,743,016
Iowa Municipal Police and Fire Retirement System contributions
Current budget: $1,437,006
Proposed budget: $1,471,907
Social Security/Iowa Public Employee Retirement System
Current budget: $1,153,322
Proposed budget: $1,196,733
Ambulance
Current budget: $1,175,536
Proposed budget: $1,131,476
The ambulance service is provided by the Fire Department but it has a separate budget because it is paid for with fees.
Employee health and life insurance
Current budget: $1,116,400
Proposed budget: $2,787,782
Lakeside Municipal Golf Course
Current budget: $659,976
Proposed budget: $636,670
Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex
Current budget: $445,771
Proposed budget: $495,577
The complex north of the city has softball, baseball and soccer fields.
General administration
Current budget: $394,800
Proposed budget: $397,200
Rosedale Rapids Aquatics Center/Splash Pad
Current budget: $365,232
Proposed budget: $411,846
DART bus
Current budget: $262,000
Proposed budget: $262,000
Community recreation
Current budget: $238,178
Proposed budget: $238,017
Information technology
Current budget: $213,934
Proposed budget: $175,000
City Clerk’s Office
Current: $208,640
Proposed: $213,150
Mayor and City Manager’s Office
Current budget: $150,154
Proposed budget: $153,381
Human resources
Current budget: $80,519
Proposed budget: $90,359
Legal services
Current budget: $30,000
Proposed budget: $30,000
City Council
Current budget: $18,956
Proposed budget: $18,956