Fort Dodge officials continue to work on eliminating a projected $480,000 deficit in the proposed budget for 2026-2027. That deficit is in the general fund, which pays for police and fire protection, recreation, parks, the Fort Dodge Public Library, the Blanden Memorial Art Museum and ...
The Fort Dodge City Council on Monday approved some new pay incentives for officers working in the chronically understaffed Police Department. At full strength, the department is to have 40 officers. But in the last few years, it has rarely had that many. To boost the morale of the officers now on the force, the council authorized some additional pay. Officers working during times of critically short staffing will be eligible for a premium between $500 and $1,000. Officers who live in the city limits will be eligible for up to $2,000 in additional pay every year. All officers ...
Drivers on busy Fifth Avenue South on the east side of Fort Dodge will have to contend with a major bridge project this summer. The City Council on Monday approved a contract with Jasper Construction Services Inc., of Newton, to do the work at a cost of $844,300.78. The city received ...
About a half dozen Fort Dodge residents went to the City Council meeting Monday, asking for help in dealing with an individual they accuse of using a Facebook page to engage in what they described as ongoing harassment and defamation. Three people addressed the council, including one who declined to give her name despite longstanding council rules requiring that. She promised to tell the council members her name privately. Others stood in the mezzanine of the council chambers, holding signs saying, “I shouldn’t have to hide my face to be safe,” “Anonymous because retaliation ...
While the 2025-26 school year is still marching on, the Fort Dodge Community School District Board heard about the 2026-27 calendar at its Monday meeting. Curriculum director Teri Boezinger presented the calendar committee’s plan to the group, which was unanimously approved. “It has taken us two sessions to get up and running,” she said. “One of the bigger changes was front-loading the year with more professional learning events for teachers since we wanted to stay away from the end of the year.” She added that the half-day Fridays schedule, with not all months included, ...
Fort Dodge Police are investigating after a man was stabbed in the abdomen Sunday night in Fort Dodge. Officers were called to the scene at 915 Third Ave. N. around 7:56 p.m. Sunday, according to the Fort Dodge Police Department. Upon arrival, officers assisted the man until the Fort Dodge Fire Department arrived on scene to continue aid. The man, who has not been identified, was transported to UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center, where his condition was unknown Monday night. Fort Dodge Police secured the crime scene, and the incident remains under ...
