Phil Heinlen, who had been mayor for more than 20 years, died in late 2024. There is also a new city clerk, as Kelly Smidt resigned and Deputy Clerk Samantha McFarland was elevated to clerk.

For the mayor post, the Rockwell City Council members used the appointment process to promote Jeff Fistler, who was three-fourths of the way through his council term, to take the post.

Fistler said it was a shock to lose Heinlen.

“He had been mayor for a long time and did a great job,” he said. “We are trying to do our best to follow in his honor.”

-Submitted photo
The Heinlen Addition on the west edge of Rockwell City, which has six lots available, will help meet the town's housing need. Fistler said initial discussions on another possible housing addition are already underway.

Overall in the Calhoun County town of 2,200 people, Fistler said, “Things have been on the upswing.”

However, there have been some situations in need of a rebound, such as the loss of the nursing home.

Another need is more housing to keep the town growing. The new residential subdivision on the west edge of Rockwell City will help meet that need. In fact, that subdivision with six lots in the vicinity of High Street has been renamed the Heinlen Addition.

“It was already started and (the former mayor) had a lot to do with it,” Fistler said. “We are hoping to get it filled up.”

Since two lots are already sold, he feels good about that. Once a lot is sold, people have three years to build a home.

The Heinlen Addition was paid for in part with $600,000 that remained after the water treatment plant project was completed. Fistler said the council is already having initial discussions on another possible housing addition.

On the opposite side of the town, the Fareway grocery store is going well in its first years of operation, Fistler said. The town had lost its grocery store, and after working with Fareway officials on programs like tax abatement, Fareway chose to build the store.

Fareway is placing some stores in select smaller towns in facilities of 11,000 square feet that are half the size of regular stores. Fistler said the momentum is going well.

“It went up quick … that has been a huge draw for us,” he said. “We are getting people from Webster County and Carroll County.”

Also on the edge of Rockwell City, city officials are aiming to find a new successor to move into the former nursing home facility after Sunny Knoll closed in November 2024.

“We are working hard to get someone in that building,” the mayor said.

Other city projects for 2025 include adding water lines since some are past their useful lives. Fistler said that piping will go over about three blocks near Lake Street. Work may also be done near the town airport.

In the area of recreation, the city swimming pool needs a water heater, which may cost $250,000. Fistler said a few organizations are looking into fundraising and other ways to improve the Rockwell City pool. He said the last major work on the pool was done in 1989.

“It also needs cosmetic work on the lifeguard stands and things like that,” Fistler said.

Two of the three South Central Calhoun Community School District buildings — the elementary and middle school — are in Rockwell City, while the high school is in Lake City.

Fistler said that school leaders have approved a new gymnasium to be added to the elementary building. He said it is important to keep good school facilities in Iowa communities.