The Square

Episode 42 - The One About Mayors Jul 06, 2023

Learning from successful and seasoned Mayors is not only helpful in gaining understanding…it is also a lot of fun! We welcome Caleb Housh, Mayor of Seymour, and Courtney Clark, Mayor of Waukee to The Square where they share about themselves, how they ended up in city government, their accomplishments, and what campaigning is like.

Episode 41 - The One About Milestones Feb 24, 2023

Milestone birthdays only come around every so often. This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Iowa League of Cities. This is something worth celebrating for any organization, and we will be doing just that this year. We welcome Jess Vogel and Alan Kemp from the League to share their research and insight on the past 125 years and hear about several milestones along the way. Look for other ways we are celebrating throughout the year by subscribing to League Weekly and checking out Cityscape magazine.

Episode 40 - The One About The 2022 Hall Of Fame Winners Nov 30, 2022

Each year during the League's Annual Conference & Exhibit we get the honor of inducting someone to the Hall of Fame which recognizes individuals who have provided extraordinary public service to the League and local government. This year was no exception to that rule. This month on The Square, we chatted with our two newest Hall of Fame winners, Larry Burger and Teresa Rotschafer. Hear how they got involved in city government and what has kept them committed to serving Iowa cities. We also welcome Aaron Smith, Chief Bond Programs Director for Iowa Finance Authority. Aaron shares a variety of resources available to cities around the state and different ways the Iowa Finance Authority is making an impact on cities.

Episode 39 - The one about city clerks Sep 09, 2022

During this month’s episode, we welcome two very talented (and quite humorous!) city clerks as Trish Gleason with the city of Dubuque and Shelby Hagan with the city of Bondurant join The Square. Gleason and Hagan share how they ended up working as city clerks and the variety their job brings on a daily basis. This episode is full of fun and meaningful stories that all city clerks across the state can relate to.

Episode 38 - The one about the 2022 Annual Conference Jul 22, 2022

As we all enjoy a nice, warm Iowa summer, The Square sits down with Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart, whose community will serve as host to the League's 2022 Annual Conference & Exhibit. Mayor Hart and his team are excited to welcome city officials from around the state and show off the impressive work being done in Waterloo, including the redevelopment of a historic neighborhood, riverfront amphitheater, downtown amenities, and more. We also have a special guest in this episode as the League's new Membership Services Coordinator, Amanda Trebon Boyd, joins us to share her background and how she got to the League.

Episode 37 - The one about Cybersecurity May 31, 2022

Why does my small city in Iowa need to worry about cyberattacks and cybersecurity? Why would we spend our city funds on something our citizens can’t even enjoy or see the benefits from? How do I know if an email is legit? This month on The Square we invite Cole Two Bears with ThinkGard to tackle these questions and more. We are certain that after hearing what Cole has to say your city will think twice about clicking on the link and find ways to make sure your city has what it takes to be safe with your city’s information. ThinkGard is a VC3 company that administers our Endorsed program, IT in a Box. You can find IT in a Box in the Exhibit Hall at our Annual Conference & Exhibit in Waterloo this September and they will also be presenting a conference workshop. Learn more about this endorsed program at www.vc3.com.

Episode 36 - The Fun Episode Apr 28, 2022

This might be called the "Fun Episode" as Parks and Rec Directors Matt Jermier with the City of Waukee and Nick Schenck with the City of Adel stopped by The Square for a great conversation. Both began their careers when the Parks & Recreation departments had just opened in their respective cities and they've been having fun ever since! Hear exactly what goes into running their department, the benefits of strong park and recreation services in a city and some great advice for those new to the industry. We then welcome Tyler Richard, FirstNet Solutions Consultant for Iowa. Tyler shares the benefits and history of FirstNet and the value it brings to all-sized cities across the state. To learn more about FirstNet, feel free to contact Tyler at tr2800@att.com.

Episode 35 - The one with the mayors Mar 01, 2022

This month we welcome Mayor Matt Walsh from Council Bluffs and Mayor Lorraine Borowski from Decorah. These two strong leaders share advice and wisdom from their combined 57 years of serving in some form of city government. Hear how they measure success, what it means to be “off the clock” as an elected official, and their favorite and least favorite things about their role as mayor. Mayor Walsh and Mayor Borowski both serve on the executive committee for the Iowa Mayor’s Association. We also hear from Max Elg, Vice President of Operations with Solutions, a Partner Program with the League. Max talks about his start as “Johnny Apple Seed” to working for Solutions and offers great tips for cities across the state in regards to their IT solutions.

Episode 34: The one with the League’s Legislative Team Jan 29, 2022

This month’s episode features a conversation with the League’s governmental affairs team. Robert Palmer and Daniel Stalder share the importance of the interim months between legislative sessions and the foundation that happens during that time. We also hear an overview of the League’s Legislative Values and they discuss ways cities can become more involved with the legislative process and how their involvement can help shape the laws that are passed for their communities. The team also shares their favorite and least favorite things about the legislative session. We then join Maria Brownell, an attorney with Ahlers & Cooney, a Partner Program of the League. Maria shares her experience as a municipal attorney and a few tips cities can implement.

Episode 33 - The one with Lohrville Mayor Donny Hobbs Dec 20, 2021

Happy holidays! We're joined this month by Lohrville Mayor, and new League President, Donny Hobbs. Mayor Hobbs shares his perspective on the importance of public services, some of the work the city and local volunteers have done in his community, and what they're hoping to achieve in the near future. He also provides some of the goals he has for his tenure as League President, highlighted by a push to boost civic participation in cities across the state. We also have a chat with Maggie Burger of Speer Financial, a League partner program that provides assistance to local governments in financial planning, debt management, tax increment financing, and more. With it being budget season, Maggie's timely guidance on the best financing tools for capital projects and other budgetary needs is a must-listen. The Square thanks all of its listeners and guests that have joined us in the past year and we wish everyone a safe and festive holiday season!

Episode 32 - The one about conference 2021 Nov 09, 2021

On this months episode we talked to a few of the award winners from our 2021 Annual Conference & Exhibit: Rhonda Wood Smith Award Winner: Holly Berg, Council Member, Ottumwa Hall of Fame Award Winner: John Lundell, Mayor, Coralville Hall of Fame Award Winner: Decker Ploehn, City Administrator, Bettendorf Each award winner offers great advice to newly elected, veterans and everyone in between. We finished up this month's interviews with Joe Heieck, president and CEO of gWorks who is one of our Community Alliance Partners. This episode is a bit long but well worth it!

Episode 31 - The one about Camp Coralville Aug 26, 2021

The League's Annual Conference & Exhibit is quickly approaching and The Square is joined by Kelly Hayworth, Coralville City Administrator, as he discusses the great events that his community will host in September. Kelly shares some of the benefits of attending the Annual Conference, the fun spots around the Iowa River Landing that attendees can enjoy during their stay, and how the camping theme in the Exhibit Hall will create an unforgettable Camp Coralville. You can also hear about the latest developments around the Coralville community, which has truly been transformed during Kelly's tenure. We also chat with Travis Squires with Piper Sandler, one of the League's Community Alliance Partners, to hear more about the latest trends in municipal financing and tips for cities that are considering ways to finance projects and purchases. Head online to get more information about the 2021 Annual Conference & Exhibit, and as always, send your feedback to thesquare@iowaleague.org.

Episode 30 The One About City Elections Jul 19, 2021

It may be summer but this fall’s regular city elections are right around the corner. This month we brought in Heidi Burhans with the Secretary of State’s Office who is a true expert in all thing’s elections. We discuss what cities need to do to prepare, the nomination process, what is required for someone to be eligible to be a candidate for elective office in Iowa, and much more. We then welcome Greg Broussard with Bolton & Menk, an engineering firm that works with clients all over the state and is a League Community Alliance Partner. Greg shares what projects we should be looking out for around the state. Send us what Mickey Shields will be doing this summer with his wife from this month’s episode and you could get a shout-out in an upcoming episode. Send any questions or comments to thesquare@iowaleague.org.

Episode 29 - The one about summer trips Jun 07, 2021

What's your favorite place to visit in Iowa? In this month's episode, we chat with Amy Zeigler, the State Tourism Manager at the Iowa Tourism Office, about the many great places around the state to visit this summer. And our hosts, Katie Wheeler and Mickey Shields, also share some of their favorite summer travel spots. Give it a listen and let us know your favorite places in Iowa! This month's episode also features a discussion with Dustin Leo of McClure Engineering who details some of the interesting projects the firm has helped cities with recently and what is on the horizon. Send in your questions, comments, and travel suggestions to thesquare@iowaleague.org!

Episode 28 - The one about Clinton's Neighborhood Revitalization Apr 22, 2021

Spring is in full bloom and cities across Iowa are gearing up for summer programs and projects. Part of the work includes nuisance abatement, which is usually not a fun part of municipal government but always a necessity. This month's episode of The Square features a lively discussion on city nuisance abatement efforts as we are joined by Clinton's Rich Foley and Tammy Johnson along with Pat O'Connell from the Lynch Dallas law firm (a Community Alliance Partner with the League). The group shares some of the work that has been done in Clinton to deal with nuisance property issues and help turn around derelict properties. Hear what a nuisance process looks like from a city zoning official's perspective and the various problems that can arise. We also chat about the legal concerns a city has when taking action on nuisance properties and staying the course to revitalize neighborhoods. Drop any questions or comments you have at thesquare@iowaleague.org. Enjoy the show!

Episode 27: The one about your streets Mar 22, 2021

A community's road infrastructure is critical to daily life and in this month's episode, we are joined by Travis Goedken, Humboldt City Administrator, who talks about what it's like to manage a city's street system. Travis details the importance of planning and prioritizing needs, the different types of streets that the city maintains, and the process to complete road projects. We are also joined by Derek Johnson of ISG, one of the League's Community Alliance Partners that provides engineering services to cities across Iowa and the midwest. Derek gives a look at what it's like from an engineering perspective to get public infrastructure projects done and also shares some of his background, which included serving as a city engineer. Send in your comments and questions to thesquare@iowaleague.org, enjoy the episode!

Episode 26 The One with IMWCA's Safety and Risk Improvement Team Feb 09, 2021

Welcome back! After a bit of a delay, The Square is rolling again as this month we chat with IMWCA's Safety and Risk Improvement Team. Dean Schade, Scott Smith, and Staci Griffin provide insights into working safely during an Iowa winter, pitfalls to avoid, and navigating the roads when winter weather hits. We are then joined by Jim Holz of MSA, an engineering and architectural design firm that works with cities all over the state and is a League Community Alliance Partner. Jim shares some tips on how cities can identify when infrastructure needs to be updated, prioritize community needs, and complete important projects. Thanks for listening to another episode and be sure to send any questions or comments to thesquare@iowaleague.org.

Episode 25: The One About City Budget Season Oct 27, 2020

City budget season has arrived! The Square chats with Marion's Budget Manager, Zach Wolfe, to get his thoughts on how to prepare for the city budget and what leads to a successful process. As a city official that is relatively new to Iowa, Zach also shares his perspective of learning our state's property tax system, fund accounting and more. We are also joined by Nate Summers from DA Davidson, one of the League's partners that serves as a municipal advisor for cities as they go through capital projects. Nate discusses financing options available to cities, how to manage debt and keep the city budget in the best position to complete needed projects. We hope you enjoy this month's episode and as always, let us know your thoughts at thesquare@iowaleague.org.

Episode 24 - The One With Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart Sep 28, 2020

Summer has ended, school has started and The Square is back with a new episode! We talk with Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart, who was recently elected as President of the League. Mayor Hart shares what led him to serving on the city council and as mayor, the unique position of being a full-time mayor (a rarity in Iowa) and some of the fun and challenges that come with the job. We also talk about Mayor Hart's plans for his League presidency and finding ways to enhance services and programs. We then chat with Kathryn Kunert of MidAmerican Energy and Joel Schmidt of Alliant Energy about the work each company did to restore power after the derecho storm that swept through the state in August. Kathryn and Joel talked about the importance of having strong partnerships with cities and how critical that is to storm recovery. The League thanks each of these partners for their incredible work in our communities to get power back to residents and businesses following such an unprecedented storm. We hope our listeners and communities are doing well, please contact thesquare@iowaleague.org with any questions or comments!

Episode 23 - The one about the COVID-19 financial impact Jul 28, 2020

Summer is rolling along and we have another episode of The Square for your listening pleasure! This month we talk to Erin Mullenix, the League's Research Director, who provides a rundown on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on city finances. We discuss the various revenues that are projected to decline as well as expenditures that may be affected. Erin also shares findings from recent surveys of cities that measure the local financial impact of the pandemic. Erin was gracious enough to stick around for the Get to Know Your League segment, which is always a fun listen. We encourage cities to utilize resources we have available online to help respond to the pandemic, including our COVID-19 Finance Tool that can help gauge local impacts. Take care and join us next month for another episode!

Episode 22: The one with Strawberry Point City Administrator Alison Osweiler Jun 05, 2020

How does a native of Southern California end up as the city administrator in Strawberry Point, Iowa? Find out in this month's episode of The Square! Alison Osweiler, who joined the city in 2016, talks about her interesting journey to Iowa and to municipal government. We talk about what it's been like to manage a city during a pandemic, some of the city's plans for reopening facilities and programs, ideas for making adjustments to the city budget and what it's like living on a farm. Thanks to Alison for the fun conversation! This month's Get to Know Your League features Sara Shonrock, who serves in a joint role with our friends at Iowa State University Extension and leads the Municipal Professionals Institute and Academy. Sara is a native of Ames who got lost in Minnesota for a few years before making the wise decision to come back home! We hope our communities are doing well during these challenging times, and as always, your League is here to support you! Contact us at thesquare@iowaleague.org with any questions or comments you may have.

Episode 21 - The one with Carlisle Library Director Stacy Goodhue Apr 30, 2020

The Square is back with a new episode! Enjoy a fun interview with Stacy Goodhue, who serves as the library director for the City of Carlisle. We actually recorded this prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Stacy's thoughts on the importance of public libraries rings true now more than ever. Hear what it takes to run a city library and the various programs and services they provide - you may be surprised at how much libraries do for a community! We are also joined by Emma Kline, the League's Administrative Assistant, for the always entertaining Get to Know Your League segment. We wish all communities good health as we continue to respond to the pandemic, and encourage our members to access a variety of helpful of resources at www.iowaleague.org. Take care and we'll talk to you soon on The Square!

Episode 20 - The One About COVID - 19 Apr 07, 2020

The Square took a break from its regularly scheduled interviews to talk about COVID-19 and the impact it has on city governments in Iowa. We cover some League news, including adjustments we have made thus far to scheduled in-person workshops and how we will continue to operate through remote working. We also discuss some of the critical issues cities are facing currently, including the use of electronic meetings to get city business handled. The episode then wraps up with some of the positive stories cities have shared with us that illustrate some wonderful ways communities are coming together to support one another during this trying time. Be sure to check out our Coronavirus Resources page to access a wide variety of helpful information.

Episode 19 - The one with Grinnell Police Chief Dennis Reilly Feb 25, 2020

Buckle up your seat belts! The Square chats with Grinnell Police Chief Dennis Reilly for an insightful discussion on community law enforcement and the critical role police departments play in our cities. Dennis shared some of his background of growing up in New Jersey and starting out as a police officer before eventually working his to becoming chief of police, as well as how he landed in Iowa. We also talk about the many jobs of a city police department, which go well beyond writing tickets as police officers are instrumental in effective community engagement. We are joined by Robert Palmer once again for our monthly Legislative Update and sit down with IMWCA's Andrew Justice for the Get to Know Your League interview. We also talk about the value of planning in our Question of the Month. Enjoy the episode and be sure to send any comments or questions to thesquare@iowaleague.org!

Episode 18 - The One With Solons Scott Kleppe Jan 28, 2020

Our first episode of 2020! It's a new year, a new decade and we have a new edition of The Square that features a very interesting discussion about municipal public works. Scott Kleppe, Solon's Public Works Director, joins us to chat about how a city's water and wastewater system works. For those who have wondered how water gets to their faucet, or what happens when you flush a toilet, give a listen and find out! Scott also shares some of his background and how seeing his grandfather do city work gave him the first introduction to public works. We have a new segment to go with the new year as we get our Legislative Update with the League's General Counsel and Director of Government Affairs, Robert Palmer. Hear about the latest issues at the State Capitol important to city officials. And we also sit down with Scott Smith, IMWCA's Senior Loss Control Representative, for the Get to Know Your League interview. We wish all cities a happy new year and we look forward to working with you! Send us your questions and feedback to thesquare@iowaleague.org.

Episode 17 - The one with Mayor Tom Lazio Dec 20, 2019

Happy holiday! The Square closes out 2019 with an interview of Tom Lazio, Ottumwa Mayor and President of the League Board. We learned some interesting things about Mayor Lazio's career before he entered public office and how that helped prepare him to be an effective mayor. He also shared some of the great work they're doing in Ottumwa, a few of their goals for the future and what he hopes to do as League President. This month's Your Questions Answered asks about cities' ability to set their own council meeting rule of procedure, something we strongly encourage all cities to have. And the League's Senior Accountant, Alison Deiter, joins us for the Get to Know Your League segment. Alison's pay our bills, and issues paychecks to staff, so we took it easy on her! As usual, we wrap up with the answer to last month's trivia (which county in Iowa has the most cities) and ask a new trivia question: what is the lowest temperature recorded in Iowa and where? Send in your trivia answers, questions to stump our staff and other feedback to thesquare@iowaleague.org. Enjoy the holidays!

Episode 16: The one about city names Nov 25, 2019

It is a busy time for the League as we are visiting various cities for our Budget Workshops and Municipal Leadership Academy. So, we decided to have a little fun with this episode with an idea that sparked during our travels. We have 942 great cities in Iowa and each have a unique character and some have a unique name. We discuss our favorite city names and attempt to pronounce them right! This is meant to be fun (and funny)! We hope no one takes offense if their city is mentioned and do not enjoy the humor in a funny pronunciation or story behind the city name. This month's Your Questions Answered asks if there is a recall process in Iowa for elected positions and our Get to Know Your League interview features Jess Vogel, the League’s Communication Coordinator. We also cover last episode's trivia question, which asked what year did the League's Municipal Leadership Academy begin? (We may know the official date?!). If you do not know what MLA is, make sure to check it out on our website! It is a fantastic training opportunity for newly elected and for veteran officials. In addition, we offer some new trivia: what county has the most cities? Send your trivia answers, questions and feedback to thesquare@iowaleague.org!

Episode 15: The one about the 2019 Annual Conference & Exhibit Oct 31, 2019

You may have noticed The Square took last month off, but we promise we were busy! In fact, we grabbed some live interviews from the Exhibit Hall of this year's Annual Conference & Exhibit in Dubuque and had some fun chatting with a bunch of great city officials from around the state. Give those a listen and enjoy some of the sounds from the luau-themed Exhibit Hall! We also review this year's League awards, which were presented during the Awards Banquet at the Annual Conference. We detail the All-Star Community Awards, Rhonda Wood Smith Award, Legislative Service Awards and our new Hall of Fame inductees. As always, we had some tremendous cities and individuals recognized this year for their outstanding contributions to their communities. This month's Your Questions Answered is a question on whether citizens can petition for a city code change in their community and our Get to Know Your League interview features Heather Roberts, the League's outstanding Director of Information Services. Learn a little about Heather, including how she got started at the League (just a few years ago) and what she likes to do in her free time (hint: she's a dog person!). We also cover last episode's trivia question, which asked where the Red Delicious apple originated (a surprisingly controversial answer to this one). And we offer some new trivia: what year did the League's Municipal Leadership Academy begin? Send your trivia answers, questions and feedback to thesquare@iowaleague.org!

Episode - 14 The One About Training Aug 28, 2019

We're back with another fun episode of The Square! This month we focus on the value of training and highlight some important upcoming events hosted by the League. We talk about the 2019 Annual Conference & Exhibit, including some of the great workshops and networking events that attendees can join. And we also discuss this fall's Budget Workshops and Municipal Leadership Academy, which will offer important education at workshops around the state (learn more on our Workshops & Events page). We mixed in a few of our favorite stories from the road as well! Bill Goldy, the League's Membership Services Coordinator, joins us as a guest host and also gets grilled in the monthly Get to Know Your League segment. We put Mickey on the spot again with the Your Questions Answered segment as he was asked about city election systems. And we wrap up by answering last month's trivia question (What year did IMWCA begin offering coverage?) and ask this month's, In what city did the Red Delicious apple originate? Send your trivia answers, questions and comments to thesquare@iowaleague.org

Episode 13 - The One About Safety Jul 25, 2019

It's sometimes easy to take employee safety for granted, but cities that have had to deal with workplace injuries know how critical workers' compensation coverage and a safe working environment is to a successful organization. This month we talk to Jeff Hovey and Dean Schade of the Iowa Municipalities Workers' Compensation Association (IMWCA) about the importance of safety and workers' compensation. IMWCA is an endorsed program of the League and is housed in the League offices. Jeff and Dean share their perspectives on working with cities and other local governments and what employers can do to improve their workplace safety. The Your Questions Answered segment features the curious question of whether we have different classifications of cities in Iowa. And the Get to Know Your League interview features Jeff and Dean, who were kind of enough to stick around and share more about themselves. Stick around to the end to hear last month's trivia answer while also getting the next brain buster. Send your feedback, questions and trivia answers to thesquare@iowaleague.org!

Episode 12 - The One About Our Favorite City Slogans Jun 18, 2019

It's summertime in Iowa, so we wanted to have a little fun with this episode and share some of our favorite city slogans and welcome signs that we've seen around the state. We talk about some of the clever city slogans, interesting welcome signs and memorable places that stand out to us. Check these out when you're out traveling this summer! There are so many great city welcome signs, slogans, public art installations and other landmarks across our great state - way too many to mention in one podcast. We'd love to see your favorites too! Send us pictures and your list to thesquare@iowaleague.org. We also cover the question of how a person can run for city office during Your Questions Answered and then interview the League's Office Manager, Shannon Busby, in the Get to Know Your League segment. As usual, we wrap up with some fun trivia as League Trivia Expert Ryan Pealer answer's our previous question of which city is home to the American Gothic House Center, and then ask in which city was the first ever Heisman Award winner, Jay Berwanger, born? Please send your trivia answers, question of the month and any comments to thesquare@iowaleague.org! References for slogans gotten from onlyiniowa.com and onlyinyourstate.com

Episode 11 - The one about the 2019 legislative session May 29, 2019

This month's episode features a recap of the recently completed legislative session, which includes several pieces of legislation important to city governments. We sat down with Robert Palmer and Daniel Stalder from the League's Government Affairs team to get their thoughts on the session. They provided some interesting perspectives on what it's like to work in the Capitol, a few of the important issues that came out of the 2019 session and what kind of work is planned before next year. Also, be sure to read the New Laws of Interest Special Report to get more information on the bills passed that affected cities. The Get to Know Your League segment includes a fun interview with Kim Gannon, our claims examiner with IMWCA. And this month's Your Questions Answered features a question from Decorah city council member Johanna Bergan, who asked what cities can do create a more equitable government. Our top trivia expert Ryan Pealer provides the answer to last episode's trivia question that asked which state has the most disc golf courses per capita, and for this month's trivia we have the following: What city is home to the American Gothic House Center, which was the inspiration for Grant Wood's famous painting? Be sure to send your trivia answers, the question of the month and any comments to thesquare@iowaleague.org!

Episode 10: The one about nuisance abatement Apr 29, 2019

Nuisance abatement is challenging for all communities, and this month we sit down with Charlie Nichols, Linn County's Planning & Zoning Division Manager and formerly with the City of Burlington. Charlie offers his thoughts on how city's can effectively manage nuisance properties and describes the Healthy Neighborhoods program in Burlington, a proactive approach that helps residents improve properties. The Your Questions Answered segment provides guidance on teenagers working for a city, and Katie Wheeler is featured in our Get to Know Your League interview. We also provide the answer to last month's trivia question: what is the oldest municipal golf course west of the Mississippi River? And offer the following for this month's trivia: which state has the most disc golf courses per capita? As always, please send your trivia answers, questions and any comments to thesquare@iowaleague.org!

Episode 9: The One From Colfax Mar 25, 2019

The one from Colfax On the road again...that's right, The Square ventured out to Colfax for another fun episode. We had the pleasure of talking with city clerk Nancy Earles and city administrator Wade Wagoner about what it's like to serve in their roles. Nancy had a lot of interesting stories from her career working as a city clerk... some the of the strangest things can come through city hall. Wade shared thoughts on how cities can be innovative to find solutions to problems, which sometimes comes with risk but also great reward. We get into who is eligible to serve on a city council in this month's Your Questions Answered segment and put one of our co-hosts, Mickey Shields, on the hot spot in the Get to Know Your League interview. The episode wraps up with our monthly trivia as we answer which is the smallest city in the U.S. to be granted a Carnegie library (spoiler: it's in Iowa!) and ask because winter must end at some point, what is the oldest municipal golf course west of the Mississippi River? We want your feedback! Send your questions, trivia answers and comments to thesquare@iowaleague.org.

Episode 8: The one from Atkins Feb 21, 2019

The Square went on the road this month to visit Atkins, a beautiful city of 1,670 residents that has experienced some growth in recent years with expectations of adding to their population in the coming years. We are joined by Eric Christianson, a field specialist at ISU Extension, who helped the city develop strategic initiatives and plans for the community. Eric shares what that process is like and how it can be beneficial for any city. Atkins Mayor Bruce Visser talks about how the community has changed over the years and what the city has done to work with citizens. The city has constructed a new wastewater treatment facility, improved roads, and added subdivisions. Mayor Visser describes the challenge in keeping up and the need to thoughtfully prioritize projects. We tackle the issue of council member compensation and elected officials performing work as independent contractors in the Your Questions Answered segment. And The Square's producer (and League Network Administrator) Ryan Pealer is our featured guest in the Get to Know Your League segment! Get the answer to last month's trivia question (which city had the largest population increase from 2000 to 2010) and take a stab at this month's: The smallest community in the U.S. to be granted a Carnegie library is in Iowa, which city is it? Send your questions for the Your Questions Answered segment and trivia answers to thesquare@iowaleague.org

Episode 7: The one to kick off legislative session. Jan 10, 2019

Happy new year! The Square kicks off 2019 with a special look at this year's legislative session. The episode features an interesting conversation with Kim Downs, city administrator of Hiawatha, who shares some of the important legislative issues for municipal governments, her role on the League's Legislative Policy Committee and some tips for successful grassroots advocacy. We also chat with our very own Robert Palmer, Director of Government Affairs and General Counsel, about his role in representing cities at the legislature and what a typical day is like at the Capitol. Get a double dose of Robert, as he is this month's featured staffer in our Get to Know Your League segment! In the Your Questions Answered segment we're asked what limitations cities have in establishing local property taxes (it must be budget season for cities). Hear the answer to last month's trivia (what is the newest city in Iowa?), and send answers to thesquare@iowaleague.org to this puzzler: which city in Iowa had the largest increase in population from 2000 to 2010?

Episode 6: The one with a few of our favorite things Dec 21, 2018

As 2018 winds down we took the opportunity to look back over the past year and recognize some big moments for the League and cities around the state. We even brought in the boss to help as League executive director Alan Kemp co-hosts to share his perspective! We talk about some of our favorite Cityscape magazine cover photos and articles, new League events and services that stood out to us, what we remembered most from the 2018 Annual Conference & Exhibit (hint, it involves dancing), and a few other fun things. We also had Alan stick around for the Get to Know Your League segment where you can learn a little more about his path to the League, how he spends his free time and a big event that occurred in his life this year. This episode's Your Questions Answered segment provides information on how to fill a council vacancy, something nearly all cities encounter at some point. You can send your trivia answers and questions, as well as hobby suggestions for Alan, to thesquare@iowaleague.org. Happy Holidays!

Episode 5: The one with Jim Thompson from IEDA Dec 03, 2018

Jim Thompson, Downtown Economic Development Specialist at the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), joins the podcast for a fun conversation about his experiences working with cities and programs that can help communities at the IEDA. Jim previously served as a council member in Charles City before getting involved in economic development work, giving him keen insight into what works for cities and the challenges that so many face. Hear his perspective on what cities can do to understand their identity, make important improvements around the community and specific programs that cities can utilize through the IEDA. In this episode's Your Questions Answered segment we dive into the differences between a city manager and a city administrator. And the Get to Know Your League conversation features a fun talk with Tim Kirgan of IMWCA, who talks about his role with the League and shares a little baseball wisdom. As always, send questions and trivia answers to thesquare@iowaleague.org.

Episode 4: The one where we talk to Scott Naumann Oct 22, 2018

Our fourth episode of The Square features a fun interview with Scott Naumann, Bettendorf Alderman and current President of the League Executive Board. Scott's passion for his community and local government is evident throughout our chat as he talks about how he got on the city council, the important projects that have been completed in his tenure and some of the challenges he's faced as a public official. You'll also get to know Scott a little better in our lightning round of questions and see if he answered this month's trivia question correctly. Thanks Scott for such a great conversation! This month's Your Questions Answered segment covers a topic that nearly all cities struggle with - how to complete important city infrastructure projects. We give our thoughts on ways cities can better understand their road, utility and facility needs while making sound financial decisions. We also have a special treat for you in this episode as our Get to Know Your League segment features none other than Bethany Crile, co-host of The Square! Enjoy the episode and be sure to send your questions and trivia answers to thesquare@iowaleague.org.

Episode 3: The one about the 2018 Annual Conference & Exhibit Sep 25, 2018

We took The Square on the road! This month's episode features interviews with city officials in the Exhibit Hall at the 2018 Annual Conference & Exhibit in Council Bluffs. Hear about some cool things happening in different communities and get a feel for the networking and fun that is always part of the annual conference. In the Your Questions Answered segment we give our take on how to best manage citizen complaints and social media comments, and in a new segment we introduce the newest member of the League staff. Listen until the end to hear this month's trivia, and be sure to send your answers to thesquare@iowaleague.org!

Episode 2: The One About The 2018 All - Star Community Awards Aug 15, 2018

This month on The Square we feature stories and interviews from our 2018 All-Star Community Awards – Bondurant, Lisbon and Marion! Bondurant won in the 3,000-10,000 population category for its fantastic community entrance project that included a welcome sign unlike any other featuring 10 porch swings and a firefly lighting element. Lisbon won in the fewer than 3,000 category for its community solar project that brought solar installations to four city facilities, leading to significant cost savings and serving as an example for residents and businesses. In the greater than 10,000 category, Marion was awarded for its Uptown Artway project that features nine public art installations in an underused alley that has propelled development to the city’s main commercial district. We talk to several city officials and community volunteers, who describe the importance of quality of life, public art, forming meaningful partnerships and handling vandalism. We applaud our 2018 All-Star Community Award winners and applicants – there is a lot of great work being done by cities around the state! And if your city has done something really cool (we know it has), let us know – we’d love to talk about it on The Square and you can apply now for the 2019 awards. Join us at the Annual Conference & Exhibit, September 12-14 in Council Bluffs, as we will formally recognize the All-Star Community Award winners. You can also participate in choosing our 2018 People’s All-Star Community by going to our Facebook page and liking your favorite projects! Enjoy the episode, and come back next month for a special Live from the Annual Conference edition of The Square!

Episode 1: The one about Home Rule with Bob Josten Jul 25, 2018

The one about Home Rule with Bob Josten Our first ever podcast! This inaugural episode focuses on a topic near and dear to all cities: Home Rule. In Iowa, Home Rule was adopted through a Constitutional amendment in 1968, with overwhelming support from citizens across the state. That effort provided city governments the authority to establish local laws and policies without needing the approval from the state legislature. This change has led to more innovative and effective municipal governance while allowing city officials to be more responsive to citizen needs. This episode’s guest is Bob Josten, bond counsel at the Dorsey Whitney law firm in Des Moines who served as the League’s executive director in the years immediately after municipal Home Rule powers were adopted in the Code of Iowa. We talk to Bob about the transition to cities gaining Home Rule powers in those early days, why it was so important to municipal government and how Home Rule has evolved since its passage. We hope you enjoy this fascinating interview, and we thank Bob for sharing his time and expertise! Also, be sure to give a listen to the Your Questions Answered segment for a little more info on Home Rule and how we’re celebrating the 50th Anniversary. And stick around to the end for some fun Home Rule trivia! Visit our Home Rule page for additional guidance on this important topic, and join the effort in celebrating the 50th Anniversary by issuing a proclamation! Be sure to join us next month as we will talk with some of our All-Star Community Award winners and discuss some cool city projects that have occurred in their communities

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