Margaret Liston, Ogden Mayor, July 31, 2026

Good to see you, too. Thank you. It’s been a while. It has. And first time since you’ve been elected mayor and things have been moving along pretty well over in Ogden. Yeah, I think so. A lot of things happening. Well, big one. And again, for anybody that’s kind of followed along. And for some people, it was easy to get lost. But the house school property had it. Thought you had this contractor to do some development. Didn’t work out for them. So ended up coming back to the city anyway. So but you guys over the last one, it’s better than a year. You’ve really been working on putting together a plan for making some improvements there. Yes. Yes. And secured a pretty sizable grant, community attraction tourism grant, cat grant. And I had a lot of donations, a lot of contributions, a lot of pledges, and pretty good project moving forward. So I feel pretty good about that. I do. I do. We were planning to raise money for phase one. And we are able to do begin with phase one and two here shortly. They’ll be going. Yeah, yeah. Burkett. I think it was Burkett instruction that was the little bitter on that. That’s right. And folks, yes, it was in excess of a million. Mm hmm. It’s a big project. Yes, it is. And I we’re very excited about it. I think still have a long range plans for other things you want to do there. Yes, there is, I believe, eight phases. Maybe I don’t quote. There’s a bunch. There’s several. Yeah, there’s several. So yeah, so we still have more fundraising to do. The basic basic part is get a couple of ball fields in there. And again, start getting that established as some playground. I know you’re looking at that parking. Yeah, and the community garden. Okay, we’ll go down there. Oh, we’re going to have a permanent place. We are. We’re very excited about what who’s been doing that community garden for a while. So having a permanent location, that’ll be good. It will. It will. You’ve kind of jock it around a couple of different spaces. We have. We have made it work. Oh, absolutely. Still very popular. Yes, the stand is out. People were asking when the stand was going to go out. So we it was out in our gardens a little bit behind everybody else’s. But the community, we have the others in the community have been there. Oh my gosh. And they bring their extra vegetables. We even have farmers bring stuff in. So that’s okay. Oh, yeah. It’s there for absolutely. And you don’t really have a lot of it standing around very long. It goes. It does go fast. That was the idea. Yes. Well, again, so the big pride, big part down there. Now a couple of council members have been spending a lot of time working on this. Again, on the Howe project. Yes. But it is a collaborative effort. You got a few other people involved with that, too. So again, what next kind of phases would you be looking at? Do you remember what they were talking about? Well, after we complete phase one and two, phase three is supposed to be the third ball field. Okay. And then because two would be pretty busy and field lighting. Yeah. Oh, and lighting too. Yeah. There’ll be lighting with. Well, I think you got some lighting on the first part. Yes, the lighting will be done on the first phase one and two. So that will that will be off of three. Okay. Well, no, not really. Sorry. Because the third, the third ball field will need lighting. Yeah. So expand it and stuff like that. But there are enough. And again, with the youth program, it does, which by the way, runs kind of separately, but still, you guys kind of cover all of that, too. You do have somebody in charge of that. We do. And they share a lot of games, go back and forth with a lot of people. Yeah. Yes. It’ll be very nice. We’ll have soccer fields that are already used for playing soccer up there. But, you know, we’ll have to smooth that out, reseed it and make it better in the future, future work, more work yet to be done. So we’ll do that. One thing that you guys have been doing and had a lot of different things going on housing and housing related things. We’ve had again, part of that how project initially was going to be a residential development. Infrastructure was probably the big issue on that. But some of the lots locally, Tim was able to get those and done some individual residential construction and doesn’t take long for those to sell. No, yes. Tim built four houses on the front part of that property. Yeah, they’re very nice. There’s still still some to sell. Yeah. So that got those there. And then some of the other, we still have some other projects, individual construction going on. Yes, we have three townhouses on Sycamore and P 70 or First Street. Those are for sale and can be rented as well. So I know one has been rented. So okay, there’s still some work there. You know, the yard work needs to be the, you know, the grass and stuff. It’s so pretty rough. So that part’s there. It’s built. We’ve got to do the finishing touches. Yep. We have all of that happening to probably the most reason one is you’ve got a couple of grants you’re pursuing to do some upstairs. Yes. Housing. So again, this part of it was when you did that housing study. And I remember you guys did it before Boone did theirs, working with mid Iowa planning on that. And Brenda Dreyer brought that information to you. And it was pretty easy to see where yes, we do need more individual resident houses. We need to have single family homes. But we don’t have much for rental properties. No, we don’t. We’re lacking. And so you’ve got a couple of people while a couple of different groups that are working on, let’s do some downtown buildings that are in pretty good condition. And let’s get those upstairs. Yes, there are several buildings with upstairs apartments, which would be nice if we can, you know, remodel them and get them rented. Because we do have, you know, teachers coming into town, new teachers. And it’s nice if you can keep them in town. Sure. Yeah. And they might not want to go with a house investment right away, but they want to want to have someplace decent. Sure. Yes. And it could be closed. Again, those are projects that’ll be going forward. I know grants have been applied for. Correct. Do we know yet if they’ve all been not yet? So those are that’s work in progress. Correct. Then you also have to have somebody help you with block grants. Yes. If we learn all these things, don’t we? Yes, yes. Yes, you always have to have somebody to handle the grant money. So we’re very fortunate to have Mid Iowa. Mid Iowa Planning is working with you too. Yes. So that’s, well, again, Andrew’s really good at it. He is. Works on those. So those are going on, but probably the one that’s drawing most attention right now is Cuddery, Cuddery, Cuddery. Cuddery. Okay, Cuddery. Cuddery development. Yes. Basically, the city had some land for sale. You had open space. Some housing had been built up around it, but it just was sitting there empty and you said, let’s sell this and see what we can get. Yes. Yes. We go ahead. Put it up for bid. We did. We put it up for bid. We had one developer bid, submit a bid for it. So we did pass that. So just recently did approve the sale for that? Yes, we did. On the 14th, our last city council meeting. So that’s done, but and she was not here at that last meeting. No, she was on vacation. But the previous meeting she had been there and some of the folks that lived in that area knew that it had sold and they came and asked some questions and she told them all about it. Again, you do have a petition from some of those neighbors. Yes. They are opposed to it. Yes. Yes. And the developer’s first name is Abby. She is going to reach out and meet with them probably mid-September. Answer some of their questions. Yes. Yes. And I know part of the due diligence is you do take a look at because she has had some other projects. Yes. Not big, big, big ones, but she kind of is very selective about where she goes and what she does. Yes, she is. Smaller projects. This one that she would like to do in Ogden is 26 units, 13 in each row with three bedroom, two bedroom and one bedroom. Okay. So variety. A nice variety. I don’t know how many developers will do a one bedroom. Anyway, we have worked trying to get more developers to come in. And our city administrator, another council member and myself, we went down to Indianola and looked at what they’re building down there. They weren’t finished. Yeah. But they were, you know, the drywall was in and the final, you know, touches weren’t done. Very nice quality work. They will rent out at market price. It is not low income. Okay. So, and that’s one thing people always assume. Right. It’s going to be low income, but, but market rate and will she be pursuing it as some of the opportunities, tax opportunities? Yes. Yes. So that’s on her to do. Yes, it is. And she has applied and will hear, I don’t know if it’s September end of September sometime. So she’ll know more then. Well, I’ve had some builders that have qualified for that at Ogden already. Yes. And again, it takes some of the risk. It takes away some of the risk. It does. And it’s almost an incentive too if they can get that money. Yeah. So anyway, but then again, you have that market value on it too. The city won’t really be applying any other kind of incentives for it too. I think one of the upsides when you look at it is you go, okay, do we got to apply all the snow and she said, no, this is all ours. It’s all theirs. They take all the maintenance is with the developer garbage, mowing, snow removal. Like those where you don’t have to worry about that. Yes. Yes. And you know, it’s, I believe it’ll be done very well. Okay. Well, that’s one of the things still she again, plat, those kinds of things have all yet to come. So right, there’s a lot more to come before they’re built. We’re just up to this point. A lot more yet to do. You also, of course, you have annexed that area on the west side of town, looking for some development over that way too. Or yeah, we’d like to dry in some industry if we could. So that one of the few spaces in the county that has some industrial land there. Yes. So got that. So like to pull in over on that side. We already have. God, I can’t even remember the name of it, but with the wind turbines. Yes. Yes. They already do. They already do work out there. Disassembly is probably. Yes. Yes. They’re very nice. Nate’s very nice. Good company. And he keeps comes in every once in a while to let you know what’s going on. And what are they? They also have pretty good Christmas decorations. They do. And Halloween. Yeah. Right. Right. Go through. How’d that go? They did. It went really well. A big thank you to Emily Kloss and our city administrator. She was an Allison Frazier, our clerk. They were chair and co-chair. And a big thank you to our street departments, you know, putting up barricades and taking them down after everybody was gone. It went real well. The vendors were very happy with their, you know, people buying from them. Our local, I believe our local clubs and churches were happy to. They did really well. Well, it was one of those after the coming up the 169 into the wind. Oh boy. We’re looking for a little break. They were. And I want a big thank you to our police chief, Ethan. Yes. They were tired from that wind. They wanted a little rest. And it was, I’m thankful it was not so hot. That was, yeah, for all of us. Thank you very much. Yeah. They made it up from Perry on 169. And then just a great opportunity to take a little bit of break in Ogden before they decided they would go down the hill and back up the hill. I was surprised that they came through as early as they did. Earlier than I thought. The weather was so much better for. Yes. Yes. And I felt that Ogden was prepared. You know, if they wanted to have lunch, you know, we had vendors. You guys have all kinds of things all set up for them too. Yeah. Yeah. Other other work, of course, I know from the school, the work they have going on, their parking lot is there’s a lot of concrete there. Yes, there is. I just drove by it the other day and it looks like all the concrete’s poured. And they’re just now, you know, doing moving the dirt back and making it look nice. You know, that was one of the issues you got as a council. You guys had just the parking around there was especially for any kind of big events they had. Yes. Was truly overflow. It was. Yes. Yes. It would block traffic on the one street. You know, they’d park on both sides. There’s concern about ambulance getting through if that was needed. So yeah. So it did some things again with stop signs and things like that. Yes. So again, to facilitate having all this going on over there. I do know we had some street surfacing work done. Has that been completed? Are they in the midst of it or what’s going on? We are finished. They started just before a rag bride. Okay. Stopped. And then they finished up. Oh, I think yesterday or the day before they did some milling and laying of asphalt and then some of the micro surfacing. Okay. They did. So you have so much you do every year. You dedicate money for it. Yep. Yes. Other things coming up for the council. What are you looking at? Oh, boy. Well, outside of more on housing, I’m guessing and finding out what’s going on with grants and things like that. But yeah. Yeah. Well, again, among the things that have you did have a group step up when with the pharmacy to make the change. Oh, yes. Yes. That’s been a big win. Having the pharmacy remodeled and getting Medicap to come over to Ogden. So and that would be one of the buildings where they’re looking to do some apartments. Yes, two apartments above that. And then total fitness that is right across the street to the east, two apartments could be made up there as well. So that’s Brenda Dreyer is working with them to hopefully get some grant money to facilitate that. She can if the if it’s there and she can find it and you can use it like she did for the for the Howe Park area. I guess I’ll just call it the Howe recreational area. Yes. Howe Park project. Howe Park project. So other things right now just regular business coming up is we start to get into the end of the calendar. That means it’s not long before you guys start doing budget again. Well, yes, in January. But yes, we’re starting our new fiscal year, August 1st. So again, you’ll start doing some meetings towards the end of this calendar year, I’m guessing and going through the different things. Yes. So have you looked at your limitations that I’m just reading on about those. League of Cities is very good about publishing, you know, what the different bills are and helping cities understand how that applies to us. So I’ve just started reading about the bills that have been passed. A little concerned about the 2% cap on the levy rate, but we’ll get through it. So we’ll see again, there’s different things associated with it, but still, it could have an impact on what you’re looking at. Yep. Yeah. So I’m not quite sure when we’re going to see the results of that. I don’t know if it’ll be a year or two years. Well, we’ll see. I’m not sure if you calculated into the next one and it goes in effect a year after that. I didn’t read all the things you guys have been getting on it. So those are just some of the things that we keep working on to make sure we get through there. Next council meeting coming up, much on that agenda again, outside of maybe having not that I know of yet. So pretty light. We can do that. Yeah, sewer projects, everything else like oh, you’ve been having. Oh, yes, that’s yes sewer project. We are trialing a demo for taking the solids, the sludge and turning it into solids. Okay. Ogden is at a point we cannot haul our sludge to Des Moines anymore. They don’t want it. They just don’t want it. They don’t want it. It’s not quality if you can believe that. Boone has agreed to take our sludge until we can get this figured out. Okay, but we do have a timeline to get it done. So this week, they brought in a screw press and we have been working with that. It’s pretty cool to see. And we will look at a fly press, the staff, the men are going to go up to Story City and look at theirs. Yeah, it’s just coming up with a solution for the future. You know, we have a problem and we have to take care of it. Okay, so not just put a band-aid on and let it limp down the road. Well, we have the new plant. So again, this was not part of what the new whole process was because at the time you were able to take it and truck it and have it treated. Yes, and land apply it. But that is even beginning to become difficult. And who knows in the future with, you know, our nitrates and stuff, how that will shake out for sewer plants. So again, work in progress. Yes. I know you guys have done a lot of the storm sewer work and things like that. And I know Chad does the monitoring, the floors and stuff like that. So a couple of the rains we’ve had have been pretty heavy rains, which is what you can really tell the difference. Seems like things have been working pretty good. Yes. Yes. You guys have done sewer linings for a while. Yes. Chad’s worked on the storm system, rainwater, and then the sewer system. Trying to keep it out of the sewer plant, if you can. Yes. We did lining the pipes. So yes. I think Chad, he has a plan and he really, you know, he really knows what he wants to do for this year for projects. He really lays them out well for, you know, one year, two year, three year. And same with the street department, you know, they look ahead to what they need to do with the streets. Kind of gives you that long range. At least you can plan the council plan for those two. Yes. We do have a fire, new fire truck coming. It was supposed to have been here in July, but there’s a part that they can’t get. So it’s on delay until we get supply. It’s a supply chain issue. Yes, it is. So that was one, again, I was going to say, because September is usually with your rural fire department, usually do your annual agreement or review and do that. So that’s something that’ll be coming up in September, more than likely. Yeah. And again, they’re a big part of acquiring new trucks and vehicles too. Oh, absolutely. Rick’s kind of gotten into a thing of before it goes back. Let’s take a look at a rotation. Yes. Yes. And we do that with all of the city equipment, the police cars, you know, the the trucks out at the city shed. Yes, we, yes. And the fire trucks, yes, we, we rotate. We always put money into those line item. Yep. So that’s the money for them. Yes. So we build it up. So with them, when we do need a new, you know, police car or fire truck, the money most, you know, it’s, it’s there to help pay for it. Plan ahead. Yes, plan ahead. It’s all about that depreciation of things. You know, oh boy, you got to start setting money aside, because, you know, sooner or later, you’re going to be replacing. You just got a new truck for the police department too. Yes. Yes. It wasn’t just a month or two ago. Yeah, I think, yeah, maybe a month. Yes. It’s a very nice truck. Ethan’s very happy with it. So we really like the decals. I’m not quite sure what you call that. Rap. The rap. That’s it. Yes. We’ll go with the rap. Anyway, next meeting for, for Ogden is going to be what the 11th looks like Tuesday, the 11th of August. Yes, Tuesday at six o’clock. Okay. And you do have that YouTube working now? We do. We do. Sometimes we have a glitch, but I think we’ve got it down for those that would like to follow along. That’s an easy way to do it. Again, if you wish to, wish to do it that way, but still like to have people come to the meetings. Yes, we would love to have people come to city council meetings. Well, again, we’ve been visiting with Margaret Liston, Ogden mayor, and any other things? That’s most of what’s been going on over in the Ogden community right now. So I think so. So we’re ready to move ahead and school will be back in session before we do everything else. It will. And your community garden. Once again, the stands there for people in Ogden, you know where it’s at. Some people have been bringing produce to it. You got a bunch of sweet corn. Yes. Yes. And again, it’s just one of those things where you started it a number of years ago. You and Lori spent a lot of time on that, but then you can start to get more help too. Yes. Yes. Actually, I’ve been a little less helpful the last couple of years. And Lori has really stepped up and, and pretty much runs it, which is great. Yes, we have volunteers in the community that help us, which is, which is good. Really good. Because you need help getting all that produce picked. Yeah. Weeding. And weeding in particular. There’s always that. Well, thanks for taking time to come and visit with us. And we’ll plan to visit again. That would be nice. About what’s going on in Ogden. Yes. Thank you very much. Well, thank you.