“I always think about this. There are always problems on earth. There’s always things that we wish to be better, that we want to solve on Earth, and we should solve them. But there also has to be things that get you excited about the future — that make you glad to wake up in the morning, because you can’t wait to see what happens next.
That’s the future @SpaceX wants to bring to you.”
@AustinHarrisIA I’ve always wondered, but have never seen that area. Next funnel, when all other locations are booked, I think you’ve identified a solid new alternative.
We recently held our annual City budget workshop where the @wdmfire Dept. shared their year-end report. A portion of the report is included that illustrates the incredible growth of their work in our community; in the last year alone, our WDM Fire Dept. responded to 5,230 calls to action!
During the workshop, we also discussed the new fire station underway off SE Maffitt Lake Road - a critical location for maintaining fast response times and keeping our growing neighborhoods protected south of Raccoon River.
Finally, I had the opportunity to meet with some of WDM’s Bravest at the Iowa Capitol recently during their Day on the Hill. We are so fortunate to have these amazing individuals serving our community!
A huge thank you to WDM Police Chief Chris Scott for his years of dedicated service and leadership in our community! His leadership brought safety, stability, and greater community connections throughout our city that will have a lasting impact. We are incredibly grateful for everything he's done for our city and police department.
Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement! Wishing you all the best in your next chapter.
Huge congratulations to West Des Moines’ newest Sergeant and Officer! 🎖️ Honored to witness their swearing-in ceremony yesterday at the @WDMPolice Dept. led by Mayor Trimble and Police Chief Scott.
We are grateful for your service and leadership in our community!
As the first snowflakes of the season fell this afternoon, it was an honor to represent the City of West Des Moines and kick off the @SalvationArmyUS Red Kettle Campaign at Jordan Creek Mall. Alongside Santa, Mrs. Claus, and so many wonderful volunteers, we rang in the start of the 2025 holiday season with joy and generosity. If you’re able, please consider donating or volunteering to ring a bell near you. Every contribution helps make the season brighter for our neighbors in need. https://t.co/i7aCDfF5FU
Today's WDM Chamber Economic Forecast Luncheon covered the economy, employment, investments, Fed funds rate, tariffs, the Mag 7, and more. One panelist summarized the future as, "risk on!"
Thank you to the @WDMCHAMBER for hosting these great events!
Back in Valley Junction this weekend, this time to join the Historic West Des Moines Valley Junction Neighborhood Association meeting. We covered important topics like new development activity in the City generally, Ashworth Road reconstruction, and ways to strengthen code compliance moving forward.
A big thank you to Public Services Deputy Director, Paul Tauke, for sharing insights with the community on code compliance (see attached photo w/ detailed stats and comparisons to 2024). It is great for everyone to hear directly from him about the department’s approach: helping residents achieve compliance, not punishment.
Today we celebrated the swearing in of a new WDM officer as well as recognized so many others for their outstanding and incredible service to our community! Thank you @WDMPolice for all you do!
Big thanks to the Historic Valley Junction Foundation Board for the great discussion this past week about the Valley Junction business district. We dug into everything from city partnerships and parking education to design guidelines and property upkeep. And the energy you feel in the Junction is real; with a waiting list of businesses eager to move into the area. Get down and check out the Junction soon!
Central Iowa Water Works ("CIWW") will be lifting the irrigation ban and instituting a "phased approach." Here are the details shared with us today by CIWW:
The Technical Committee met on Friday, July 18, 2025, to review source water data and make decisions concerning the implementation of a phased approach of rolling back Stage III of the lawn watering ban. Information on the phased approach can be found here.
The phased approach consists of:
1. Releasing residential lawn watering on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
We will message an even/odd lawn watering schedule; this is the same schedule that is recommended metro-wide each year:
- Addresses ending in even numbers water on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday;
- Addresses ending in odd numbers water on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday;
- No watering on Monday.
- Residential lawn watering is on an even/odd voluntary basis with no mandatory enforcement mechanism. It is pertinent that residents follow the schedule to ensure that we can manage the additional capacity on our water treatment system.
As nitrate concentrations continue to lower and become more stable, phases two and three will be implemented:
2. Releasing commercial lawn watering – this consists of businesses such as gas stations, business complexes, banks, malls, etc.
By delaying the release of commercial demand, our production staff and Technical Committee can closely monitor the demand on the treatment facilities and the nitrate levels in our source water.
3. Releasing local governments including city, county, state, and school districts.
The phased approach aims to resume lawn watering while minimizing the chances of exceeding the nitrate standard. By gradually reintroducing demand into the system, we can effectively manage the water consumption and production levels. This is the quickest way to enable citizens to use automatic lawn sprinklers while still providing drinking water that meets all safe drinking water standards.
West Des Moines knows how to throw a 4th of July celebration — parades, good neighbors, and that unbeatable feeling of freedom in the heart of America!
Here’s to backyard BBQs, kids with popsicles, and fireworks lighting up the Iowa sky. Happy Independence Day, everyone! Stay safe and enjoy every moment. Fireworks begin at 9:45 this evening in WDM.
Google is deepening its roots in Iowa! Google and Alphabet’s President and Chief Investment Officer, Ruth Porat, traveled to Cedar Rapids and announced an additional $7 billion investment in Iowa this past Friday — building on Google’s existing $6.8 billion footprint in our state! This extraordinary commitment isn’t just about dollars — it’s about powering what was referenced on Friday as the golden era of American innovation, and it’s happening right here in the heartland. 🇺🇸🇺🇸
It is an honor to work alongside Google’s exceptional teams as they deepen their investment in Iowa — not only through infrastructure and expansion into a new community, but also by supporting local talent development with an additional $500,000 dedicated to training and apprenticeships in Iowa. This announcement is much more than incredible infrastructure and essential training, it is an investment in Iowa’s future!
Thank you to Governor Kim Reynolds, Senator Joni Ernst, Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell, many state legislators, county supervisors, and city council members - along with countless community partners - who joined us to celebrate this transformative announcement.
The Iowa National Guard Readiness Center is NOW OPEN in West Des Moines! 🇺🇸 This $24M state-of-the-art facility at 1625 SE National Guard Road is a fantastic addition to our community and state.
A true partnership between the City of West Des Moines, State of Iowa, and Federal Government, this 50,000+ sq ft center will house ~200 soldiers. As shared during the recent ribbon cutting, its strategic location near Hwy 5 and I-35 ensures a more rapid response across Iowa for emergency missions.
Beyond National Guard readiness, it’s a hub for community support. The joint-use agreement with WDM along with the planned WDM fire station on-site will boost public safety and spark economic growth with faster response times in the area 🚒
I was honored to join Governor Reynolds, Mayor Trimble, and Adj. Gen. Osborn at the May 7 ribbon-cutting. This facility, with rooftop solar (LEED-Gold) reflects a commitment to service, sustainability, and community.