Fairfield mayor lists city’s Top 10 accomplishments in 2022

FAIRFIELD – Two thousand and twenty-two was a year filled with accomplishments for the City of Fairfield.

Fairfield Mayor Connie Boyer compiled a Top 10 list of the city’s achievements and those of its partners. She said the list was limited to projects that were completed in 2022. Some programs that began this year will be featured in next year’s list when they are done.

1: First sustainable timber harvest on state preserve

In early 2022, the city’s Arbor Committee organized a harvest of 102 trees in Lamson Woods, designed to promote the growth of oak and hickory trees by removing hackberries, elms and buckeyes. The harvest was overseen by Iowa Department of Natural Resources District Forester Cassidy Robinson.

Boyer said she made this her No. 1 achievement because it was the first time a harvest was done in a state preserve, making it the latest in a long list of “firsts” for Fairfield that include the first Iowa State Fair, the first golf course west of the Mississippi River, and the first Carnegie Historical Museum outside Pennsylvania, just to name a few.

2: Completion of waste water treatment plant improvements

Fairfield City Engineer and Public Works Director Melanie Carlson said improvements to the waste water treatment plant started in 2017, and most of the work occurred in 2018-2019, but it wasn’t until 2022 that the city could finally tie a bow on the project. She said the city received a loan and a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to complete the project.

3: Passage of the fire station referendum

On March 1, Fairfield residents approved a bond for up to $5 million to build a new fire station at the corner of West Briggs Avenue and North Fourth Street, two blocks west of its current location on North Second Street. The “yes” side won overwhelmingly with 75 percent support.

Boyer said she made the waste water treatment plant and the new fire station her No. 2 and 3 picks because they are both multi-million dollar projects that will help everyone in town. She said it’s clear that the fire department has outgrown its current station and needs a new one.

“They’re bulging at the seams,” she said. “Their latest fire truck barely fits in there.”

4. Hired a fulltime code compliance officer

Weston McKee was hired in June as the city’s new code compliance officer, making him the first person to hold that title in a fulltime roll. The city’s previous code compliance officer was Scott Vaughan, who was also the fire chief. Vaughan stepped down from his position in March to become the fire chief in Oskaloosa.

5: Hired a sustainability coordinator in partnership with MIU and public support

Rachel Hillier was hired as Fairfield’s sustainability coordinator in July. Hillier works for Pathfinders Resource Conservation and Development, and her position was created with seed money from the city, Maharishi International University, and in collaboration with the Southeast Iowa Sierra Club.

6: Creation and funding of the Fairfield Garden Initiative

This year marked the start of the Fairfield Garden Initiative, which was created thanks to a Community Development Block Grant that the city applied for along with the Sustainable Living Coalition. The initiative seeks to promote gardening among low- and moderate-income households so they can produce their own healthy food. The initiative served 114 households in its first year, and held 12 educational workshops on setting up a garden, harvesting and producing produce.

7: Passage of non-conforming use zoning changes

The Fairfield City Council passed a series of ordinances in the fall designed to spur development. The ordinances eliminate some red tape around building on empty and corner lots. Carlson said corner lots had special restrictions under the old zoning requirements, which mandated they have essentially “two front yards,” and that limited where houses could be built on the lot.

“We know there are dozens of vacant lots that people are interested in, but the rules make them unbuildable,” Carlson said. “One of the lots is within a block of Washington Elementary School. It would be a great place for a residential structure, but the old rules wouldn’t let us build on it. The new rules are going to help with this.”

Carlson asks residents who have been denied a building permit in the past to check back with city hall now that the laws have changed.

8: First-run movie showings at Fairfield Arts & Convention Center

The Fairfield Arts & Convention Center embarked on a new venture in 2022, showing first-run films in its theater through a program called “Cinema Fairfield.”

Before 2022, the arts center had been showing local and second-run films, and is now ready to show major blockbusters at the same time they are showing in bigger theaters around the country. The only piece that was missing was cinema-grade projection equipment, which was installed in the fall, allowing the Sondheim Center to transform into a film-ready screening theater in between live arts performances.

Boyer said Fairfield being able to host first-run films is great for the community.

“And it’s less expensive at $6 a head, which is a pretty reasonable price,” she said. “I think it’s awesome.”

9: Receipt and use of multiple grants

Boyer said 2022 was a good year for grants as money came to the city from sources such as the USDA, USTEP, for the Pedestrian Curb Ramp Program, and for an Iowa DNR bat grant. The bat grant will go toward bat habitat and controlling invasive species around Pleasant Lake.

10: Retirement and successful replacement of two long-time department heads

Darrel Bisgard retired as the superintendent of the streets department, and Rebecca Johnson retired from her post as library director. Both of them had served the City of Fairfield for many years, so the city had big shoes to fill. Luckily, it was able to promote employees from within both organizations to take the reins: Joe Hird for the streets and Alecs Mickunas at the library.

Boyer said the transition to new department heads has gone smoothly.

“Those two were already employees, but whenever a new department head comes in, there are always some changes for the employees, and it can be a challenge, but it’s all been a smooth ride,” she said.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com