North English: small town pride, big town outlook

In a time when many small Iowa towns seem destined to fade away, North English Mayor Dan Strohman is making sure his town isn’t one of them.

“It takes a lot to make a community run,” he says.

And he believes North English has what it takes.

Strohman should know. He grew up there and his father, Joseph Strohman, owned and operated Strohman’s, Inc., a John Deere dealership located just off the town’s main street. As a child, he remembers his father fixing equipment for the city and both of his parents taking an active role in town organizations.

“They believed in giving back to the community,” he says. This upbringing, combined with a desire to see North English grow and prosper, led him to serve as mayor from January 2000 to August 2008 before stepping down due to a travel-intensive job. In January of 2018, he again took up the reins of Iowa County’s southernmost town and is proud of the projects the town has taken on.

Moving forward

During his first tenure as mayor, Strohman and the North English City Council set out a plan that not only addressed the town’s aging infrastructure but would also attract families and businesses to the community. During the next 23 years, the city worked steadily to keep that plan in play.

The first phase was replacing the water tower and water lines. Planning began in 2000, the new tower went online in 2005 and new water lines were run to homes and businesses from 2005 through 2007.

The second phase — a new sewer system and treatment plant east of town — is currently nearing completion. The $8 million project launched in 2014. The initial plan called for replacement of the town’s original sewer mains, which had been installed in 1950. Homeowners would be asked to pay out of their own pockets for any repair or replacement of sewer lines connecting their homes to the new mains.

However, as work progressed, engineers discovered large quantities of water entering the system from aging, leaky connecting lines. Further discovery revealed multiple houses on a single connecting line and other issues with the antiquated system. The council decided to make replacement of those residential lines part of the project at the city’s expense. A $2 million grant from the USDA helped and now North English’s 400-plus homes have been upgraded.

The COVID-19 epidemic slowed the project as contractors struggled with supply chain issues but stuck with the USDA grant requirement to use only materials sourced in the USA. After battling numerous delays, crews are putting the finishing touches on the last of the residents’ yards where connecting sewer lines have been placed.

The sewer project came with a steep price tag and Strohman recalls some residents fussing when water and sewer rates were raised. While these complaints were inevitable, he adds, “Residents didn’t complain too loudly. They could understand the rate increase because all they had to do was look out the window and they could see the work being done.”

The city borrowed to make the water and sewer projects happen and after taking stock of finances and interest rates, town officials hope to be able to pay off the 40-year loan early.

Housing

With water and sewer projects complete, North English is moving ahead to address its housing issue.

“One thing we have a lot of Iowa County is a shortage of housing,” Strohman noted. “If people get a job here, there’s nowhere to live.”

The town currently boasts 1,087 residents. Unlike some rural Iowa towns that have seen populations dwindle, North English has grown steadily.

“When I was growing up, the population was 700 or 800,” Strohman recalls.

The city is in the process of seeking a developer for new home construction and has been trying to purchase additional land on the edge of town to increase availability for single family dwellings to be built. They are actively promoting the availability of vacant lots through the town for home building.

At the same time, the council is adamant about eliminating nuisance properties.

“We’ve taken down about 25 so far,” Strohman says. Not only do such sites present a hazard, they give the community a black eye. Rundown houses with junk cars sitting on unmown lawns is not an accurate impression of the town, he continued. Getting those properties cleaned up and sold for new building sites puts them back on the tax roll, strengthening not only the town’s aesthetics but its economy.

North English’s current housing includes modern builds as well as historic structures dating back to the 1800s. (It is generally held the town was founded in 1855, although historical documents offer multiple options on either side of this date as to when it was laid out, platted and incorporated). The housing count includes 24 modern homes built by the English Valleys High School building trades classes, under the direction of industrial arts teacher Chip Fritz.

“If you live in a Chip Fritz house, you’ve got a good house,” Strohman said.

Businesses

The final step in the city’s growth plan addresses bringing in new business and keeping the ones already there. A list provided by city hall shows 42 commercial and municipal entities calling North English home.

“We’ve lost quite a few businesses through the years but we’re getting them back,” Strohman says. “We lost our grocery store, then we got it back. We lost our doctor’s office and pharmacy but we got them back, too.”

Six new businesses have moved into town recently and existing businesses have transitioned ownership without missing a beat. Yet others are exploring expansion options that will take advantage of empty storefronts along Main Street. Strohman is working with Iowa County Community Development director Laura Sauser to fill those empty business district slots.

Through it all, the city extends its hand in partnership with English Valleys School District, as both entities share ownership of a community park near the school. The city also joins forces with Knoll Ridge Golf Course each summer, providing water for the private swimming pool which in turn allows North English kids to swim for free.

The city is grateful for the assistance of community volunteers and groups, Strohman notes. P.I.N.E. (Pride In North English) is an official working committee of the city, made up of volunteers. The group’s mission statement is “To enhance the environment and living conditions in North English by making positive improvements in our community.”

The group was established in 2010 as a “beautification committee.” Since then it has tackled projects ranging from the city’s stone entrance signs (a $14,000 project paid for by donations) to organizing annual community clean up days, creating a veterans memorial and planting flowers throughout town each summer.

“We report to the city at least twice a year, and we ask how we might help, and we also bring forward projects of interest for discussion,” says Bonnie Romine, a member of P.I.N.E. “It has been a pleasure to be a part of improving daily life in North English. The mayor, council and staff are all remarkable people.”

The group welcomes new members. Interested persons may contact Romine at Bromine@netins.net.

It’s this spirit of cooperation between city, school, business and volunteer groups that will not only keep North English on the map, says Strohman, but will ensure it remains a vibrant, growing community.

Comments: Melinda.Wichmann@southeastiowaunion.com