Let's Catch Up! August '26
TRAFFIC SIGNALS SLATED FOR IMPROVEMENTS
In late July, City officials were notified of a $13 million Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grant included funding for additional reflective backplates—yellow frames around overhead traffic signals—credited with helping reduce collisions at intersections.
As a result, the City has decided to install the backplates at all signalized intersections within the city limits. SS4A funding will support installation at approximately 174 intersections, including every signalized intersection on the City’s High Injury Network.
An additional 30 intersections are expected to be upgraded through other engineering improvement projects by the end of 2028.
Retroreflective backplates improve the visibility of traffic signals, City Traffic Engineer John Davis told me, particularly at night, during poor weather, and against visually complex backgrounds.
“Based on before-and-after data available for approximately a dozen Des Moines intersections, the City has observed a 17 percent reduction in total crashes,” John said. “And a 10 percent reduction in crashes involving red-light running.”
John, who said he’s been involved in traffic engineering for more than four decades, reported he’s received generally positive feedback from other traffic professionals about the backplates.
“Many communities view retroreflective backplates as a practical, proven safety measure that cities can incorporate into signal replacement projects or install as a targeted improvement at high-risk intersections,” he said. The cost per intersection, he added, ranges from approximately $1,500–$10,000.
Factors include the number and type of signal heads at the intersection, the age and condition of the existing equipment, and other variables.
“It’s unusual to find a relatively simple and cost-effective improvement that can produce this level of crash reduction,” John said.
John said he expects the City will advertise for project bids in the fall of 2027, with most work likely occurring during 2028.
The SS4A grant also includes funding for speed feedback signs at 29 locations near schools on the High Injury Network.
LEAD PIPES NO MORE
Dave Poyzer and his wife, Mariah, were among the first Drake area homeowners to have their lead water service lines replaced with copper, thanks to a $12.1 million allocation from the Iowa Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and backed by federal allocations.
The fund provides public water systems with low-interest loans and financial assistance to design and construct safe drinking water projects. Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) manages the local program.
“I got excited about the program the first time I heard about it,” Dave told me. “I figured we needed a new water line. The galvanized water line into our house wasn’t looking great. I didn’t even want to touch that pipe! And we had lousy water pressure—we couldn’t open two faucets at the same time.”
He estimated installing new water service would have cost the couple as much as $15,000. “This was completely free!” he said. The procedure involved replacing the entire lead service from the water main to the stop box with copper, as well as the corroded galvanized line to the meter inside the home.
“The contractor was here for one day,” Dave reported. “Now, we have plenty of pressure—and no lead.”
About 350 homes were in the original project area, Melissa Walker, the water works’ communications manager, told me. However, she added, preliminary inspections determined lead lines had been replaced in 65 percent of those properties.
“This is positive news as we move forward with lead service line replacements citywide,” Melissa said. “We also replaced about 90 lines in the River Bend and King Irving neighborhoods in 2023-24 as part of a pilot project.”
Current inventory analysis shows about 6,100 lead lines and 1,000 galvanized lines needing replacement, Melissa said, and 23,100 unknown lines. “There is a total of 97,650 lines in our system,” she said, noting the inventory is constantly updated with field inspections, customer self-reporting, and statistical analysis.
Next up for the lead-line replacement program: about 1,000 properties in the Drake area, as well as portions of Chautauqua Park, Mondamin Presidential, King Irving and the ACCENT neighborhoods.
Eligible homeowners are notified as future projects begin, Melissa added. “They do not need to contact us until they receive an invitation to participate,” she advised.
ANOTHER BIG SUMMER IN 5 CITY PARKS
Summer parks employee Aria Munson and camper Legacy Heard, an Edmunds Elementary third grader, share a moment before lunch at the Reichardt Community Recreation Center during Art Day as part of the City’s Summer Camp program. Aria, a soon-to-be junior at Roosevelt High School, is the first camper to “graduate” from camp attendee to recreation leader.
This is the fifth year for the City’s popular nine-week summer program, which keeps 50 kids busy every weekday at five parks: Drake, Columbus, M.L. King Jr., E.K. Davis, and Weeks Middle School. Programming includes bus trips to City pools, Blank Park Zoo, the Botanical Garden, I-Cubs baseball games at Principal Park, and other attractions.
Cost is just $5 per week per child. With a conservative estimate of $150/week for childcare elsewhere, City Parks and Rec staff estimate the program saves 250 participants a collective $326,250 in summer childcare expenses.
When Des Moines began planning its first summer camp program in 2021, staff could not find a similar no-cost or low-cost program among U.S. cities.
Now, we are setting the pace. In late September, Parks and Recreation Supervisor Amarre Negussie will present the City’s summer camp details at the National Recreation and Park Association’s annual convention in Philadelphia. Amarre, who directs the City’s summer and after-school programs at two locations, will also accept the association’s 2026 Diversity Scholarship as part of the Innovation and Spotlight Awards.
Amarre told me that since the award was made public, more than 20 park and rec departments have reached out to congratulate — and to learn more about setting up similar summer camps and programs.
BUSY SUMMER FOR ROSIE THE READER
Promise Corey and Rocco Diggans-Soriano catch a few minutes of reading time with summer camp supervisor Ellen Kanne during a Rosie the Reader visit at the M.L. King Jr. Park summer camp. Promise was reading Wrecking Ball, part of the Diary of A Wimpy Kid series, while Ellen and Rocco paged through The Dinosaur Museum, another popular book at the summer camp site.
Ashley Molzen, Des Moines Public Library’s community engagement manager, reported that more than 10,000 youths signed up for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, sponsored by the Des Moines Public Library Foundation. Ashley highlighted other summer milestones:
Library staff distributed more than 10,000 new books to kids to build personal libraries, thanks to the Library Foundation’s support.
The Rosie Reader outreach team supported more than 1,300 kids at summer care sites in their completion of the Summer Reading Challenge.
54 teens volunteered a total of 704 hours across the City’s six libraries.
4 student employees from the Evelyn K. Davis’ Y-ExCL program worked at three libraries for nine weeks.
Most popular graphic novel: Dog Man: Big Jim Begins, by Dav Pilkey. Most popular children’s fiction: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball, by Jeff Kinney. Most popular picture book: Creepy Pair of Underwear, by Aaron Reynolds.
SHINY NEW BUBBLERS
Footballers at Soccer South appreciate a new place to hydrate this year, thanks to the Des Moines Water Works’ (DMWW) program installing water bubblers and bottle-filling stations in public spaces.
Melissa Walker, DMWW communications and outreach manager, told me the utility also worked with Iowa State Fair officials to install 11 new bottle-filling stations throughout the fairgrounds. And a fill station was added to Principal Park, too.
Do you have suggestions for other public spaces in need of a similar upgrade? Contact Melissa.
WHOA! RIDING HIGH ON FIRE TRUCK 6
Carson Ross, 6, beams while seated briefly in the Des Moines Fire Department’s Truck 6. The City’s newest ladder truck was on display at the South Central DSM Neighborhood Association’s National Night Out celebration on August 4.
Des Moines Firefighter Ben Fitzgerald helped kids with the big step into the truck on display at Walnut Creek Church-South on Southeast 14th Street. Ben told me the $1.76 million ladder truck, put into service July 6, already has piled up 2,000 miles.
Lisa Stocker-Ross, president of the neighborhood association and Carson’s grandmother, arranged for the ladder truck to be part of her neighborhood’s celebration.
SAY (GRILLED) CHEESE
Dream Team riders Savannaha Norwood, left, and December Snow were among teammates who stopped in Dunlap during this year’s RAGBRAI for grilled cheese sandwiches from Say Cheese. Since 2017, the Downtown Farmers’ Market regular has used the shared-use kitchen at the Mickle Center in Sherman Hill for food prep.
The southwest Iowa stop was the busiest day for the crew of 10, directed by Say Cheese owner Jake Whipple. That’s Jake and crew member Brooklyn Marti in the background.
“We were privileged to help fuel the Dream Team with 250 sandwiches,” Jake said. “They inspired our crew daily with their positivity and drive as they conquered 400 miles across the state.”
Jake told me it took more than 700 South Union loaves of bread and 700 pounds of cheese from Graziano Brothers for this year’s lunch stops—5,000 sandwiches in all. Grilled was the overall favorite sandwich. (I’m a fan of Say Cheese’s grilled cheddar sandwich with tomato slices.)
IT'S A BIG WRAP: HOQ & RAGBRAI
Suman Hoque (wearing a purple lei), owner of HOQ restaurant in the East Village, had his crew of 12 busy at pass-through RAGBRAI towns in late July. Gilbert, north of Ames, and the Field of Dreams movie site near Dyersville were the busiest HOQ stops.
During the week, the hungry crowd lined up for more than 7,000 breakfast wraps, featuring all-Iowa ingredients, excluding salt and pepper. At three eggs per wrap, that’s 21,000 eggs! Suman told me he began making and freezing delish homemade naan bread for this year’s ride in January. HOQ continued its tradition of donating wraps to Dream Team riders.
Suman and crew will be at the Downtown Farmers’ Market for the remainder of the season, through October.
ANOTHER BROADLAWNS CNA GRADUATE
Cassandra McMurray, center, was beaming August 6 following graduation ceremonies for Broadlawns Medical Center’s TECH (Training & Education for a Career in Healthcare) apprentice program. That’s Cassandra’s dad, Thomas, on the right and her cousin Ariya Parker on the left.
Ariya, a TECH grad from four years ago and a Broadlawns patient access clerk, nudged her cousin to apply for the TECH program.
Cassandra, who graduated from Lincoln High School this past spring, was named winner of the Deb & Doug Reichardt Scholar Award, which includes a $500 stipend for further healthcare studies.
Cassandra was among 14 high school cohorts who completed eight-week paid apprenticeships that included basic and advanced certified nursing assistant coursework, a dementia-studies certificate, and six Des Moines Area Community College credits. Cassandra has accepted a full-time job at Iowa Methodist Hospital.
Over 120 high school juniors and seniors applied for the program that accepted just 20 students, program director Dennis Henderson told me.
Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates sponsored 10 of this summer’s class.
2,000TH INVEST DSM PROJECT COMPLETED
We have a winner!
Paula Kerman, a retired Des Moines Public Schools art teacher, recently completed the 2,000th Invest DSM project. It’s a major milestone for the program, which officially got rolling in early 2020.
Contractors re-roofed Paula’s 1938 Beaverdale home and reworked the driveway entrance with $5,751 from the Invest DSM Homeowner Renovation Program. Total project cost: $28,758.
Sorry, Paula—no trophy for you. But the 2,000 milestone speaks volumes for the homeowners’ success in the original four Targeted Neighborhoods: Columbus Park, Drake, Franklin, and Oak Park/Highland Park. The Franklin Investment District will wind down in 2026. In late 2025, DSM staff expanded the program to include North of Grand/Woodland Heights and Union Park.
In its first six years, Invest DSM poured $21.3 million into 1,872 completed projects, with another $86.7 million from other sources, for a $108 million total. For every Invest DSM dollar, other sources contributed $4.07. An amazing partnership between the City of Des Moines and Polk County makes this possible.
Paula, who has lived in her home for nearly 50 years, understands the value of Invest DSM funding. In 2023, Invest DSM provided her with $22,583 for a bundle of home improvement projects: a remodeled first-floor bathroom, a new brick sidewalk with limestone edging, and backyard landscaping.
Matt Brandt, Invest DSM construction specialist, worked with Paula on both projects. “Paula is the kind of neighbor every community hopes for,” Matt told me. “She takes pride in her home, consistently invests in maintaining and improving it, and has been a wonderful neighbor for many years. Her commitment not only strengthens her own property but helps make the entire neighborhood a better place to live.”
QUICK NOTES
DMFD Chief Jonathan Lund toured me around the City’s stations last week, with stops at four stations. Fascinating morning with the Chief! Fortunately, he didn’t make me slide down a firefighter’s pole (two of 11 stations still have poles). Here are a few tidbits the Chief dished up.
State Fair: Iowa's fifth-largest fire department. During the Iowa State Fair, 28 personnel will be on duty every day during the 10-day event. The staffing makes the Fair duty the unofficial, temporary fifth-largest paid department in the state. The state fair reimburses the City for all overtime expenses.
Staffing varies during the day (with 28 during the peak fair hours), but fire personnel are on duty 24 hours per day (mostly for the campground during off hours). In addition to the mobile command post vehicle, equipment includes two fire engines, a brush fire truck (pickup with a small water tank and pump), multiple ambulances, mini-ambulances, and ATVs.
DMFD personnel staff three locations around the fairgrounds. That’s Kale Cummings, Station 10, and Lt. Pat Thomas, Station 4, outside an ambulance just west of the grandstand.
Staffing special events. And speaking of the fair duty, Chief Lund reported that fire personnel staff more than 230 special events per year in Des Moines, including Arts Festival, Downtown Farmers’ Market, and PrideFest. Yes, those event organizers reimburse the City for the services.
Food truck inspections. The City’s Fire Prevention Bureau conducts more than 300 food-truck inspections annually for safety regulations, including fire suppression equipment and propane lines. Chief Lund told me the annual inspections began 11 years ago with just 18 food trucks. Who’d have guessed such a rapid growth? DMFD accepts walk-up inspections at its Administration Building, 2715 Dean Avenue, on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month. An annual inspection costs $570.
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