Water Quality Report for 2023
Contains results of regulated analytes that are in Fort Dodge's Water Operation Permit. Since some of the parameters are checked only every 3 years, the most recent information is listed.
"A Mile of Highway Will Take You a Mile...but a Mile of Runway Will Take You Anywhere!"
What to Know About Flying out of Fort Dodge
The Fort Dodge Regional Airport offers direct jet service to Chicago O'Hare (ORD). We are excited to have this service on United Express by SkyWest Airlines to connect you to all of United's global destinations.
What should you expect when flying from Fort Dodge? Here's a few common questions and answers.
How do I book a ticket? To book your tickets, you can use the United app, visit www.united.com or call 1-800-864-8331.
When should I check in? Carry-On or personal items only: 1 hour prior to departure time Checked Luggage: 1 hour and 30 minutes prior to departure time
When does the airport open? Airline employees will be at the counter an hour and a half prior to scheduled departure times.
Do you have the option for TSA PreCheck? Yes we do. Haven't heard of PreCheck? Experience a smoother screening process - no need to remove shoes, belts, liquids, laptops, or light jackets. Learn more HERE.
Is there a charge for parking? What are the parking lots like? Parking is free of charge for any duration of time. Areas inside the yellow boxes are open for public parking.
Do you have a restaurant? While we do not have an on-site restaurant, we do have a vending area in case you need a snack or drink before your trip.
What is the terminal like? Click HERE to view our photos on Google.
If you have any other questions not addressed on this page, please send an email to fdairport@fortdodgeiowa.org.
We truly appreciate all of you who choose to fly Fort Dodge!
About The Blanden
The Blanden Memorial Art Museum is a center of art and culture, not only for Fort Dodge, but for a large area of north central Iowa. Free admission gives access to items from the world-class permanent collection and current exhibitions by local as well as internationally renowned artists. A full range of classes, receptions, concerts, lectures and special events for all ages are available. For more information visit our website at www.blanden.org or call 515-573-2316.
MISSION
To plan and manage the economic growth, physical development, and rebuilding of the City in a manner which constantly strives to improve: its economy as a creator of jobs and tax base, its physical environment and cost effectiveness, and its overall quality of life.
The Department contains four divisions with various responsibilities. The Economic Development Division coordinates and fosters economic development activities while acting as a resource for local businesses. The Planning Division manages the City's built environment and provides research and analysis on the City's physical, social, economic, and environmental conditions as needed. The Community Development Division works to improve and maintain the City's housing stock. The Code Enforcement Division ensures that all building, mechanical, and plumbing improvements within the City are completed in accordance with adopted codes for the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Fort Dodge.
Utility Billing is a function of the City Clerk's office and can assist citizens with downtown parking, contractor registrations and pet licenses.
Please click here for information concerning Utility Billing.
City Council Members and Mayor
Welcome to the City of Fort Dodge! Our City is divided into four Wards, and each is represented by one Council Member. Each Ward Council Member is elected for a two-year term. There are also three Council Members elected at large for four year terms.
If you don't know which council ward or precinct you reside in, please view the City Ward and Precinct Map.
The City Council has a regular business meeting on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at 6:00 p.m. and meets in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 819 1st Avenue South. Workshops are often scheduled at 5:00 p.m. or after the regular business meeting. Special meetings and optional workshops, excluding holidays, are held on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month as needed.
David has over 25 years of municipal management experience with his last 13 years as Manager for the City of Fort Dodge. In his current position he is responsible for the daily operations a municipal corporation employing approximately 185 people full time in 13 departments with a total annual operations budget of approximately $30 Million. As the City Manager, he is appointed by the City Council, and is responsible for carrying out their policy direction.
His key role is to implement the City Council's strategic plan while cutting operational costs and improving service delivery using Lean tools and principles.
Before Fort Dodge, he was the Manager of Richton Park, Illinois, and Savoy Illinois. Before Savoy, he was a Program Specialist of a suburban Chicago Council of Governments, and held several intern positions.
David earned a BA in Political Science, and an MA in Public Administration from Western Illinois University.
The Iowa Lean Consortium was proud to name David Fierke, City Manager for the City of Fort Dodge, as the 2016 Iowa Lean Champion. The award was created to honor a leader who has made significant contributions to Lean practices and/or led a Lean journey for 10 or more years. The award was presented at the ILC’s annual fall conference on October 12th, 2016.
“David has been a strong Lean leader in government. His belief in the transformative power of Lean is evident through his actions and we are pleased to honor his work and achievements,” Jeff Dahm, ILC board president and factory advisor at Deere & Company.
As the City Manager, David Fierke inherited a tough situation when he arrived in 2006. Like other Midwestern “blue collar” towns, Fort Dodge had endured the loss of major employers resulting in a declining population, downtown vacancies and aging infrastructure. Tax and fee receipts were not matching expenses with projections showing the gap widening. But David had a vision and a strategy for realizing that vision. He had done his homework on Lean, realizing that it was not simply a toolset but rather a means for transforming culture. And he understood that it started with him.
David is a member of the Fort Dodge Rotary. He is also the Past President of the Iowa City/County Management Association.
In January, 2016 BusinessWire recognized Fort Dodge as one of the 15 semi-finalists in their America’s Best Communities $10M Competition.
The results are also evident in the top level metrics tracked as part of the Fort Dodge 2010 strategic plan which contained seven top level goals to be realized by 2015:
• Reduce the crime rate by 8% (FBI Category 1 UCR); Actual reduction 11%
• Increase sewer revenue by 20%; Actual increase 56%
• Increase water revenue by 20%; Actual increase 90%
• Increase hotel/motel tax by 20%; Actual increase 51%
• Increase average wage by 15%; Actual increase 20%
• Increase property tax base by 10%; Actual increase 11%
Mission Statement
The Engineering Division strives in providing expedient
engineeringservices to the General Public, the
Administration and all City Departments for the
improvement of infrastructure to enhance the quality
of life for all.
Hydro Dam Removal Time-Lapse Video (2/14-2/26/19)
WELCOME
Thank you for visiting the Envision 2030 web site! Here you can find general information about Envision 2030, reports on its progress, opportunities for you to share your ideas and ways you can participate in the process. Please see the "IN THIS DEPARTMENT" section to the left to find these areas of information.
"Over the next 20 years Ft. Dodge will experience many positive changes.We need to plan how we would like to develop and control these changes.We need ideas from people from all generations and backgrounds.We can let the future happen to us or we can be a part of shaping it.The Council and I think we definitely need to be a part of it, so we initiated this Visioning and Strategic Planning project,"
Welcome to the FDFD home page. To navigate to a more specific part of the FD website, please use the tabs on the right. Recruitment contains our hiring information. Our staff are listed by shift under Fire and EMS staff. Each of our specific services are highlighted under fire suppression, EMS, fire safety and prevention, and special operations. EMS billing questions are answered under EMS.
Mission Statement:
The Fort Dodge Fire Department exists to provide fire, medical and other life safety services to those that reside, work or travel through the City of Fort Dodge.
New Addition Rendering. Coming 2023, Administrative Space Addition.
What is a GIS?
GIS, stands for Geographic Information System, it is a live, intelligent mapping system that allows for the collection of data using "real world" geographic coordinates.
This information is useful in making maps, but it is also useful in decision making, such as engineering and planning development, natural disaster recovery, environmental impact studies, criminology and much more. Almost everything has a geographic component that can be mapped.
GIS:"An organized collection of computer hardware, software, geographic data, and personnel designed to efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, and display all forms of geographically referenced information."
GIS supports all departments within the City of Fort Dodge, as well as providing support to developers and citizens.
Want to see more? ...... check out some of our resources:
The mission of the Human Resources Department is to provide efficient and effective customer service to all of our employees.
Current Employees
City Employees can access information, to the right, In This Department
Future Employees
Applicants
All applications must be submitted electronically through the GovernmentJobs website. Paper applications are no longer accepted.
The City of Fort Dodge is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and we encourage applications from women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
Job Openings
To view a list of job openings, click below.
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The Department of Human Rights/Equal Employment Opportunity works on behalf of the Fort Dodge Human Rights Commission (FDHRC) to eliminate discrimination through law enforcement, education and community outreach. The Fort Dodge Human Rights Ordinance is designed to protect all people who live and work in the City of Fort Dodge from discrimination and sexual harassment in employment, public accommodations, education, housing, and credit. You may view the Ordinance here: Fort Dodge Human Rights Ordinance
Within our website, you can find out more information about the following:
The Fort Dodge Human Rights Commission By-Laws, as approved by the Fort Dodge City Council, govern the operations of the Commission. The FDHRC has the following responsibilities:
Enforce the laws regarding discrimination as provided in the State Code of Iowa and City of Fort Dodge Code of Ordinances;
Investigate possible areas of discrimination in Fort Dodge;
Study and attempt to eliminate discrimination in Fort Dodge;
Cooperate with state and federal agencies in law enforcement activities and develop civil rights educational programs;
Provide a pro-active approach to educating employers and employees on human rights issues.
For more information about the Commission, click here.
The Fort Dodge Human Rights Commission is not associated with the Department of Human Services. If you have general questions relating to assistance provided by DHS, please contact Webster County Human Services at (515) 955-6353. Links to other community resources can be found here.
The Karl King Band is Fort Dodge's municipal band. This ensemble provides a summer concert series in the Karl King Bandshell in beautiful Oleson Park and an indoor concert series held in the auditorium of Iowa Central Community College. These concerts are free to all, and are provided as a service by the City of Fort Dodge. Jerrold P. Jimmerson is the Director of the King Band, and Keith Altemeier continues to serve as the band's Assistant Conductor. Duane Oley Olson is the band's announcer.
Karl L. King's distinguished career as a bandmaster, prolific composer and musician made him a legend in his own lifetime. Everyone has heard his Barnum and Bailey's Favorite which, along with the other 200 marches he composed, assured him the world-wide status of March King along with John Philip Sousa and Henry Fillmore.
Fort Dodge is a city I am proud to serve as Mayor and call my home. With a population of over 26,000 we are the county seat for Webster County and a major commercial center for North Central and Northwest Iowa. We are dedicated to working in partnership with the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, local businesses, and citizens to enhance our quality of life. Together we have made great strides within our infrastructure, retail, recreational and educational opportunities.
Our major industries are trucking, gypsum and limestone mining. Another industry is the manufacturing of veterinarian pharmaceuticals by Boehringer Ingelheim - a world class research and production facility. We recently welcomed two new companies to our Iowa's Crossroads of Global Innovation Park. Cargill, an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural and industrial products and services as well as CJ Bio American, Korean based company that will produce amino acids used in livestock feed.
Trinity Regional Medical Center is one of 32 in United States to participate in a Medicare Pioneer ACO program. They recently opened a Comprehensive Cancer Center and are one of the top 100 cardiovascular hospitals in the nation with patient safety awards. Friendship Haven, located on over 60 acres, has become the largest retirement community in the state.
We are home to first class schools; Iowa Central Community College, one of the largest community colleges in Iowa. We are proud of our four private and various public schools. A new middle school opened in the 2013-2014 school year. It offers a 21st century learning environment with over 173,000 square feet and a performance auditorium.
An array of arts and culture are available with the Area Symphony and Blanden Memorial Art Museum; the first public museum of art in the state of Iowa. The Hawkeye Community Theatre, one of the longest running theatre organizations in the state and even a full scale recreated military outpost at the Fort Museum.
Our recreational opportunities are also abundant. Visit Mineral City Speedway or the state's largest OHV Park just southeast of town. Ride the swift waters of Lizard Creek or the Des Moines River. Enjoy over 32 miles of our new hard surface trails as well Rosedale Rapids Aquatic Center and multiple golf courses. Our sports complex, Harlan Rogers, hosts over 80,000 people per year with its ballparks and 10 soccer fields. We have indoor and outdoor tennis courts and multiple parks such as Kennedy, Olson, Brushy Creek, and Dolliver available.
Fort Dodge is home to special events such as Shellebration, Dragon Boat Festival, Frontier Days, Skydiving, Blues Under the Trees, Oktoberfest and Apple Fest at our local community orchard. Also our Market on Central has become the 4th largest in the state with over 50 vendors.
I invite you to discover why Fort Dodge is a healthy, vibrant community in which to live, work and play.
For information regarding new activities and events, program photos, programming changes, or weather-related cancellations please check Parks & Recreation's Facebook
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The public can register for programs by using our online system, by visiting the Parks & Recreation Offices at 617 Central Ave, or by calling the Offices at
515-576-7237 during regular business hours Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
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The Mayor, City Council, Parks & Recreation Board, and City staff invite you to enjoy our City's beautiful parks and trails system and take advantage of the endless recreation opportunities offered by all of our facilities!
Recreation Offices at 617 Central Ave, or calling the Offices at 515-576-7237. The Offices are open Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM <>
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There will be no cash refund for any reason. Account credit will be applied for a time not exceeding two years from the date of original purchase. All services or merchandise sold by the Fort Dodge Parks & Recreation Department is sold as is without any guarantee. By making a purchase with the Fort Dodge Parks & Recreation Department, you are confirming that you have read and understand our no cash refund policy.
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Our sworn officers are assigned between three divisions:
In Memory of Catherine Vincent Deardorf, 1907-1994
Harriet Bart's creation combines books, brass, glass, granite, gold leaf and bronze in a symbolic representation of wisdom, knowledge, free speech, and the communication of ideas.
Riversong Anthology was dedicated on September 8, 2007.
Riversong Anthology is a gift from the Catherine Vincent Deardorf Charitable Foundation to the Fort Dodge Public Library and the City of Fort Dodge.
The purpose of the Department of Public Works is to coordinate the activities of various divisions that maintain and improve the city's infrastructure.
This infrastructure includes:
Water Mains Fire Hydrants Sanitary Sewers Storm Sewers Streets Alleys Street Signs Traffic Signs Traffic Signals
Through this website, we hope to keep the public informed on ongoing projects and alert them to changes in routes and schedules.
The Department of Public Works is made up of several divisions:
Electrical
Responsible for the maintenance and repair of street lights, maintenance of the traffic signal system and electrical wiring in City buildings.
Equipment Maintenance
Responsible for preventative maintenance on City-owned vehicles and equipment.
Sanitation
Responsible for the collection and disposal of garbage, recycling, yard waste, brush and leaves.
Streets
Responsible for all street maintenance including street sweeping, street patching, snow and ice removal, dust control and pothole repair.
Traffic Safety
Maintains over 12,000 street and traffic signs. Responsible for painting all lane lines, lane indication markings, School Crossings and railroad crossings on over 160 miles of city streets.
Utility Systems
Water Meter
Responsible for all underground infrastructure, maintenance and replacement of fire hydrants and valves, water main flushing, repairs and maintenance of storm and sanitary sewers.
Responsible for installation, repair, and maintenance of residential and commercial water meter equipment, identifies water leaks, water pressure issues, irregular water meter readings, and perform locates.
Rental properties must be registered and inspected according to Ordinance No. 2204 of the Fort Dodge Municipal Code. You can pay a hefty fine if you don’t register your property. If you have never registered your property as a rental and you rent it, please register your property right away.
Chapter 14.08 – Rental Housing Code. “All dwelling units being let for rent and occupancy without a valid certificate of rental housing compliance or application for same on file with the city and fees paid may be ordered vacated and the owner or operator thereof cited for violation hereof and of the International Property Maintenance Code.”
An updated rental ordinance will be effective on October 1, 2022. The revised ordinance is a 4-star system. A letter explaining the design was provided to landlords in mid-August 2022.
Click on the image above to go to a recording that outlines the updates effective 10/1/2022.
To make a payment, search for the property address and click "View".
Primary Contact Address Citizens Central
(more) 617 Central Ave Fort Dodge, IA 50501Physical Address 1417 Nelson Ave Fort Dodge, IA 50501 Get Directions
Primary Contact Address Citizens Central
(more) 617 Central Ave Fort Dodge, IA 50501Physical Address Oakland Cemetery
(more) 1617 N 15th St Fort Dodge, IA 50501 Get Directions
Physical Address Memorial Park Cemetery
(more) 3242 5th Ave S Fort Dodge, IA 50501 Get Directions