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City prioritizes trail system and workings of downtown
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · January 29, 2025
Trying to prioritize projects for the next three to eight years, a group of stakeholders voted to back plans for beautifying downtown West Branch, rerouting truck traffic around downtown, and improving the trail system.
The West Branch City Council began planning its fiscal year 2026 budget late last year, meeting Dec. 16 with stakeholders at Town Hall to gather input on priorities.
Various representatives spoke in favor of certain projects and then placed stickers to cast their votes. City Administrator Adam Kofoed gave city council members stickers worth four votes each and non-council members’ stickers were worth one vote each. Half of the voting power went to each group.
By the end of the hour-long meeting, rerouting semi-truck traffic around, rather than through, the downtown received the most support from both council and non-council members, with 40 combined points.
Going by voting power, the two groups also agreed on downtown beautification (30 points), further developing the trail system (33 points), and replacing a water line on North Downey Street (16 points).
Where the two groups split, council members tended toward more infrastructure-related projects, like chip & seal street repairs/curb and gutter work (29 points), and replacing water plant filters installed in the 1970s (36 points).
Breaking from the council, stakeholders put most of their support behind restoring Travelers’ Rest and making the stop on the Underground Railroad a tourist attraction (21 points) and recruiting another hotel (17 points).
One project that continues to appear at annual strategic planning sessions: Construction of a splash pad. This received 14 total points, with eight points coming from council members and six coming from stakeholders.
The council first started talking about a splash pad back in 2014 when it appeared on a Parks & Recreation Community Survey. The city got its first estimate in 2018, putting the price between $100,000 and $150,000.
While the city budget only covers a single year, Kofoed wanted to plan projects at least three years out “because of how Urban Renewal works.”
He also noted that some projects are more like “puzzle pieces” which, depending on cost, can be fit in here and there as money becomes available. Some of those may get funded by the general fund, others may need grant funding.
Pete Swisher, superintendent for the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, sought support for cultural and natural resources, specifically noting the trails system, Heritage Square, and Travelers’ Rest.
West Branch Public Library Director Jessica Schafer advocated for building a new public library, stating that the current library is “way too small for the community.” She wants a new library to make room for a makerspace section with a 3D printer and more shelving space for kitchen utensils and tools for checkout.
Mundi McCarty, president of the Hoover Presidential Foundation, agreed with both Swisher and Schafer. West Branch Community Schools Superintendent Marty Jimmerson stated his general support for projects that would “bring more young families” to the community.
Planning & Zoning Chair John Fuller said the committee wants to gather data to create a new comprehensive plan and land use plan. He supports streetscaping, trails, truck rerouting, hotel recruitment, and Town Hall improvements.
Main Street West Branch Executive Director Jessi Simon advocated for improvements to streetscaping, Heritage Square, and downtown.
She also mentioned that the Hoover Foundation’s $20.3 million improvement to the Hoover Library and Museum could double or even triple local tourism, so recruiting another hotel would be essential.
“We want to make sure our historic downtown remains the pride of West Branch,” she said.
Public Works Director Matt Goodale made the case for updating the roughly 50-year-old water plant filters, replacing water lines along North Downey, and rerouting truck traffic.
Cedar County Supervisor and West Branch resident Bruce Barnhart gave his support to rerouting truck traffic and curb and gutter work.
Kofoed invited Travis Kraus, a University of Iowa professor from the School of Planning and Public Affairs, to facilitate the meeting. Kraus also serves as the director of the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities.
His university students help local communities develop 10 to 20 projects per year and are open to a partnership with the City of West Branch.
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