River Bend Times

During the Jan. 3 Maquoketa City Council meeting, Mayor Tom Messerli delivered the annual state of the city address, focusing on the roller coaster year just concluded and looking ahead to 2023.

During the meeting, which was streamed on YouTube, Messerli noted the changes to the council for 2023, thanking Brent Good for his service on the council and offering a welcome to new Ward 3 Councilwoman Caroline Ehlinger, who was appointed to the post last month.

“2022 has had its challenges and successes, and we are looking forward to 2023 and anticipating it will provide the city of Maquoketa more good things for our citizens,” Messerli said as he started his address.

The year, the mayor noted in the streamed address, promises to offer a home, with the citing receiving $3.2 million from the state to fund renovations and modifications to its water and wastewater facilities.

“The rest of that money will come from other funding sources so we can keep the costs of this project down and keep residents' water and sewer bills close to where they are now,” the mayor said in the address.

Messerli also noted during the address that the city’s tax rates have held steady in recent years, and larger projects, such as the East and West Plat Street project, which he noted is almost finished. He added that the city recently nabbed a $700,000 Destination Iowa grant to improve Prairie Creek Park upgrades in partnership with Jackson County, with additions including disc golf and camping amenities.

Moreover, Messerli during the address urged the city’s residents to get involved in their community and reminded them of the council’s meeting schedule, at 6 p.m. o the first and third Monday of each month, offering online directions to view the schedule. The mayor also urged residents to come to any city meeting to discuss issues.

Messerli also offered a welcome to the new police chief and two new police offers and he noted that city officials’ emails are on the website.

“Help us make 2023 another good year to be proud of,” he concluded during the session.