116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Hiawatha’s new mayor details plans for growth, expansion
Affordable housing, continued infrastructure investment among priorities
Jan. 21, 2024 5:30 am, Updated: Jan. 22, 2024 7:57 am
This month, a six-year member of Hiawatha City Council earned a new title in the growing city after his run in November’s election: mayor.
Mayor Steve Dodson, who ran unopposed to succeeded Bill Bennett, first got his start in Hiawatha city government in 2015 and was subsequently elected to an at-large seat on the Hiawatha City Council.
In the time since he first got involved, Hiawatha has seen growth in new commercial development, housing and evolving infrastructure to support it all. The city’s population grew 2.3 percent between 2010 and 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Still, that growth rate was smaller than the statewide average of 4.7 percent over the decade.
The U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserves veteran previously worked in the oil and gas industry testing wells, sales and as a police officer in Norman, Okla. Dodson retired from Mercy Medical Center’s interventional radiology/cath lab in 2020, after 20 years of service. He has lived in Hiawatha with his wife, Deb, for over 23 years.
The mayor’s comments below have been edited for conciseness.
Q: Tell us about how you got into city government.
A: In 2015, I was asked to be on the Comprehensive Plan 2036 committee as a citizen. I really enjoyed working on that committee and in late 2016 I was asked to be on the city’s Board of Adjustment.
I was approached by a couple of council members and the mayor to run for City Council. Prior to being elected for my first term, I campaigned and talked to over 400 residents from all parts of Hiawatha. I was elected to the city council and started January 2018.
Q: Why did you decide to run for mayor of Hiawatha?
A: Mayor Bennett told me about 18 months ago he wasn’t going to run for a third term. He asked me if I would be interested, and (said) that I would make a great mayor … We are fortunate that Hiawatha is growing, both in population and businesses. I want to continue those working relationships and foster new growth.
Q: How would you rate the city’s current performance? What areas are going well, and where is there room for improvement?
A: Currently, I would rate the city’s performance at 98 percent, as no city is perfect, but we are close! Without great employees, especially those in key roles, we wouldn’t be where we are today. From our city manager, finance director, city clerk, department heads and all their staff, we have the best employees.
The city gets compliments all the time from how fast our snow plows clear the neighborhoods, (how fast we) fill potholes, (our) park activities, street decorations, parades and food truck Fridays during the summer. Our police and fire departments are top-notch and well respected. …
There is always room for improvement with city performance. I would like to see a reduction in our city's tax levy. We could do that in a number of ways, like lowering the debt service or using some of our property tax reserve fund.
Cedar Rapids has downtown and Marion has Uptown. Hiawatha needs to have our own identification, like midtown. Hiawatha also needs more positive media exposure when news outlets talk about Cedar Rapids and nearby towns. Usually it is only the big two, Cedar Rapids and Marion.
Q: What are some of the biggest issues, challenges or concerns you see Hiawatha facing?
A: Hiawatha needs more affordable single-family housing. In discussions with developers, it is hard to build houses in the $100,000 to $200,000 range and make any profit. This is due to the price of building materials and labor, not to mention the price of lots.
The city also needs hotels, full-service restaurants and entertainment venues. Stabilizing or lowering property tax levies without reducing any services is always a challenge but we are doing it. …
We are continuing talks with the cities of Robins and Marion, Linn County and the (Iowa) Department of Transportation about funding for the completion of the Tower Terrace Road extension to Highway 13 in Marion. …
Q: Hiawatha has seen significant growth in the last several years, especially in areas such as the Tower Terrace interchange. What do you see ahead with Hiawatha’s growth trajectory?
A: I read that by the end of 2024, Hiawatha will have over 9,400 residents. I find that a bit too optimistic.
We will continue to grow and with Tower Terrace interchange opening, we hope to have more retail and restaurants interested in coming to Hiawatha. Northwest of the interchange on Edgewood Road, we have several housing developments in various stages of completion. Most of the developments are single family homes and some multifamily.
We also have our newest park located on 17 acres in that area. It has a playground area, splash pad, walking trail, shade (plus new trees planted) and restrooms. Plans are (in store) for soccer fields and a pavilion in the future. North of Boyson Road on Edgewood is a new senior 55+ housing development, next to Fareway supermarket. …
Q: A few infrastructure expansion proposals, such as the expansion of Edgewood Road into Hiawatha and a new Hiawatha Fire Station, have made headlines lately. What projects are top of mind in the near future?
A: Expansion of Edgewood Road from Blairs Ferry Road NE to Emmons Road in Hiawatha is planned for 2026. Further expansion from Emmons Road to Boyson will have to come after the improvements at the intersection of Boyson, Carpenter and Miller Roads with the city of Cedar Rapids. No timeline on that project yet.
Fire Station Number 2 is ahead of schedule. Completion is expected around the end of August. We will keep Fire Station Number 1 and both will be staffed.
Construction of a roundabout at Boyson Road and 12th Avenue intersection is scheduled for this spring. This will allow easier access to Boyson Road from 12th Avenue.
Q: Boyson Road is a major artery in Hiawatha, but remains relatively narrow east of Interstate 380. Given Hiawatha’s growth, what do you envision for that road?
A: Plans are to widen Boyson Road east of Center Point Road between Hawkeye Drive and Robins Road with a possible center turn lane in the next 18 months. We would like to straighten Boyson Road here, but with the railroad crossing we will not be able to completely straighten the road. Details are not finalized on this project.
This is in front of the new 196-unit multifamily apartment complex call The Crossing. In the next two years plans are to redo the Boyson Road and I-380 interchange into a diverging diamond intersection like at Tower Terrace. This will alleviate some of the congestion that backs up Boyson Road to the east.”
Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.
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