City to honor Mohrfeld, Gray

FORT MADISON - The City of Fort Madison is hosting a reception for incoming and outgoing mayors and city council members on Tuesday, December 16th at Fort Madison City Hall, 811 Avenue E at the council chambers. The reception will be held from 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. with the regular scheduled council meeting to be held at 5:30 p.m.
During the council meeting, new Mayor, Melinda Blind, and new Fourth Ward Council Member, Nicole Merschman, will be sworn into office. The official handing over the gavel from current Mayor, Matthew Mohrfeld to incoming Mayor, Blind will take place at the end of the city council meeting.
During his three terms as Mayor of Fort Madison, Matthew Mohrfeld led a period of meaningful progress, long-awaited projects, and major community investment. His leadership helped turn vision into reality across the city—from transportation and recreation to public safety and the riverfront.
Key Accomplishments as Mayor:
• Completed the Historic Santa Fe Depot Restoration
Mohrfeld finished the visionary renovation plan that was handed to him by previous Mayors. Coordinating with the final phases of restoring the historic railroad depot, transforming it into a fully functioning Amtrak stop while preserving its architectural character. This strengthened Fort Madison’s connection to the national rail network and supported riverfront tourism and development
• Helped Bring the Dog Park and Pickleball Courts to Life
Working closely with several council members and a group of great volunteers, Fort Madison added two of its most popular recreational amenities: the city dog park and the community pickleball complex—projects that reflect Mohrfeld’s commitment to active, healthy living and strong community spaces.
• Completion of a Major City Highway Project
Mohrfeld guided the completion of a major city highway, improving safety, traffic flow, and long-range opportunities growth
• Partnered in the Construction of a New Fire Station
Partnered with the Council, firefighters, and key staff in the development of Fort Madison’s modern fire station, Mohrfeld helped move the project from planning to construction—strengthening emergency response capacity and ensuring long-term public safety
•Advancing a Consolidated Public Works Campus

Mohrfeld worked toward establishing a unified public works campus designed to improve operational efficiency, reduce long-term costs, and provide better-coordinated services for the community
• Led the Award-Winning Marina Renovation & Riverview Park Improvements
A signature achievement of Mohrfeld’s tenure was leading the revitalization of the Fort Madison Marina and major upgrades to Riverview Park. Collaborating with community partners and securing key investments, he helped transform the riverfront into an award-winning regional attraction—boosting recreation, tourism, and community pride
• Continually Improved Citywide Curb Appeal
Mohrfeld placed an ongoing emphasis on elevating Fort Madison’s curb appeal—strengthening streetscapes, enhancing public spaces, and improving the overall appearance of the community to support growth, tourism, and local pride.
Jack Gray served the city council for one term and is proud of the following key accomplishments the City has made during his term:
• Fort Madison Marina Renovations and Riverview Park Improvements
• Port Trails expansions
• Pickleball Courts
• New Fire Station
• Public Works Building
Jack also served as the council liaison for the Fort Madison Public Library Board.
The City of Fort Madison extends a thank you to Mayor Mohrfeld and City Council Member Gray for their years of service to the community and efforts made to improve our community. We welcome our incoming Mayor, Melinda Blind and Fourth Ward City Council Member, Nicole Merschman, to their new roles starting on January 1, 2026.