Get Moving is Mohrfeld's 2024 challenge

Get Moving 2024

COVID was not kind to us as people. We got complacent. We ate too much, we drank too much, and we didn’t move enough. Not that there’s anything wrong with eating and drinking, but we need to move more.”

Matt Mohrfeld, Fort Madison Mayor

FORT MADISON – The last four years have been full of challenges out of City Hall in Fort Madison, and 2024 appears to be no different.
Fort Madison Mayor Matt Mohrfeld issued a stiff challenge to the council to help usher in a healthier city.
His 2024 Get Moving campaign was launched Tuesday night during the mayor’s comment time at the end of the Fort Madison City Council meeting.
Mohrfeld said the move is to encourage everyone in Fort Madison to get up and get moving.
“This is going to be the 2024 initiative. This is the Get Moving initiative. Fort Madison has spent a lot of effort on having beautiful parks and putting in all these wellness trails,” he said.
He also said improving the riverfront, maintaining swimming pools, having some of the best disc golf courses in the state, and beautiful pickleball courts are all there for residents to find a healthy place to socialize and get outside.
“What does this mean? To encourage everyone in Fort Madison to get up and get moving,” he said.
“We want to collaborate and coordinate activities and events with existing organizations, boards, and active people to encourage fun exercise.”
Mohrfeld said that meant collaboration will have to take place with organizations such as the Fort Madison YMCA, the city schools, the senior center, and other health-centric organizations and businesses.
“COVID was not kind to us as people. We got complacent. We ate too much, we drank too much, and we didn’t move enough. Not that there’s anything wrong with eating and drinking, but we need to move more,” he said.
The city has put money into the paths and parks, and residents need to use them for healthy socialization," he said.
“I’d like to see this incorporated into some challenges and, as we move forward with it, I’d like to see full participation by the council and staff,” Mohrfeld said.
He asked Councilwoman Angela Roller and Councilman Jack Gray to lead the effort.
“It’s 2024. It’s the year for the people of Fort Madison to get up and get moving.”
As part of rolling out new challenges, Mohrfeld also did a revamping of the city council liaison’s to city boards.
City Councilman Dustin Yager was assigned to the City Airport Commission, the Mexican Fiesta board, and the City Safety Board. Councilwoman Donna Amandus was assigned to the City Tourism Board and tasked with looking at playgrounds for Riverview Park.
New Councilman Rick Theile was re-assigned to the Housing Authority, and to lead conversations around the James Block Building. A partnership with Barker Financial out of Iowa City has reached a standstill over inflationary costs of rehabbing the building. Mohrfeld asked Theile to help represent the city in collaborations with Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission to get the building functional.
Councilman Jack Gray was re-assigned to the Fort Madison Public Library Board, while Kevin Rink was assigned to the Planning & Zoning commission along with the Old Fort task force.
Councilman Rusty Andrews was charged with representing the council on the Tri-State Rodeo board, the Porchstock committee, and with reviewing and recommending changes to special events' applications and fees.
Roller was tapped as Mayor Pro Tempore and was tasked with council planning and comprehensive plan review and updates.
The mayor also asked Andrews and Rink to look at either resurrecting the Historic Preservation Commission or recommending dismantling it.