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Current Projects | Completed Community Projects
Manning Child Care Center Expansion | Fall 2016
Manning Child Care Center Michelle Starman, Director | 712-655-KIDS Manning Child Care Center, opened in 2002, completed a $200,000 expansion project in Sept. 2016 of 2,800 square-feet which allowed the Center to serve more children and families for the community. The center's capacity increased from 60 children to 84 since the expansion. Donations from the Timmerman Trust, Prairie Meadows, Lampe Trust, IA West Foundation, Barbara Renze Foundation, a $75k from a Main Street Manning Challenge grant, and the last $14k from the Manning Betterment Foundation made this expansion project possible. |
Industrial Park Expansion (Commercial Street) | Estimated Completion: Fall 2017
City of Manning | 712-655-2176 | dawn@mmctsu.com
Manning Betterment Foundation | Aaron Stangl | astangl@fnbmanning.com
The Manning Betterment Foundation and the City of Manning are partnering to extend Commercial Street in the Industrial Park while also looping the water to provide better services for existing and potential businesses.
City of Manning | 712-655-2176 | dawn@mmctsu.com
Manning Betterment Foundation | Aaron Stangl | astangl@fnbmanning.com
The Manning Betterment Foundation and the City of Manning are partnering to extend Commercial Street in the Industrial Park while also looping the water to provide better services for existing and potential businesses.
Iowa Great Places Public Art Projects | Estimated Completion: 2017
City of Manning, Dawn Meyer | 712-655-2176 | dawn@manningia.com Geri Spies, Garden Club | 712-655-3557 | kgspies@mmctsu.com Manning was recognized as an Iowa Great Place in January 2015. Three of the projects that will receive grant funding as a result of this designation deal with public art. One project involves building four art pieces, each representing a different skyline element, to be placed along Highway 141 with landscaping to enhance their visual appeal. Another project involves installing a water feature in the City park in one of the previously over-grown flower beds. The final project will place five bronze statues throughout the community. |
Center Street Bridge Replacement | Completed: Summer 2020
City of Manning | 712-655-2176 |
The bridge on Center Street that goes over Willow Creek and is being replaced in 2020. During construction, the road will be closed. The new bridge is being funded through Federal Highway Administration funding, local road use tax funds, and a bequest from Max Timmerman and Leola Timmerman. The bridge will feature a unique decorative rail and lighting.
City of Manning | 712-655-2176 |
The bridge on Center Street that goes over Willow Creek and is being replaced in 2020. During construction, the road will be closed. The new bridge is being funded through Federal Highway Administration funding, local road use tax funds, and a bequest from Max Timmerman and Leola Timmerman. The bridge will feature a unique decorative rail and lighting.
Main Street Bridge Replacement | Completed: Fall 2016
City of Manning | 712-655-2176 |
The bridge on South Main Street that goes over Willow Creek will be replaced in 2016. During construction, the road will be closed. The new bridge is being funded through Federal Highway Administration funding, local road use tax funds, and a bequest from Max Timmerman and Leola Timmerman. The bridge will feature a unique decorative rail and lighting.
City of Manning | 712-655-2176 |
The bridge on South Main Street that goes over Willow Creek will be replaced in 2016. During construction, the road will be closed. The new bridge is being funded through Federal Highway Administration funding, local road use tax funds, and a bequest from Max Timmerman and Leola Timmerman. The bridge will feature a unique decorative rail and lighting.
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MANNING TRAILS City of Manning Dawn Meyer, City Administrator | 712-655-2176 | dawn@mmctsu.com With over $3.6 million of proposed trails, trail projects will span many years and will be broken down into many phases. These are the phases that are complete: City Park Connector Trail | Completed: Fall 2014 The City of Manning was awarded a grant of $75,000 from Resource Enhancement and Protection commonly referred to as REAP and a $25,000 grant from the Wellmark Foundation. These grants helped to construct the $138,000 City Park Connector Trail segment that connects the Manning City Park, the little league football and soccer fields, the community gardens, and loops back to the little league baseball/softball diamond. IKM-Manning School Trail North | Completed: Fall 2015 This phase is estimated to cost approximately $505,000 and will install a trail from Third Street, along East Street, and along part of 10th Street to the front door of the school. It will allow a safe way for people to get from North Manning to South Manning in a high-use area. A Safe Routes to School grant has been awarded to the City to cover over $245,000 of that and a Regional Transportation Alternatives Grant will pay for approximately $57,000 of this phase. Great Places is also helping with this trail as well as some Transportation Alternative Grant Funding. The remainder is being fundraised locally. Hospital Connector Trail | Completed: 2017 Connecting the Park trail to the Manning Regional Healthcare Center, this project was broken into two phases. It was completed in 2017 and is used regularly. Funding for this came from Iowa Great Places, the Iowa DNR REAP program, Wellmark Foundation, and local fundraising efforts. Trestle Park Trail | Completed: Fall 2018 This phase is estimated to cost approximately $400,00 and is underway. Overall, it will install a trail from the new Milwaukee Trestle Park, along the Nishnabotna River, across Third Street, under Highway 141, ending at the Hospital-Park Trail. The 2018 addition is the final piece--which will include paving the underpass under Highway 141. |

Milwaukee Trestle Park | Completed: 2019
City of Manning
Cory Arp, Parks and Recreation Director | 712-655-3861 | cory@manningia.com
The new park located near the historic railroad trestle at the north end of Main Street and Center Streets with a large IOWA sculpture, a shelter house, public art and a river access. A train informational kiosk will be installed soon. A Nature play area with a trestle bridge monkey bars is located by the shelter house. Planning is also underway for an Outdoor Learning Environment.
City of Manning
Cory Arp, Parks and Recreation Director | 712-655-3861 | cory@manningia.com
The new park located near the historic railroad trestle at the north end of Main Street and Center Streets with a large IOWA sculpture, a shelter house, public art and a river access. A train informational kiosk will be installed soon. A Nature play area with a trestle bridge monkey bars is located by the shelter house. Planning is also underway for an Outdoor Learning Environment.
Manning Recreation Center Building Upgrades | Completed: 2016
City of Manning | 712-655-2176 | dawn@manningia.com Over the years, the public works department has made several improvements to the Recreation Center. In the winter of 2013-14, the stage was removed, making more room in the gym for a concession stand and event seating. In the winter of 2014-15, improvements included removal of the balcony on the north side of the building to further expand the gym space. The weight room also saw some expansions. 2015-16 brought new lighting and sound baffles in the pool, more improvements in the gym, and other upgrades. |
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Updated Streetscaping on Main Street | Completed: 2019
Main Street Manning Design Committee
Marsha Clausen, Design Chair | 712-655-MAIN | mainstmanning@gmail.com
2018 accomplishments included placement of the metal benches, trash receptacles and bike rack; four statues were installed with a fifth ordered; and twelve lighted structures were fabricated, built and installed in four blocks. Future plans include replacing the old planters with newer planters, adding two new statues, and possible spotlights to illuminate the statues.
Main Street Manning Design Committee
Marsha Clausen, Design Chair | 712-655-MAIN | mainstmanning@gmail.com
2018 accomplishments included placement of the metal benches, trash receptacles and bike rack; four statues were installed with a fifth ordered; and twelve lighted structures were fabricated, built and installed in four blocks. Future plans include replacing the old planters with newer planters, adding two new statues, and possible spotlights to illuminate the statues.
East Street and Heritage Drive (311th St) Paving Projects | Completed: Fall 2016
City of Manning | 712-655-2176 | dawn@manningia.com
Paving crews will pave two sections of gravel in the late summer/fall of 2016. The first is on Heritage Drive (311th Street). To better serve the Hausbarn-Heritage Park and the new Boulders Inn and Suites, the gravel will be paved with concrete from East Street to the second drive of the Hausbarn Heritage Park. The second portion will be to pave one additional block of East Street going south of the school. This will help open opportunities for more residential lots.
City of Manning | 712-655-2176 | dawn@manningia.com
Paving crews will pave two sections of gravel in the late summer/fall of 2016. The first is on Heritage Drive (311th Street). To better serve the Hausbarn-Heritage Park and the new Boulders Inn and Suites, the gravel will be paved with concrete from East Street to the second drive of the Hausbarn Heritage Park. The second portion will be to pave one additional block of East Street going south of the school. This will help open opportunities for more residential lots.
Community Visioning | Completed: 2016
City of Manning Geri Spies, Project Coordinator | 712-655-3557 | jspies@fnbmanning.com Manning participated in Community Visioning in 2012. The resulting projects included new welcome signs, Highway 141 plantings, and trail amenities. With the plan implemented, Manning applied to participate again and was accepted. The Manning Community worked with Trees Forever, the Iowa Department of Transportation, Iowa State University, and private landscape architects to design another Visioning plan for Manning. Visions from 2016 planning included Trestle Park, Main Street streetscapes, and the hospital greenspace transformation. |
Main Street Challenge Grant--Signs, Interiors, Awnings | Completed: 2016
Main Street Manning MSM Program Director | 712-655-6246 | mainstmanning@gmail.com Main Street Manning received a $75,000 Challenge Grant for a multi-property project to be done in 2015 and 2016. Three properties made interior improvements--326 Main (Deb's Corner Café), 316 Main (Main Street Liquor), and 321 Main (The Market Place). Multiple buildings downtown installed blade signage and awnings as well. Many of the signage designs were done by Iowa State University College of Design students in one of the many partnerships with ISU. |
National Register Nomination--Downtown Commercial District | Completed: July 2015
Historic Preservation Commission, After the completion of the intensive survey of the downtown commercial district, the next step for the Historic Preservation Commission is to move forward with turning that information into a nomination to place the Manning Downtown on the National Register of Historic Places. With the help of a Certified Local Government Grant, the HPC hired Architecture Historian Leah Rogers of Tallgrass Historians to lead the process. Through the coordinated efforts of the consultant and a lot of volunteer time, the registration nomination is expected to be complete in 2015. |
Welcome Signs | Completed: Spring 2016
Jean Stadtlander, Project Coordinator | 712-655-2242 | tjkstadt@mmctsu.com Volunteers and in-kind donations from local businesses made the visioning signage a reality. Two new stainless steel welcome signs, complete with lighting, were installed on the East and West edges of Manning. |
5Main Street Challenge Grant--Cliff's Place | Completed: 2014
Main Street Manning and Cliff's Place Colleen Nelson, MSM Program Director | 712-655-6246 | mainstmanning@gmail.com Vicki Waterbury, Owner Main Street Manning received a $45,000 Challenge Grant to help Cliff's Place make interior improvements. As the Downtown Revitalization Grant completed, a plywood storefront that included small windows and shingles, instead features historic brick, large display windows, and transoms. This Challenge Grant helped to update the interior to better reflect the renovated historic exterior. Interior shingled canopies and false ceilings were removed to expose original tin ceilings. New lighting and HVAC was installed. A revised floor plan brought the open feeling inward. |
Downtown Revitalization Grant | Completion: 2014
City of Manning and Main Street Manning Dawn Meyer, City Administrator | 712-655-2176 | dawn@manningia.com Colleen Nelson, MSM Program Director | 712-655-6246 | mainstmanning@gmail.com The City of Manning, in partnership with Main Street Manning, received a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant to renovate the facades of 17 storefronts in downtown Manning. Combined with about $300,000 of local funds, the $800,000 investment helped many downtown buildings restore their original historic beauty. |
Main Street Challenge Grant-Upper Story Living | Completed: 2014
Main Street Manning & Greg Sextro Greg Sextro, Property Owner Main Street Manning received a $50,000 Challenge Grant to help spur upper-story living creation in downtown Manning. The monies were awarded to create an apartment at 307 1/2 Main Street, owned by Greg Sextro. The result is a beautiful apartment that was rented before it was even officially on the market. |
Manning Regional Healthcare Center Replacement Project | Completed: May 2014
Manning Regional Healthcare Center John O'Brien | 712-655-8155 |john.obrien@mrhcia.com The new Manning Regional Healthcare Center was built on the south-west corner of Manning encompasses Manning General Hospital, Manning Family Recovery Center, and Manning Regional Healthcare Clinic in a nearly 62,000 square foot state-of the art facility. The project is possible through funding made available through a $21 million USDA Rural Development Program loan. The first patients were seen at the new facility on May 19, 2014. |
Emergency Services Building Construction | Completed: January 2015
Dawn Meyer, City Administrator | 712-655-2176 | dawn@manningia.com With each new, larger fire truck, the need for a new fire station became more evident. The Manning Fire Department hired JEO Consulting to design a new fire station located south of Warner Welding near the corner of Highway 141 and West Street. The land was in a flood plane. However, with a generous dirt donation from Puck Custom Enterprises and a grading bid awarded to Boeck Construction, the site was built up out of the flood plane. The bid for the construction was awarded to H & R Construction and the station was completed in January 2015. This project wouldn't have been possible without the generosity of the many donors. |
Iowa Living Roadways Grant Planting Projects-West Street, Highway 141
City of Manning Geri Spies, Project Coordinator | 712-655-3557 | jspies@fnbmanning.com Manning has successfully implemented four Iowa Living Roadways Projects throughout the community. Funding of over $60,000 was secured through Trees Forever and the Iowa Department of Transportation to enhance our roadways. |
Freedom Rock | Completed: 2015
German Hausbarn Director | 712-655-3131 | heritag@mmctsu.com Local volunteers secured Manning as the place for Carroll County Freedom Rock on his Freedom Rock tour. The 9.5-foot tall rock was transported to Manning from Dedham in March 2013 and was placed at Willow Creek Park at the corner of East Street and Highway 141. Artist Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II painted the rock with a veteran-themed mural in June 2014. Further plans for a kiosk, seating and landscaping are in the works now. To donate to the Manning project or to learn more, contact the Hausbarn-Heritage Park. To learn more about the Carroll County Freedom Rock. To learn more about the state-wide Freedom Rock Project, visit www.thefreedomrock.com |
Whole-town Power Generation | Completed: Winter 2012-13
Manning Municipal Light Plant 712-655-3214 | mmu@mmctsu.com Manning Municipal Light Plant installed new switch gear and generators in Manning. The new equipment has to capacity to generate and distribute electricity to the entire Manning community in case of outages.
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2012 Pumper/Tanker Fire Truck | Completed: December 2012
Manning Fire Department Bob Ehlers, Chief The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security awarded the Manning Fire Department a $264,100 Assistance to Firefighters Grant. This grant money, paired with $13,900 of local funds will fund a new pumper/tanker unit to replace the department's 1975 Tanker and 1981 Pumper. The truck is now in service.
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Section 202 Housing 6-plex | Completed: July 2013
Section 202 Housing Board & Manning Municipal Housing Authority Kevin Boyle, Section 202 Housing Board President | 712-655-3541 Ground was broke at 38 May Street on July 30, 2012 for the new six unit housing complex that benefits elderly and people with disabilities. A $964,000 grant from HUD and subsequent grants from the Warren Timmerman Charitable Trust made this build possible. The project is being managed by the Manning Housing Agency. The city purchased two houses on the site and secured the grant for razing the buildings and ground work that would prepare the location. The open house for the units was held July 9th. For rental availability, contact (712) 655-2155.
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Downtown Survey | Completed: 2013
Manning Historic Preservation Commission Dawn Meyer, Commission Staff | 712-655-2176 | dawn@manningia.com The Historic Preservation Commission of Manning has received a $11,300 Certified Local Government Grant from the State Historic Preservation Office, in cooperation with the National Parks Service. The money was being used to hire a consultant to do an intensive survey of the commercial downtown to research, evaluate, and document the buildings historical significance. The results will be used for tax credits and a potential downtown historic district. The final products reveal much history about the buildings, businesses, and community and are available at City Hall to review.
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Rubber Matting at Park | Completed: 2013
City of Manning Cory Arp, Parks & Rec Director | 712-655-3861 | cory@manningia.com Via a Manning Betterment Foundation grant awarded by the Warren Timmerman Charitable Trust, the City of Manning will be installing poured-in-place rubber surfacing under some of the equipment at the park. The first phase, worth about $30,000, was completed under the green playground equipment piece that
is intended for the 2 to 5-year old age group. Further phases (totaling over $200,000) will be completed as funding becomes available. |