Dysart’s primary public works building located at 713 Wilson Street pictured on Saturday, Nov. 9. Using a mix of federal funds and a local grant, the city hopes to soon replace the old brick shop (right side of the photo) with a new, larger addition. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

DYSART – The City of Dysart is one step closer to building a new public works facility.

In mid-April of this year, Dysart City Hall received word their Black Hawk County Gaming Association grant application for $25,000 toward a new public works maintenance shop had been approved. One month later on May 14, the city received even more good news – their public works project had been selected by U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) to receive funding along with 14 other projects in Iowa’s Second Congressional District as part of the House Appropriations Committee’s FY2025 Community Project Funding (CPF).

According to Dysart City Clerk Tabby Kaiser, on July 25, the city received word the ‘Dysart Public Works Facility Project’ would be receiving $265,451 of the $275,000 in federal funds requested by Rep. Hinson on the community’s behalf.

The funds will be used to support the construction of a new public works facility designed to safely hold equipment for the city’s water treatment efforts, road maintenance, and snow removal equipment, per the grant application.

Currently, Dysart’s public works equipment, office, supplies, and machinery are housed in three separate buildings including the existing public works shop located at 713 Wilson Street. Kaiser said the combined funds will be used to tear down the old brick shop at the Wilson Street address – a building that is falling apart and full of dangerous black mold – and build a larger shop attached to the newer building at the same location.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Each fiscal year, members of Congress can submit 15 eligible projects to receive funding. And while the City of Dysart budgeted for the new shop to be built this fiscal year, Kaiser said the federal funding is unfortunately still winding its way through the House floor.

“We can’t start the project until we are completely approved on that grant. We had hoped to have the outside shell done before winter, but that is most likely not going to happen now.”

In the interim, Dysart’s public works employees will continue to dutifully shuttle from location to location, gathering needed supplies and equipment as part of their daily routine, but for hopefully just one final winter season.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER