At the Tuesday, May 28th City Council meeting, the Council approved a site plan for the new Public Safety Center. The 16,500 square foot building will have four bays, an office space for the Polk County Sheriff's Department, and room for future expansion. The building will be located at SW 6th St and County Line Rd. This location was selected with future growth of the city in mind. An analysis was completed that factored in response times and other station locations and determined that this was the best location for the station. Construction will begin later this year.

An outdoor amphitheater is coming to the Grimes Public Library It will be able to seat up to 100 people and will be located on the east side of the new Library building looking over the existing detention basin. A boardwalk will also be constructed over the detention basin. The Library and Parks and Recreation Department will use this space for programming, including youth science and STEM education, storytime, small live music events, and fishing.

The Waterworks Park Splash Pad opened Saturday, May 25th. Located at the corner of 1st St and N James St, the Splash Pad features enhanced and interactive water features. The park uses recycled water and has a new playground with natural play areas. The modern restrooms are attached to an open-air shelter and have baby and adult size changing tables so people of all abilities can stay and enjoy the park. Portions of the shelter are available to rent. To reserve, click the button below and select the "Park Shelters" tab.

Governors Days is June 6th through 8th at the South Sports Complex! Complete with concerts, parades, carnivals and much, much more; Governors Days has something for everyone. Admission to the festival is free. Thank you Grimes Chamber & Economic Development for all your hard work making this a great event for our community! Check out their website for more information on the schedule of events.

Mark your calendars! We are bringing back our Movie at Heritage event on June 13, 2024, with a free showing of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Activities start at 6 pm and the movie will begin at 7 pm. We’ll have a special outdoor screen at Heritage Park that has a perfect picture (even in the daylight) so you won’t miss a second of the movie. There will be free popcorn, but don’t forget snacks, drinks, and chairs/blankets that you'd like to bring from home. Thank you to our sponsor Raccoon Valley Bank!

Summer is here and we have programs to keep you busy! Whether you're ready to learn a new sport, enjoy the arts, or are up for an adventure, Grimes Parks and Recreation has the program for you. Learn more and register at grimesiowa.gov/programs.

Get reimbursed for making your yard look better through the Storm Water Assistance Grant. This program reimburses residents for soil quality restoration projects (SQR) and rain barrels. The City will reimburse 50% (up to $1500) per property for soil quality restoration projects and $75 per rain barrel per property, a maximum of 1 rain barrel per year. Learn more and apply at grimesiowa.gov/SWAG.

Fishing is allowed in the public ponds in Grimes. The DNR frequently restocks the public ponds with largemouth bass, bluegills, and channel catfish. Before you grab your pole and head out, make sure you brush up on these rules.

• Anyone over the age of 16 needs a fishing license. These are available at iowa.dnr.gov.
• These ponds follow the statewide harvest regulations. That means you can keep up to three largemouth bass (must be 15 inches), 25 bluegills, and eight channel catfish.
• To find a public pond, including the type of fish stocked, visit iowadnr.gov/fishing/fish-local.

Starting July 1, 2024, the following utility rates will increase: water from $10.72 to $10.99 per thousand gallons of usage, sewer from $8.84 to $9.50 per thousand gallons of usage, and garbage/recycling from $14.51 to $15.09 per month.

It’s that time of year! With all the rain and warmer weather, grass can get tall quickly. Grass/weeds cannot exceed 12 inches (City Code Section 302.4) in Grimes. Also, please don’t blow grass clippings into the street. This debris can cause nitrates to build up in the City's storm water infrastructure causing area waterways to become contaminated. Piles of clippings can be hazardous to bicyclists as well.

As we head into summer, please keep in mind that fireworks rules have changed in the City of Grimes. Fireworks are only allowed on July 2nd and 3rd from noon to 10 pm and July 4th from 9 am to 11 pm. Previously, fireworks were allowed from July 1st to July 8th and from December 29th to January 3rd. We understand that fireworks are a big part of Independence Day, but they also can cause distress for veterans and pets as well as the potential for injuries and property damage. We hope these new times will allow our town to celebrate while still respecting others. 

We are hiring! The City of Grimes currently has openings for a Network/System Administrator, Staff Accountant, Utility Billing Supervisor, and Recreation Specialists (GrimesPlex). Learn more and apply at grimesiowa.gov/jobs.

• June 4 — Planning & Zoning Meeting
• June 6 to 8 — Governors Days
• June 6 — Public Health & Safety Board Meeting
• June 11 — No City Council Meeting
• June 13 — Movie at Heritage
• June 18 — Library Board Meeting
• June 19 — Tree Board Meeting
• June 25 — City Council Meeting
• June 26 — Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Meeting

*Meetings listed above are open to the public. Agendas are available here 24 hours before the meeting or sooner. Please refer to the calendar at grimesiowa.gov for an up-to-date meeting schedule.