☕📰Weekly Update!!!!!!

Good morning Ankeny! Friendly reminder that “I’ll go to the fair later in the week” is something people say every year and then suddenly its August 24th.

In today’s digest:

Lets get started.

— Chase & Chance

The Wiedenman Family Foundation just handed Ankeny Community Schools a $10,000 check from its annual Fill the Fund fundraiser. This is money raised by local restaurants donating a percentage of sales while residents simply went out to eat. The donation goes directly to the district's F.U.E.L. Account, which helps families when student lunch balances fall below negative $50. Ankeny's total unpaid meal balance sits around $150,000 accumulated over multiple years, and every district surveyed recently reported meal debt is growing faster than donations can keep up. Ankeny stopped serving alternate meals to kids with negative balances back in 2017. Every student gets a meal, no questions asked. (more)

West First Street Update

West First Street is shifting into the next phase of its widening project this week. Traffic moved to the south lanes Friday, and the north side of West First is now closed between NW Cedarwood Drive and just east of NW Linden Street. SW Linden Street at West First has reopened, but NW Linden Street and West First Street intersection closed Monday. Driveway access to businesses and residents on the north side is being maintained throughout. (more)

If your neighborhood has flooded in the last few years, this one's worth reading. Ankeny is investing nearly $29.7 million in stormwater infrastructure through 2030, with work already underway in several parts of the city. The biggest current project is an expanded detention basin near the Ankeny Art Center. This is more than doubling its capacity to 4.3 million gallons to help the Westlawn Place neighborhood drain faster. The city is also stabilizing sections of Fourmile Creek, upgrading storm sewers citywide, and planning channel improvements through Diamond Hills Greenway. About $7 million of the total cost is covered by grants and partnerships. (more)

Ankeny's zoning code hasn't been touched in almost 60 years, and the city council took the first of three required votes Monday to finally catch it up with the times. Two more votes are still needed, Sept. 8 and Sept. 21, before it's official. The new code would kick in Oct. 1 if it clears both.

The rewrite adds a farmland-specific zoning category, updates rules on signs to comply with a 2015 Supreme Court ruling, and speeds up approval times on certain development projects. In English, fewer bureaucratic steps for builders as the town continues to expand. The city posted the full draft online for months and got over 270 visits, but only four people of Ankeny actually commented on it. Therefore, if this is the kind of thing you have strong opinions on, you're basically guaranteed to be heard. (more)

Pop With a Cop @ PopSpot - Meet Ankeny police officers, check out a police car, and get to know the men and women who serve our community! 5-7pm

Music Bingo @ Uptown Garage - Think you know your music? Put it to the test; llisten for the song, mark your card, and take home the prizes! 6-8:30pm

AYP Bag Tournament @ Trailside Tap - Sign-in at 5pm, tournament starts at 5:30pm, and your first drink is on AYP! Free for members, $10 per team for non-members, limited to 20 teams, and the winning duo takes home a $30 gift card. Register early before spots are gone. (register)  

Karaoke @ Cabaret - Come sing your heart out, with food and drink specials running all night long! 8-11pm

Artisans Market @ Uptown Garage - Browse and shop handmade creations from local artisans throughout the taproom and patio. Grab a drink, take your time, and find something one-of-a-kind! 10am - 4pm

GiGi’s Playhouse 5k @ DMACC - Lace up for an event that has it all. 5K Run, 1 Mile Inspirational Walk, Kids Dash, Silent Auction, community partner exhibits, and donuts for everyone! (sign-up)

Farmers Market @ Market & Pavilion - Fresh produce, local meats and eggs, homemade food goods, and handmade crafts! 8am-12pm  

Yoga in the Park @ Wagner Park - Roll out your mat and enjoy a free hour of yoga with certified instructors, all ages and skill levels welcome! 8am

Music Bingo @ Cabaret - Song clips replace numbers, your phone is your bingo card, and prizes are up for grabs every round! Free to play, just show up and get ready to sing along. 7-9pm

Thanks for reading today’s Digest. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who lives in a golf course neighborhood.

Stay classy, Ankeny.