Get ready to grab a good book and snuggle up by the fireplace. The new Grimes Public Library building is open! This beautiful building is located at 200 NE Beaverbrooke Blvd. Here are some of the exciting new features.

• Drive-thru book returns and hold pickup
• Expanded collection
• Large children's area with playground and reading nooks
• Everbright wall
• Fireplace and coffee bar
• Adult and baby restroom changing tables
• Storytime room
• Meeting rooms
• Study rooms
• Teen mezzanine

Expanded children's area with playground

5 study rooms with unique seating layouts

Large meeting rooms can be converted into smaller spaces

Multiple reading nooks

Check out this video of opening day!

Book your next practice at GrimesPlex! The 50-acre multisport synthetic turf complex is now taking weekday practice rental reservation requests. Fields will be available for 90-minute practices starting April 1st. Request a rental at grimesiowa.gov/grimesplex-rentals and email any questions to [email protected].

Registration is also open online for our Parks & Recreation spring/summer programs. Make sure to sign up here.

You can also view a full lineup of Parks & Recreation as well as Library programs in our Spring Summer 2024 Program Guide online here.

Winter took its time, but it made itself known with multiple snowstorms under our belt already. Thank you to our snowplow crews for all their hard work clearing the roads. We also understand that it can be frustrating if it takes a while for the plows to come down your street. Streets are plowed in a specific order during a snowstorm for a reason. The major arteries are plowed first to help people get in and out of town and ensure that emergency vehicles can get where they need to go.

Here's the order streets are plowed:

• Priority 1 – Major streets are cleared first to open routes for emergency vehicles
• Priority 2 – City residential streets
• Priority 3 – Circles and cul-de-sacs
• Priority 4 – Parks and trails, parking lots, city buildings

View the map of the priority routes and learn more about snow and ice removal at grimesiowa.gov/snow.

It may feel like spring today but don't forget this snow removal checklist for the next storm.

• Clear sidewalks within 24 hours after snow ends. Enforcement actions will occur 24 hours after snowfall ends.
• Don’t push snow into the street.
• Clear snow around fire hydrants & mailboxes.
• Clear snow around furnace vents and gas meters.
• Don’t park on the street during a snow ordinance. A $50 ticket may be issued.
• Place garbage & recycling bins in the driveway on a flat, cleared space on collection day
• If you aren't already, sign up for text/email alerts for snow ordinances and emergencies at grimesiowa.gov/alerts.

We are in luck that the weather has warmed up, but that extreme cold will find us again. Remember, as the temperature drops, the chances that your pipes could freeze increases. Here are some tips from the Red Cross on preventing this costly issue.

• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Make sure to remove any harmful cleaning and kitchen chemicals out of the reach of children.
• Keep your garage door closed.
• Let cold water drip from the faucet. You can collect this in a bucket to save to water your plants later.
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may have a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
• If you will be going away during the cold weather, leave the heat on in your home set no lower than 55° F.

City buildings will be closed to the public on Monday, February 19th for a staff in-service day. This will not impact trash collection, which will occur on your normal day. The drop box in front of City Hall and online bill pay are available 24/7 for utility bills.

• February 1 — Public Health & Safety Advisory Board Meeting
• February 6 — Planning & Zoning Meeting
• February 13 — City Council Meeting & Budget Workshop
• February 19 — City Buildings Closed for Staff In-Service Day
• February 20 — Library Board Meeting
• February 21 — Tree Board Meeting
• February 27 — City Council Meeting
• February 28 — Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Meeting

*Meetings listed above are open to the public. Agendas and Zoom information 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.