Aldi Project Moving Forward
Progress continues on construction of a new Aldi Grocery Store along University Avenue in Windsor Heights. Demolition work has been ongoing for the past three weeks to clear the site at 7100 University Avenue (Apple Valley I) making way for the new Aldi store. When site prep is complete, construction will begin with the goal of having the new store complete and open by Thanksgiving.

Council Creating a Vision for the Windsor Heights Community
Mayor Jones and the City Council will begin the public process of developing a long-term vision for the Windsor Heights community that will guide future planning for the community. The process is expected to offer opportunities for citizen input and will continue through the summer and fall. Having a strategic vision is an important foundation for communities as it provides a roadmap for municipal services from budget planning, staffing, capital investment, park infrastructure to basic service delivery.

2022 ICE CREAM SOCIAL

The Windsor Heights Foundation is once again sponsoring the Windsor Heights Neighborhood
Ice Cream Social.
 
This year’s event will be held the evening of Sunday, June 26, 2022. We are inviting families to be Hosts in their neighborhoods or volunteer to help with the City-wide gathering down in Colby Park that same evening. All Ice Cream products and serving items are provide to the Host families. If you would like to learn of more information, you can contact Mark Arends with the Windsor Heights Foundation, by email at [email protected]. This is a great way to meet your neighbors and have a fun time catching up, before the summer really kicks off.
 
The first Nights in the Heights concert will be on Tuesday, June 28th. We hope to see you at both events. 
Park Project Ad Hoc Committee Formed
Mayor Jones has appointed an ad-hoc committee to work on plans for a number of park infrastructure projects approved by the City Council for inclusion in the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Projects included in the CIP for FY23 (beginning July 1) are:
 
·        Tennis Court Improvements
·        Splash Pad
·        Fitness Circuit
·        Playground Equipment Replacement
·        Dog Park Equipment Update
 
New Garbage and Recycling Rates Effective July 1
Metro Waste Authority will be updating rates for garbage and recycling services beginning July 1, 2022. The changes will result in a slight decrease from $10.92 for a 96-gallon can to $10.73. Recycling service will increase from $3.27 to $4.32.
Garbage Pickup Day Changing
Metro Waste Authority will be changing the trash pickup day for Windsor Heights residents from Friday (current pickup day) to Monday starting June 27. This means the last Friday pickup will occur on June 24 and again on Monday, June 27. Pickups will be on Monday from that point forward (except for holidays). For additional information, visit www.mwatoday.com.
Mayor Mike Jones Issues Proclamation Recognizing June 19 as Juneteenth National Freedom Day
At the regular City Council meeting of May 16, 2022, Mayor Mike Jones and City Council recognized June 19 as Juneteenth National Freedom Day. Juneteenth is one of the oldest known public celebrations of the end of slavery in the United States. The holiday is a celebration of the strength and resolve of Black Americans, an occasion to honor the history, art, culture and achievement of Black Americans. A schedule of Juneteenth events can be found at https://www.iowajuneteenth.org/events.html.
The City of West Des Moines invites everyone to join the first Juneteenth Jubilee on Saturday, June 11, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Jamie Hurd Amphitheater by the City Hall pond, 4100 Mills Civic Parkway. The event is being held on June 11 so that it does not conflict with other Juneteenth events in the metro.
The Jubilee will feature performances by Billy Weathers & Hip-Hope Inc., prizes, free face painting, and food truck vendors. A panel discussion about the “State of Black Affairs – 157 Years Later” also will be held at 5:45 p.m.
Spring Spruce-Up
With the improving weather, City staff is hard at work taking up maintenance projects including roadway patching, landscaping and flower planting and various outdoor painting projects. [photo with caption City staff works on spring maintenance projects around the Windsor Heights Community Center]
 
DISCHARGE OF FIREWORKS PROHIBITED IN WINDSOR HEIGHTS
Our Public Safety Team would like to remind residents of Windsor Heights the discharge of fireworks is prohibited in the City. We understand this can put a damper on some celebrations, however City Code 40.02.12 states, "It is unlawful for any person to use or explode consumer Fireworks within the City limits. Any person who violates this provision shall be guilty of a simple misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of six hundred twenty-five dollars ($625.00)."

We frequently are asked why vendors can sell fireworks in the City when Code makes it illegal to discharge them. An Iowa law passed in 2017, at the State level, forces the City to allow sales of fireworks and restricts our abilty to control the location of sales. For more information, you can read an article on the topic at https://www.courthousenews.com/local-restrictions-fireworks-sales-iowa-struck/?fbclid=IwAR0rcmP-5Gl0A5X1BT3pD4Z3Rs31ROoOZRLoJy8ZCXpUMwthIWQcHiJejEM.
UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS
June 3 – Movies in the Park (The Lorax)
June 6 – City Council Regular Meeting (Council Chambers 6 p.m.)
June 10 – Family Storytime in the Park (Colby Park 10:15 a.m.)
June 20 – City Council Regular Meeting (Council Chambers 6 p.m.)
June 26 – Windsor Heights Foundation Ice Cream Social (Colby Park)
June 28 – Nights in the Heights (Colby Park)
Phone Numbers

City Hall 515-279-3662
Police Department 515-222-3321
Police Admin/Records 515-277-4453
Building Inspections 515-333-4161 (Safe Building Iowa)
Fire Department 515-279-9450
Public Works Department 515-645-6825
Community Events Center 515-645-6819