City Services

City Government

The City of Colfax has a mayor-council with appointed city administrator form of local government, which is typical in Iowa. The mayor is elected every four years and the five city council members are elected to serve four year overlapping terms. The city council appoints the city administrator. The city council meets in regular session on the 2nd Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. The City employs 9 full-time employees.

City Administration Services

Central administration includes the offices of city administrator, city clerk, and the utility billing clerk. The city clerk handles the general ledger, liquor permits, accounts payable and receivable, investments, payroll, bond and interest payments, and monthly financial reporting.

Police Department

Code Enforcement

Fire Department

Colfax Public Library

 

Parks & Recreation Department

The City has six parks that provide a great variety of recreational opportunities for local residents. The various features include playground equipment, tennis courts, picnic shelters softball fields, baseball fields, a swimming pool, disc golf course, volleyball courts, shelters, stage, trails, fishing, archery, and more. There is a board that advises the city council on needed facilities and improvements. A general overview of the City’s parks is as follows:

Lewis Park is on the west side of town near the Colfax-Mingo Junior/High School. Lewis Park is 14 acres, making it the largest public park in town outside of the recently acquired Quarry Springs Park. Lewis Park offers a large variety of activities including an 9 hole disc golf course, tennis, volleyball, and horseshoe courts, a standard playground, as well as the Colfax public swimming pool.

Colfax Public Swimming Pool – The City’s swimming pool was constructed in 1978 and holds 250,000 gallons of water. The average daily attendance is about 50 swimmers per day. Swimming lessons and aerobic lessons are also provided at the swimming pool.

Colfax Women’s Club Park is located in the center of the town. The terrain of the park has large changes in elevation over its 1.47 acres. The Women’s Club Park contains a playground, shelter, and stage.

Kelly Fields are the town’s local baseball/softball fields on the west side of town. The 14.50 acre park includes four ball fields and four soccer fields.

Conway Park consists of 1.23 acres of a mostly open field in the middle of town. The park has playground equipment on the east side.

Mineral Springs Park & the Colfax Area Veterans Memorial share a lot located on North Walnut Street. The park has a total of 0.87 acres of mostly flat open ground save for a gazebo, Veterans Memorial, and a few picnic tables. The close proximity to the downtown makes this park very visible. There is a community welcome sign with changing messages on the east side of the park.

Quarry Springs Park is located next to I-80 and east of Iowa Highway 117. Quarry Springs currently has three primary lakes within its borders, each with a plan on serving different purposes. The Park is planned to be a mixed use development. Quarry Springs represents a huge area of park land, at nearly 480 acres, that the City has at its disposal.

There is great potential for both the short and long term development with unique attractions for the Park. The Park is currently used for several events such as the Rock the Quarry Music Festival, an annual fishing derby, indoor archery range and an annual 5K run that started in 2016.

In the fall of 2015, Confluence, a park consultant, was hired to analyze the site and design a master plan for the development of the park. Based on meetings with community stakeholders and the Colfax Parks and Recreation Auxiliary Board, the primary goals of economic development and recreation were identified as the focus of the project. The plan shows a desire for the project to be educational, self-sustaining, feasible, open and flexible to users, available year around, multi-use, and to have an entrance that connects it to the rest of the City, as well as tie into the character of Colfax. New bridges and access points will be established across the South Skunk River and the various lakes to better connect Quarry Springs to the rest of Colfax. The Quarry Springs Master Plan includes additional campgrounds, room for retail, and an array of recreational opportunities aimed at making the park a regional destination.

Future Trails – The 2016 Designing Livable Communities Survey conducted by Iowa State University, showed the desired walking trail routes from 66 survey respondents. Local Colfax citizens showed a desire for a trail system that would connect the City’s parks. Trails along the railroad tracks and along the South Skunk River were also referenced in the survey. Local residents expressed an interest in walking trails in Lewis Park.

Musical groups perform during the summer months at the Anspach Stage, which is an outdoor amphitheater built by the CCC.

Public Works – Street Department

The Public Works Department has four full time employees who operate and maintain approximately 28 miles of city streets, 4 miles of storm sewers, 20 miles of sanitary sewer lines, 20 miles of water mains. The Public Works Department services include street cleaning, snow removal, park maintenance, street signs, water system, and wastewater system.

The Public Works Department is responsible for the mowing, maintenance, and grave openings at the City cemetery, which covers almost 25 acres.

Public Works – Water Utility

The City’s water utility includes two water wells. Both wells are 66 feet deep and were drilled in 1966. The two wells produce about 105 million gallons of water per year. The City has one 250,000 gallon tower that was built in 1953. The City does not operate a water treatment plant, but does chlorination as the water is pumped. The City provides water to 920 customers in Colfax and a small area outside the City limits.

Public Works – Wastewater Treatment Facility

The City’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was constructed in 1998 with a 2012 addition. The WWTP consists of a trickling filter, digester, and disinfection. The average daily flow to the plant is 376,000 gallons and the plant has a maximum design capacity of 1,200,000 gallons per day.

The sanitary sewer collection system includes 20 miles of sewer lines and one lift station. The City has done some slip lining of sewer lines to reduce the rate of storm water infiltration in the system.

Private Utilities and Services

Natural gas and electrical power is provided by Mid-American Energy. Cable television and internet service is provided by Mediacom and Century Link. The City contracts with Ankeny Sanitation for residential refuse collection services.

Economic Development Programs

The City of Colfax has two organizations that promote growth and development in the community.

Colfax Main Street Program

The Colfax Main Street Program is part of the Main Street Iowa Program and is modeled after the Main Street America Program.  The Colfax Main Street Program was formed in 2009 when these four organizations joined together:

  • Colfax Economic Development Committee
  • Colfax Chamber of Commerce
  • Colfax Visioning Committee
  • Take Pride Where You Reside Committee Information about the program can be found at www.colfaxmainstreet.com.

Jasper County Economic Development Corporation

Colfax is part of the Jasper County Economic Development Corporation (JEDCO) which is based in Newton.

The JEDCO’s board and executive director are involved in numerous programs and activities, such as:

  • Business retention programs
  • Marketing programs through various media outlets
  • New business attraction efforts
  • Training and resources
  • Workforce development to showcase available jobs
  • Home Base Iowa Program promotion

Community Events and Celebrations

There are a number of events and celebrations held in Colfax each year. Since many of these events need volunteers, there are numerous opportunities to “get involved” and meet new people.

Mineral Springs Day

This event is held the last weekend in August. The events include a classic car show, street dance, demolition derby, various contests, and much more.

Memorial/Alumni Weekend

Memorial Day weekend is a special time in Colfax. Activities include the annual alumni banquet, memorial service, and community picnic.

Jasper County Fair

Colfax is pleased to host the annual Jasper County Fair that is held in July. The activities take place at the Fairgrounds, located just a block north of the downtown district, and include 4-H/FFA exhibits, a parade through the downtown, fireworks, horse show, and much more. For more information, visit www.jaspercountyfair.org.

Music in the Park

Musical groups perform during the summer months at the Anspach Stage, which is an outdoor amphitheater built by the CCC.

Colfax Outdoor Market

The Colfax Downtown Area is the site for an outdoor market that features local produce and crafts. The event is held each Tuesday from May to September.

Halloween Week

This event is held in late October. Children dress up in Halloween attire and “trick or treat” at the downtown businesses.

Country Christmas

The final event of the year is held in early December. The activities include carriage rides, caroling, a visit from Santa and downtown businesses hosting open houses.