Tiffin Talk - Episode 02 (Guest: Grant Weber, Parks & Recreation Director)

Tiffin Talk: Around Town — Meet Ashley Platz, Assistant City Administrator | Episode 8 Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes at City Hall? 🏛️ Meet Ashley Platz, Assistant City Administrator for the City of Tiffin, as Mayor Tim Kasparek and Mayor Pro Tem Tim Orris welcome the person who usually works behind the microphone producing Tiffin Talk! In this special episode, Ashley shares her journey into local government, from her early days as Tiffin’s Deputy City Clerk to gaining experience in Iowa City and returning to help shape Tiffin’s future. Hear about the many roles that keep a growing city moving, including grant funding, City projects, community events, improving communication with residents, and the importance of building a strong, welcoming team at City Hall. Ashley also shares her vision for Tiffin over the next decade, what makes this community special, and what residents may not realize about the time and coordination behind the projects they see taking shape around town. Plus, the conversation includes plenty of laughs, some behind-the-scenes stories, and a few entertaining detours with the Tims! 🎙️ In this episode, we discuss: Ashley’s journey into municipal government and her return to Tiffin What an Assistant City Administrator does behind the scenes Grant funding and projects that benefit the community Creating a welcoming culture at City Hall How residents can report concerns and connect with City staff The importance of teamwork, community events, and resident engagement Ashley’s vision for Tiffin’s future over the next 10 years A fun round of rapid-fire questions with the Tims Thanks for tuning in to Tiffin Talk: Around Town — Projects, Progress & What’s Next, where we bring you the people, projects, and conversations shaping our community. 💬 Would you like to hear Ashley join the Tims on the podcast more often? Let us know! 🌐 Visit the City of Tiffin’s website for city services, project updates, community events, and more. Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome to Tiffin Talk & Meet Ashley Platz 02:25 – Ashley’s Journey into Local Government 04:54 – What Ashley Loves About Municipal Government 07:18 – A Day in the Life of an Assistant City Administrator 09:45 – Building a Welcoming, People-First City Hall 11:56 – Balancing Professional Recommendations & City Council Decisions 14:05 – What Makes Tiffin’s Community Special? 17:58 – What Residents Don’t See Behind the Scenes 19:00 – The Report a Concern Portal: Connecting Residents with City Hall 22:20 – Building Team Morale & a Strong City Staff 25:14 – Welcoming New Employees & Creating a Team Culture 27:40 – Ashley’s Vision for Tiffin 10 Years from Now 29:45 – Planning for Growth & Tiffin’s Future 33:48 – If You Could Complete One City Project Tomorrow… 35:30 – Ashley’s Favorite Thing About Tiffin 36:00 – One Word to Describe Tiffin 36:30 – Rapid-Fire Questions & Final Thoughts 37:00 – Should Ashley Join the Tims More Often? 38:00 – Closing Remarks

Tiffin Talk: Around Town — Projects, Progress & What’s Next What’s happening around Tiffin? Mayor Tim Kasparek and Mayor Pro Tem Tim Orris are back with a new format of Tiffin Talk designed to keep residents informed about the projects, infrastructure improvements, and community updates shaping our growing city. In this episode, the Tims discuss the latest on North Park Road construction, progress on Tiffin’s new reverse osmosis water treatment plant, preparations for the new Recreation Center, and the early planning stages of a future fire station. They also explain plans for the Highway 6 pedestrian tunnel and trail connections, upcoming Highway 6 improvements, and traffic signal projects designed to improve safety and traffic flow. Plus, get the details on upcoming community events, Recreation Center memberships, and ways to stay connected with the City of Tiffin. In this episode, we cover: North Park Road construction and project delays Reverse osmosis water treatment plant progress Recreation Center memberships, programming, and opening preparations Planning for a new fire station Highway 6 pedestrian tunnel and trail connections Highway 6 widening and traffic signal improvements Upcoming community events and ways to stay informed Our goal is simple: keep residents informed about what’s happening, why projects matter, and what comes next for Tiffin. Thanks for listening to Tiffin Talk: Around Town — Projects, Progress & What’s Next! Episode Chapters 00:00 — Welcome to Tiffin Talk: Around Town 02:20 — North Park Road: Construction Updates & Delays 06:40 — Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant 10:00 — Tiffin Recreation Center: Memberships & Opening Plans 14:40 — Planning for a New Fire Station 18:15 — Highway 6 Pedestrian Tunnel & Trail Connections 21:50 — Highway 6 Improvements & Traffic Signal Projects 28:00 — Upcoming Community Events 29:00 — Stay Connected with the City of Tiffin 30:30 — Closing Remarks

Tiffin Talk – Episode 7: Behind the Scenes of Tiffin’s Water & Wastewater Systems What really happens after you flush the toilet or turn on your faucet? 💧🚽 In this episode of Tiffin Talk, Mayor Tim Kasparek and Mayor Pro Tem Tim Orris sit down with Brett Mehmen, Tiffin’s Water & Wastewater Superintendent, who has spent more than 30 years helping keep Tiffin’s water and wastewater systems running. Brett takes us behind the scenes to talk about everything from Tiffin’s wells, water treatment and water quality to the surprisingly complex biological process that happens at the wastewater treatment plant. He also shares how Tiffin’s rapid growth has impacted the system, what challenges come with planning for the future, and what residents can expect from the City’s new water treatment facility. The conversation also covers the science behind water hardness, chlorides, nanofiltration, water softeners, the future expansion of the wastewater system, and why the new water treatment plant is such an important investment for Tiffin’s future. And, of course, there are plenty of lighter moments—including the strangest things Brett has found in the wastewater system, the infamous “flushable” wipes, unusual calls from residents, and a few stories that prove working in water and wastewater is never quite as boring as it sounds! Most importantly, Brett talks about what he finds most rewarding about his job: providing Tiffin residents with safe, clean drinking water and helping build a system that can serve the community for generations to come. Tune in for a fascinating look at the people, science, technology and infrastructure working behind the scenes to keep Tiffin flowing.

Hosts: Tim Kasparek, Mayor – ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ Tim Orris, Council Member & Mayor Pro Tem – ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠ ⁠⁠ Producer: Ashley Platz, Assistant City Administrator – ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠ Guest: Doug Boldt, Tiffin City Administrator Summary: In this episode, city administrator Doug Boldt shares insights into the role of city administration, ongoing projects in Tiffin, and how community growth is managed responsibly. Discover how leadership, infrastructure, and development shape the future of Tiffin. Keywords: City administration, Tiffin projects, community growth, infrastructure, leadership, urban development. Key Topics: Role of city administration in community growth Major projects in Tiffin: North Park Road, Rec Center, Water Treatment Facility Balancing growth with community character Leadership and decision-making in city governance Development incentives and attracting new businesses Inside Tiffin's Growth: An Interview with City Administrator Doug Boldt Managing Community Growth: Tiffin's Future Unveiled "It starts with leadership at the mayor and council level." "Growth is managed through organized, controlled processes." "Good leadership keeps the city moving forward." Titles Inside Tiffin's Growth: An Interview with City Administrator Doug Boldt Managing Community Growth: Tiffin's Future Unveiled Sound Bites "It starts with leadership at the mayor and council level." "Growth is managed through organized, controlled processes." "Good leadership keeps the city moving forward." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and overview of Tiffin's growth 01:52 Background of Doug Boldt and his career path 07:11 Understanding the role of city administration 20:00 Major current projects in Tiffin: North Park Road, Rec Center, Water Facility 40:02 Balancing growth with community character 45:14 The importance of leadership in city planning 47:04 Community involvement and how to stay informed 49:12 Closing remarks and future outlook

Episode 5: Meet the Party People! Hosts: Tim Kasparek, Mayor – ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠ Tim Orris, Council Member & Mayor Pro Tem – ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠ ⁠ Producer: Ashley Platz, Assistant City Administrator – ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠ Guests: Bri Wilkerson, Deputy City Clerk - [email protected] Ashley Platz, Asst. City Administrator This week on Tiffin Talk: The Official Podcast of the City of Tiffin, Iowa, Mayor Tim Kasparek and Mayor Pro Tem Tim Orris sit down with two of the City's biggest community champions—Deputy City Clerk Bri Wilkerson and Assistant City Administrator Ashley Platz, better known as members of Tiffin's unofficial event-planning crew, "The Party People." From the origins of RecFest to the launch of the new Tiffin Summer Socials: Parties in the Park series, Bri and Ashley share how the City is creating opportunities for neighbors to connect, families to make memories, and residents to experience the community spirit that makes Tiffin special. Learn about upcoming summer events, including live music, food trucks, ice cream socials, movie nights, bingo, and the expanded two-day RecFest celebration. You'll also hear why community events matter, how volunteers can get involved, and how the City is working to preserve Tiffin's small-town feel while continuing to grow. Whether you're a longtime resident or new to town, this episode is packed with exciting ways to get involved, meet your neighbors, and make the most of summer in Tiffin. Topics include: The story behind "The Party People"