Clinton mayor: City has big plans, ‘bright future’

CLINTON, Iowa – More businesses. More jobs. More commercial buildings. More improvements. Big, bright future. Those were the key themes delivered by Clinton Mayor Scott Maddasion during the annual Clinton State of the City address presented Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the Eagle Point Park Lodge here. The lunch meeting drew about 150 residents and business […]

CLINTON, Iowa – More businesses. More jobs. More commercial buildings. More improvements. Big, bright future. Those were the key themes delivered by Clinton Mayor Scott Maddasion during the annual Clinton State of the City address presented Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the Eagle Point Park Lodge here. The lunch meeting drew about 150 residents and business and community leaders.

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“We’re pushing the envelope to move forward. We’re trying new things to grow,” Mr. Maddasion told the QCBJ just before his Wednesday’s speech. During the annual address, he told the crowd that Clinton is “on the path to a bright future” by attracting more businesses and development in the community. Much of the presentation centered on outlining success stories from the past year in economic development, city government, street projects, police and fire updates, and even celebrations. One of the top celebrations from the past year was the 2024 Tailgate N’ Tallboys country music festival, which was held June 6-8 on the Clinton riverfront. That festival was a great success that attracted about 35,000 to the riverfront over the three-day celebration. Music fans attending the event came from 42 states and two foreign countries – Canada and France, the mayor said. The music festival has had a $6.1 million impact each year to the local economy, according to local economic development officials. However, the festival has finished its first two years in Clinton in the financial red. In 2023, the first year of the Clinton fest, the event lost about $400,000. This summer’s Tailgate N’ Tallboys country music event showed big improvements, but still lost about $150,000, Mr. Maddasion told the QCBJ. Next year’s Tailgate N’ Tallboys is set for June 5-7. The country music acts for that event have yet to be announced. The mayor told the crowd those acts will likely be announced in December. In addition to the music festival, the mayor spent much of his address outlining new businesses and store expansions that continue to bring new life to the local business district. For instance, Marshalls department store opened Thursday, Oct. 24, at 1815 Lincoln Way. The store has about 60 employees. Other stores have recently opened in the downtown area. The new stores – with new customers – have started to create a problem the downtown area has not faced in several years: the lack of parking because the area is crowded with people. “People tell me it’s like the old days – you have to drive around to find parking,” the mayor said. Several members of the crowd said they liked what they heard Wednesday. “I loved it. … I think Clinton’s headed in the right direction,” said Andy Sokolovich, president and CEO of Grow Clinton. Here are some of the other topics the mayor discussed in his State of the City address:

• Economic development: In the past five years, there has been more than $1 billion in capital improvements either ongoing or planned for commercial, manufacturing and industrial in Clinton. Also, there have been $87.5 million in housing projects, both single- family and apartments. Some of the major projects in the works include the construction of a $224 million Atlas Roofing Corp. plant on the south side of Highway 30, next to O.T. R. Tire Sales & Repair, and directly across the highway from the Clinton Municipal Airport. Atlas could open next year and hire about 200 employees. Also, work has begun on building a new $5 million Adcraft building at 1300 19th Ave. NW in the Lyons Business & Technology Park. That project is scheduled for completion in May or June.
• Permits: There have been 1,585 city permits issued this year for almost $118 million in projects. They include more than $80 million for new commercial buildings; $7 million for new roofs; nearly $5 million for new home additions; $4.3 million for new homes; $3.8 million for renovations; $3.2 million for interior remodeling; and $1.4 million for new siding.
• Police: Crime in Clinton is down 12.2% from a year ago. Arrests are up almost 13% and incident reports are down 6%.
• Fire department: The Clinton Fire Department has 4,003 calls for the year, as of Tuesday, Oct. 15. The department is on a record pace to get 5,100 calls for the year.
• Road projects: Two major projects in the works are: Manufacturing Drive, where work is set to start in the spring and be complete in the fall of 2026; and Bluff Boulevard, which will last from spring 2026 to the fall of 2027.
• Clinton Public Library: There have been 40,681 visits this fiscal year.
• Art: The city is taking part in the Public Sculpture Program through Quad City Arts with six sculptures placed around the community. Those sculptures, with names such as “Opportunity Knocks,” "Full Sail II” and “Enchantment of Reading,” are outside the Clinton Public Library and city hall, along the riverfront, and near the Sawmill Museum. “This puts Clinton on the map, culturally,”  said Mr. Maddasion.

“Together, we are making Clinton a great place to live and raise a family,” the mayor said.