City of Ames’ Podcasts

Spending time outdoors can be great for your health and well-being, but when the temperatures rise and the sun is beating down, staying safe becomes just as important as staying active.

In this episode of Live Well. Be Well., host Kacie Schumann sits down with City of Ames Public Works Director Justin Clausen for part one of a two-part series focused on sun safety. Justin shares a perspective familiar to many Public Works employees whose jobs require them to spend long hours outdoors, even during the hottest days of an Iowa summer.

The conversation explores the challenges outdoor workers face, how employees prepare for hot weather, and the steps they can take to protect themselves from heat and sun exposure. Justin and Kacie also discuss recognizing the warning signs of heat-related illness, responding when someone begins experiencing symptoms, and practical precautions anyone can use when spending extended time outdoors.

Episode Highlights
Working in the Summer Heat
For many Public Works employees, staying inside when temperatures climb isn't an option. Justin discusses some of the unique challenges employees face while working outdoors.

Putting Safety First
How do you keep employees safe when the work still needs to get done? Justin talks about the practices used to help employees manage heat and sun exposure on the job.

Recognizing Heat Illness
Knowing the warning signs can make a difference. The conversation covers symptoms outdoor workers should watch for and how employees can respond when someone begins experiencing heat-related illness.

Preparing for Time in the Sun
Justin shares some of the ways employees protect themselves and discusses items and precautions that can also help anyone planning to spend an extended period outdoors.

Sun Safety Myths and Misconceptions
From sunscreen to hot weather, Kacie and Justin discuss some of the common misconceptions surrounding heat and sun safety.

Lessons for All of Us
You don't have to work outdoors for a living to benefit from the practices used by people who do. Whether you're working in the yard, exercising, attending an outdoor event, or simply enjoying a sunny day, planning ahead can help you stay safer in the heat.

This is part one of a two-part series on sun safety. Stay tuned for part two as Live Well. Be Well. continues the conversation about protecting yourself while enjoying the outdoors.

Have a question, topic idea, or someone you would like to hear on the podcast? Send suggestions to Kacie.Schumann@CityofAmes.org

Most of us don’t spend much time thinking about what happens after we turn on the faucet or flush the toilet. And really, that’s probably a good thing.

In this episode of Ames in Focus, Bill Gebhart is joined by Ames Municipal Engineer Mindy Bryngelson to explore two essential systems working beneath our feet every day: Ames’ water distribution system and sanitary sewer collection system.

Mindy breaks down how these underground networks deliver water to homes and businesses and carry wastewater away for treatment. But keeping those systems working reliably takes much more than pipes in the ground. Aging infrastructure, maintenance, replacement projects, funding, and a growing community all play a role in planning for the future.

The conversation also tackles an important distinction residents may not always realize: where the City’s responsibility ends and a property owner’s begins. Mindy explains service lines and sewer laterals, some of the common problems homeowners can encounter, and what residents should know about lead service lines.

In this episode:

How Ames’ water distribution system works

What happens after wastewater leaves your home

The challenges of maintaining aging underground infrastructure

How the City prioritizes maintenance and replacement projects

Where City responsibility ends and property owner responsibility begins

Common problems with private water and sewer service lines

What Ames residents should know about lead service lines

How water and sewer infrastructure improvements are funded

Planning for growth while maintaining the systems Ames relies on today

The “unsung heroes” of Ames’ underground infrastructure

The next time you turn on the tap or flush the toilet, remember there’s an entire network working behind the scenes to make something remarkably complicated feel incredibly simple.

Learn more about City services and infrastructure projects at CityofAmes.org.

In this episode of From Agenda to Action, host Bill Gebhart is joined by Assistant City Manager Pa Vang Goldbeck to preview key items scheduled for discussion at the upcoming Ames City Council meeting.

The meeting will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. in the Ames City Hall Council Chambers, located at 515 Clark Ave. Residents can attend in person or watch the meeting live on the City's YouTube and Facebook pages.

We start with the Consent Agenda, where several upcoming community events are represented. Bill and Pa highlight the Sip and Stroll District, Ames High School Homecoming, Iowa State University Homecoming, and the Ames Regional Economic Alliance Fall Classic before moving into some of the larger discussion items on the agenda.

This episode highlights several agenda items that may be of interest to residents and the community. While it does not cover every topic, it offers a closer look at a few of the discussions Council will be considering and what they could mean for Ames. Think of it as your meeting preview, without having to read through hundreds of pages of agenda materials.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Upcoming community events included in the Consent Agenda, including the Sip and Stroll District, Ames High School Homecoming, ISU Homecoming, and the Ames Regional Economic Alliance Fall Classic
• Proposed Urban Renewal Plan amendments and changes involving Tax Increment Financing (TIF) in response to Senate File 2472
• Ordinances related to the City's Building and Fire Codes
• An ordinance related to the Ames Human Relations Commission

From Agenda to Action is designed to give listeners a clearer understanding of what is on the agenda, what decisions Council will be asked to make, and how those decisions may impact daily life in Ames.

Regular Ames City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, and all meetings are open to the public.

Are there agenda items or City Council topics you would like us to discuss in a future episode? Send us an email at eric.gebhart@CityofAmes.org.

Watch City Council meetings live or on demand on the City's YouTube page.

View agendas and meeting materials at www.CityofAmes.org/CityCouncil.

City Council agendas may change up to 24 hours before the meeting time. This podcast reflects the agenda as it exists at the time of recording.

From Agenda to Action is part of the City of Ames Podcasts network, offering residents a clear and approachable way to stay informed about local government and community decisions.

Wellness is about more than exercise. It is about finding activities you enjoy, building healthy habits, connecting with others, and discovering what helps you feel your best.

In this episode of Live Well. Be Well., host Kacie Schumann sits down with Claire Eagan, the new Public Wellness Manager with Ames Parks and Recreation. Claire shares what brought her to the world of fitness and wellness, what interested her in joining the City of Ames, and what excites her about helping people throughout the community live healthier lives.

Claire also talks about stepping into a role previously held by longtime Public Wellness Manager Nancy Shaw, what she has learned during her first few months on the job, and the ideas and perspectives she hopes to bring to the position.

Episode Highlights
Meet Claire Eagan
Get to know Claire, her previous experiences, and what inspired her to pursue a career focused on fitness and wellness.

Finding Your Own Version of Wellness
Wellness looks different for everyone. Claire discusses the areas she is passionate about and how she incorporates wellness into her own everyday life.

Building a Healthier Ames
Claire shares what excites her about working with the Ames community and some of the qualities that make Ames a great place to pursue a healthy lifestyle.

More Than Exercise
Recreation programs can support physical health, mental well-being, social connections, and much more. The conversation explores the broader role recreation can play in our lives.

Taking the First Step
Want to improve your well-being but aren't sure where to begin? Claire offers advice for starting small and for anyone who might feel a little nervous about trying a new Parks and Recreation class or activity.

Stepping Into a New Role
Claire reflects on following longtime Public Wellness Manager Nancy Shaw, what she has learned during the transition, and what she hopes to bring to the role.

Looking to the Future of Wellness
What could community wellness look like in the years and decades ahead? Claire shares some of the changes she would like to see as the field continues to evolve.

Ready to find an activity that's right for you? Explore the full lineup of Ames Parks and Recreation classes, programs, and activities at AmesParkRec.org

Have a question, topic idea, or someone you would like to hear on the podcast? Send suggestions to Kacie.Schumann@CityofAmes.org

Summer may be winding down, but swimming in Ames certainly isn’t.

In this episode of Ames in Focus, Bill Gebhart sits down with Ames Parks and Recreation's Recreation Superintendent Courtney Kort to talk about the changing of the seasons for Ames aquatics. Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, marks the final day of the season at Furman Aquatic Center, followed immediately by the start of regular seasonal operations at the new Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Courtney takes us on a tour of the new facility and the many ways it was designed to serve swimmers of different ages, interests, and abilities. From the six-lane lap pool and wellness pool to the current channel, zero-depth entry splash pool, body slide, walking area, and community spaces, there’s much more to Fitch than just a place to swim.

They also discuss what residents should know about admission, passes, schedules and programming, along with the community support that helped make the approximately $28 million facility possible and plans to celebrate with an upcoming ribbon cutting and grand opening.

In this episode:

Getting to know Recreation Superintendent Courtney Kort

Wrapping up the 2026 season at Furman Aquatic Center

What changes when Fitch begins its regular indoor season Sept. 8

Exploring the pools, current channel, body slide and other amenities at Fitch

Opportunities for lap swimming, water walking, lessons and fitness

The free indoor walking area

Admission options and aquatics passes

How public and private support helped make Fitch possible

The upcoming ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration

What residents should know before their first visit

What Fitch makes possible for the future of aquatics in Ames

Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, is the final day of the season at Furman Aquatic Center. The regular indoor season at Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center, 115 N. Elm Ave., begins Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Find schedules, admission information, aquatics programs, and more at CityofAmes.org/Aquatics