Millizer hired as housing and community development director

T-R FILE PHOTO
Marshalltown Central Business District Executive Director Deb Millizer speaks to a group of educators in front of the shared Chamber/MCBD on July 14.

The position of housing and community development director was vacant for more than a year, but has finally been filled.

The Marshalltown City Council voted unanimously to hire Deb Millizer as the new director. Council member Mike Ladehoff said the city had more than 15 candidates to choose from, and the reason it took so long to fill the job was they were looking for specific skill sets.

“I think Deb is terrific,” he said. “She will do a great job with it. This will help get stuff at City Hall up to the numbers we need, and will be a big relief to a lot of people. Some staff have done double duty, doing several different jobs. I think Deb will do a great job.”

Millizer will start the director duties after the first of the upcoming year. She has served as the executive director of the Marshalltown Central Business District (MCBD) since 2019, and is very excited for her new role.

When Michelle Spohnheimer was the director, Millizer admired what she was able to accomplish. Spohnheimer left the role after 22 years to take on a remote position with consulting firm Adaapta.

“I admired what she was able to do,” Millizer said. “I was in awe of her.”

According to Ladehoff, Spohnheimer grew into a “force” during her time with the city, and he is confident Millizer has the capability to do the same thing.

“She knows Marshalltown, knows its needs, understands housing and development,” he said. “I think she will be a good fit.”

New role

Within the first 90 days as the housing and community development director, Millizer has no firm plans on what she wants to accomplish other than getting to know members of the housing and community development team.

“I want to know the staff and see what their strengths and needs are,” she said. “Those people are the experts in Marshalltown. I want to spend time with and learn from them, and then move forward.”

Millizer knows affordable housing is an issue, as it is for numerous other towns across the state and country. According to the 2024 National Low Income Housing Coalition report, the fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Marshall County is $947. In order for households to afford the rent and other expenses, there needs to be an annual income of $37,880. The report states the area median income for 2024 was $91,000 and based on that, the affordable monthly rent – no more than 30 percent of a household’s income – should be $683.

She has also noticed a nuisance abatement push and a focus on sprucing up neighborhoods. Millizer plans to pick the brains of department employees and find possible solutions.

“There are problem properties in the community, which I would like to address,” she said. “There have been homes that had a fire, and they should go so the property can be redeveloped.”

Millizer said she would like to put more juice behind volunteer groups working on the nuisance properties, and work with property owners.

“If there is a home with an overgrown lawn, we should find the issue,” she said. “Is it no resources, no help? Let’s address it at its core. This is not one-size-fits-all. We need to go through the steps and help the people who need help.”

Meeting people where they are will help with the process, and Millizer’s eight years of social work experience as a child welfare supervisor for Lutheran Services will be a benefit.

“I have been in a lot of these homes,” she said. “I have worked with them and have an understanding of them, their wants and needs. I will be able to carry that forward.”

During her time with Lutheran Services, Millizer supervised 12 to 14 employees and placed focus on team building, recruiting and retaining and developing an understanding of the community.

“I am a good team builder, I love the community and I made good partnerships,” she said. “That is why I think I was a strong candidate for this position.”

Millizer also noted how the work done in the housing and community department used many of the same principles as social work and psychology.

“I thought I would like to do [housing and community development director] at some point,” she said.

MCBD

When the open director position was originally posted by the city in 2023, Millizer did not think she was quite ready for the transition. When it was posted again, she was encouraged by members of the community to submit an application. By that time, Millizer figured her leadership experience in the community would be a benefit. During her time with MCBD, Millizer implemented the Food Truck Pilot Program and the Clean Downtown, Bright Future Initiative and was a member of Main Street Reconstruction.

Grants play a big role in the MCBD and Millizer led the way in the Downtown Revitalization Grant and Facade Grants programs. Two Main Street Iowa Challenge Grants which she helped secure included $100,000 for the Hopkins building and $75,000 for Zamora Fresh Market. Millizer recalled Spohnheimer worked on a lot of grant writing.

“I am not sure about the city’s expectations moving forward, but I do have some grant writing experience,” she said. “I am excited to be able to use these gifts to benefit the community.”

Millizer sees additional similarities between her position with MCBD and upcoming with the city. She said both roles involve community interaction, forming partnerships with investors, businesses and organizations and placing a focus on the quality of life. During her downtown work, she focused on Main Street revitalization through bringing in businesses and housing, which positively impacts the quality of Marshalltown.

“All of my knowledge from MCBD will transfer to the housing and community development position,” Millizer said.

So far, she is not sure who will take over the MCBD duties, but hopes it is someone wonderful with a lot of energy. Millizer is confident the board will find a strong candidate.

“They need strong communication skills, be a team player and able to advocate and move the downtown forward,” she said. “This is an opportunity for someone to move in and take over the role. I can’t wait to see what the next person will do in this position.”

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Contact Lana Bradstream

at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or l

bradstream@timesrepublican.com.