City of Norwalk, Iowa

What City of Norwalk, Iowa does

The City of Norwalk, Iowa is a municipal government entity serving as the southernmost suburb of the Greater Des Moines Metropolitan Area, located in Warren County. Originally settled in 1852 and incorporated in 1900, Norwalk was chartered as a City in August 1973 and today delivers a full platform of municipal services to residents and businesses within its corporate limits. Core service lines include water distribution and sewer collection operated by the Public Works Department, 24-hour law enforcement provided by a 20-officer Police Department currently pursuing CALEA national accreditation, and management of 279 acres of parkland encompassing the McAninch Sports Complex, Aquatic Center, City State Bank Norwalk Fieldhouse, and Outdoor Ice Rink.

The underlying technology is conventional municipal infrastructure: a water distribution network currently being upgraded from 4-inch to 8-inch mains, sanitary sewer collection systems, stormwater management, a utility billing platform (with secondary irrigation meters as an add-on), and digital channels including a Revize CMS website, GovDelivery alerts, online bill pay via OurCommunityConnect, and a 'Know your city' podcast. Compliance infrastructure includes a published Lead Service Line Inventory (EPA Lead-Copper Rule, 2024) and a contracted backflow prevention tracking program with BSI Online. Partners include Metro Waste Authority (trash/recycling/composting), Impact Community Action Partnership (utility assistance via the Norwalk NICE program), Iowa One Call (utility locating), and the Central Iowa Regional Drinking Water Commission (a 28-member regional water consortium).

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: (1) usage-based and availability-rate utility charges — water at $9.42 per 1,000 gallons, sewer at $11.63 per 1,000 gallons, meter-size-based availability fees of $7.50–$112.50/month, residential stormwater at $8.50/ESU, and trash/recycling at $17.75/month; (2) recurring property tax revenue funding general operations, public safety, parks, and infrastructure; and (3) one-time licensing and permit fees including peddlers permits ($10–$100), right-of-way permits ($75), and excavation permits ($25). The city is governed by a Mayor, City Council, and City Manager (Luke Nelson), with the Public Works Department led by Director Wayne Schwartz and the Police Department led by Chief Gregory Staples.

Name

City of Norwalk, Iowa

Legal name

City of Norwalk, Iowa

Website

https://norwalk.iowa.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The City of Norwalk, Iowa is a municipal government serving as the southernmost suburb of Greater Des Moines, providing water, sewer, police, public works, parks, and utility billing services to residents and businesses within its corporate limits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF), Planning, Zoning, Permitting & Code Enforcement (BPAIACAE), Damage Prevention & One-Call/811 Programs (Third-Party Excavation Risk) (EUAJADAH)

Keywords

• Municipal utility services
• Public safety policing
• Water and sewer services
• Parks and recreation
• Community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Norwalk, Iowa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Utility Billing Revenue: The city generates revenue through water, sewer, storm water, and trash/recycling service charges. Water usage charges are $9.42 per 1,000 gallons, sewer charges are $11.63 per 1,000 gallons, with additional availability fees based on meter size.
2. Property Tax Revenue: The city receives property tax revenue to fund general municipal operations, public safety, parks and recreation, and infrastructure maintenance.
3. Licensing and Permit Fees: Revenue from peddlers permits (ranging from $10 for 7 days to $100 for 180 days plus $25 application fee and $200 refundable bond), right of way permits ($75 fee), excavation permits ($25 fee), and various building and business permits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The City of Norwalk, Iowa is a municipal government that provides essential public services to residents and businesses within its jurisdiction. Core offerings include water and sewer utility services, 24-hour police protection, public works infrastructure maintenance, parks and recreation programs covering 279 acres of parkland, and community development services including planning, zoning, and permitting. The city also administers utility billing, licensing, and various municipal programs through its departments operating from City Hall and satellite offices.

Product overview

City of Norwalk, Iowa is a municipal government providing comprehensive public services to residents. The city's offerings are organized as a platform of core utility and safety services (water/sewer, police, public works, parks & recreation) augmented by permit and billing modules. The core services form the foundational infrastructure while the add-on modules provide specialized functions like irrigation metering, utility assistance (Norwalk NICE), animal control, and various permit applications. The city's utility department manages water distribution, sewer collection, trash/recycling through Metro Waste Authority partnership, and utility billing with tiered rate structures. The police department provides 24-hour law enforcement with CALEA accreditation in progress. Public works maintains streets, handles snow removal, and manages the city's parks system of 279 acres. All departments coordinate through the city hall at 705 North Avenue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Services Municipal water supply and distribution for residential and commercial customers within Norwalk city limits. Includes water main installation, maintenance, water quality management, water main replacement projects, and lead service line inventory.
• Sewer Services Sanitary sewer collection and treatment services for residential and commercial customers. Includes sewer lining projects to prevent root intrusion and improve flow, reducing sewer backups.
• Utility Billing Billing services for water, sewer, trash, recycling, and storm water. Includes utility rates management, Norwalk NICE assistance program, irrigation meters, and extended absence policies. Available through online portals and in-person at City Hall.
• Police Services Full-service law enforcement providing 24-hour public safety for Norwalk residents and businesses. Includes patrol, investigations, school resource officers, community outreach, juvenile programs (DARE, LYFE, Jr. Police Academy), and off-duty officer work requests. Pursuing CALEA accreditation.
• Public Works Infrastructure maintenance including street repairs, snow plowing, mowing, right-of-way management, and Adopt A Street program. Manages 279 acres of parkland and various municipal facilities. Headed by Public Works Director Wayne Schwartz.
• Parks and Recreation Manages 279 acres of parkland with facilities including McAninch Sports Complex, Norwalk Aquatic Center, City State Bank Norwalk Fieldhouse, Outdoor Ice Rink, and community gardens. Offers recreational programs for all ages including OPALS senior programming.
• Peddlers Permits Licensing for vendors and transient merchants operating within Norwalk city limits. Application fee $25, refundable bond $200. License duration fees range from $10 for 7 days to $100 for 180 days.
• Permits and Applications Various permits including building permits, right-of-way/excavation permits, chicken applications, dog park passes, mobile food unit permits, massage therapy business permits, rental inspections, and special event applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Water main capacity doubled from 4-inch to 8-inch in Founder's District

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, standard and minor.

• Impact Community Action Partnership (IMPACT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Norwalk NICE utility assistance program established by the City of Norwalk in 2020. IMPACT serves as the distribution partner, ensuring residents seeking assistance qualify under program guidelines. The program provides up to $100 per request with a limit of two uses per year for water, sewer, trash and recycling bill assistance.
• Metro Waste AuthoritycoreOthersMetro Waste Authority provides trash collection, recycling, and composting services for Norwalk residents. They offer the Compost It! program for yard waste collection and houseside household hazardous waste collection services.
• BSI Online (Backflow Solutions, Inc.)standardTechnology or IntegrationContracted by the City of Norwalk to assist with State-required cross-connection/backflow tracking regulations. BSI Online serves as the primary point of contact for the backflow prevention program, sending notifications and managing required data on behalf of the city.
• Iowa One CallstandardTechnology or IntegrationIowa One Call is a free service (1-800-292-8989) that marks underground utilities before digging projects. Required by Iowa law before any excavation to prevent service disruption and reduce risk of injury.
• Norwalk Area Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe city maintains a partnership with the Norwalk Area Chamber of Commerce for business development and community promotion.
• Norwalk CentralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwalk Central is a community organization that the city partners with for development and community initiatives. Referenced multiple times as a key community partner in economic development and community programming.
• Central Iowa Regional Drinking Water Commission (CIRDWC)standardStrategic or Co-development PartnerA group of 28 public water suppliers throughout Central Iowa formed by 28E Agreement to improve Central Iowa through coordinated planning and cooperation to promote wise use of resources and provide efficient, effective infrastructure for drinking water.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• City of Ankeny, Iowa: Larger Des Moines suburb with full municipal utility, public safety, parks, and community development operations; offers a benchmark for scale, organizational structure, and capital programming at the next tier up.
• City of Urbandale, Iowa: Established Des Moines suburb operating municipal water, sewer, police, and parks at a larger scale, providing a comparable benchmark for operational scope and service delivery model.
• City of Clive, Iowa: Des Moines suburb with comparable municipal services including water, public works, and parks; serves as a useful benchmark for utility rate structures and parks service levels.

Direct peers

• City of Waukee, Iowa: Fast-growing Des Moines suburb offering the same core municipal services (water, sewer, police, parks) and competing for the same residential spillover population as Norwalk.
• City of Indianola, Iowa: Warren County seat and peer municipality in the same county as Norwalk, with similar municipal utility and public safety scope and overlapping labor/contractor market.
• City of Pleasant Hill, Iowa: Eastern Des Moines suburb providing the same municipal service stack to a comparable residential base; a direct operational peer in scale and service scope.
• City of Altoona, Iowa: Eastern Des Moines suburb with comparable scale, utility billing model, police department, and parks system serving a similar suburban population.
• City of Johnston, Iowa: Suburb of Greater Des Moines providing water, sewer, police, public works, and parks to a comparable resident base; same regulatory and labor market context as Norwalk.
• City of Grimes, Iowa: Adjacent Des Moines suburb with similar municipal utility, public safety, and recreation service portfolio and overlapping CIRDWC regional water participation.
• City of Bondurant, Iowa: Growing Des Moines suburb delivering comparable utility, public safety, public works, and parks services to a similar suburban population profile.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NorwalkCH
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cityofnorwalkiowa6997
• Facebookfacebook.com/norwalkiowa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-of-norwalk-iowa
• Instagraminstagram.com/norwalkicityhall

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of Norwalk, Iowa