PEOSTA, Iowa -- Just beyond the railroad tracks sits a one-story ranch home on the east side of Peosta Street.
Living in a central location in the rapidly growing community along U.S. 20 was appropriate for Peosta Mayor Jim Weydert. For 30 years, Weydert was in the middle of everything in Peosta.
Weydert's mayoral run ended on Nov. 3, when he lost his seat to city councilman Dick Avenarius by 17 votes.
When Avenarius takes office in January, it will mark the first time since the late 1960s that Weydert won't be involved with Peosta city government.
Weydert was elected to the Peosta City Council in 1968. He was elected mayor in 1979.
"I had a lot of years, so naturally you think about (losing)," Weydert said. "Life moves on. I'm doing OK.
"I hope this mayor continues going forward, because I believe I set the bar high enough where he can keep it going."
Avenarius, a resident of Peosta for 13 years and councilman for eight, believes he will have Weydert's best wishes when he takes office.
"He
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Weydert plans to be a bystander, adding he will let "(Avenarius) do his job."
"(Avenarius) said we needed change, and I'm going to stay out of it," Weydert said. "I will not interfere."
Weydert's lengthy term saw explosive population growth -- the fastest in the state of Iowa -- and an expansion of the city's industrial center.
The city's population rose from 120 people in 1990 to 1,187 by 2008, a sea change that led Weydert to label Peosta "a community" and not a small town.
Also playing a big role was a 1984 loan agreement for $250,000 between the city and developer A.J. Spiegel. The deal laid the groundwork for the Peosta Industrial Park, which has expanded from 40,000 square feet to nearly 3 million square feet in 25 years.
Spiegel later donated 23 acres for three baseball diamonds and 10 acres for the construction of Peosta Elementary School, among many other business ventures for the city.
Weydert believes the community hasn't been the same since the agreement.
"(1984) was the turning, when Peosta really took off," Weydert said. "A.J. went beyond the call of duty for this city."
Spiegel praised Weydert's work ethic, saying his legacy will live on in Peosta.
"We accomplished a lot in the little town," Spiegel said. "We worked well together, and we didn't waste a long time with issues.
"Jim works hard and has a good attitude. I'm sorry to see him go."
Retired from John Deere Dubuque Works since 1996, Weydert now will devote himself to golf and bowling.
Even though he is largely credited with the town's surge, Weydert wants to remember his tenure as a collective effort with other community members.
"I just love this city," Weydert said. "Some people think, 'Well, it's my town.' It isn't. It's everybody's town. I worked with some great people to get this stuff done."
