In Ackley, Iowa, trust runs deep—and so does its partnership with PeopleService.
This close-knit community of 1,500 was the first city to team up with PeopleService, back in 1988. Nearly four decades later, that connection has only grown stronger, built on shared commitment, reliability and a whole lot of hometown pride.
“We were the first ones who signed, and we’ve never looked back,” said Mike Nuss, current mayor and longtime city administrator. “From the city standpoint—and my personal opinion—it’s just a great way to go. PeopleService handles the training, the continuing education, the OSHA regulations, the weekend coverage—everything. They’ve always done a great job.”
Ackley’s current PeopleService operator is Matt White, and he’s earned high praise for his dedication. White played a key role in coordinating the city’s recent wastewater treatment plant improvements—a major upgrade to the community’s infrastructure.
“Matt was a big part of that project,” said City Councilman Mike Abbas. “There’s always something happening underground, and he stays on top of it.”
That kind of commitment has become a hallmark of the PeopleService-Ackley relationship. It’s a partnership rooted not just in operations, but in community.
“When I was city administrator, our operator was Herb Krueger,” Nuss recalled. “We’d get 8-inch rains, 10-inch rains—he’d be right there beside me pumping water, checking basements, helping block off roads. That wasn’t even part of his job, but he did it. We’ve always had that kind of relationship with PeopleService. We work hand in hand. We still do.”
Over the decades, that steady presence has brought consistency and peace of mind, especially in a smaller town like Ackley, where resources can be stretched.
“For a community our size, it’s hard to find and retain someone in-house,” Abbas said. “PeopleService has been a great solution. They do a really good job for us.”
With roots that stretch back to the beginning of PeopleService’s history, Ackley remains a shining example of what true public-private partnership can achieve.
“We rely on PeopleService for our operations to run smoothly,” Nuss said. “And we hope to keep working with them for a long, long time.”