State Auditor Rob Sand stopped in Storm Lake yesterday afternoon to deliver a pie to city staff—recognizing the community as one of Iowa’s top performers in the 2026 Public Innovations and Efficiencies program.
Storm Lake tied with Fort Madison for Best Performing City among communities over 10,000 residents.
The PIE program highlights practical steps local governments take to cut waste and save taxpayer dollars. Sand launched the initiative in 2019, and nearly 500 cities, counties, and school districts now participate each year.
Storm Lake’s award reflects a wide range of efforts.
The city has modernized lighting downtown and in municipal buildings, reduced paper use by moving to digital plans, and implemented energy‑saving shutdown procedures for equipment.
Staff have emphasized water‑smart practices, expanded recycling, and participated in utility rebate programs. The city was also recognized for tree‑planting initiatives, food‑rescue partnerships, and collaboration through 28E agreements to share services.
Transparency efforts were also cited, including posting agendas and elected‑official contact information online and offering digital tools for residents to report concerns.
The Auditor’s Office noted Storm Lake’s strengthened cybersecurity protocols and documentation of recovery fund dollars as additional examples of fiscal responsibility.
Sand’s visit yesterday continues his tradition of personally delivering pies to each award‑winning community.
