A Shining Example for the Community: Mayor Jon Popp

Even as a town with approximately 1,300 residents, Gilbert is more than what meets the eye. With a large school district, active community, and small businesses, the community is a close knit group that supports one another. However, even as a harmonious community, Gilbert still needs help reaching its full potential. For around 20 years, Jon Popp has been the mayor of Gilbert, fulfilling innovative infrastructure projects, being an active member of the community and school districts, allowing the town to thrive. 

Growing up on a farm, Popp was always surrounded by family values, responsibility, and hard work. After obtaining his engineering degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Popp moved to Gilbert in 1982 for a job. Throughout his kids’ lives, Popp was an active member in the community: contributing to the soccer program at the Gilbert school district and local church. Naturally, Popp became more involved in the community, eventually being asked to finish a leaving council woman’s term as part of the town council.

“You’re part of the community in a lot of ways, between coaching kids and their friends, refereeing as part of the soccer program, and church activities. You get involved in the community, and the more you become involved, the more the service aspect becomes a way you can contribute,” Jon Popp says. 

Throughout Popp’s mayoral terms, he not only devoted his time and energy to the community but also led some of its most innovative projects. One of the most debated initiatives involved the intersection connecting several routes to the school district. The original proposal called for a four-way stop with eight total lanes, including four left-hand turn lanes. After listening to the original architects’ recommendations, Popp realized the design would present significant drawbacks. Despite considerable pushback, he chose to replace the plan with a roundabout. Reflecting on the decision, Popp later remarked, “The only question was whether it was going to be my grave or my statue.”

Two of the most vocal groups against the roundabout had been semitruck drivers and school bus drivers. However, after the creation of the roundabout during the summer, both parties tested it first hand, eventually becoming some of the roundabout’s biggest supporters. Now to this day, the idea of the “round-a-bout” has expanded beyond just the Gilbert community into all of Story County.

In reflecting across years of leadership, Mayor Jon Popp leaves a clear message: stay involved, connected, and well-informed. His advice to the community is simple but strong: to participate in local opportunities, especially by voting, and striving to understand the whole story before jumping to conclusions. These habits, he believes, will contribute to the positive well-being of not only the individual, but the whole community. 

Ultimately, Popp’s greatest takeaway from his time as mayor is the reminder that “it is a community. The church is part of the community, the school is part of the community, and all those things interact.” Gilbert thrives when its people show up and work together, and Popp’s leadership will help solidify this foundation for years to come. 

“Staff Directory • Jon Popp.” Cityofgilbertiowa.org, 2024, cityofgilbertiowa.org/Directory.aspx?EID=5. Accessed 21 Nov. 2025.