As the city’s public works superintendent, Dave Richards oversees essential departments, plows snow in winter storms, and responds to emergencies whenever facilities, utilities, or weather causes issues. Despite his important job, his role in the Solon community stretches far beyond just city operations.

“I run the water and the wastewater departments here for the city,” Richards said. “We also plow snow. Any kind of emergency response to weather or anything like that, I’m highly involved in.”

His practical, behind-the-scenes work is easily matched by his deep commitment to community service by his volunteer work with the Solon Community Food Pantry. The pantry is open to clients on Mondays from 2-6pm.

Richards is also passionate about his service with Solon’s United Methodist Church, where Richards helps prepare and serve weekly Wednesday night meals for the community, which are free of charge and open to everyone in the community and beyond.

“We have seniors come in and we have youth come in. We have people throughout the community,” Richards said. “People coming together, enjoying a good meal and finding things in common. We’re just trying to get people back together.”

For Richards, the motivation behind his job and dedicated volunteer work comes down to seeing the true impact it has in his neighborhood and his faith-centered lifestyle.

“Knowing that I’m serving a good community, and I can see things that I do make a difference in people’s lives,” he said of his commitment to service.

One moment that still stands out happened during a special Christmas meal a few years ago. A young woman battling terminal cancer attended and told volunteers it was one of the best times she had ever had.

“That kind of meant a lot to all of us volunteers,” Richards said.

Richards and his family moved to Solon over a decade ago and quickly found their place in the local community. Richards said his involvement with the Solon Methodist Church began simply because it was close to home, but that it grew into something much more meaningful.

“You just want to get involved and do things for the community,” he said. “And the church is a good spot.”

When asked what guides the way he approaches both his community work and service, Richards said pride, reliability, and a willingness to step up when others need help.

“I take a lot of pride in what I do,” he said. “I enjoy the service to the community. I’d gladly get up in the middle of the night and make sure people’s water works so they can just sleep in and live a normal life.”

Richards added that balancing long work hours, volunteer shifts, and family life with his wife and five daughters comes naturally to him. When he’s not working or helping out around town, Richards enjoys being outdoors, whether it be camping, kayaking, or traveling.

Despite his profound role in keeping the Solon community running smoothly, Richards is quick to direct attention and praise away from himself.

“I don’t really think it matters about me personally,” he said. “I want people to come to Solon and see a great place, and maybe a place they’d like to live. I wouldn’t take any credit for that.

It’s just the way this place is.”

That sense of pride in Solon’s residents and community runs deep. Richards described residents as grounded, generous and rooted in strong values, including families who have lived in the area for many generations.

“Great people,” he said. “With good moral backgrounds.”

Overall, if he had to sum up what makes Solon special for someone new to town, Richards believes it’s the perfect balance of small-town charm and big-city connectivity.

“It’s a beautiful place to live,” he said. “In five minutes, you can be in Iowa City. In 10 or 15, you’re in Cedar Rapids. It’s a small-town feel, but we’re really close to pretty much anything you want.”

Even after more than a decade of service, Richards seemed genuinely surprised that there would be an article written about him.

“I don’t know why I got picked to have an article written about me,” he said with a laugh.

But for those who see him clearing streets in winter, fixing water lines at all hours or serving meals at church, the answer is simple: Dave Richards shows up, and he makes Solon all the better for it.