Waukee council approves major construction contracts, sewer transfer, rezoning and appointments

The Waukee City Council approved a series of infrastructure contracts, property actions and administrative appointments at its meeting, including awards for the University Avenue Phase 1 and 2025 ADA sidewalk projects, a transfer of South Outfall sewer easements to the Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority (WRA), final passage of a rezoning ordinance, and authorization to proceed with property acquisition for the Alsace Road Improvements Phase 1A project.

The approvals move forward two of the city’s largest construction efforts. Staff recommended, and the council approved, awarding the University Avenue Area Improvements Phase 1 construction contract to Elder Corporation of Des Moines for $10,068,807. The project, described by staff as included in the city’s FY25 capital improvement program (CIP), was presented as involving extensive roadway, utility and grading work including roughly 11,900 square yards of PCC concrete, significant asphalt paving, utility relocations and two pedestrian underpasses with an interim completion date of Nov. 21, 2025 and final restoration by May 31, 2026. Council approved the plan specifications and the contract award in separate votes.

The council also approved the 2025 ADA Sidewalk Improvements project and awarded that contract to Skoll Trucking of Johnston, Iowa, the apparent low bidder at $129,662.77. The ADA project was described as an annual program to install approximately 565 square yards of concrete sidewalk and associated work; staff said the work is in the CIP and that the combined budget after a prior-cycle consolidation is $200,000 with an interim completion date in August 2025 and final completion in September 2025.

On utility matters, the council approved a resolution to dispose of the city’s interest in certain real estate interests tied to the South Outfall sewer and transfer them to the WRA, consistent with a 2016 20/80 agreement tied to the original project. Staff said the transfer covers about 37 permanent sanitary sewer easements and that city and WRA legal counsel reviewed the paperwork.

The council approved a fifth amendment to the private development and minimum assessment agreement with The Quarter at Waukee LLC. Staff described the amendment as adding roughly 5 acres to the development area and increasing the minimum improvement commitment from about $89,000,000 to about $116,000,000; staff said rebate percentages remain unchanged but total rebate payments will increase because of the higher assessed values and that grant schedules will be adjusted to align with the new investment.

On land use, the council approved the third and final reading of an ordinance rezoning approximately 150 acres (referred to in the meeting as Kidlestone/Kelson Lakes) to a retail/regional classification; staff said the city owns slightly more than 10 acres within the site and recommended final passage.

The council also authorized proceeding with property acquisition for the Alsace Road Improvements Phase 1A project, including the ability to pursue condemnation if negotiations do not produce timely agreements. Staff said the city is already negotiating with four west-side property owners and expects about seven owners on the east side; the council approved the resolution so the project can stay on an aggressive construction schedule, with bids anticipated in early February and a bid report planned for the Feb. 18 council meeting. Staff emphasized they do not anticipate needing to use eminent domain but sought the authority to preserve the schedule.

Smaller contract and project closeout items were approved: a change order reducing the Grimes Asphalt and Paving contract by $56,098.98 for the 2023 Ashworth Drive overlay, approval of final payment estimate to Grimes (amount cited in staff presentation as $4,711.10), and acceptance of public improvements for that project (total construction cost shown as $495,063.85 before a roughly $123,000 credit expected from McClure Engineering). Staff said the city will recover the McClure-related charge as billed.

No members of the public spoke during any of the public hearings presented on the agenda; staff recommended holding each hearing and the council voted to close them before taking the formal votes.

Appointments and administrative business proceeded: the council approved a slate of mayoral appointments and other board and intergovernmental representatives (for example, Ben Sinclair reappointed as the Waukee representative to the Iowa Confluence Water Trails Board and various appointments to the WRA policy and technical boards, Walnut Creek Watershed Authority and DMAMPO). A consent-agenda vote passed with one recorded abstention for a professional conflict.

Votes at a glance

- 2025 ADA Sidewalk Improvements (Resolution approving plans and awarding contract to Skoll Trucking): approved. Contract award shown as $129,662.77. (Plan/spec approval and contract award recorded in separate motions.) - University Avenue Area Improvements Phase 1 (Resolution approving plans and awarding contract to Elder Corporation): approved. Contract award: $10,068,807. (Plan/spec approval and contract award recorded in separate motions.) - Disposal/transfer of South Outfall sewer easements to Des Moines WRA (Resolution approving disposal of interest in real estate per Iowa Code §364.7): approved. - Fifth amendment to private development and minimum assessment agreement with The Quarter at Waukee LLC (Resolution authorizing execution): approved. Amendment adds ~5 acres and increases minimum improvements from about $89M to about $116M. - Rezoning ordinance (third and final reading) for Kidlestone/Kelson Lakes: approved (ordinance placed on final passage). - Alsace Road Improvements Phase 1A (Resolution authorizing acquisition of property and potential use of eminent domain under Iowa Code chapter 6B): approved. Staff noted active negotiations with property owners; condemnations not anticipated but authority granted to maintain schedule. - 2023 Asphalt Overlay Improvements (Ashworth Drive): change order #2 (–$56,098.98) approved; final payment estimate approved (amount cited $4,711.10); acceptance of public improvements approved (total construction cost $495,063.85; ~$123,000 credit expected from McClure Engineering to be recovered). - Appointments and intergovernmental representatives (multiple resolutions): approved. Consent agenda: approved with Council member Charlie Battenberg recorded as abstaining on one consent item due to a professional conflict.

What council said and next steps

Staff repeatedly recommended approval of plan specifications and contract awards and noted that many of the projects are in the adopted FY25 CIP. For the Alsace Road project staff asked for authority to use condemnation as a fallback to keep the project schedule; staff said they are pursuing good-faith negotiations and expect to avoid condemnation. Bids for Alsace Road were expected to be received in early February with a report back to council on Feb. 18. Several staff members noted prior experience with the recommended contractors; where reference checks were limited staff said they nonetheless recommended proceeding.

The council voted on each item in turn and closed each public hearing after staff presentations; no oral public comments were received at the hearings. Council members present voted in favor of the listed actions in the meeting record; one abstention was recorded on a consent-item vote for a disclosed professional conflict.

The meeting closed after reports and routine administrative items.