Waverly council approves alley reconstruction contract, accepts sludge‑tank payment and OKs design study for riverfront building

The City of Waverly City Council on July 21 unanimously approved awarding the Alley Reconstruction 2025 contract to Baker Enterprises Inc. of Waverly and completed a slate of routine municipal actions, including acceptance of final payment for a wastewater sludge storage tank repair and an amendment to design services for work at the city‑owned building at 117 First Street Northeast.

The council opened a public hearing on the Alley Reconstruction 2025 project, received no public comments, closed the hearing and approved Resolution No. 25‑97 (plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost), Resolution No. 25‑98 (award to Baker Enterprises Inc. for $57,466) and Resolution No. 25‑99 (approval of the contract, bond and certificate of insurance and authorization for the mayor to sign). All three votes were unanimous.

Why it matters: the alley project is now authorized to proceed toward contract execution and construction, and the council advanced multiple items that affect capital projects, property development and the city budget.

Council actions and context The council took a number of routine but budget‑relevant votes in a single session. Highlights include: - Alley Reconstruction 2025: public hearing held, then council approved the project documents (Res. 25‑97) and awarded the work to Baker Enterprises Inc. of Waverly for $57,466 (Res. 25‑98). The council then approved the contract and related bond and insurance and authorized the mayor to sign (Res. 25‑99). No residents spoke during the hearing.

- Water Pollution Control sludge storage tank: Council accepted the project as complete and approved final payment to Great Plains Structures LLC (Van… Heights, Minnesota) for $118,771 plus a 10% down payment listed in the resolution as $11,877.10 (Res. 25‑102). The council member asking about project performance was told the work was “much needed” and that it went smoothly.

- Design services amendment for riverfront building at 117 First St. NE: The council approved Resolution No. 25‑61 to amend the design‑services contract with Bolton & Menk (listed in staff materials as Bolton Mink/Bolton and Bank Engineers in the transcript) to provide additional investigation upstream and downstream of the hydroelectric portion of the building and to evaluate possible riverfront amenities. The amendment was approved for a total not‑to‑exceed amount of $259,800. Adrian Holmes, representing the engineering team, said the first design phase would take about six months and emphasized permitting and agency reviews (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state DNR, SHPO) may lengthen the schedule.

- Other approvals and routine business: the council approved the third and final reading of Ordinance No. 1169 vacating a public right‑of‑way adjacent to 16th Avenue SW and 8th Street SW; approved plats for parcels in the Waverly Industrial Plaza (Res. 25‑100) and for Parcel LL at 933 Sixteenth Street SW at the request of CUSB Bank (Res. 25‑101); approved the purchase of a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 from McGrath Chevrolet of Dubuque, Iowa for $41,358 (Res. 25‑103); and set bid letting and a public hearing dates for the Fifth Avenue NW/Carstensen Drive main loop project (Res. 25‑104) with a bid letting date of 2025‑08‑05 and a public hearing scheduled for 2025‑08‑18 at 7:00 p.m.

Public comment and staff updates Resident Carl Roxburg spoke during public comment to ask about where sewer and water services will tie into the Hines Second Edition neighborhood, whether existing on‑site wells could be used, and concerns about recent well testing and seasonal nitrate levels. The mayor and staff said because the topic was not on the agenda they could not discuss it at length during public comment; staff members (identified in the meeting as Justin and James) were offered as follow‑up contacts to answer specific questions.

City staff reported receiving Iowa DOT permits to begin moving traffic signals later in the month, demolition of the pool bathhouse is complete, and the new trail bridges are open. The council also approved a joint proclamation naming September 2025 “Cedar Valley Orchestra Month.”

Votes at a glance (selected items) - Res. 25‑97 — Approve plans/specs/contract form for Alley Reconstruction 2025. Outcome: approved (unanimous). Public hearing held; no comments. - Res. 25‑98 — Award Alley Reconstruction 2025 to Baker Enterprises Inc. (Waverly) for $57,466. Outcome: approved (unanimous). - Res. 25‑99 — Approve contract, bond and insurance from Baker Enterprises Inc. and authorize mayor to sign. Outcome: approved (unanimous). - Ord. 1169 — Third and final reading vacating right‑of‑way adjacent to 16th Ave SW and 8th St SW. Outcome: adopted (unanimous). - Res. 25‑102 — Accept WPC sludge storage tank maintenance project as complete; approve final payment to Great Plains Structures LLC: $118,771 (+ $11,877.10 listed as 10%). Outcome: approved (unanimous). - Res. 25‑103 — Purchase 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 from McGrath Chevrolet for $41,358. Outcome: approved (unanimous). - Res. 25‑61 — Amend design services contract with Bolton & Menk for 117 First St. NE investigations; total not to exceed $259,800. Outcome: approved (unanimous). - Res. 25‑104 — Set bid letting 08/05/2025 and public hearing 08/18/2025 at 7 p.m. for Fifth Ave NW / Carstensen Drive project. Outcome: approved (unanimous).

What’s next Contract execution and preconstruction steps for the alley project can proceed now that award and bonding are authorized. The Bolton & Menk work will proceed in phased design with a roughly six‑month preliminary period; council members were told additional decision points will return to the council before later phases proceed. Staff indicated they will follow up with the resident who raised water and well concerns.

(All roll‑call votes reported in the meeting were unanimous unless noted.)