Altoona council approves Duerson Roofing site plan, GHolds Plat 1; denies sewer-fee waiver and passes consent agenda

Altoona Mayor Dean O’Connor and the City Council on Aug. 4 approved a set of routine and development items, including a site plan for a roofing business, final plat approval for a large outlot, and multiple construction pay applications, while denying a homeowner’s request to waive a $269.02 sewer bill.

The most consequential land-use decisions involved Duerson Roofing and GHolds Plat 1. Wally Pelds of Pelds Design Services presented a site plan for Duerson Roofing at 242 Adventureland Drive NE for a building that would include about 3,400 square feet of office space and 8,100 square feet of warehouse. “They have outgrown their current property and desire to relocate to this new site,” Pelds said. Councilmember Duer moved to approve the site plan subject to addressing identified deficiencies; the motion passed on roll call with a 4‑0 tally (Councilmember Boka was absent).

Kelsey Scallon of Shive Hattery told the council that the GHolds Plat 1 filings would create “one 3.113‑acre lot and one 67.74‑acre outlot,” noting the existing house on the lot is served by septic and Des Moines Water Works rather than city utilities. The council approved both the preliminary and final plats, each by motion from Councilmember Duer and recorded as 4‑0 votes with one member absent.

Council also considered a request from the resident at 302 9th Street SE to waive a sewer charge of $269.02. City Administrator Randy Pierce summarized the packet material and the resident’s request; Councilmember Duer moved to deny the waiver and the council voted 4‑0 to deny relief.

Votes at a glance: the meeting record shows unanimous roll‑call approvals (4‑0, one absence) for the Duerson Roofing site plan, GHolds Plat 1 preliminary and final plats, denial of the sewer‑fee waiver, and the consent agenda items listed below.

The consent agenda included a series of pay applications and change orders related to ongoing capital projects: Pay App #6 for The Hanson Company (Altoona Public Works Facility) for $1,067,965.30; Pay App #2 for Synergy Contracting LLC (2025 Water Main Replacement Project) for $211,628.41; Pay App #4 for Graff Excavating (2023 Water Main Replacements) for $26,700.02; Pay App #6 for On Track Construction, LLC (SE Sanitary Sewer Extension Phase 1) for $74,080.52; Pay App #6 for RW Excavating Solutions, LC (Spring Creek North Pond Bank Stabilization) for $5,600.00; and Pay App #2 for Concrete Connection LLC (Olde Town Plaza – Altoona) for $99,384.00. The consent package also included change orders, mayoral appointments (Amanda Eggers to the library board; Dan Dove to the Planning & Zoning board), a resolution approving the FY2025 Street Finance Report, an amendment to approved depositories, a bond rider for the new public works building, correction of a legal matter related to a CVB agreement (28E), setting a public hearing on Townsend Park Watershed Improvements Phase 2 for Aug. 18, 2025, and several event requests. The council removed item 9(j) — approval for new Mid‑American gas service to the Altoona Public Works Facility at 1511 17th Ave SW — from the consent agenda before the roll call.

A separate roll call approved a Class C retail alcohol license for Sam’s Bar & Grill. Department heads then gave brief updates across public safety, utilities, public works, engineering, community development, economic development, the library, human resources and IT. The council adjourned at 6:48 p.m.

The transcript does not show detailed debate on budgetary impacts or conditions attached to the approvals beyond the notation that approvals were “subject to deficiencies.” No statutes, ordinances or specific code citations were referenced on the record in the provided transcript.