Underwood council adopts budget amendment, approves $510,483 wastewater payment and schedules appointment to fill vacancy

The Underwood City Council on Jan. 13 adopted a fiscal year 2026 budget amendment, approved a $510,483.28 partial payment toward the city wastewater treatment project and set a timeline to fill a vacant council seat by appointment.

Mayor Josh Madsen called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the council — Councilmembers Jim Pingel, Jodi Bose, Kelle Erwin and Keith Rodenburg — handled a full consent agenda before hearing a presentation from the Pottawattamie County Trails Association.

Council approved Partial Pay Application #7 for the Wastewater Treatment Project, paying McCarthy Trenching LLC $510,483.28 (motion by Councilmember Jim Pingel, seconded by Councilmember Jodi Bose; carried 4-0). Council also completed the second reading of proposed revisions to Chapter 65.03 to establish four-way stops at two intersections and approved those readings (motion by Bose, seconded by Kelle Erwin; carried 4-0).

The council opened and closed a public hearing on Budget Amendment #1 for FY2026 without public comments and then adopted Resolution 26-01-01 approving the amendment by roll-call vote (Pingel, Erwin, Bose, Rodenburg — all yes).

Members of the Pottawattamie County Trails Association, Joe Munch and Lynn Leaders, told the council they hope a trail connecting Weston and Underwood will be completed by the end of 2027 and requested collaboration; a workshop with the Underwood Trails Committee and county trail committee members was scheduled for Jan. 27 at 4:00 p.m.

On the council vacancy, the body set a process for appointment: applications from eligible electors are due to city hall or via email to cityadmin@underwoodia.com by noon on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026; the council intends to fill the vacancy by appointment at its next regular meeting on Feb. 10, 2026. The council also posted statutory notice under Iowa Code Section 372.13(2)(a) about electors’ right to petition for a special election.

Council discussed the 3rd Avenue bidding process and, because no contract was signed with the low bidder, awarded the project to the second bid contractor (motion by Pingel, seconded by Bose; carried 3-0 with Councilmember Kelle Erwin abstaining). The council approved the Fire-Rescue Township contracts for 2026–2027, adopted administrative resolutions including regular meeting schedule and official appointments (Resolutions 26-01-02 through 26-01-07), and approved an easement agreement with Agriland FS, Inc. for public improvements for $1.00.

The consent agenda and claims were approved; the meeting record shows total claims and payroll of $73,659.14 for the period reported, including a $29,153.90 engineering services invoice from Snyder & Associates for E. 3rd St/WWTP and other listed expenditures.

Reports at the end of the meeting included Fire/Rescue activity totals (295 calls in 2025; 11 to date in 2026), maintenance updates on winter equipment and warranty repairs, and administrator notes about IMWCA audit criteria and delinquent utility accounts (21 delinquent letters sent; seven accounts remain unpaid). Mayor Madsen adjourned the meeting at 7:18 p.m.

Votes at a glance

- Partial Pay App #7 to McCarthy Trenching LLC (Wastewater Treatment Project) — $510,483.28; mover: Jim Pingel; second: Jodi Bose; outcome: approved 4-0 (SEG 008). - Second readings — Chapter 65.03 (four-way stop revisions) — mover: Jodi Bose; second: Kelle Erwin; outcome: approved 4-0 (SEG 009). - Public hearing (Budget Amendment #1 FY2026) — opened and closed with no comments (SEG 010); Resolution 26-01-01 adopting the amendment — approved by roll call 4-0 (SEG 011). - Intent to fill council vacancy by appointment at Feb. 10 meeting; application deadline Feb. 4, 2026 — motion carried 4-0 (SEG 013). - Award 3rd Avenue project to second bidder — mover: Jim Pingel; second: Jodi Bose; outcome: approved 3-0, 1 abstention (Kelle Erwin) (SEG 018). - Approve Fire-Rescue Township Contracts 2026–2027 — outcome: approved 4-0 (SEG 019). - Adopt Resolutions 26-01-02 through 26-01-07 (administrative appointments, meeting schedule, mileage, etc.) — approved 4-0 (SEG 020–022). - Easement Agreement with Agriland FS, Inc. for public improvements — $1.00; mover: Jodi Bose; second: Kelle Erwin; approved 4-0 (SEG 026). - Consent agenda and claims — total reported $73,659.14 (includes payroll); approved 4-0 (SEG 027–063).

What’s next

The council scheduled a FY27 budget workshop for Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026 (5:00 p.m.) and intends to appoint a new council member at its Feb. 10, 2026 meeting if no petition for a special election is filed. Several administrative resolutions and contracts approved at the meeting will be reflected in forthcoming city records and claims lists.