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Council approves Washington and Mary Street reconstruction plans and awards Mary Street contract
Summary
Council approved plans and estimated costs for Washington Street reconstruction and awarded the Mary Street Reconstruction contract to Jones Contracting for $2,731,777; work includes full‑depth pavement replacement, sewer work, storm sewer upgrades and ADA sidewalks, funded largely by STBG and enterprise funds where applicable.
The Ottumwa City Council approved plans for the Washington Street Reconstruction project and awarded the larger Mary Street contract after public hearings and staff presentations.
Public Works Director Philip Hermier described the Washington Street scope: pavement replacement of roughly 3,000 square yards (4th–6th streets), replacement of about 860 feet of sanitary sewer, storm sewer separation with added double intakes, and a small water‑main replacement. Estimated cost for Washington Street was presented at approximately $794,661 with about $722,661 expected from the street construction fund; water‑main work (~$72,000) would be reimbursed. The council closed the hearing and adopted Resolution No. 53 to approve plans and estimated cost.
Later in the meeting public works staff presented the Mary Street Reconstruction project, a larger full‑depth concrete replacement covering roughly 12,600 square yards (from Ferry to Shaw). The project includes widening for a left‑turn lane near school traffic, 650 feet of new sidewalk to improve pedestrian access to nearby schools, approximately 3,000 feet of sanitary sewer main replacement and 30 storm intakes. Staff said STBG state funding will cover most paving and storm components; sanitary sewer and a short water main replacement will be charged to the respective enterprise funds. Bids were previously opened by IDOT; the low bid of $2,731,777 from Jones Contracting (West Point, Iowa) was accepted and council passed the award (Resolution No. 66, 2025).
Timelines: Public works staff said both projects are staged to avoid closing heavily traveled segments during the school year; start dates were discussed around June 2 (after school gets out) with Mary Street expected to be a longer, multi‑stage project through the fall.
Funding and impact: For Mary Street the STBG grant covers most paving and storm work (roughly $2.17M reported); sanitary sewer work is removed from grant eligibility and will be funded from the sewer fund. Staff and council emphasized efforts to stage work to preserve school access and to coordinate temporary drives or traffic adjustments.
What to expect: Bidders will mobilize in June where possible. Staff will return with bid award paperwork and coordinate construction staging with the school district and neighborhood notices.
Speakers quoted
"We're going to be doing replacing the pavement. So about just over 3,000 square yards of pavement." — Philip Hermier, Public Works Director
"The estimated cost was $2,731,777." — Burk/Philip Myers (project presentation), during Mary Street award discussion
