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Council hears frustrated parents; staff flags $330,000 additional water‑line need for soccer complex repairs
Summary
Residents urged faster repairs at the city soccer complex. Staff said irrigation repairs are budgeted at about $670,000, parking improvements at $589,000 and an added water line for the irrigation pond is estimated at about $330,000; staff expects irrigation work in 2025 and fields likely playable by fall 2026.
Residents pressed the Pella City Council for faster repairs at the city soccer complex, saying fields have been unsafe and that progress has lagged since 2019.
Megan Copeland told the council parents want playable fields and criticized delays: "Let's get fields for our kids to play on," she said. In response, city staff provided an update: the irrigation system repair is budgeted at about $670,000, paving and entrance work was estimated around $589,000, and staff recently identified a likely additional water line to the irrigation pond with an estimated cost of about $330,000. Staff said the irrigation repairs are scheduled for calendar year 2025 and that grass recovery and safe playability are expected by the fall of 2026, though the timeline could improve if conditions allow.
Council members discussed two approaches: repair the existing complex now or build new fields at the sports park (staff earlier estimated a new complex at roughly $2.8 million). Several council members urged expediting repairs to make current fields playable quickly, and staff emphasized the recommended initial work does not address all long‑term needs. Council asked staff to develop a longer‑term transition plan that aligns capital spending across the soccer complex and the sports park.
Next steps: staff will proceed with irrigation repairs in 2025, refine cost estimates for additional improvements, and present a longer‑term plan for council consideration.
