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Pella council approves alley contract, sets hearings and bid dates for street, airport and development projects
Summary
The council awarded the community center alley contract to the low responsible bidder and approved or set hearings for several infrastructure projects — including University Street and Baseline Drive extensions, airport apron expansion (grant‑assisted), and a new subdivision plat — moving multiple construction timelines forward.
Pella City Council on Jan. 20 approved a series of infrastructure actions, awarding a construction contract for the community center alley and setting bid and hearing dates for several other street, airport and development projects.
City staff described two resolutions related to the Community Center alley reconstruction: one adopting the plan/specifications and engineer’s estimate, and the second awarding the construction contract to the lowest responsible bidder. Staff told the council the engineer’s estimate was about $370,000 and that the low bid was substantially below that estimate. After a resident questioned the need for reconstruction, the council closed the public hearing and approved both resolutions (6984 and 6985).
On broader development, council members set the urban renewal amendment for a public hearing on Feb. 17, 2026. The amendment would add new areas to the city’s urban renewal plan to support commercial and industrial growth, including the planned University Street and Baseline Drive extension projects. Council later approved a separate resolution ordering construction of the University Street/Baseline Drive extension and set March 17 as the public hearing date for that project (resolution 6989).
The council also authorized staff to seek bids for an airport apron expansion project with an estimated total cost of $552,000 and reported a state grant for up to $365,000; the city set the public hearing for March 3 (resolution 6990). On airport leasing, council set a Feb. 3 hearing for a proposed first amendment to a hanger ground lease with Premier Corporation that would adjust rent to $0.30 per square foot and increase the leased area (resolution 6991).
Planning items included approval of the South View Ridge final plat, a near‑3‑acre subdivision to create nine residential lots; the planning commission had unanimously approved the plat and council accepted the public improvements constructed by the developer (resolutions 6992 and 6993).
Mike, a city staff member presenting the projects, said the goal is to align bids, hearings and construction schedules so private development and public improvements proceed in a coordinated way. The council approved the listed resolutions by roll call.
Why it matters: the actions move multiple capital projects into procurement and construction phases — affecting traffic patterns, access to the new recreation center, airport capacity and new housing supply.
