Pella City Council approves sewer contract, airport lease and multiple planning steps

The Pella City Council on an otherwise routine agenda approved several resolutions advancing infrastructure and development projects across the city.

Council voted to adopt the plan specifications and estimate for the indoor recreation center sanitary sewer improvements and to award the construction contract to OnTrack Construction of Nevada, Iowa, after staff reported two bids and recommended accepting the low responsible bid slightly above the engineer’s estimate. Staff said the project includes a private service line, a new lift station and a force main to the city sanitary system; a project completion date was identified as Nov. 20, 2026.

The council also approved a 10-year ground lease with Vermeier Manufacturing Company for airport hangars, with annual rent reported at $10,242 beginning Jan. 1, 2026 and the tentative lease term running to Sept. 30, 2035.

On development matters, council set public hearing dates for the Fountain Hills Phase 4 urban renewal plan and for an associated development agreement. Staff said the Fountain Hills Phase 4 proposal covers a 40–47 lot residential subdivision with estimated public infrastructure costs and a proposed rebate of incremental taxes to reimburse the developer for infrastructure costs.

The council approved a change order to the architectural services agreement for the Phillips Community Center project after staff reported the construction estimate rose from about $5.5 million to roughly $7.44 million; staff said the resulting architectural contract change order was about $92,000. In a linked step, council authorized submission of a $500,000 Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant application and documented the city’s prior $5.5 million commitment to the project; total project cost was cited at $8,250,300.

Votes were recorded by roll call and were affirmative on the items listed.