Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Bond topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Reinbeck council to ask voters about $4 million fire station bond in November
Summary
The Reinbeck City Council voted unanimously to place a $4 million bond referendum for a new fire station on the November 2026 ballot after hearing the fire department report approximately $200,000 already invested; the department said it will pursue grants and fundraising for remaining costs.
The Reinbeck City Council voted unanimously April 6 to place a $4 million bond referendum on the November 2026 ballot to help fund a proposed new fire station.
A representative of the Reinbeck Fire Department told the council the department has invested about $200,000 to date toward the project and asked the city to bond the remainder. The department said it plans to pursue grants and local fundraising if voters approve the bond.
Councilmember Pease moved to place the bond referendum on the November 2026 ballot; Councilmember Johnson seconded. The motion carried on a roll-call vote with five ayes.
Why it matters: A successful bond would authorize the city to borrow for construction of a facility intended to house fire equipment and operations; bond approval would trigger subsequent grant-seeking and fundraising by the department to cover any remaining shortfall. The council’s action places the decision with voters rather than committing the city to immediate spending.
Council members did not set a project budget line item beyond the $4 million referendum amount during the meeting, and no additional financing details or timelines were provided at the April 6 session. The council did record that the fire department had already contributed about $200,000 of its own funds to the effort.
Votes at a glance (actions taken April 6, 2026): - Bond referendum: Motion to place a $4,000,000 fire station bond referendum on the November 2026 ballot — mover: Pease; second: Johnson; outcome: approved (5–0). - Center Street contract: Resolution #2026-09R awarding contract to Peterson Contractors, Inc. for $659,764.60 — approved (5–0). - Ordinances adopted: Ordinance #2026-04OR (20-minute parking) and Ordinance #2026-05OR (parking fines increased to $50) — adopted after suspension of the two-meeting rule (5–0). - Mobile food vendors: Ordinance #2026-03OR (Chapter 124) — adopted after suspension of the two-meeting rule (5–0). - Resolution #2026-10R: Transfer funds to pay upcoming obligations — approved (5–0). - Resolution #2026-11R: Set hearing for new utility rates for May 4, 2026 — approved (5–0). - RAGBRAI: Approved city serving as pass-through town on July 23, 2026 — approved (motion by Bueghly; outcome approved). - Other administrative actions: FY2027 budget hearing set for April 20, 2026; Callahan Municipal Consultant Agreement for CIP approved; consent agenda and multiple routine items approved.
What’s next: If the council’s referendum is placed on the ballot and voters approve it in November, the city will be authorized to issue bonds to fund the project; the fire department indicated it will pursue grants and fundraising to cover additional costs. No timeline for construction or a detailed financing plan was provided at the April 6 meeting.
