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Anamosa council approves loan authorization, awards water‑plant contract and schedules Oct. 27 public hearings
Summary
At its Sept. 22 meeting the Anamosa City Council authorized pursuing an Essential Purpose Loan of up to $820,000, awarded the WTP Aerator Replacement contract to Woodruff Construction Inc., approved a $25,500 professional‑services increase and set multiple public hearings and personnel items.
Anamosa — The Anamosa City Council on Sept. 22 approved a suite of financial and project actions, including authorization to pursue an Essential Purpose Loan of up to $820,000 and the award of the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Aerator Replacement contract to Woodruff Construction Inc. The council also set Oct. 27 public hearings on an expanded Highway 151 urban renewal area and proposed general obligation loan agreements, and approved several personnel and routine items.
Mayor Rod Smith called the regular session to order at 6:06 P.M. Councilmember Rich Crump moved and Todd Weimer seconded approval of the initial consent agenda — minutes from Sept. 8, current bills and a liquor license — which the four members present approved by roll call (Weimer, D. Smith, Gombert, Crump).
Why it matters: the loan authorization and the contract award affect the city’s capital program and the operation of its water system. The council approved Resolution 2025‑62 to take action on the proposed Essential Purpose Loan Agreement (principal not to exceed $820,000) after a public hearing at which no members of the public spoke. The motion carried on a unanimous recorded vote of councilmembers present.
On the WTP Aerator Replacement Project, the council opened and closed a public hearing after no public comment and then approved Resolution 2025‑63 to accept bids and award the contract to Woodruff Construction Inc.; the roll vote was unanimous among present members. The council also approved a professional services agreement amendment increasing the WTP project budget for consultant work by $25,500.
Public Utilities Director Steve Agnitsch presented a price comparison of laboratory testing options, explaining the method he used to develop the figures and stating the cost savings from in‑house testing were substantial. Agnitsch recommended that the Public Utilities Department continue to run the lab rather than contracting testing to QCA; the council recorded the presentation but no formal motion regarding the lab was recorded in the transcript.
Josh Scanlon of consulting firm HR Green provided a brief project status update on various city projects; council discussion followed but the transcript records no separate formal action on those updates.
On redevelopment and tax‑increment financing matters, the council approved the first reading of Ordinance 966 to remove property from the Anamosa Highway 151 Urban Renewal Area under Section 403.19 of the Code of Iowa. It then approved Resolution 2025‑64 to delete that property from the urban renewal area. The council also approved Resolution 2025‑65 to set Oct. 27, 2025, as the date for a public hearing on designation of an expanded Highway 151 Urban Renewal Area and an Urban Renewal Plan amendment, and Resolution 2025‑66 to set Oct. 27 for a public hearing on proposed General Obligation Loan Agreements; both passed on unanimous recorded votes of those present.
Personnel and community items included approval of Resolution 2025‑67 to set the wage for a temporary full‑time Public Utilities Operator and Resolution 2025‑68 to set the wage for the full‑time Recreation Coordinator for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026; the transcript records the resolutions’ passage but does not state the wage amounts. Council also approved Oct. 31, 2025, from 5:00–8:00 P.M. as the city’s Trick‑or‑Treat hours and granted a temporary waiver of Anamosa Personnel Policy 9.06 for the Anamosa Firefighter’s Fall Fundraiser on Sept. 27, 2025.
In the final business item, the council approved consent pay requests totaling $336,304.70. Councilmember Rich Crump recognized the late Bob Hatcher for his years of service to the Jones County Tourism Association. Mayor Smith opened the floor for non‑agenda public comment (none) and adjourned the meeting at 6:36 P.M.
What happens next: the council set Oct. 27, 2025 for public hearings on the urban renewal expansion and proposed general obligation borrowing; the WTP award and contract administration will proceed with the low bidder, and staff will continue work on project implementation and any required reporting or follow‑up.
