The Tuesday evening Ottumwa City Council meeting was sponsored by Jakki and Fonzi with Cars & Cash, located on North Madison Avenue in Ottumwa.
Tuesday’s meeting began with the City Council’s approval of Consent Agenda Item No. 1, which included the following items:
Approve the purchase of a Zero Turn Mower from McKim Tractor Service ($ 19, 900 less trade- in 9, 300 for net purchase price $ 10, 600) for WPCF.
The Ottumwa Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) is recommending the purchase of a new zero-turn mower to replace its current equipment.
According to discussion documents prepared by WPCF Superintendent Doyle Moore, bids were reviewed for a replacement mower. Two of the submitted bids did not meet the required specifications, primarily due to differences in the suspension system, transmission, and tire size.
The recommended purchase is a Ferris ISZ3300 Zero-Turn Mower from McKim Tractor Service for $19,900. With a $9,300 trade-in allowance for the existing mower, the total cost to the city would be $10,600.
The purchase would be paid from the Other Capital Equipment budget line. The mower replacement had been budgeted at $32,000.
Source: Discussion documents prepared by Doyle Moore, Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF).
Moving on with the consent agenda
Resolution No. 169- 2026, authorizing the destruction of certain records according to the Code of Iowa 2017, as amended. This was Tabled for further discussion.
The Ottumwa City Council will consider Resolution No. 169-2026, which would authorize the destruction of city records that have exceeded the required retention period under Iowa law.
The resolution was prepared by City Clerk Christina Reinhard, who noted that the Code of Iowa (2017), as amended, and the Record Retention Manual for Iowa Cities require certain records to be retained for at least five years or for a designated period based on their administrative, legal, and fiscal value. Records that have exceeded those requirements and are no longer needed for permanent retention have been identified for destruction.
If approved, the records will be destroyed in accordance with state law and the city’s adopted record retention policies.
Next is the Ordinances:
The Ottumwa City Council will receive and file the Community Development Department’s Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report during Tuesday’s meeting. The report, prepared by Amal Eltahir, provides an overview of the department’s work throughout the past fiscal year, including activities and accomplishments related to implementing the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
According to the agenda, the report highlights efforts in planning, development, housing, neighborhood revitalization, code enforcement, economic development, and grant administration. It also summarizes the department’s work to support responsible growth, strengthen neighborhoods, and enhance the quality of life in Ottumwa.
The item is presented for informational purposes only, and staff recommends that the City Council receive and file the FY2026 Community Development Annual Report.
Ending Tuesday”s Council Meeting is the Resolutions:
Phillip Burgmeier prepared two Transportation Safety Improvement Program (TSIP) grant applications that received City Council approval, with authorization for the Mayor to sign and submit both requests.
The first application seeks funding for the South Ferry Street Mini-Roundabouts Project, while the second focuses on improving safety along East Vine Street and East Finley Avenue through enhanced stop sign treatments. This was tabled for further discussion. Council suggested to get better counts on traffic and school children and work with the school for safety concerns. Right now just work with a 4 way stop until Council discusses further at a later date.
The Vine Street and Finley Avenue proposal targets ten intersections where stop sign violations and serious crashes have been a recurring concern. Planned improvements include solar-powered LED flashing stop signs, advanced warning signs, and new stop bars designed to make intersections more visible and give drivers additional warning before stopping.
Since 2021, the ten intersections have recorded 42 crashes, resulting in 33 injuries. According to city officials, 16 of those crashes were caused by drivers failing to stop at stop signs, including both crashes that resulted in serious injuries.
The project carries an estimated 9-to-1 benefit-to-cost ratio, with projected safety benefits valued at more than $1.78 million. If awarded, the TSIP grant would cover 80 percent of construction costs, leaving the City of Ottumwa responsible for approximately $34,595.
