Council Approved the Unity Garden project for Central Addition Park. Members of the Ottumwa Leadership Academy are proposing to build a Unity Garden in the West end of Central Addition Park. There will be no cost to the City of Ottumwa for this project. This project was approved by the Ottumwa Parks Advisory Board at their meeting on March 11th.
The City of Ottumwa Parks and Recreation Department has obtained a grant for $1000.00 for supplies to begin teaching tennis lessons at the new tennis courts located East of Ottumwa High School. The cost is $25.00 per session. There will be 6 lessons in each session. The lessons will be taught during the months of June, July and August.
Council also set the date of April 1st, 2025 as the date for a Public Hearing to approve the plans and form of contract and estimated cost for the Apron Improvements Projects at the Ottumwa Regional Airport.
The City Parks and Recreation Department has been awarded a $25,000.00 reimbursable grant from the Ottumwa RAGBRAI Committee. This grant will be used to purchase new play ground equipment for the Ottumwa Park play ground, which will be installed during August and September of 2025.
Phase 2 of the rate increase for the solid waste fee was approved. The ordinance sets annual rate increases for the next 9 years. The increases are necessary to continue the sewer separation project.
Starting July 1st, 2025 and each July 1st, until 2029 the base fee and usage fee will increase by 6.5%. Starting July 1st, 2030 and each July 1st, until 2034 the base and usage fee will increase by 4.5%. As part of the rate adjustment, multifamily rentals units and trailer parks will be charged a base fee per unit. The city is using the money from these rate increases to repair streets and roads.
The last important item on the agenda regards the VenuWorks issues with cash flow related to operating costs. VenuWorks has requested a cash injection beyond the annual operating budget. Upon approval VenuWorks would also be advancing the $70,000 originally meant for capital purchase in the future. The rest of the agreement reflects the contribution of funds to be used as a “line of credit”, which will be reimbursed from future proceeds at a 1% interest rate.
Ottumwa City Council Report brought to you by Jakki and Fonzi with Cars and Cash Used Auto Sales in Ottumwa.
