The Ottumwa City Council held its first meeting for the month of September on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. The meeting was sponsored by Jakki and Fonzi with Cars and Cash Used Auto Sales on North Madison in Ottumwa.
Consent Agenda:
The meeting opened with the approval of Consent Agenda Part #1 and Part #2. Both were unanimously approved by the Council.
Public Hearing – Conveyance of Real Property:
Council discussed the conveyance of interests in real property to the Ottumwa Community School District. The School District expressed interest in acquiring an alleyway adjacent to its parking lot that the City no longer needs.
Proposed Structure Rehabilitation – WPCF Lift Stations and Primary Clarifiers Project:
The City recently solicited bids for this project, with the bid opening held on July 26, 2025. The project aims to rehabilitate existing lift stations and primary clarifiers at the Wastewater Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) to maintain operational efficiency and ensure compliance with current standards. Only one bid was received from Tricon General Construction Inc., totaling $396,798.00. This bid exceeded the City’s opinion of probable cost by approximately 20%, making it financially unfeasible. The Engineering Department recommended rejecting the bid to allow reassessment of the project and solicitation of more competitive bids.
Legacy Fields Soccer Complex Project:
The Council reviewed the completion of the Legacy Fields Soccer Complex Project, which included the construction of three full-size soccer fields at Central Addition Park. Twelve change orders were executed, and the total project cost was $2,957,678.21. The final pay application of $9,834.87 was approved, officially accepting the work as complete. The original contract had been awarded to Bi-State Construction on December 19, 2023.
402 Lincoln Asbestos Removal and Demolition:
The City accepted bids for asbestos removal, demolition, and cleanup at the condemned property located at 402 Lincoln. Four bids were received, and Torres Construction submitted the lowest qualified bid of $5,500.00 for asbestos removal and $18,000.00 for demolition and cleanup, totaling $23,500.00. The Council approved awarding the contract to Torres Construction.
122 S Iowa Special Assessment Removal:
In July 2025, the City obtained a default judgment granting it title to the abandoned property at 122 S Iowa. The Council approved a resolution removing the previous special assessments for delinquent mowing fees totaling $905.00.
Electronic Records Management:
The City authorized the use of electronic imaging, retention, and electronic signatures, ensuring documents can be transmitted to and accepted electronically. Emphasis was placed on preserving records in unaltered condition to support governmental memory, legal, and administrative requirements. Various systems, including UKG, iWorq, Civic Systems, and Laserfiche, are used to maintain records electronically while ensuring accessibility and reliability.
Lake Road Pavement Rehabilitation Project:
The Council approved the contract, insurance, and bond for the Lake Road Pavement Rehab Project. This project involves full-width, full-depth reconstruction of Lake Road from Mary Street south to the city limits, including the installation of a rock subbase and Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) pavement. Bids were opened on August 20, 2025, with Norris Asphalt Paving Co. LC submitting the lowest responsive bid of $1,869,745.90. The project’s estimated cost is $2,250,000.00, with a budget of $2,700,000.00.
Edited for corrections
