Ames Tribune
The Ames City Council voted to fund $17.5 million of a new $27.5 million aquatic center through general obligation bonds without voter s say Tuesday.
With $10 million already fundraised for the project, the city needs to cover the remaining $17.5 million through general obligation bonds. Iowa s Reinvestment District Program, which could bring $10 million in tax rebates to Ames, will retroactively fund a portion of the project, but the city will need to use bonds upfront. It is not a usual thing for us to move forward with a matter like this without taking it to the voters for their input, Councilmember Tim Gartin said. But I think, given the importance of this, the timing of this and the input we ve already received . I think this is one of the most consequential votes I ve taken on city council.
Ames council to discuss $17 5 million bond referendum for new pool amestrib.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from amestrib.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Ames Tribune
The Ames City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward with the reinvestment district pre-application that could fund a new municipal pool and bring more development downtown.
City officials presented the pre-application for the Reinvestment District, the state program that could give new life to building an aquatics center. The current municipal pool is set for demolition in 2022. The pool has all the elements people wanted before, City Manager Steve Schainker said. With all the development you see coming on, we re going to draw a lot of people downtown.
The city set a fundraising goal of $8 million to help fund the aquatics center. The aquatics center project will cost $27 million and will be funded primarily through general obligation bonds, as the rebate won t be paid upfront.
Ames Tribune
Editor s note: This article has been updated due to an error. Councilmember David Martin moved for a one-time increase of $30,640 to the Commission on the Arts funding.
The Ames City Council made final adjustments to the budget, upping funding for the arts and discussing a funding cut for the county s volunteer center.
The council wrapped up the budgeting process at Tuesday s meeting, voting on funding for county social services programs, the arts and the addition of a new project that adds color to storm drain inlets and educates on environmental impact.
The budget will go into effect at the start of the next fiscal year in July.
Ames Tribune
The Ames City Council voted 5-1 to allow eminent domain use for a flood mitigation project though the city will first pursue purchasing the land.
Since the Federal Emergency Management Agency granted $3.7 million to fund the project, the council is required to hold a public forum on potential eminent domain use. The project, which will mitigate flooding along Squaw Creek near the South Duff Avenue bridge, will require total acquisition of two properties and will impact seven other properties.
One business owner, Jim Howe of Howe Welding and his wife, Piper Wall, expressed their concerns with the project at Tuesday s City Council meeting.