This 10.5-acre cornfield at the northwestern edge of Webster City may have a future as the city's newest sports facility. The land, donated to the city by Reveiz Family Farms, Inc., was accepted by the City Council of Webster City at its meeting Monday night. The pavement in the foreground is James Street, and the view is looking north.

The family of the late Dr. Ed Reveiz, M.D., long-time Webster City physician, conditionally donated 10.5 acres of farmland to the city at Monday’s City Council of Webster City meeting.

In giving the land, all of which is within city limits on the city’s northwest side, the family has stipulated it be used for a new sports complex, open to the public, and named in memory of Dr. Reveiz.

City Attorney Zach Chizek drew up the contract that was approved by the Council. He worked with The People’s Company, a farm management firm in Clive representing Reviez Family Farms, Inc.

Asked for further details about the matter, Chizek said, “I was first contacted about this last April. We’ve gone back and forth to arrive at the agreement approved by Council.”

That agreement requires that the city live up to two provisions: First, it must “build and complete” a new sports complex for public use with ground-breaking and construction beginning prior to July 1, 2027, and completion no later than July 1, 2028.” The second provision is that the new sports facility be named in honor of Dr. Reveiz.

The land lies northeast of the intersection of Overpass Drive and James Street, stretching north from James Street nearly to the south bank of the Boone River. It’s currently in use as cropland. Reveiz Family Farms has agreed to farm the land through next year’s crop-growing season so that, presumably, development of the sports complex can start in spring 2027.

City Manager John Harrenstein, commenting on the matter, said, “We weren’t aware this was in the works. It’s a very generous gift, and I think the property can be developed in a cost-effective way.”

The city has no firm plans for the kind of sports facilities that might eventually be built on the site, although both soccer and baseball facilities have been informally mentioned and discussed among staff.

Dr. Reveiz began buying farmland in Iowa in the 1970s. His wife, Paulette, is still involved in managing farms owned by their family corporation in Hamilton, Marion, Polk, Warren and Wright counties. Much of this land is rented for private hunting leases through The People’s Company. Reviez died December 21, 2021.

An article in the August 13, 2025, edition of Successful Farming stated, “According to the Iowa Land Value tool published by the Iowa State University Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, the average per acre land value in Hamilton County is $13,530.” Using that data, the land is theoretically valued at more than $142,000.

In other matters, the Council approved:

— A third and final reading of an amendment to City Code Sec 50-184, Off-Street Parking Requirements. It defines acceptable paving materials, especially for driveway extensions, parking lots and storage and loading zones.

— A third, and final reading of an amendment to City Code Chapter 42, Article 8, Controlled Access Requirements defines legal access to city streets, requires adequate drainage be maintained, and specifies entrances to city streets be built of an approved paving material.

— A second reading of an ordinance establishing a new, separate stormwater utility. With heavier rainfall of recent years, the city’s stormwater sewers can’t cope with the runoff, leading to flooding and contamination of surface water. New monthly fees for households, and

commercial and industrial firms, will pay for improvements to restore the sewers to a state of good repair.

— Change order No. 2 to Fair Meadow Drive No. 2 Reconstruction project, which consists of six individual items. The changes will cost an estimated $71,785.50, of which $62,350 will be spent replacing Orangeburg sewer pipe. The pipe, developed in 1945, to reduce use of iron and steel, needed for war materials in World War II, has not proved to be durable.

— The close out the 2025 chip seal paving program which saw portions of Union, Water and Walnut streets, and Mary Lane “chip-paved” by compressing tiny rock chips into hot asphalt. Also approved was change order #1, for $7,740.01, covering the cost of extra materials.

— Cigarette/tobacco/nicotine/vapor licenses to Mega Saver stores at 1102 Second Street, and 1803 Superior Street. Both were formerly known as Yes Way. Mega Saver, based in Omaha, was founded in 2002. It has 40 convenience stores in the Omaha, and has recently expanded into Iowa and Florida.

— A process beginning the search for a Construction Manager-at-Risk (CMAR) to oversee construction of the city’s rebuilt wastewater treatment plant. The selected firm will quote a maximum cost to finish the plant, and work with a design team to bid construction packages. Council considered and approved three motions; 1, to issue a Notice of Intent; 2, authorize a request for proposals from firms hoping to be named CMAR; and 3, appoint a committee to select the CMAR consisting of the mayor, city manager, wastewater plant supervisor, a city council member, and Darin Jacobs, P.E., of Snyder & Associates, who is heading up design of the revised wastewater facility.