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When the City Council of Webster City meets tonight, two issues are likely to dominate its deliberations: whether to authorize spending up to $1,250,000 in TIF funds for downtown revitalization, and whether to award a contract for $325,728.04 for water main extensions on the east side, principally to serve Mary Ann's Specialty Foods.
In August, 2023, the building at Willson Avenue and Second Street, once home to Coulter's Drapery Shop, was declared unsafe. The possibility of falling brick, and danger to pedestrians on the sidewalk caused it to be barricaded in August, 2023. Three more buildings were barricaded for the same reason; the Lotus Building, 707 Second St., and two structures owned by Chris McNeil, at 518 and 529 Second Street.
The Coulter building is now the property of the City of Webster City. According to City Attorney Zach Chizek, the city will close on the former Kelly's Bar, located immediately next door to the east, in October. Due to their extremely degraded brickwork, and the cost of repairs, it's widely expected both buildings will be demolished.
The city has also acquired the Lotus building, and will apply for a grant to stabilize it, with hopes to sell it once work is completed. Lotus Treasures, a thrift shop presently operating in the building's main floor, raises money for a homeless shelter in Vincent. Lotus itself does not have sufficient funds to repair the building itself.
McNeil has worked for two years to shore-up the brickwork of his buildings, and ultimately hopes they can be declared safe, and the barricades removed.
The $1,250,000 will be used to either demolish, or stabilize these buildings, if Council agrees at tonight's meeting. $100,000 of the money will finance a reorganized Chamber of Commerce. Recently, the Ames Regional Economic Alliance assumed responsibility for operation of the Webster City Chamber. Taylor Nokes was appointed Director August 17.
At tonight's meeting, a public hearing will also be convened to publicly announce plans, specifications and engineering cost estimates to build an 840' PVC water main 8" in diameter, fire hydrants, and 51' corrugated metal culvert, all to provide water for expanded operations at Mary Ann's Specialty Foods. Mary Ann's is completing a 30,000 sq. ft. addition to its Webster City plant, and is anticipating an unspecified amount of new production as a result. The present water supply piping is inadequate to meet the firm's growing needs.
According to the official city council meeting packet, six firms submitted bids for the work. The city's engineering consultant, Snyder & Associates, Ankeny, is recommending Riley-Armstrong Plumbing & Heating of Ft. Dodge, the low bidder, be awarded the $325,728.04 contract, which is $30,271.96 less than Snyder's engineering estimate. Riley-Armstrong hasn't worked under contract for the city previously.