Sep. 18—A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday as the Ottumwa City Council is expected to consider the plans, specifications and form of contract for a soccer complex in Greater Ottumwa Park.

The plans call for three soccer fields to be built between the current dog park area and the adult softball field on the west side of Wapello Street. The soccer complex is one of the key components highlighted in the Ottumwa parks plan.

The cost estimate for the soccer fields is about $2.7 million, with JBS supplying a $1 million donation and the Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation also assisting with funding.

Part of the contract also includes construction of a restroom facility, field lighting and utilities, irrigation, a parking lot, parking lot lighting, fencing and sidewalks.

If approved, the contract will be bid out at the end of the month.

Also:

— The city is expected to award the City Hall renovation contract to RG Construction for just over $3.7 million. The project will renovate the entire first floor of the building and relocate employees to the Amtrak depot for about a year. The project will consist of replacing the current boiler with a new HVAC system, but mostly allow the remodel to restore much of the original look and feel of the building

The project had been scaled back because the estimated cost was over budget. Originally, a full remodel was part of the plans with the second and third floors a part of the project.

The city is using bonding, two rounds of American Rescue Plan Act funding, a portion of the general fund and franchise fees to pay for the project.

— The council is expected to adopt the 2023 Downtown Strategic Vision Plan. The plan focuses on revitalizing the downtown and Church Street areas and making them suitable for business by identifying factors such as traffic in the areas, where residents are going when they are there, highlight gaps in specific retail, and other factors. The plan is part of the city's agreement with Retail Strategies to recruit business to the area.

The council meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. inside council chambers at City Hall and can be viewed on the city's YouTube channel.

Wapello County Board of Supervisors

The supervisors will meet Tuesday and have a light agenda in front of them.

They are expected to give a new land lease agreement for about 256 acres of county property by the Wapello County 4-H building to Jason Rogers for the sum of $88,064, payable in equal installments on April 1, 2024 and November 1, 2024.

The supervisors are also expected to pass a resolution concerning dilapidated property at 9246 205th Ave., which has been declared a public health and safety hazard. The owner, Carly Murry, has 180 days to remove unsafe structures and debris from the property, otherwise, the county will remove them at a cost of $24,440, and assess that fee against the property.

Also, the supervisors are expected to approve the promotion of Faith Kennedy from a correctional officer to a sergeant in the Wapello County Sheriff's Office.

The supervisors meeting begins at 9:30 a.m., and can be viewed on the Wapello County Board of Supervisors YouTube channel.

— Chad Drury can be reached at cdrury@ottumwacourier.com, and on Twitter @ChadDrury