Tim Gartin News Today

Ames City Council members voted to reject a bid for a geothermal energy system on the Baker subdivision Tuesday after the bid exceeded the budget by nearly $1,404,866. Council members suggested exploring alternative energy-efficient methods like air-source heat pumps. The city’s plans for single-family housing remain unaffected. In March, the City Council approved plans for...

In an ongoing effort to enhance sidewalk safety, the Ames City Council voted Tuesday to update sidewalk safety standards and repair options following a detailed review after sidewalk reports increased exponentially in 2023. The decision follows a public survey with 486 responses and feedback from various community events and platforms. Council members opted to implement...

The Ames City Council voted unanimously on housing development and zoning standards amendments which involved a significant discussion revolving around the conservation subdivision ordinance, particularly its application in the Ada Hayden Watershed area Tuesday. “This is the kind of meeting where, as a council, we’re asked to balance various interests in the community,” Ward 2...

The Ames City Council unanimously approved incentive requirements for ownership housing on Tuesday following the recommendation from the Ames Economic Development Authority (AEDC) Short Term Housing Task Force for a residential property tax abatement to increase housing construction. The city council had previously reviewed a request from AEDC on Dec. 12, addressing a wide range...

The Ames City Council approved a tax abatement program and residential zoning in the Iowa State Research Park at its Feb. 27 meeting.

Several Ames animal shelter volunteers asked the council for a new shelter before the Ames City Council approved the city’s $301 million budget for fiscal year 2024/25 Tuesday at its fifth meeting in 12 days, which included $100,000 to begin the process for a new shelter. Volunteers described to the council during the public comment...

In the last of three meetings of the week, the Ames City Council concluded its budget meetings with presentations from city staff about their departments’ budgets, including transit, community development and general government/internal services Thursday. The council will hear from the public Tuesday and vote on the proposed budget. Transit Ames Transit Director Barbara Neal...

In the second of three meetings this week, the Ames City Council continued to hear from city staff about their departments’ budgets including electric, parks and recreation, fire and police. The final meeting of the week is Thursday and the council will listen to public input and vote on the budget during their meeting Tuesday....

The Ames City Council voted 6-0 Tuesday to approve requests for the Campustown Showdown in April for a grand drive featuring twelve cattle from different categories on Welch Avenue. Assistant City Manager Brian Phillips said this is the first time Ames has received a request for a cattle show. “This is an event that we...

Ames City Manager Steve Schainker was the first of numerous city staff to present on the $294.8 million in expenditures proposed within the FY 2024/25 through FY 2028/29 Capital Improvements Plan (CIP), which he themed “catch up.” Schainker said there are “a lot” of projects yet to be completed from the current CIP and the...