The Pella City Council scheduled a public hearing for exit interchange improvements at their meeting Tuesday evening.

A resolution opens the bidding process for additional turn lanes and traffic signals at the intersection of West Washington Street and the Iowa Highway 163 exit ramp. A final contract will go before council on April 1st, with work slated to begin by June 30th if approved. The project will accommodate an incoming Kwik Star store just south of the intersection. Half of the cost would be split between the city and the company, currently estimated at $628,000 total.

Other action items on the Pella City Council agenda included the 2nd reading of an ordinance to amend boundaries of a residential district near Hempstead Drive, as well as a public hearing for a $475,000 lease agreement for equipment at Bos Landen Golf Course.

The council received a fiscal year 25-26 budget overview presentation during regular business, with an initial proposal to maintain tax rates at the current $10.75 per $1,000 of valuation, but that won’t be established formally until after work sessions are held next week (March 11th and 12th). However, City Administrator Mike Nardini noted that several service fees could be added or increased to help offset increasing costs in some of those areas. Find the full presentation here.

The council also discussed Molengracht Plaza Repairs and received a budget request from the PACE Alliance during policy and planning work sessions.