A key asset Hamilton County brings to the Ames Regional Development Alliance is large plots of relative inexpensive, developable land.
Such land in Story and Boone counties, the other members of the Alliance, is not as readily available, and considerably more expensive when it is. To position Webster City and Hamilton County for industrial growth, the City Council of Webster City gave the green light to a study that could lead to more and better freight rail service to existing and future industries in and near Webster City.
A coalition of partners including the Alliance, Hamilton County, Iowa Area Development Group, the Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce, Corn Belt Power Co-Op, and Union Pacific and Canadian National Railroads will participate. The study is projected to cost $140,000.
The city has applied for a $100,000 grant through the Iowa Department of Transportation to help pay for it. The city’s out-of-pocket cost would be $20,000 in the form of a local match. The study should be complete in October, 2025.
If demand for better rail service is proven, it would be up to a private firm to build a so-called “rail port.” This is a facility that allows transfer of goods between trains and trucks.
Rail ports have opened in Clinton, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines in recent years, and have been well-accepted. With the prevalence of containerized shipments, rail ports are an important link in today’s global supply chain.
Four potential sites for a rail port have been identified and will be studied further. Each would be open to multiple customers, both in Webster City, and beyond.
City Manager John Harrenstein said, “Webster City is fortunate to have good access to rail service from both the Canadian National and Union Pacific rail companies. We’ve been informed in our recent economic development work that some industries who may be interested in locating to Hamilton County and Webster City may consider the location of a rail port as important to their business needs. The purpose of this grant is to identify sites that may work for those industrial needs. The city will not construct a rail port, but the study will provide us with the information necessary to determine if industry requiring a rail port should be targeted for recruitment to the area.”
In other action, City Council;
. Approved plans, specifications, a cost estimate and contract for replacement of the HVAC system at city hall. The boiler in use today was installed in 1985, and is well past its expected service life. Frequent repairs are required to keep the system operating. It also violates Iowa Department of Natural Resources regulations as it presently discharges boiler water into a storm sewer. The $467,100 project was awarded to Peterson Construction, Webster City, the low bidder.
. Gave approval to seek bids and schedule a public hearing September 3, 2024, at 6:05 p.m. at City Hall to buy materials for four 69Kv control panels for Reisner substation. The project will be paid for jointly by the City of Webster City ($64,200), and Corn Belt Power Co-Operative, whose share is estimated at $199.800.
. Approved change order No. 6 in the amount of $9,515 to replace 312 square feet of siding, and trim and caulk work on the structural improvement project at the first Hamilton County courthouse in Wilson Brewer Park. The majority of funds to restore the courthouse came from a one-time grant of $180,000 from Hamilton County, approved by county supervisors in fall 2022.
. Agreed to set a public hearing for August 5, 2024, at 6:05 p.m. at City Hall to consider amendments to the Code of Ordinances of the City of Webster City to clarify the responsibilities of private property owners in maintaining both residential and nonresidential property in Webster City. In recent years taxpayers have faced a growing expense in buying, rehabilitating or demolishing decrepit properties due to negligence by their owners.
City of Webster City Development Director Ariel Bertran commented: “By amending the International Property Maintenance Code … we aim to facilitate ongoing improvements to properties throughout the community.”
View this article as it originally appeared in the Daily Freeman-Journal.
Last modified: July 16, 2024
