Ames voters approved spending $10.5 million to relocate Fire Station No. 2 from the heart of Campustown to State Avenue.

There were 5,881 votes on the question in Tuesday’s election, according to unofficial election results from the Iowa Secretary of State. The bond, labeled as “City of Ames Public Measure B,” garnered 5,099 yes votes — 86.7%. 782 people voted no.

The city proposed replacing Fire Station No. 2 with a bigger station on land at 601 State Ave. that Iowa State University will let the city use for free.

The current station, at 132 Welch Ave., was built in 1966, and officials say fire trucks have trouble getting in and out of the station because of crowded streets and no drive-through access.

Now that the bond has passed, plans for the new station will begin right away and will take about six months to complete. The city would then go out for a construction bid.

Ames Fire Chief Rich Higgins said he hopes to break ground by next fall. If everything goes as planned, a new Fire Station No. 2 would be serving Ames in 2027.

Read about the school election results here.

Mayoral, council candidates retain seats in uncontested races

As expected, all the unopposed candidates on the Ames city election ballot won another term.

Mayor John Haila secured his third term. Rep. Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen was elected to her fourth term on city council, her second in Ward 1. Voters returned Rep. Gloria Betcher to her fourth term in Ward 3 and Rep. Amber Corrieri also will serve a fourth term at-large.

Mayor

• John Haila: 5,119 votes (96.97%)

Haila, who also ran unopposed for reelection in 2021, earlier told the Voice that during his new term he “hoped to see successful completion and commencement of operation of major city projects, including phase one of the power plant, solid waste transfer station, Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center and Schainker Plaza; begin implementation of the Downtown Ames Guiding Vision; continue working on ways to encourage and/or facilitate increasing housing stock; and strengthen relationships with local partners, including Iowa State University, Ames Community School District, Story County Board of Supervisors and many other local entities that strive to make Ames a more welcoming and vibrant community.”

City Council, Ward 1

• Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen: 1,169 votes (97.5%)

Beatty-Hansen, who has run unopposed after her 2015 election, said she hoped “to work toward making Ames a welcoming and vibrant community that values all people and celebrates our responsibility to care for the natural world. I am looking forward to following through on many projects that have been mentioned as goals, an indoor recreation center, for example, or that are already in progress, such as the creation of the new Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus, or R3C.”

City Council, Ward 3

• Gloria Betcher: 698 votes (97.62%)

Betcher, who has run unopposed after her 2013 win, said, “The city of Ames has started to introduce new engagement methods, and I want to help the city continue to improve its outreach and engagement of under-represented groups, including ISU students. Revitalizing Campustown in the next few years will be another goal of mine, to get more residents throughout the community to think of Campustown when they are dining, drinking and shopping.”

City Council, At large

• Amber Corrieri 4,899 (97.86%)

Corrieri, who also ran unopposed in 2017, told the Voice, “I’m committed to advancing the goals outlined in our Downtown Guiding Vision in a significant way over the next four years. My focus will be on helping to facilitate development of housing, supporting public improvements like the redesign of Main Street and Tom Evans Plaza, and working toward completion of an event center and parking facility. As a council, I hope we can further support public-private partnerships that can activate underutilized sites throughout downtown by working collaboratively with property owners, developers, downtown residents and other community stakeholders to transform the area in a way that meets our community’s needs and draws visitors.

“Additionally, although the bond referendum for the Healthy Life Center failed several years ago, Ames is still desperately in need of an indoor-outdoor recreation center that can provide year-round space for recreation programs, fitness and social activities, youth sports and enrichment, and community gathering. I believe we are long overdue for a facility of this kind, and we need to begin the planning process.”

Incumbents reelected in Ames Hospital Board of Trustees

The Ames Hospital Board of Trustees, the city’s one competitive office this election, won’t see a change. Incumbents Mary Kitchell, who was first elected in 2001, and Beth Swenson, who was first elected in 2017, were reelected to the board, defeating challenger Paul Hudson. With 9,230 votes cast, both incumbents garnered more than 37%.

City Hospital Trustees (2 seats)

• Mary Kitchell: 3,680 votes (39.87%)
• Beth Swenson: 3,426 (37.12%)
• Paul Hudson: 2,076 (22.49%)

For more Story County and state, city and school election results, visit the Iowa Secretary of State website.

Gilbert

Mayor

• Jonathan C. Popp: 170 votes (68.55%)
• Tyler Gray: 77 (31.05%)

City Council, at-large (2 seats)

• Stephen J. Mahoney: 187 (41.19%)
• Brent Randolph: 182 (40.09%)
• Tera Sitzmann: 78 (17.18%)

Kelley

Mayor, to fill a vacancy

• Jacqueline Sapp: 43 votes (93.48%)

City Council, at-large (2 seats)

• Tim Salasek: 41 (51.25%)
• Benjamin David Adams: 29 (36.25%)

City Council, at-large, to fill a vacancy

• Alex Lundgren: 42 (97.67%)