by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published March 25, 2026
Ames is on the verge of opening its long-awaited Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center, but a dispute with a contractor over discolored exterior panels is threatening to put a blemish on the project.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published March 25, 2026
City leaders voted to move ahead with a major overhaul of Ames’ waste system after trimming nearly $1.6 million from an over-budget project, bringing the total construction cost for a new Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus (R3C) to about $18.1 million.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published March 25, 2026
The city of Ames plans to borrow up to $17.4 million through general obligation bonds to pay for a wave of road repairs and other infrastructure improvements across the city in the coming fiscal year.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published March 11, 2026
Ames officials are working to close a multimillion-dollar funding gap after construction bids for a new recycling and waste facility came in far higher than expected. The combined base bids for building the city’s Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus (R3C) totaled $19.62 million — approximately $2.8 million more than the $16.82 million engineers originally estimated.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published March 11, 2026
Ames is preparing for a major leadership transition after City Attorney Mark Lambert announced plans to retire in September. City officials began preparations for a months-long national search designed to find the next top legal adviser at Tuesday’s council meeting.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published February 28, 2026
After years of delays, broken concrete and growing frustration, Ames officials and the contractor who is building Schainker Plaza finally struck a deal to fix the troubled downtown project and get it open to the public in two stages by the end of 2026.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published February 25, 2026
With a half-finished overhaul of its water pollution control facility and millions already invested, a state grant will lower the city’s debt and ease pressure on ratepayers.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published February 25, 2026
Ames residents could be wheeling new recycling carts to the curb by this summer — but city leaders want more time to make sure the public understands what’s coming before they sign the deal.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published February 11, 2026
Housing accessibility, public engagement and environmental sustainability will be the Ames City Council’s priorities through the end of 2027. The council recently adopted a set of values, goals and tasks that will guide city priorities through 2027, focusing on housing, public engagement, community amenities and environmental sustainability.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published February 4, 2026
Ames residents could pay more in utilities in the upcoming fiscal year, including a proposed 1.5% increase in electricity and 5.5% increase in sanitary sewer rates. The council is reviewing a proposed budget that includes investments in public safety, a new Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus, the Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center, utility rate increases and major infrastructure projects.
by Bill Monroe, Staff Reporter Published February 3, 2026
How do you budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year increasing overall spending while keeping the city’s property tax rate slightly lower and holding most staffing levels steady? That’s the goal of the Ames City Council.
