City Council Awards SW Irvinedale Drive Project to Manatts

The Ankeny City Council approved the lowest bid for the second phase of the SW Irvinedale Drive reconstruction project Monday.

No one commented at the public hearing and the project was awarded to Manatts, Inc. the low bidder. The company submitted a bid of $3.8 million for the project.

The plan is to expand the road to four lanes south of the roundabout to SW Oralabor Road. Work is expected to begin this spring.

In addition to the roadway, the city will also add lights, permanent traffic signals at Woodbury and a pedestrian underpass so that children can cross the street to reach a future elementary school and the Cascade Falls Aquatic Center.

The road is being improved ahead of an expansion at the John Deere Des Moines Works that would retain 400 employees. A new facility is expected to open there by the end of 2013, city staff said.

The council also approved a third reading of an ordinance to establish the Ankeny Cultural Arts Board.

And in a worksession, the City Council also reviewed proposals from consultants who would help the city find its next city manager.

Colin Baenziger & Associates of Wellington, Florida; Mercer Group of Atlanta, Georgia, Slavin Management of Mesa, Arizona, Austin Peters Group, Overland Park, Kansas; and Brimeyer Fursman, LLC of Maplewood, Minnesota; all submitted proposals.

The city council will hold a special meeting 5 p.m. April 22 to approve a contract with a consulting firm for the recruitment of a new city manager.

Former City Manager Carl Metzger worked for the city for 27 years and served as the city manager since 1985.

He retired in June.