Altoona council awards $1.39 million contract for Townsend Watershed Phase 3 pond dredging

The Altoona City Council on April 20 approved awarding the contract for Townsend Watershed Improvements Phase 3 to Iowa Earth Works of Huxley, Iowa. City Engineer John Dostart told the council this third phase will dredge the large pond behind the Townsend House and that bids were received April 9, 2026; Iowa Earth Works submitted the only bid at $1,387,550 while the engineer's estimate was $1,463,780. The design engineer recommended accepting the bid.

Councilmember Mertz moved to approve the plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated costs subject to the city attorney’s review; that motion passed on a roll-call vote of members present. Councilmember Duer subsequently moved to approve the contract and bond and to make the award of the contract; those motions also carried on roll-call votes with the four members present voting in favor (McFadden was absent). The approvals were recorded as subject to attorney review.

The action advances a multi‑phase watershed improvement project intended to address sedimentation in the pond behind the Townsend House; the council did not discuss funding sources or a construction schedule during the meeting. Next steps identified in the meeting record are completion of attorney review and execution of the contract with the awarded bidder.