The planned aquatic center and the recent audit conducted by state officials are on the agenda for the Fort Dodge City Council on Monday.
A discussion of the search for a new animal control officer is also planned.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Monday in the Municipal Building, 819 First Ave. S.
Council members are expected to award a contract for the construction of the aquatic center near the intersection of 32nd Street and 10th Avenue North. Construction should begin as soon as possible after the contract is awarded. The center is expected to open June 1, 2010.
The center will have:
An eight-lane lap pool with diving boards and slides
A shallow pool for young children featuring water toys and a big bucket that dumps water on bathers
A pool with three large slides connected to a channel called a lazy river
The center, an adjoining park and a 250-space parking lot will be created on 23 acres donated by Tom and Norma Schmoker, of Fort Dodge.
Last August, city voters gave their blessing to borrowing up to $8.95 million to pay for the project. That debt will be paid off with property tax revenue.
Expo Pool on North Seventh Street will be closed after the new aquatic center opens.
Also on Monday, the council will hear a presentation from Susan Battani, director of the financial audit division in the office of state Auditor David Vaudt.
In a report released last week, Vaudt's staff wrote that Fort Dodge officials did not follow proper competitive bidding procedures when they awarded contracts in 2006 and 2007 to McClure Engineering Co. Mayor Terry Lutz is the president of that firm.
The auditors contend that the same error occurred when a contract was awarded in 2006 to MER Engineering Inc. while that company's leader, Eldon Rossow, was the acting city engineer.
The report also questions some management of the tax increment financing accounts.
The audit found no evidence of missing, stolen or improperly spent money.
The auditors wrote that city officials are doing the right thing by trying to assert control over the investment of a $1.3 million gift to the public library.
Fort Dodge and Webster County officials are working on a new contract to provide animal control services. That effort will be the subject of a workshop discussion Monday, but no final decisions will be made.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net