The council approved the first reading of a measure to rezone the north 150 feet of the Misty Harbor property at 228 Kenyon Road West. The maker of pontoon boats requested the change from single family residential status to light industrial status so that it can expand its outdoor storage area.

The change must be approved two more times to become official.

The council also gave first approval to changing an area north of 21st Avenue North in the Williams Bend neighborhood from multifamily residential status to a designation for duplex homes. That change was requested by Northwest Iowa Building Co. LLC, of Ankeny, because it is moving its planned 55-unit apartment building closer to North 15th Street. The company plans to build about 15 duplexes where the apartment building was originally supposed to be. That change must also be approved by the council two more times.

In other business, the council purchased a house at 508 S. 16th St. from Grinnell State Bank for $15,000. The two-story frame house will eventually be demolished.

The city government has been buying property around the intersection of Fifth Avenue South and 16th Street with the goal of clearing the area and making it available for redevelopment. Last year, the council purchased the former Walt’s Auto property and two houses at the northwest corner of the intersection. Those buildings have been leveled.

Also on Monday, the council bought some vehicles for the Police Department. One Ford Explorer and two Ford Fusions were purchased from Fort Dodge Ford Toyota for $65,904.