By Sam Parsons

The Pella City Council met earlier this week and had a discussion on the future of the Pella Community Center. City Administrator Mike Nardini presented to the council and mentioned that an engineering study conducted in 2020 found that roughly $5.5 million in repairs and improvements would be needed to extend the life of the community center for about 20 years. The renovations to the community center could wind up affecting its future uses in ways that could help free up space in the Pella Public Library.

Nardini said that the facility use plan will be up for approval in May of next year, with financial contributions for the potential project to be finalized by October of next year in the tentative timeline. The initial timeline anticipates the project being completed by fall of 2025, though Nardini stressed that it is subject to change. The council spoke in support of the renovations to the community center and advised the engineering department to gather further information for the proposal in May of next year.

Full audio from the Pella city council meeting this week can be found here.