The Atalissa City Council will take bids on a new public basketball court at 216 Cherry Street after receiving a $30,000 grant from the Joseph and Edward Ryan Trust.
Mayor Angie Dickey made the announcement at the Jan. 8 meeting after receiving the grant late last year, compiling it with other donations within the community for the project.
The new cement court is already the subject of bids by the council to tear out a cement slab on the grounds just north of the Atalissa Post Office as well as removing a water line and curbing.
A second set of bids are needed to actually construct the court. Bids will be reviewed at the Feb. 12 meeting at Atalissa City Hall.
Dickey said the project will have to wait for better weather, but hoped the nets will be up this spring. She said more donations are always welcome.
The Joseph and Edward Ryan Memorial is a private foundation that primarily funds support and improvement projects, it’s based in West Liberty.
Grantees include the West Liberty School Foundation and several others. The Memorial made nine grants last year.
In other news…
The council opened discussions on the new fiscal year annual budget to begin June 30, noting there was talk about equipment needs and other priorities.
There was discussion about raising sewer rates in the city following encouragement from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
The Atalissa Community Fire Department won funding from the council for portable restrooms to be used for Atalissa Day in 2024.
The council scheduled a hearing on Monday, Feb. 12 at 6:05 p.m. regarding a presently unoccupied property at 323 Fourth Street, as requested by the owner.
Another property at 14 Cherry Street won an extension to June following a nuisance violation.