The Ames City Council addressed a request from Julious Lawson, the former superintendent of the Ames Community School District, to share the costs of asbestos abatement and the demolition of the Ames Municipal Pool. Despite no legal obligation, the council voted unanimously to pay half the cost, totaling $79,456.96.

The pool, constructed by the city in the mid-1960s, has been a key symbol of collaboration between the city and the Ames Community School District. Both have contributed equally to the pool’s improvements, operations and maintenance, allowing it to serve the city’s recreational swim programs and the school district’s competitive swim programs.

“We do really value the ability to work effectively with the school district,” Ward 3 Rep. Gloria Betcher said. “Especially for the benefit of all the kids in the community. I would hope this helps to solidify that relationship for the people.”

The funds to pay for half of the demolition will come from the Park Development Fund, which has a balance of $551,378.

Additionally, the council approved a downtown zoning amendment allowing property owners to build one-story additions while preventing the replacement of multi-story buildings with single-story buildings.

The council also voted to purchase 133 acres of farmland near the Water Pollution Control Facility for $1,197,000 in order to manage biosolid production.