The Pella City Council approved items related to development at their meeting Tuesday evening.

Written applications to annex land into the City of Pella corporate limits in relation to the Lely, North America headquarters south of Highway 163 were approved. City Administrator Mike Nardini says annexation is voluntary, and the agreement includes the Iowa Department of Transportation for the Highway 163 portion of the expansion, 163 Properties Corp. — the legal entity for Lely and their property south of 163, and Grace Fellowship Church, located north of the interchange.

The annexation was necessary, according to Nardini, to accommodate expansion of city water, sewer, and street infrastructure to the site.

A groundbreaking ceremony is being held this week to mark the beginning of construction of the $16 million project, which is expected to be complete in early to mid 2022.