Following a recent announcement by Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks that the City of Pella received federal funding to extend University Street east, Mayor Don DeWaard believes the road project remains critical at a time when development is needed locally.

DeWaard says the street extension was initially tied to creation of a new rec center north of the Pella Sports Park, but that the project has stalled due to a “divided” city council about the future of the effort.

DeWaard says they are in the process of working to acquire the right-of-way necessary to complete a full street extension from 240th to 250th place, and there are multiple verbal agreements in place to acquire five of the more than seven acres needed. He says regardless of the status of the rec center, expansion and development on the east side of the community has been long identified as a need, and the council could further discuss the road project at the June 18th meeting.

Hear more about the effort on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.