Your Ames Voice

Thursday, March 12, 2026

March 12, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

Happy Thursday!

In today's newsletter, the Ames City Council is looking to close a multimillion-dollar funding gap for a new recycling and waste facility because construction bids for the project are $2.8 million more than expected.

In other news, the council is also beginning its search for a new city attorney because Mark Lambert will retire this fall. At Iowa State, a $5 million project to upgrade Lake LaVerne begins this May, and the university sold 17 acres of land to local developers to bring new workforce housing in the community.

For any journalism students, check out our internship application. However, anyone can apply to work in the newsroom. It's more than just reporters — photography, copy editing or administrative-assistant work.

The Voice is always seeking volunteers across all divisions, whether that's in the newsroom, fundraising, marketing, etc. Even if you only have a couple hours a week to give, we can find a place for you. We are also seeking an advertising sales representative.

If you have any questions about opportunities, reach out to Anthony Capps for newsroom questions and Al Weber for advertising, marketing and administrative questions. We'll also be at the Art Cullen event later this month (the Voice is a sponsor) and would be glad to talk with you.

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook!


Co-Editors: Anthony Capps & Amber Mohmand
[email protected]

 

Top Story

Starting this summer, nearly every Ames household will see a new charge on city utility bills, whether residents recycle or not.

Bids for recycling campus nearly $2.8 million over estimate

by Bill Monroe | Staff Reporter | Published on March 11, 2026

Ames officials are working to close a multimillion-dollar funding gap after construction bids for a new recycling and waste facility came in far higher than expected.

The combined base bids for building the city’s Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus (R3C) totaled $19.62 million — approximately $2.8 million more than the $16.82 million engineers originally estimated, according to documents reviewed by the city council on Tuesday. Because of the gap, the council delayed awarding construction contracts until its March 24 meeting while officials negotiated with contractors and reviewed possible design changes.

The total revised budget for R3C projects total revenues of $25.56 million and total expenses of $28 million. In addition to construction costs, total expenses include land acquisition, project design and contingency funds.

 

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City of Ames

City Council

Ames to begin search for next city attorney

by Bill Monroe | Staff Reporter

Ames is preparing for a major leadership transition after City Attorney Mark Lambert announced plans to retire in September.

 

More from City of Ames

Civic Calendar

Mon: Gilbert CSD Regular Meeting & Work Session, 6 p.m., District Office (Gilbert)
Tue: Board of Supervisors, 10 a.m., Administration Building (Nevada)
Wed: Board of Adjustment, 4 p.m., Administration Building (Nevada)
Thurs: Parks and Recreation Commission, 4 p.m., Council Chambers at City Hall (Ames)

Iowa State University

Board of Regents

Regents discuss tuition hike, land sale and campus improvements

by Amber Mohmand | News Editor

The Iowa Board of Regents approved the sale of 17 acres of Iowa State University land to Hunziker Development Group and 574 Investments to develop workforce housing in the Ames community.

Community Voices

People of Ames

Ames Notables: Dorothy Schwieder

by Ames History Museum | Contributor

Dorothy Schwieder came to Iowa in 1966 to teach at Iowa State University, where she was the history department’s first and only female professor for almost 20 years.

 

More from Community Voices

In Other News

ISU News Service: Iowa State’s impact on state economy grows to $6 billion