A Collaborative Project for All Ages!

The City of Ames has partnered with Mary Greeley Medical Center, Iowa State University, Des Moines Area Community College, Story County, and Heartland Senior Services to explore building an intergenerational Healthy Life Center along property currently owned by Iowa State University on Scholl Road, just north of Ontario Street. 

 The Healthy Life Center purpose:

To provide a one-of-a-kind center that makes the life-long goal of healthy living accessible and enjoyable to people of all ages and socio-economic status.

How do I vote?

The bond referendum vote is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 10.

DEADLINES:

• Absentee Voting Begins (by mail and in Auditor's Office): Monday, August 12
• Pre-Registration Deadline: Friday, August 30, by 5 p.m.
• Deadline for Requesting mailed Absentee Ballot: Friday, August 30

The polls will open at 7 AM and close at 8 PM on September 10.

WHERE:

• Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Avenue
• Grand Avenue Baptist Church, 612-24th Street
• Bethesda Lutheran Church, 1517 Northwestern Avenue
• Ascension Lutheran Church, 2400 Bloomington Road
• Green Hills Community, 2205 Green Hills Drive
• Collegiate United Methodist Church, 2622 Lincoln Way
• Buchanan Hall Room 2009, 2160 Lincoln Way
• Trinity Christian Reformed Church, 3626 Ontario Street

Click here to request an absentee ballot

Residents can learn more about requesting an absentee ballot, where to vote, and the hours of the polling stations by going to the Story County Auditor's page 

Quick Question:

Is it true this facility will operate at a deficit?

Yes. The Healthy Life Center will have an annual operating deficit of $404,000. The most expensive part of the Healthy Life Center is the indoor aquatic center, which costs approximately $19 million. The indoor aquatics center creates 90% of the $404,000 operational deficit. It is important to note that the Municipal Pool at Ames High School will be torn down in 2022. The new high school pool will not meet the needs of people who prefer a warm-water recreation experience. For decades, the Ames Municipal Pool has required $100,000 in tax support a year from the City of Ames and the Ames Community School District.

Local government often plays the central role of providing quality-of-life amenities. In Ames, community resources that require tax support include the Ames park system (Ada Hayden Heritage Park and others), Furman Aquatic Center, Ames Public Library, and the City Auditorium.

Quality-of-life amenities provide community-wide benefits whether you use a facility or not. Vibrant, attractive cities attract new residents, new families, new businesses and new employees. These increase property tax revenues, sales tax revenue, school populations and more. Working together, these factors bolster the City’s ability to provide exceptional public services.

The $44 per $100,000 of assessed residential property value tax increase includes both the construction costs and the ongoing operational costs. If approved, the increased taxes cover the cost of the Healthy Life Center and will NOT affect currently funded City services such as public safety.

Partner Organizations

Meet the faces behind the partnerships including Dr. Wendy Wintersteen, President of Iowa State University; Steve Schainker, City Manager with the City of Ames; Brian Dieter, President and CEO of Mary Greeley Medical Center; and Nancy Carroll, Executive Director of Heartland Senior Services.

Bond Referendum for $29,065,000 - Tuesday, Sept. 10

The project’s partners are the City of Ames, Heartland Senior Services, Iowa State University, Mary Greeley Medical Center, Story County, and Des Moines Area Community College. Heartland would move its offices and adult daycare center to the facility. Mary Greeley would provide post-surgery and rehabilitation services on site.

Together with a bequest and other private gifts, these six entities have identified $20 million in revenue that would cover more than 41% of the project cost. The balance of $29,065,000 would be funded through a bond referendum on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

Parks and Recreation Director Keith Abraham and Heartland Senior Services Executive Director Nancy Carroll share details about the Healthy Life Center project:

Project Overview/PowerPoint Presentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Healthy Life Center Informational Brochure

Healthy Life Center Feasibility Study

The Healthy Life Center would bring to residents:

• A holistic approach
• A focus on health-promotion
• A support for physical activity
• Social connections 
• Enhanced long-term health
• Improved nutritional behavior
• Multi-generational connections

Location: Ontario and Scholl Road/Ames

Details about the Site 

Although rumors about the proposed site allude to property contamination due to experiments or storage during by Federal government more than 70 years ago, Tom Barton, former Director of the Ames Laboratory and Harris Seidel, former Director of the City of Ames Water, Pollution and Control Department confirmed that this land is a clean and safe site. This site has only been used by Iowa State University for agriculture purposes. It has never been used as a disposal, storage or experimental site for anything other than agricultural uses.

View the video featuring Tom Barton and Harris Seidel providing important, fact-based site information.

Questions? Want a Speaker?

For questions or to request a speaker for your organization, contact:

• Keith Abraham, Ames Parks and Recreation Director, 515.239.5349
• Gary Botine, Mary Greeley Medical Center,
• Nancy Carroll, Executive Director of Heartland Senior Services, 515.231.4354
• Susan Gwiasda, Ames Public Information Officer, 515.239.5204