City of Ottumwa, Iowa - City Government

10/16/2026

Agendas for the October 20 Board of Health and City Council meetings are available at www.ottumwa.us/agendas.

10/16/2026

The City of Ottumwa has a few items up for bid on our GovDeals page at https://www.govdeals.com/en/ottumwaia. Be sure to check back as a few more items will be going up over the coming weeks.

GovDeals' online marketplace provides services to government, educational, and related entities for the sale of surplus assets to the public. Auction rules may vary across sellers.

10/15/2026

🚧 Parking Lot Work at the Ottumwa Public Library 🚧

Big improvements are coming to the library parking lot! TK Concrete will begin concrete work on Monday, October 19. You may see crews setting up as early as Friday.

🅿️ What’s changing: Public parking spots between the shed/dumpster area and 3rd Street will be closed starting Monday and will stay closed until the project is finished.

📚 What’s staying open: The alley and the book drop are expected to remain open throughout the project.

📞 Can’t reach the book drop? No problem! Call library staff at 641-682-7563, tell them where you’re parked, and someone will come out and grab your returns.

Thank you for your patience while these improvements are made. 💙

10/15/2026

🚴 E-Bikes have been a topic of conversation as of late and the discussion hit the City Council special meeting this week.

📝 No policy has been set, but a lot of information was shared, including the various classifications and the fact that not all "E-Bikes" are actually E-Bikes. We have created a page that has this information, including a brochure from the Iowa Department of Transportation, that helps break down the types of vehicles and provides safety tips. This page can be found at www.ottumwa.us/ebikes.

👮🏿‍♂️ The Public Safety Advisory Committee will continue to work with departments on coming up with a policy that provides guidance for the safety of residents without hampering the benefits of this mode of transportation.

10/14/2026

✂️ RIBBON CUTTING CELEBRATION! 🎉

The GOPIP Ambassadors were proud to join the City of Ottumwa, Iowa in celebrating the opening of the new Ottumwa Cemetery Office and Maintenance Building!

This new facility brings office and maintenance operations together under one roof, providing improved accessibility, greater efficiency, and a welcoming space to better serve the community.

Congratulations to the City of Ottumwa, the Parks and Recreation Department, the Cemetery Board of Trustees, and everyone who helped bring this important project to life!

👏 We're always excited to celebrate investments that strengthen our community and improve services for Ottumwa residents!

📍 Ottumwa Cemetery | 401 E. Park Avenue

10/14/2026

🗳️ The General Election is Tuesday, November 3, and early voting starts TODAY! 🗳️

Beginning today, Wapello County voters can cast their ballot early through in-person absentee voting at the Wapello County Auditor’s Office. It’s a simple way to make your voice heard on your own schedule and skip the Election Day lines. ✅

📍 Wapello County Courthouse, 2nd Floor
101 W. 4th Street, Ottumwa
🪪 Remember to bring a valid ID!

This November, voters will help decide federal, state, and county races that shape our community for years to come. Whether you vote early or head to the polls on Election Day, make a plan and get it done. 🇺🇸

Learn more about the voting process in Wapello County here: 👇
https://wapellocounty.iowa.gov/elections/info/general_2026_11_03/

10/14/2026

The October 13 City Council special meeting is available for viewing at https://www.youtube.com/live/7uncyVVGdAs?si=k0wfX6gUceUSbhyz.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

10/13/2026

⚓ 🇺🇸 Anchors aweigh! Today we wish the United States Navy a happy 251st birthday! 🎂

📜 On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized two armed vessels to intercept British supply ships, giving birth to what would become the United States Navy.

⛵ After the Revolutionary War, the Continental Navy was disbanded and its last ship sold off in 1785. That didn’t last long. Threats to American merchant ships led Congress to pass the Naval Act of 1794, authorizing six frigates, including the USS Constitution. 🛳️

🏛️ In 1798, Congress created the Department of the Navy, and the fleet has been on watch ever since.

💪 “Old Ironsides” (the USS Constitution) is still a commissioned ship today, making her the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. Not bad for a ship launched in 1797! 🔥

📅 Fun fact: October 13 wasn’t officially recognized as the Navy’s birthday until 1972, when the Chief of Naval Operations authorized it.

🫡 To every Sailor serving today and every Navy veteran right here in Ottumwa, thank you for your service. Fair winds and following seas! ⚓ 💙 💛

10/12/2026

🎣 Rainbow Trout Coming to Greater Ottumwa Park!

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will be stocking 1,500 rainbow trout 🐟 in the east pond at Greater Ottumwa Park on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.

This stocking is part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources cool weather trout program. The program brings trout to community lakes and ponds that can’t support them during the summer months. It’s a great chance to catch trout without heading to the cold water streams of northeast Iowa, and a perfect opportunity for kids to catch their first fish! 👦👧

📋 Before you cast:
✅ A valid fishing license and the trout fee are required to fish for or keep trout
✅ Daily limit: 5 trout per licensed angler
✅ Possession limit: 10 trout
✅ Kids 15 and younger can fish with a properly licensed adult, but they share that adult’s daily limit. Kids who purchase their own trout fee can keep their own limit.

🌡️ Stocking dates may change if water temperatures stay too warm. We’ll let you know if anything changes.

All Iowa Department of Natural Resources fishing rules and regulations apply at Greater Ottumwa Park. Grab your gear and we’ll see you at the pond! 🎣

10/09/2026

The agenda for the October 13 City Council special meeting is available at www.ottumwa.us/agendas. E-bikes will be a topic of discussion, so those with concerns are encouraged to attend this meeting or contact City Council members ahead of time. Contact information can be found at www.ottumwa.us/officials.