The City Council held a special meeting Thursday afternoon to approve a track-construction agreement with the Iowa Interstate Railroad. Approving the agreement allowed the city to both save money and keep the completion of the Peterson Contractors project on schedule, according to city memorandum dated July 25.

Councilors approved the resolution on a 4-0 vote, with Mayor Matt Hayek and Councilors Terry Dickens, Susan Mims, and Connie Champion present.

The resolution OK’d the construction of track siding to serve the Iowa City Industrial Campus.

The agreement will save the city $2,500 per day and will ensure that the completion of the Peterson Contractors project isn’t delayed.

Councilors awarded the contract to Peterson Contractors Inc. of Reinbeck, Iowa, on May 1 to construct the railroad sidings and spur lines at the Industrial Campus. The installation of the connections is estimated to cost roughly $427,000, according to city documents.

–by Kristen East