NORTH LIBERTY - A leading distributor for food ingredients presented plans for an estimated $4 million expansion to the City Council on Tuesday.

"We are very close to approval of a new facility in North Liberty," said Jim Strubell, vice president and general manager for J.M. Swank Co., an affiliate of ConAgra Foods.

Strubell made the announcement after presenting North Liberty Mayor Clair Mekota with check for $2,500 from ConAgra Foods during the council's regular Tuesday meeting. The money will go toward paying costs for the town's city's $6.8 million Aquatic Center, which opened Memorial Day.

J.M. Swank Co. distributes a variety of food ingredients nationally and provides services related to improving the food ingredient supply chain. The company has been in North Liberty since 1982 and about 30 percent of its employees are from the area, Strubell said. The proposed new facility is subject to ConAgra's approval in early August, he said.

J.M. Swank also donated funds for the pool expansion, said City Clerk Mary K. Mitchell.

The J.M. Swank Co. has more than 1,500 customers and works with 500 vendors. About 150 people work at the existing facility at 520 W. Penn Street.

In other business, the city council set the date for the sale of $1.56 million in bonds for current projects. Sealed bids for purchase of the bonds will be received and canvassed at 10 a.m. Aug. 10.

Current projects include:

• Phase two of the $6.8 million pool expansion project.

• A $650,000 purchase of property north of the community center for parking.

• A $230,000 match for a Community Attraction Tourism grant.

• A $973,100 match for construction on Alexander Way as part of the Maytag Warehouse construction.

• Economic Development for Progress Park and Jefferson Neighborhood addition, totaling $234,800.

• About $225,000 for a trail extension project to start next fall.