SIRWA proposes sewer alternative
By TYLER ELLYSON — CNA staff reporter tellyson@crestonnews.com
County residents could be looking at another option when it comes to sewer systems.
Dan McIntosh, Southern Iowa Rural Water Association (SIRWA) general manager, presented the draft of a systemwide, on-site sewer project at the Union County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday.
The proposed system would address water quality issues in counties and small communities serviced by SIRWA.
According to McIntosh, the on-site systems would be similar to the 12 SIRWA already owns in towns like Cromwell, Arispe, Prescott, Shannon City and Tingley.
“What we’re proposing now is to go out into the rural areas,” he said. “Any customer who wants to put a new sewer system in, possibly we could partner with them.”
Partnership
The objective of these partnerships would be to reduce sewer costs in the SIRWA service area and ensure the systems are properly maintained.
McIntosh said the plan is to use stimulus money or grants through USDA Rural Development to fund the project.
If funding can be secured, it would cover 50 percent of the cost for a new system. SIRWA would then pay 25 percent with the homeowner covering the remaining 25 percent.
SIRWA would own and operate the new systems, meaning they would be responsible for obtaining permits, selecting a system, installation, maintenance and replacement while working with the homeowner.
“We want to make sure that if we put something in that it’s put in to our standards,” McIntosh explained.
Individual homeowners would pay a monthly sewer bill after the installation is complete.
“We’re hoping a normal sewer bill will be around $25 a month,” said McIntosh.
Bill amounts are based on how many bedrooms are in a home, not water usage, and payment plans are being considered.
Agreements with SIRWA are strictly voluntary. Each county involved would sign an agreement with SIRWA and the homeowners must have SIRWA water service and sign an easement for the placement of the system and document protecting SIRWA’s financial investment.
“Anybody that has a system that is working and is approved does not have to hook onto this system as long as their system is working,” said Mike King, Union County Board of Supervisors chairman.
Future
McIntosh said the project would start on a trial basis in Union County before expanding.
He hopes to secure funding for three years.
“I really believe that if this is something that is truly working, we will find the money,” said McIntosh.
According to McIntosh, SIRWA is also looking at installing a distribution main around Summit Lake that residents could use if their sewer system goes bad. There is the potential for a rule stating everyone in the area must be hooked up to the system in the future.
“The problem is I’ve got to show a way to pay that loan money back,” McIntosh said.
That means people would have to be paying to use the system.
Kent
The proposed system could be a lifeline for the former town of Kent.
“What really moved this ahead a little further is the people in Kent,” said McIntosh. “They need to get something done.”
In 2003, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) told residents in the now unincorporated town they must improve their sewer systems to meet IDNR requirements. The order was in response to a 2001 complaint about systems in the community, which city officials took no action on.
The original order gave residents until April 2006 to have their systems in compliance, but a lack of funding sources extended the deadline.
Since the town of Kent no longer exists, Union County is responsible for the sewer systems.
Kent-area residents now have until Dec. 31 to get a sewer system installed on their property that meets IDNR requirements. Residents were to have a permit purchased by Wednesday.
Problems
Most Kent-area residents in attendance were for the plan McIntosh is proposing, but there are some issues.
“If SIRWA can’t get the funding and you get your permit, that doesn’t mean somebody will be there to fix it for you before Dec. 31,” said King.
Although McIntosh thought SIRWA’s system could be in place by this fall, he stressed this is only a draft of the proposed plan.
“We’re a public entity, and the last thing we can do is lose money,” McIntosh said. “We want to take this very slow and make sure it happens right.”
He explained the process is moving faster because of the situation in the Kent area, but no guarantees can be made for a timeline of events.
Union County Environmental Specialist Louis Boeckman said it’s up to the homeowners to prove they have a functioning sewer system by the deadline.
In response to a question about reimbursement, McIntosh said SIRWA would not pay for systems installed by the homeowner because they may not meet SIRWA’s standards.
If the proposed plan is in place, but a homeowner’s system can not be installed before the deadline, SIRWA would attempt to obtain a waiver from the IDNR, said McIntosh.
Opposition
Bryan Scott, a Kent-area resident for the past three years, questioned what happens if a homeowner can’t afford to get a permit or pay the 25 percent, saying he feels pressured into updating his sewer system.
“What I’m asking for myself is if I can have more time like the residents that have lived there since 2000,” said Scott. “I’ve known about this since last year.”
Scott added there is no funding available for an unincorporated community.
“Every person I call in this county tells me Kent had their chance,” he said. “Well I wasn’t there when Kent had its chance.”
Scott called the situation depressing, saying he has no plan to install a new system and will not pay any imposed fines.
“They’re treating us wrong down there,” said Scott. “What are they going to do, kick my wife, kids and me out?”
Regardless of whether a person is for the plan, both McIntosh and King stressed this plan is far from complete.
“We want you to know there is funding available, but there is no guarantee,” said King. “Don’t use this as gospel.”
