Jefferson council moves forward with wastewater treatment plant revenue bond

By Rick Morain

Jefferson Herald

The Jefferson City Council on Tuesday by resolution voted to enter into a loan agreement in order to issue sewer revenue bonds not to exceed $15 million to plan, design and construct improvements and extensions to the city’s wastewater treatment plant, located at the southwest corner of the city just east of Daubendiek Park.

The action followed a public hearing on the proposal, with no oral and written comments received.
The improvement is necessary because the current wastewater plant does not meet state requirements for treating the effluent from the plant.
On a related matter, the council placed on first reading a revised sewer rate ordinance. The original first reading of the ordinance took place at the Aug. 9 council meeting, but there was an error on the effective date, so the revised ordinance starts the process again. The proposed rate increase does not change.

The proposed ordinance would increase city sewer rates by 11 percent each year for the next five years, beginning July 1, 2023. The base rate for sewer service the first year would increase by $1.64 per month, from $14.90 to $16.54. The price per 100 cubic feet would increase by 69 cents, from $6.29 to $6.98. The city’s wastewater committee and finance committee recommend the increase.
The council also placed on first reading an ordinance to increase city water rates by five percent, effective with the November 2022 billing. The city’s water committee recommends the increase based on increased costs of chemicals and funding necessary for anticipated plant improvements.

The proposal would increase the base amount for water service for the first 134 cubic feet by 35 cents per month, from $11.86 to $12.45, and the price per additional 100 cubic feet by 37 cents, from $7.44 to $7.81.
The council approved a development agreement with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) for a developer’s project to convert the former middle school at 203 West Harrison to apartments. At the Aug. 9 council meeting the city accepted a $600,000 grant from IEDA for the project. The agreement outlines how the funds will be used.

A façade improvement grant of $12,500 for RVP~1875 at 115 South Wilson Avenue, a block south of the square was approved by the council. The grant matches an equal amount to be put into the project by Robbie Pedersen, owner of the business and the building. Some of the brickwork on the building is crumbling and needs to be shored up.
Colin Shriver was approved as a firefighter for the Jefferson fire department.

The council approved Pay Estimate No. 9 of $37,637 in state Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the improvement project at 200 East State Street, the northeast corner of the square.
The council approved Pay Estimates Nos. 4 and 5, of $38,641.26 and $123,083.576 respectively, to Jensen Builders Ltd. for the Greene County Animal Shelter. The animal shelter’s completion date is expected to be around mid-October.

A fireworks permit was approved for Timothy Waters at Jefferson Community Golf Course for Oct. 15.
The council approved the quarterly payment to Greene County Development Corporation (GCDC), following a report from GCDC executive director Ken Paxton on current projects of the organization.