Small Town News

Spillville hires engineer for wastewater project

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The Spillville City Council has approved a contract with IIW Engineers of Dubuque for a wastewater treatment facility project.

The city recently was awarded a $906,225 I-JOBS grant for the project estimated to cost $1.2 million. The city has applied for additional funding through a Community Development Block Grant, but it's not yet known whether the grant has been approved.

A bid letting is expected for April or May of next year.

The project involves converting the treatment facility's two-cell sewer lagoon into three cells with a larger primary holding cell. It also will involve redoing a lift station and new pumps and piping.

In addition, the dike that surrounds the treatment facility will be raised an additional six feet, which should prevent floodwater from reaching the facility. The plant was competely inundated during last June's flooding.

In order to complete the treatment facility expansion and improvements, the city needs to acquire about 3.5 acres of property from Duane Albertson in Spillville.

At its meeting last week, the Council approved an "option to buy agreement" to purchase the land at a rate of $10,000 per acre.

The Council also approved an $18,101 quote from Municipal Pipe Tool Company of Hudson to repair 558 feet of sanitary sewer line located on Pleasant View Drive.

Flood ordinance tabled

In other matters last week, the third reading of the flood plain ordinance, which needs to be approved for the city to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), was tabled.

According to Mayor Mike Klimesh, the city must establish a Planning and Zoning Commission that will zone the flood plain and non-flood plain areas before the ordinance can be approved. The zoning will be based on 1976 Housing and Urban Development mapping of the city.

Once the ordinance is passed and the city participates in the NFIP, people who reside in the flood plain, in addition to people who don't, will be eligible to purchase flood insurance, Klimesh said.

He said all cities and counties would eventually be required to participate in NFIP.

Last week, the Council approved the mayor's appointment of Jon Fisher to the new Planning and Zoning Commission. Bob Mc-Namara was appointed earlier this summer. One more resident is needed to complete the Commission.

Klimesh said he hopes to fill that position soon.

Old World Inn

The Council also approved a new liquor license for the Old World Inn, contingent on the closing of the sale of the property.

In July, the Council approved an agreement to sell the Inn to the Duane Albertson family of Spillville for $110,000.

Its previous owner, Jack Egg-spuehler of Dublin, Ohio, who spent more than $1 million on a renovation of the Inn, donated the completely furnished facility to the city earlier this year.

Shimek Sanitation

The city's garbage contract with Shimek Sanitation was approved. The contract includes a rate increase of 25 cents per customer due to landfill fees that increased in July. The agreement runs through Sept. 30, 2010.

The Council also discussed and approved two building permits. Randy Wagner submitted a permit request for a 20-by-24 foot addition to the back of his garage located on Victory Street and Scott Duder is planning a 20-by-25-foot garage located at 105 Pleasant Drive.



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© 2009 The Decorah Journal Decorah, Iowa. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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