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Argyle residents still waiting for sewer system
by Tracey Lamm/MVM news network
A sanitary sewer system in Argyle remains in a holding pattern.
Despite being awarded a grant from the Iowa Department of Economic Development to pursue the project in 2004, Argyle residents are still without a sanitary sewer system.
At the regular meeting of the Lee County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, Kelly Lewiston, CEO and Director of the Regional Utility Service Systems, updated the board on the project.
Lewiston said when Argyle was awarded the Community Development Block Grant in 2004, a monetary match was required. That match was to come from the USDA Rural Development. However, administrative rules have changed over three years and USDA now requires a project be at a certain point before it will award grant funds. A facility plan from the project engineer is needed in order for the USDA to release funds for the project.
Lee County joined RUSS two years ago, and since that time RUSS has become the project manager. Lee County Supervisor Ernie Schiller sits on the RUSS board.
Lewiston said the risk for Lee County with the lack of action on the project is a possible pulling of IDED funding because the money hasn't been used and a possibility that the Department of Natural Resources could issue a notice and possible fine because of the lack of a sanitary sewer.
Schiller said he has met with the project engineer James Warner, and has received assurances from him that the facility plan will be completed in the next 60 days. Lewiston said something has to happen within the next 30 days or “some decisions will have to be made about the project engineer.”
Lewiston said the issues that have arose with the Argyle project are not typical of other RUSS projects. She said RUSS has facilitated the completion of six projects and have another 14 applications on file.
Joining RUSS, however, hasn't meant progress with the project. Lewiston admitted that the project remain stalled despite Lee County's joining RUSS two years ago.
Besides rule changes and engineering progress, the project is in need of Argyle residents to take up the cause and oversee the project.
Lee County has a number of areas identified in need of a sanitary sewer system. One that was mentioned Tuesday was the unincorporated town of Mooar, or Powdertown, near Chatfield Lake.
Lee County Conservation Director Tom Buckley said the lake water at Chatfield has been tested twice and areas where raw sewage are draining into the lake have been identified.
Despite being awarded a grant from the Iowa Department of Economic Development to pursue the project in 2004, Argyle residents are still without a sanitary sewer system.
At the regular meeting of the Lee County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, Kelly Lewiston, CEO and Director of the Regional Utility Service Systems, updated the board on the project.
Lewiston said when Argyle was awarded the Community Development Block Grant in 2004, a monetary match was required. That match was to come from the USDA Rural Development. However, administrative rules have changed over three years and USDA now requires a project be at a certain point before it will award grant funds. A facility plan from the project engineer is needed in order for the USDA to release funds for the project.
Lee County joined RUSS two years ago, and since that time RUSS has become the project manager. Lee County Supervisor Ernie Schiller sits on the RUSS board.
Lewiston said the risk for Lee County with the lack of action on the project is a possible pulling of IDED funding because the money hasn't been used and a possibility that the Department of Natural Resources could issue a notice and possible fine because of the lack of a sanitary sewer.
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Lewiston said the issues that have arose with the Argyle project are not typical of other RUSS projects. She said RUSS has facilitated the completion of six projects and have another 14 applications on file.
Joining RUSS, however, hasn't meant progress with the project. Lewiston admitted that the project remain stalled despite Lee County's joining RUSS two years ago.
Besides rule changes and engineering progress, the project is in need of Argyle residents to take up the cause and oversee the project.
Lee County has a number of areas identified in need of a sanitary sewer system. One that was mentioned Tuesday was the unincorporated town of Mooar, or Powdertown, near Chatfield Lake.
Lee County Conservation Director Tom Buckley said the lake water at Chatfield has been tested twice and areas where raw sewage are draining into the lake have been identified.
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