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C I T Y T O W N H A L L M E E T I N G
C I T Y W A T E R S Y S T E M
N O V E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 5 7 : 0 0 P . M .
I O N A C O M M U N I T Y C E N T E R
P R E S E N T : M a y o r A n d e r s e n , C o u n c i l M e m b e r K a t h y M c N a m a r a , C o u n c i l M e m b e r D a n
G a r r e n , C o u n c i l M e m b e r R o b G e r a y , P u b l i c W o r k s D i r e c t o r Z e c h P r o u s e , C i t y C l e r k S h a r a
R o b e r t s , L e e A n d e r s e n , J e a n H a d e r l i e , V e r l H a d e r l i e , T o m L o u k , G l e n C l a r k , J e f f P o w e l l , A d a m
B o s t r o m , M i k e B r y a n , R o d G a r d n e r , J a s o n M c C o n e g h y , S h a w n a S t e e l e , R o y H o b b s , W y n n
C h r i s t e n s e n , M i k e K l i n g l e r , B r e n d a K l i n g l e r , R y a n K r a n t z , P a u l C a r d e n a s , L a w r e n c e B u r k e , B e n
M o o n , N o l a n G e t s i n g e r , B r e n t T e r r y , T o m T o m i t a , T i m D r o l l i n g e r , D a v i d K l i n g l e r , S u s i e
R a n s o m , J o h n L o t t , L i s L o t t , W i l l i a m W i n d e r , S t e v e R u s s e l l , T e r r y M c N a m a r a , R y a n W a l k e r ,
A l a n J e n k i n s , B r u c e S t a n g e r , D a n n e i l l e A r a v e , D e e & C h r i s t i n e J o h n s o n , D e n n i s B a t e m e n .
M a y o r A n d e r s e n s t a r t e d b y e x p l a i n i n g t h e W a t e r C o m m i t t e e i s a g r o u p o f v o l u n t e e r c i t i z e n s
w h o s e m a i n f o c u s i s t o m a k e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s o n t h e w a t e r s y s t e m t o e n h a n c e t h e f u t u r e f o r t h e
C i t y o f I o n a .
C h a i r m a n L e e A n d e r s e n p r o v i d e d a s u m m a r y o f t h e l a s t t o w n h a l l m e e t i n g t h a t w a s h e l d i n
A u g u s t r e g a r d i n g t h e C i t y ' s w a t e r s y s t e m . H e e x p l a i n e d c i t i z e n s e x p r e s s e d t h e n u m b e r o f b a s e
g a l l o o n s o f 1 5 , 0 0 0 w a s t o o l o w , a n d t h e y a l s o w a n t e d s t r o n g e r d a t a t o s u p p o r t t h e n e e d f o r w a t e r
m e t e r s i n I o n a . I n g e n e r a l , m o s t p e o p l e a p p e a r e d t o b e s u p p o r t i v e o f r a i s i n g t h e m o n t h l y r a t e t o
b e a b l e t o a f f o r d t h e C i t y ' s p r o j e c t s . I f m e t e r s w e r e t o b e i n s t a l l e d t h e c i t i z e n s w o u l d p r e f e r t o
s t r e t c h o u t t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n o v e r s e v e r a l y e a r s . T h e r e w e r e a l s o q u e s t i o n s r e g a r d i n g t h e
e n f o r c e m e n t o f t h e w a t e r s c h e d u l e , a n d i f t i c k e t s w e r e b e i n g i s s u e d f o r o v e r w a t e r i n g . C i t i z e n s
w e r e a l s o c o n c e r n e d a b o u t l o t s i z e a n d t h e i m p a c t o f m e t e r s o n l a r g e r l o t s .
M r . A n d e r s e n e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e w a t e r s t u d y c o m p l e t e d i n 2 0 0 6 s h o w e d t h e C i t y w a s d e f i c i e n t i n
a f e w k e y a r e a s a n d n e e d e d t o m a k e t h e f o l l o w i n g i m p r o v e m e n t s : r e h a b i l i t a t e w e l l 3 , d o p u m p
s t a t i o n u p g r a d e s t o w e l l s 2 a n d 3 , p u r c h a s e a s c a d a s y s t e m , a n d r e f u r b i s h o r d e m o l i s h t h e
e x i s t i n g 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 g a l l o n t a n k . I n a d d i t i o n , i t e m s l i s t e d o n t h e w a t e r s t u d y t h a t d i d n ' t g e t d o n e
w e r e t o c o n s t r u c t a o n e m i l l i o n g a l l o n t a n k , a n d u p g r a d e t h e l i n e o n 5 5 ` h t o a 1 0 " o r 1 2 " l i n e .
M r . A n d e r s e n e x p l a i n e d t h a t c u r r e n t l y t h e r e a r e f o u r w a t e r m e t e r s i n s t a l l e d i n t o w n t o g a t h e r
w a t e r u s a g e d a t a . C i t y e m p l o y e e s Z e c h P r o u s e a n d A l l e n E l d r i d g e f o u n d o n e m a j o r l e a k i n w h i c h
t h e y w o r k e d w i t h t h a t c u s t o m e r t o g e t t h e l e a k c o r r e c t e d t o r e d u c e t h e u s a g e . A g r a p h w a s s h o w n
t h a t o u t l i n e d t h e w a t e r d a t a u s a g e a t i t s p e a k , a n d h o w i t w e n t d o w n a f t e r t h e l e a k w a s r e s o l v e d .
M r . A n d e r s e n t h e n p r e s e n t e d a n o v e r v i e w o f t h e b u d g e t . I n 2 0 0 8 , t h e r e w e r e 5 5 0 w a t e r
c o n n e c t i o n s , a n d n o w i n 2 0 1 5 t h e C i t y h a s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 7 7 0 c o n n e c t i o n s . N e w u s e r s i n t o t h e
s y s t e m h a v e p a i d a l m o s t $ 8 0 0 , 0 0 0 i n c o n n e c t i o n f e e s . M r . A n d e r s e n e x p l a i n e d t h a t i f g r o w t h
s l o w s , g r o s s r e v e n u e w i l l d r o p o r f l a t t e n o u t . M r . A n d e r s e n e x p l a i n e d w i t h o u t t h a t r e v e n u e , t h e
d i f f e r e n c e w i l l h a v e t o c o m e f r o m i n c r e a s e d m o n t h l y w a t e r f e e s .
T h e W a t e r C o m m i t t e e ' s c u r r e n t p r i o r i t i e s a r e t o r e f u r b i s h t h e e x i s t i n g 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 g a l l o n t a n k a t a
c o s t o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y $ 5 0 , 0 0 0 , p u r c h a s e l a n d f o r a n e w t a n k t o p o t e n t i a l l y b e u s e d f o r a 4 t h w e l l
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at a cost of approximately $25,000, purchase and install 25 meters at strategic points around
town to gather water usage data only (not for enforcement) at a cost of approximately $20,000,
purchase additional water rights at a cost of approximately $350,000 for 1.58 cfs which will
provide the City a 27% increase. The total cost of all projects is approximately $445,000. In
order to be able to fund these projects, without having to take out a loan the Water Committee
would like to propose raising the monthly water rate from $23.00 to $30.00 and put an emphasis
on a better defined watering schedule.
Mr. Andersen then opened up the presentation for questions and comments from the public.
Dennis Bateman located at 5311 Steele explained he hired a lawyer and they are in the process of
gathering signatures for an initiative and referendum that would require installing water meters
City wide be put out for a vote. Once they have received the 20% required signatures they will
bring them to the City Clerk's office and sign them into law. Mr. Bateman expressed to the
Mayor and City Council the citizens are going to do this, and if they decide to rebut it will be
political suicide.
John Lott located at 4874 E. 41 St N. stated he was against the installation of water meters.
Mayor Andersen explained the last time the water rate was raised was in 2008. It was
recommended the rate be raised to $28.00 but after gathering public input it was only raised to
$23.00 from $20.00. If it wasn't for the new growth and connection fees the City would be going
backwards instead of forwards. Currently, the City has $500,000 in savings and with the needed
water projects there won't be any funds left in the savings accounts. To help fund the water
projects, and maintain City savings you need to raise the rate to about the $26.80 which is the
calculation the Water Committee came up with.
Mayor Andersen closed his comment by explaining that the Water Committee is trying to look at
both short term and long term goals. With the opportunity to purchase water rights, the City may
not need to do water meters. The City has always tried to be conservative, but plan for the future.
However, the City needs to make efforts to be more accountable, responsible, and conserve what
they are using.
Mike Klingler located at 3075 Barnes Way expressed his appreciation for the public setting to
express concerns and talk civilly. He recognized the important role that Mayor Andersen and the
City Council hold as the elected officials. He expressed he is concerned with the installation of
water meters that they will see yards start to dry up because people feel like they can't water
enough or in some cases can't afford to. He also expressed it takes a lot of money to put them in,
maintain, and monitor metered services. Mr. Klingler agreed that we should increase the monthly
water fee from $23.00 to $30.00 so the City doesn't have to go out for a bond or a loan to fund
the needed projects. He feels $30.00 is not an outrageous water bill especially if it keeps the City
from having to pay interest rates to bankers. In closing, Mr. Klingler stated "Let's be smart, and
let's do this reasonably."
Chairman Lee Andersen recognized a lot of what Mr. Klinger expressed was the Water
Committee's goal of trying to be fiscally responsible and not have the City go out for a bond or
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l o a n . H e e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e c h e a p e s t s o u r c e s o f b o n d s a r e f r o m t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f E n v i r o n m e n t a l
Q u a l i t y ( D E Q ) a n d U n i t e d S t a t e D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e ( U S D A ) . O n e o f t h e m r e q u i r e t h e
C i t y h a s m e t e r s , a n d t h e s e c o n d d o e s n ' t r e q u i r e m e t e r s , b u t c o n s i d e r s m e t e r s a s p a r t o f t h e
s c o r i n g . B a s i c a l l y , i f y o u d o n ' t h a v e m e t e r s y o u a r e n ' t g o i n g t o g e t a l o a n . T h e o t h e r a l t e r n a t i v e
i s t o g o o u t f o r a l o a n w i t h a h i g h i n t e r e s t r a t e f r o m a c o n v e n t i o n a l b a n k .
B r u c e S t a n g e r l o c a t e d a t 4 4 8 9 N . 5 5 t h E . e x p r e s s e d t h a t I o n a a p p e a r s t o b e a g r e a t p l a c e t o l i v e
a n d e v e r y o n e i s s e e k i n g t h e q u a l i t y o f l i f e h e r e . M r . S t a n g e r e x p r e s s e d h e i s a g a i n s t w a t e r
m e t e r s . M r . S t a n g e r e x p l a i n e d t h a t c u r r e n t l y t h e C i t y i s c h a r g i n g $ 3 , 0 0 0 f o r a w a t e r s y s t e m h o o k
u p , i f t h a t f e e w a s r a i s e d i t w o u l d n ' t l o o k a s g o o d t o t h e d e v e l o p e r s t h a t a r e c o m i n g i n a n d
b u y i n g a l l t h i s l a n d t o b u i l d n e w s u b d i v i s i o n s . W i t h a l l t h e a d d i t i o n a l g r o w t h , t h e r e i s a n e e d f o r
m o r e s e r v i c e s . M r . S t a n g e r e x p r e s s e d t h e r e a r e a l o t o f o t h e r s o l u t i o n s b e s i d e s m e t e r i n g t h e w a t e r
s u c h a s x e r i s c a p i n g , r a i s i n g t h e w a t e r c o n n e c t i o n f e e , a n d p l a n n i n g f o r t h e t y p e o f g r o w t h I o n a
w a n t s t o s e e . H e c l o s e d b y e x p r e s s i n g h e w o u l d l i k e t o s e e t h e C i t y h a v e a u n i f i e d a p p r o a c h t o
g r o w t h i n t h e i r c o m m u n i t y , a n d s t a r t w i t h t h a t t y p e o f c o n s e r v a t i o n s o t h e w a t e r w e h a v e w i l l g o
a l o t f u r t h e r .
M a y o r A n d e r s e n f o l l o w e d u p b y e x p l a i n i n g t h e w a t e r c o n n e c t i o n f e e w a s r a i s e d f r o m $ 1 , 5 0 0 t o
$ 3 , 0 0 0 t o h e l p m a n a g e t h e g r o w t h a n d p u t m o r e c o s t o n t h e d e v e l o p e r s b a c k i n 2 0 0 8 . M a y o r
A n d e r s e n e x p r e s s e d t h e r e a r e a l w a y s p r o s a n d c o n s t o r a i s i n g t h e c o n n e c t i o n f e e . H e f e e l s t h e
d e v e l o p m e n t i s s t i l l g o i n g t o c o m e a n d t h e y w i l l j u s t b u i l d a r o u n d t h e C i t y n o m a t t e r w h a t y o u
r a i s e t h e c o n n e c t i o n f e e t o , e s p e c i a l l y w h e n F a l l s W a t e r c h a r g e s o n l y $ 5 0 0 . 0 0 p e r c o n n e c t i o n
f e e .
R o y H o b b s l o c a t e d a t 5 6 5 2 S t e e l e A v e n u e c u r r e n t l y s i t s o n t h e P l a n n i n g a n d Z o n i n g
C o m m i s s i o n a n d e x p l a i n e d t h e y a r e w o r k i n g o n t h e A r e a o f I m p a c t A g r e e m e n t f o r t h e C i t y a n d a
C o m p r e h e n s i v e P l a n t h a t i s o v e r d u e . M r . H o b b s e x p l a i n e d t h e C i t y i s g o i n g t o b e i n f r i n g e d u p o n
b y t h e d e v e l o p e r s a n d c u r r e n t l y t h e C i t y i s u n d e r t h e C o u n t y o r d i n a n c e s , w h i c h i s c r e a t i n g a
p r o b l e m . M r . H o b b s w o u l d l i k e t o s e e t h e C i t y h a v e m o r e o f a s a y o n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t t h a t i s
h a p p e n i n g a r o u n d u s .
M a y o r A n d e r s e n e x p l a i n e d t h a t n o n e o f t h e i t e m s b e i n g d i s c u s s e d a r e s e t i n s t o n e . T h e C i t y
w a n t s t o t a k e i n a c c o u n t c o n s e r v a t i o n a n d f a i r n e s s . T h e W a t e r C o m m i t t e e h a s l o o k e d a t
s u g g e s t i o n s t o c h a r g e b y l o t s i z e s a n d w h a t i s f a i r . T h e y h a v e t a l k e d w i t h d i f f e r e n t e x p e r t s i n t h e
s t a t e w h o r e c o m m e n d c h a r g i n g a f l a t r a t e o f $ 1 . 0 0 p e r 1 , 0 0 0 g a l l o n s .
T e r r y M c N a m a r a l o c a t e d a t 3 5 7 5 5 5 t h E . e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y o f p e o p l e i n t h e r o o m a r e
o n f i x e d i n c o m e s , a n d w o u l d l i k e t h e p e o p l e m a k i n g t h e s e d e c i s i o n s t o t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t t h a t i s
$ 7 . 0 0 m o r e p e r u s e r .
D e b S o r e n s o n l o c a t e d a t 5 2 7 6 H a n s e n e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e r e a r e m a n y d i t c h e s r u n n i n g t h r o u g h
I o n a a n d t h e C i t y u s e d t o m a i n t a i n t h e m b y h i r i n g k i d s t o c l e a n o u t t h e d i t c h e s . H e t h i n k s t h e
c u r r e n t c o u n c i l s h o u l d c o n s i d e r m a i n t a i n i n g t h e m a g a i n .
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R y a n W a l k e r l o c a t e d a t 5 1 3 4 H a n s e n o w n s t w o l o t s o n H a n s e n a n d h e h a s a l w a y s m a i n t a i n e d
t h e m o u t t o t h e s t r e e t . H e s t a t e d " i f y o u p u t a m e t e r o n m i n e I w o n ' t m a i n t a i n t h a t . " M r .
A n d e r s e n a c k n o w l e d g e d t h i s w o u l d b e a g o o d t o p i c t o d i s c u s s f u r t h e r d o w n t h e r o a d .
M r . L e e A n d e r s e n r e i t e r a t e d t h a t t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e t o w n h a l l m e e t i n g w a s t o g a t h e r m o r e
f e e d b a c k , a n d n o t h i n g i s s e t i n s t o n e . T h e W a t e r C o m m i t t e e w i l l t a k e t h e i n f o r m a t i o n t h e y h a v e
g a t h e r e d a n d c o n t i n u e t o w o r k i t i n t o f u t u r e p r o p o s a l s .
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