Second utilities meeting for Fontanelle is Oct. 28

FONTANELLE — Another public input and information meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28 in the Fontanelle Community Building regarding utilities for the city.

But one option for the town won’t be discussed.

Due to high turnover of staff, city leaders are discussing what the best options are going forward for the town’s water, sewer and electric services.

Greenfield Municipal Utilities assists Fontanelle with water and electric services. An affidavit program through the Department of Natural Resources allows City Clerk Amanda Held and a DNR official to co-monitor the wastewater process.

Three options that were on the table at a public meeting Oct. 14 were that the city retain all services and GMU would transition out once certified employees are on board; transition to having Southern Iowa Rural Water Association (SIRWA) absorb, manage and carry out the operation of water and sewer services, or have GMU and Fontanelle continue in an agreement somewhat similar to what is already in place and Fontanelle would continue other arrangements for sewer.

A turn came in the discussion Thursday, Oct. 21, when SIRWA General Manager Dan McIntosh shared with the newspaper a letter that was sent to Fontanelle city officials telling them that SIRWA wishes to be removed from consideration as an option due to their focus on the construction of an almost $65 million water treatment plant that they broke ground on last week west of Creston.

“After much discussion with the Board and Management team, it was decided that due to the scope of work that will be involved, SIRWA needs to focus on making sure the water treatment plant project is a success,” McIntosh wrote. “For this reason, the Board has made the decision that it is not in our best interest to pursue franchising the City of Fontanelle’s water and wastewater systems at this time.”

Fontanelle city leaders hope to have a good crowd on hand at their meeting Oct. 28 so that these issues can be discussed more and they can come to a better informed decision when the time comes.