City sewer rates to increase

Creston City Council last week approved the second reading of the proposal to increase sewer fees.

The residential billing rate is proposed to increase 6% per month to $4.74 per 100 cubic foot beginning July 1. An average monthly bill will raise from $25.77 to $26.97. Rate increases the past two years, and expected over the next few years, will fund wastewater treatment facility improvements.

Council approved payment of $183,601 to Cedar Valley Corporation for the runway projects at the Creston Municipal Airport. A grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation is paying for most of the work. The work is expected to be finished in May. In a related matter, council approved $3,800 for Becher Hoppe for the fee estimate for a new airfield electrical vault and rotating beacon project.

A public hearing was scheduled Feb. 7 for the bid for the three-year airport agricultural land lease.

Council accepted bids and awarded the eight-month lease for hay production to Keaton Kralik and Travis West. Kralik bid $131 per acre for hay ground at the waste water treatment plant and at the Taylor Property on south Cottonwood, and $133 for hay fields at the airport. West bid $150 per acre to lease the Sonntag Development property.

The Creston Municipal Airport Commission is looking to fill a vacancy. Term will expire 11/13/2025. Because the State of Iowa requires gender equity on all municipal boards and commissions if at all possible, the city needs female volunteers. There are four males serving as commission members at this time. If you don’t live in city limits you can still serve on the Airport Commission. The ordinance was recently amended: to read “There shall be an airport commission consisting of five members, at least three of the members shall be residents of the city and up to two may consist of Union County residents.”

The library board has one vacancy to fill. Interested parties must live within the city limits. The term ends July 1, 2028. The Creston Historic Preservation Commission has a vacancy. That term ends March 3, 2026.

Those interested can contact Creston City Hall by email at lwilliamson@crestoniowa.org for an application.