Water main construction continues in Uptown

Winter hasn’t stopped Creston Waterworks projects from proceeding, with the utility’s water main improvement project through Uptown Creston and Cherry Street continuing even through colder temperatures and frost.

Two divisions in the project received pay applications for their work over December. Division 1, which covers Montgomery from Division Street to Cherry Street as well as a few branches along the main, has seen substantial progress over the last month.

United Utilities received a pay application of $305,076.44 this month for their work on Division 1. It’s the highest pay application of the project so far. Additionally, United Utilities received $27,712.45 for replacing lead service lines in the division.

Work on this division will continue through rain or shine, with Waterworks General Manager Steve Guthrie saying the crews will continue working even through poor weather conditions.

“These guys will be working year-round; they won’t be shutting down for weather,” Guthrie said. “This crew, their mantra is no work, no pay. They keep working.”

On Division 2, which covers Cherry Street, three blocks remain on the project. Although the project has extended outside of the contracted days, waterworks won’t penalize the contractor as a reward for the high quality of work.

A pay application of $37,562.64 was approved for C&J Conservation for their work on Division 2.

In other Creston Waterworks news...

The first meeting of 2026 marks the utility’s annual organization, where the board’s officers were reapproved. Creston Waterworks will continue with their financial depositories and signed an ACH agreement with Iowa State Savings Bank.

Waterworks’ January meeting marked the first meeting where city councilmember Jason Cook attended as representative. Previous representative Richard Madison retired from the city council.