Luther sewer committee proposes solution for sewer, drainage issues

The community of Luther is making progress in finding a solution to the towns sewer problems, thanks to the efforts of a committee that has been meeting weekly.

During a special council meeting Thursday night, the committee, led by Tanya Doyle, who co-owns BFE Vintage Motorcycles in Luther with her husband, gave the Luther City Council an update on the committees progress and findings.

Rather than going along with the councils proposed city-wide sewer project and ordinance, the committee has come up with a potential solution that will be more favorable to residents. The committee is proposing each resident or property owner in Luther should be responsible for bringing the septic system on their property up to compliance with Boone County regulations. Members of the committee canvassed the town, checking with property owners to see if their septic systems were in compliance. As a result, the committee came up with a list of 37 properties in the town where it is unknown if those properties septic systems are in compliance.

In addition to the sewer issues, the town wants to resolve the drainage issues that have caused headaches for residents for a number of years. After speaking with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the committee learned that if the town repairs and cleans the existing tile, the drainage issues could be resolved. Therefore, the committee is proposing the council approves a plan to clean all existing tiles, repair all broken tiles and add additional tile or increased tile sizes where necessary. The committee also wants the city to pass an ordinance that adopts the Iowa state septic code.

I cannot see why the residents of Luther would be against this, Doyle said of the committees proposals.

Doyle also discussed the $370,000 I-JOBS grant the city obtained and needs to use by next year. After doing some research into the grant, the committee discovered the grant would cover 23 percent of the total project expense. Construction permits would need to be obtained and project plans would need to be approved by Jan. 30, 2015, with all work completed by June 30, 2015, in order to use the grant money. The individuals Doyle has talked to have voiced willingness to work with the community so they can still make use of the grant money.

Council member Erica Herold pointed out that the town may be able to use the I-JOBS grant to pay off a state revolving fund loan used for services provided by MSA Professional Services, a Des Moines engineering firm. MSA was contracted to design a sewer system plan for the town.

After much discussion, Herold requested the Luther sewer project be put on the next council meeting agenda, stating she would be in favor of abandoning it so the town can move forward with the committees proposed plan. No action was taken on the committees proposed plan during Thursday nights meeting.

The next Luther City Council meeting will be Thursday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. in Luther City Hall.

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Luther sewer committee proposes solution for sewer, drainage issues