Wallsburg council delays allowing out‑of‑town water hookups for at least one year

The Wallsburg Town Council voted unanimously June 16 to delay allowing new water connections for properties located outside the town limits for at least one year.

Council members said they want time to monitor the newly completed water system and collect operational data before opening hookups to non‑town properties. The motion calls for the town to prepare ordinance language and a fee schedule for formal adoption at a future meeting; councilmembers set a target to have the ordinance ready for adoption at the July 10 meeting and to review fees in an August work session.

Public comment at the start of the meeting highlighted the limits property buyers face in nearby subdivisions. Resident and property owner Jacob Higby Smith described efforts he has made to secure water rights for a lot in the Indian Hills subdivision and said the lack of transferable water rights is blocking development. “There’s no way for me to build on that lot,” Smith said during public comment, explaining that irrigation companies will not transfer shares outside their service geography and that well permits require existing water to exchange.

Council members and staff described a range of technical and legal constraints that informed the decision. Several speakers noted the new system has been in operation for only a short period and that town staff and the contracted operators are still establishing normal operating parameters — for example, how much water must be cycled through the tank to maintain water quality and how the system performs across seasons. Council members asked staff to pursue training on impact and exaction fees and to consult with the state office that advises on water‑related ordinances.

The council directed staff to draft ordinance language that would bar out‑of‑town hookups to the new system for at least one year, revisit the rule after that monitoring period, and return a formal ordinance for adoption by the council. The motion passed unanimously.

Council members said the delay is intended to avoid overextending supply or creating precedents that would be difficult to unwind if the system needs capacity or operational changes. Councilors also discussed potential elements the ordinance should include, such as price and conditions of hookups, whether approvals would be evaluated case‑by‑case, and whether an impact‑fee framework is appropriate for future connections.