Altoona holds hearing on land needed for new water treatment plant; council authorizes acquisition
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Summary
City Engineer John Dostart outlined a route for raw and treated water lines from a proposed well at Sam Wise Park to a new plant; council approved a resolution authorizing necessary property acquisition and the use of eminent domain as a backstop after a public hearing that drew no speakers.
The City of Altoona held a public hearing July 21 on property rights needed to build water lines feeding a planned water treatment plant, and the council approved a resolution authorizing property acquisition, including the use of eminent domain if negotiations fail.
City Engineer John Dostart told the council the project will carry raw water from a proposed well at Sam Wise Park to a new treatment plant north of the Iowa Interstate Railroad tracks. He described the route as running from the northeast side of Sam Wise Park east along 1st Street E and then north along 14th Avenue NE to the plant site and said the city must acquire rights to convey both raw and treated water lines along that alignment.
The council opened the hearing at 6:34 p.m. for affected property owners and the public; no one came forward to speak. The hearing closed at 6:34 p.m., and the council then approved a resolution authorizing the public improvement and potential acquisition of agricultural land. The resolution explicitly authorizes the city to use eminent domain should it not reach an agreeable purchase price with property owners.
Council members voted to approve the resolution by roll call; the vote was recorded as unanimous among those present. The action allows staff to continue negotiations for easements and property rights; the record does not specify subsequent steps or a construction timetable.