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Anamosa council advances water and sewer rate ordinance after prison and resident concerns
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Summary
The Anamosa City Council on Jan. 26 approved the second reading of Ordinance No. 966 to amend water and sewer rates to support utilities infrastructure after public comment from the Anamosa State Penitentiary and a local resident; the council also approved routine resolutions and set a Feb. 9 public hearing for downtown Phase 3.
The Anamosa City Council on Jan. 26 approved the second reading of Ordinance No. 966, a measure to amend Chapter 92 (water rates) and Chapter 99 (sewer rates) of the Anamosa Code of Ordinances to maintain public utilities infrastructure.
Warden Brian Foster of the Anamosa State Penitentiary spoke during the public-comment period and said the proposed sewer-rate increase "was not budgeted for this coming fiscal year," urging the council to consider the facility's limited budget. Resident Mike Dearborn of 405 North Division Street asked to see the percentage increases and the methodology behind the proposed rates and argued the city should pursue budget cuts rather than rate hikes; council members responded that the city plans a combination of spending reductions and rate adjustments.
On a motion by Council Member Todd Weimer, seconded by Council Member Kay Smith, the council approved the ordinance's second reading. The roll vote listed Council Members Tim Shada, Todd Weimer, Dan Smith, Brian Hurt, Rich Crump and Kay Smith as voting aye; there were no nays.
City Administrator Jeremiah Hoyt told the council he welcomed Marshall Webber as the new Parks and Recreation Director and said the city "was going to receive $500,000.00 in loan forgiveness" related to a prior water/sewer project. Hoyt said he is working with Public Utilities Director Steve Agnitsch and the Iowa Finance Authority on transferring those funds to the Flow EQ Basin Loan; he described the transfer as in its final approval stage, but did not state a completed effective date.
Other council actions taken at the Jan. 26 meeting included approval of routine items and scheduling of upcoming events:
Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (minutes, current bills, liquor licenses): approved on a motion by Kay Smith, seconded by Todd Weimer; roll vote unanimous. - Resolution 2026-03 (set wage for a part-time Library and Learning Center employee for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026): approved on a motion by Dan Smith, seconded by Rich Crump; roll vote unanimous. - Resolution 2026-04 (set public hearing for Phase 3 Downtown Revitalization Project plans, specs, contract and cost estimate): approved on a motion by Rich Crump, seconded by Dan Smith; public hearing set for Feb. 9, 2026. - Approval of the 2025 Planning and Zoning Commission Annual Report: approved; roll vote unanimous. - Anamosa 2026 City‑wide Spring Cleanup Day set for Saturday, April 18, 2026: approved on a motion by Kay Smith; roll vote unanimous. - Consent-agenda pay requests totaling $41,805.43: approved on a motion by Rich Crump, seconded by Dan Smith; roll vote unanimous.
The meeting took place at the Anamosa Library and Learning Center and adjourned at 7:12 P.M. The council did not adopt a final ordinance reading at this meeting; the record shows the second reading was approved as noted above and public comments on rate impacts were entered into the record.