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Kalona council directs staff to pursue $6.73 million aerated-lagoon sewer upgrade to meet DNR deadline
Summary
City Engineer Jack Pope recommended an Aerated Lagoon with Supplemental Treatment—estimated at $6,733,900—to meet Iowa DNR requirements by April 2027; council directed staff to pursue the project and funding options, including SRF loans and grants.
City Engineer Jack Pope recommended that Kalona move forward with an Aerated Lagoon with Supplemental Treatment to bring the city’s lagoons into compliance with new Iowa Department of Natural Resources requirements.
Pope told the council the system is the least labor-intensive option and most cost-effective to maintain. He estimated the project cost at $6,733,900 and said construction would need to begin in 2026 for the system to be online by April 2027 to meet DNR timelines. Pope also said staff are investigating grant options, State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans and a sewer rate study with Northland Securities to help finance the work.
Council members directed Pope and city staff to move forward with the recommended system in order to meet the DNR requirements and the 2027 deadline. The direction at the Sept. 16 work session did not itself commit the city to a contract or specify funding sources beyond pursuing grants and SRF loans.
Next steps include completing design, pursuing financing options and returning to council with formal contract and funding requests. A formal construction schedule and a financing plan were not specified at the meeting.
