Rowan council authorizes pursuit of USDA emergency water grant to address frozen tower and other repairs

The Rowan City Council on March 2 authorized the city clerk to work with MIDAS to begin an application for a U.S. Department of Agriculture Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant to address repairs to the city's frozen water tower and other emergent water-system needs.

MIDAS representative Steven Stransky told the council the grant could cover an engineering report and emergent repairs, and listed potential project components including a circulation system, replacement of sectional shut-offs and the main tower shut-off, and interior coating of the tank. Central Tank Coatings provided a line-item in the meeting packet for tank coating work at $49,850. Council voted unanimously to authorize the clerk to begin the application process on a motion by Councilmember David Eriksen and second by Councilmember Chad Ketchum. Aaron Budweg was identified as a facilitator for communications between MIDAS and the city.

The grant discussion was presented alongside fuller conversation about other possible funding avenues for city infrastructure, including a Surface Transportation Block Grant for street work and a potential Alliant franchise fee. Council also reviewed recent repair costs and insurance activity: the clerk reported that bills totaling more than $55,000 have been submitted to ICAP for an insurance claim that remains under review.

Separately, Council approved donation of old water-tower piping to the water department in exchange for a $1,000 donation to the water department. The motion to approve the donation passed with Councilmember Mark Bruns recorded as abstaining; the motion was made by Chad Ketchum and seconded by Virgil Park.

Next steps: the clerk was authorized to work with MIDAS to start the USDA grant application and to coordinate engineering work as allowed by grant rules and available funding.