Rowan council approves $20,000 loan to cover emergency water repairs

The Rowan City Council on Feb. 2 approved a $20,000, four-year loan to cover emergency water infrastructure repairs after recent tower freezing and underground main breaks generated substantial invoices.

Clerk Aimee Frohling told the council the water tower repairs were completed the day of the meeting and the tank was about two-thirds full; the city planned testing the following day to determine whether the boil order could be lifted. She said an 8-inch gate valve between the tower and the main does not fully close and will need replacement. In the two weeks since the freeze the city pumped more than 1 million gallons of water, and invoices related to a water main break on Bingham totaled $13,685.20. Frohling said the city’s insurance will cover damage to the tower itself but not the resulting underground main breaks; a $750 deductible applies.

Councilmember David Eriksen moved to borrow $20,000 from First Citizens Bank—Clarion with Mayor Dale Hollman and Clerk Aimee Frohling authorized as signers; the motion was seconded by Mark Bruns and approved unanimously. The council discussed adding a temporary surcharge or debt-service fee to water bills to cover loan payments and asked the clerk to prepare communications to customers explaining the situation.

Council members also asked the clerk to prepare a possible amendment to the FY26 budget next month so the city’s books reflect insurance receipts and repair expenses. No final decision on a surcharge was made; the council said it would return to the topic at its next regular meeting.