Anamosa council adopts Ordinance No. 966 changing water and sewer rates amid concerns from prison warden

The Anamosa City Council adopted Ordinance No. 966 on Feb. 9, 2026, changing municipal water and sewer rates intended to maintain the city’s public-utilities infrastructure. The vote on the ordinance’s third reading carried 5–1.

Warden Brian Foster of the Anamosa State Penitentiary told the council the proposed sewer-rate increase would raise the penitentiary’s costs and was not budgeted for the coming fiscal year. Mayor Rod Smith explained the council’s rationale for the timing of the rate changes and reopened the floor for public comment; no additional comments were recorded.

Councilmember Kay Smith moved to approve the third reading of Ordinance No. 966; Councilmember Tim Shada seconded. The roll call vote recorded aye votes from Todd Weimer, Brian Hurt, Rich Crump, Kay Smith and Tim Shada; Dan Smith voted no. With that vote the ordinance was adopted on its third reading.

The ordinance amends Chapter 92 (water rates) and Chapter 99 (sewer rates) of the Anamosa Code of Ordinances to support ongoing maintenance of utility infrastructure. The transcript does not specify the exact dollar or percentage rate changes, nor an effective date for the ordinance. Those details were not stated during the meeting and are therefore not specified here.

The council’s action follows a public hearing opened and closed the same evening; no members of the public provided comment during that hearing. The record shows one specific concern from the Anamosa State Penitentiary about budgeting for increased sewer costs, but the ordinance passed despite that objection. The council did not record further conditions or amendments tied to the penitentiary’s budget concern at the Feb. 9 meeting.