Montezuma News
City Council Approves Stormwater Ordinance
August 7, 2017 - The City Council reviewed all considerations before approving an ordinance establishing a stormwater utility in the City of Montezuma. The proposed ordinance sets a stormwater fee of $2.00 per month for residential customers and $6 or $12 per month for all commercial properties, depending on amount of impervious area. To view or print the new ordinance, click here.
The stormwater utility will allow for increased programmatic planning and organization regarding the removal of stormwater from residential and commercial properties in town; as well as provide a funding method to address many of these projects. A stable source of income dedicated to the stormwater utility will bring flexibility and sustainability to the capital planning process, allowing the City Council to make plans for upgrading deficient sections of stormwater infrastructure throughout town.
The City Council began identifying needs and issues several years ago while evaluating the sanitary sewer rehabilitation. Aside from causing excess water problems above ground, stormwater system deficits additionally have a negative impact on the sanitary sewer. Standing stormwater leaks into the sanitary sewer, overtaxing the sanitary system and wasting dollars treating clean water.
Up to this point, improvements to the stormwater system have been paid for by a combination of street and sewer department funds. With the sanitary sewer system about to embark on a DNR-mandated upgrade, the city council is examining all options to assure all of the city’s critical infrastructure is maintained.
“The Council is keenly aware of the stormwater issues in town and is committed to finding a solution. Establishing a stormwater utility provides the foundation for a comprehensive stormwater plan which will be a roadmap for the maintenance and upgrade of stormwater assets,” stated longtime councilmember Ron Willrich. “It is only prudent to develop a sustainable model for funding stormwater improvements.”
Stormwater improvement projects vary greatly in cost depending on the size and scope of the project as well as the number of other utilities in the path of the stormsewer. The city is currently waiting to break ground on a $160,000 stormwater upgrade project near Mill Street in between Jefferson Street and Washington Street. This project is slated to be completed before the winter of 2017.
Both Grinnell and Oskaloosa have stormwater utilities, established in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Residential stormwater fees in those communities range from $2.00 to $2.99 per month.
NuCara Telepharmacy Coming to Montezuma
July 5, 2017 - NuCara Pharmacy, with 20 locations across four states plans to open a store in Montezuma later this year. NuCara is passionately committed to providing diverse pharmacy and other health care products and services, emphasizing excellence, innovation, and creativity for the benefit of their patients.
Montezuma Community Development acquired the real estate that was formerly Alexander Drug in late spring 2017. The Alexander family owned and operated their location on the north side of the square from 1919 until 2008. From 2008 to 2015, both Remedy Drug and Medicap Pharmacy operated from the location until Medicap closed its door in June of 2015.
Stay tuned for more information!