Sep. 1—OSKALOOSA — The City of Oskaloosa is asking residents to participate in a survey aimed at keeping sewer prices reasonable as the city prepares to update its wastewater treatment facilities.

In keeping with Iowa Department of Natural Resources mandates, the city is required to construct a new wastewater treatment facility no later than 2027.

"Our existing treatment facilities are very dated," said Sean Murphy, senior engineering technician for the City of Oskaloosa. "They're using technologies that are no longer really built for new treatment facilities, and there's been some maintenance issues.

"We've actually had concrete structures that have needed some pretty significant intention and rebuilding in order to keep them in service, so the long and short of it is that we are in need of new facilities."

Currently, the plan is to build the new facility at the existing Northeast Wastewater Treatment Plant site and combine the facilities into one.

However, in the current economy, costs for construction are increasingly high.

According to Gordian, a data firm that focuses on facility and construction cost data, 71% of all construction materials have seen an increase in price between 2021 and 2022. Additionally, 98% of all construction labor rates and 71% of construction equipment prices have also increased over that same time period. Structural steel, for example, has seen a 24% cost increase, while ready-mix concrete has increased by 28%.

One bright spot amidst these steadily-increasing construction costs is that after months of skyrocketing prices, the cost of standard construction lumber has finally fallen by 6%, meaning that consumers can at last begin to look forward to a little relief when lumber yard prices eventually start to fall.

Still, these overall increases in construction prices mean that the city is getting creative with ways to keep sewer costs down for city residents, even as they look ahead to building a new wastewater treatment facility that will be able to meet modern standards. Some design estimates for the facility are in the range of $70 million, so finding ways to fund the project is a top priority for the city, Murphy says.

In an effort to do just that, the city has partnered with a survey team from Simmering-Cory to collect community data that will enable Oskaloosa to apply for grants to help cover construction costs. Survey teams will be going door-to-door in the Oskaloosa community on the weekends of Sept. 10-11, 17-18 and 24-25. They will be wearing identifying lanyards and will be asking three questions:

1. How many people live in the household.

2. Whether the household income is above or below a certain dollar amount.

3. Whether you support the project.

The survey will not ask about residents' income or any personal information, and all answers will be confidential.

This community data is being gathered so the city can apply for a Community Development Block Grant, which could fund up to $500,000 of the project. Community Development Block Grants are administered through the Iowa Economic Authority. The goal of the grant is to "Develop viable communities by providing decent housing and suitable living environments and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate incomes." To be eligible for the grant, all projects must meet the National Objectives as defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to the Iowa Economic Authority's website.

The city's engineering department is taking point on this project and highly encourages residents to participate in the survey in the interests of keeping sewer costs reasonable for residents in coming years. The department will be pursuing other grants in addition to this one.

Any questions residents have may be addressed to Murphy. He can be reached by calling 641-673-7472 or by emailing smurphy@oskaloosaiowa.org.

Channing Rucks can be reached at crucks@oskyherald.com.

Fox NewsBill Barr, the one-time attorney general under former President Donald Trump, told Fox News on Friday that the ex-president had no “legitimate reason” to hoard classified material at his Florida resort. Furthermore, he defended the Justice Department’s decision to raid Mar-a-Lago, arguing that the DOJ was “being jerked around” by Team Trump.As a federal judge decides whether or not to grant Trump’s request for a “special master” to review the documents seized from his property last month

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Good morning, Arizona. Here's what you need to know to start your day.

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Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said on Thursday that she'd be "happy to drain Texas of all its residents” and give them a warm welcome to Chicago.

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Each cover sheet instructs handlers to "protect it from unauthorized disclosure" in the interest of "national security."

The conservative network's White House correspondent didn't exactly get a vote of confidence from critics.