On second thought

John Van Nostrand, The Creston News Advertiser, Iowa
·3 min read

Jun. 29—A second letter from Southern Iowa Rural Water Association's legal counsel to the Clarke County Reservoir Commission stated recent "conversations" have given SIRWA's board more interest to continue involvement in the the county's lake project.

Earlier this month, the commission received a letter from SIRWA's legal counsel Amy Skogerson stating the water utility wanted to reconsider its involvement in the project.

"SIRWA has been diligent in its support of CCRC's extraordinary efforts to develop a new raw water supply in Clarke County...contributing nearly $1,000,000 to CCRC initiatives over the past 14+ years....Ultimately, SIRWA's board has determined that while SIRWA intends to remain a sponsor of CCRC for the time being, SIRWA's fiduciary duty to its own members must carry the day. Such duty mandates that SIRWA cease further contributions to the CCRC lake project."

The June 16 letter stated SIRWA was still supportive of creating the water source in Clarke County, but was hesitant about additional financial contributions because of construction cost inflation and still working on its own water treatment plant east of Creston.

In the second letter dated June 27, SIRWA was more willing. Skogerson stated, "Some new and helpful conversations have been had amongst the relevant stakeholders in the CCRC lake project and more such conversations are expected to occur in the near future."

SIRWA has not ruled out financial contributions.

"SIRWA is now giving further consideration to the CCRC lake project and may be open to the possibility of making additional financial contribution to the project, provided such contribution is more commensurate and equitable with reasonably expected contributions from all sources as well as with anticipated benefits fro each CCRC sponsor," the letter stated.

The June 16 letter states SIRWA board agreed on its position this month.

"The SIRWA board of directors discussed the present and potential future status of the CCRC lake project. When the CCRC lake project was originally initiated and for a number of years thereafter, a lake project in Clarke County made sense for all the sponsors involved. However, more recently, the facts and circumstances for the utilities most impacted by the project (SIRWA, Creston City Waterworks (CCWW) and Osceola Water Works have now significantly changed. At this point in time, both SIRWA and CCWW are self-sustaining in a manner that makes construction of the CCRC lake project an unwise use of funds for SIRWA, particularly when SIRWA would gain no significant short or long-term benefit to its own members from the project."

Osceola Councilman Tom Bahls asked if both SIRWA and Creston had been questioned on their claims of self-sufficiency, to which Wheeler replied he had said to them if they were in a self-sufficient space, a discussion needed to be had about them no longer purchasing water from Osceola. Mayor Pro Tem George Fotiadis added it would free up a lot of water for Osceola, as the city is currently drawing above the lake's DNR licensed capacity.

The June 16 letter stated, "The quality relationship of the impacted water system provides a strong foundation for working together to find other, less expensive, more creative ways to help resolve water supply issues within the region. SIRWA expects that more conversations lie ahead in relation to this common goal and the future of the CCRC lake project."