The Wall Lake City Council has put a hold on exploring the feasibility of a sewer rehabilitation project until funding returns for federal grants that would cover a portion of the related engineering fees. Officials began looking into what options were available to extend the life of their existing system to avoid a lengthy and costly complete overhaul. The first step of this process is to file an initial study with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The council had initially hoped to use a Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (SEARCH) grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to cover the cost of hiring an engineering firm. According to City Clerk, Chris Rodman, no SEARCH funds remain for the current fiscal year, and it is not clear if and when those funds will be replenished. The council has decided to delay moving ahead with the study until SEARCH grants funding returns. The council will address the topic of sewer rehabilitation again no later than September 2020.
