Effort for discharge permit may move ahead

By Jim Rudisill | Saturday, June 23, 2007

WAPELLO, Iowa — A long-stalled effort by the City of Wapello to receive a federal sewer discharge permit might finally be moving forward.

City officials learned Thursday during the City Council’s regular meeting that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, or DNR, would be working with Wapello to develop a long-term plan for managing the city’s lagoon and collection system.

The DNR will also be assisting the city with developing a plan to meet nine environmental standards established by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA.

The city has been operating without a permit for more than six years because a constructed wetland has been incorporated into the lagoon system. The DNR was unable to determine how to treat the wetland and had not authorized a permit because of the indecision.

That all changed after the DNR and the city met June 13 and agreed on an action plan to move forward. Under that plan, the city will develop the long-range plan and a second plan to dear with a set of standards established by the EPA. Officials said that plan should be developed by Sept. 1.

In other action, tavern owner Marvin Hardy received permission from the city to erect a temporary snow fence around a planned outdoor beer garden, provided he begins constructing a more permanent fence by Aug. 1.

The council also unanimously approved an outdoor service area liquor application that will allow Hardy to sell beer and liquor outdoors throughout the year. City officials also agreed to move forward with plans to install a handicapped-accessible ramp near the HyVee Drugstore, after hearing about problems one individual recently encountered.

The council also approved a new liquor license for Tippsy’s Finish Line, despite concerns that the owner’s husband has been arrested twice for OWI. Under Iowa law, both owner and spouse must provide background information when applying for a liquor license.