(Spirit Lake)– A public hearing on a proposal to form a drainage district in the city of Orleans went on for more than two and-a-half hours at Tuesday’s Dickinson county board of supervisors meeting.
An amendment to Iowa Code passed earlier in this session of the Iowa Legislature allows the establishment of drainage districts that have boundaries that lie entirely within city limits. That’s the case with this proposal.
The main intent of the Orleans project is to correct problems near the Orleans city hall and on Sunset Drive. Don Ettler, an engineer with the Kuel and Payer Engineering firm, outlined plans for the proposed improvements. He said about 43 acres of land would be included in the district, with the proposed project consisting in part of a detention basin near the Orleans city hall along with a 24-inch storm sewer that would go from the basin to Big Spirit Lake. The project has a total estimated cost of 370-thousand dollars which would be assessed against landowners in the district.
Those who spoke at Tuesday’s hearing were in favor of the proposal, but it was reported that one letter opposing the project has been received.
After further discussion, the supervisors voted to continue the hearing to 11:00 a.m. May 25th. Prior to that an appraiser and an appraisal committee will be appointed.
