Housing values have surged from the recession and devaluation of the mid-1980's to values that once again place the homeowners living in Cedar Falls in an advantageous market position. This market growth is a credit to businesses, the school system, utilities, and quality of City services in Cedar Falls. Each entity has worked together to strengthen the local economy, create jobs, and improve Cedar Falls' quality of life.
MAJOR INITIATIVES
Disinfection Project: ln August 2009, the Public Works department presented to council information on an Ultraviolet Light (UV) Alternatives Evaluation Workshop. This is a process to treat bacteria at the Water Reclamation Facility. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has directed a new standard of treatment. The advantage of UV over other disinfectants is it can inactivate hard to control organisms, such as
E.coli, without chemical additions to the final product and without producing a harmful disinfection by-product. Using UV is a better and safer way to disinfect and there are no residuals.
ln FY11, the Public Works department solicited bids for the construction of the Water Reclamation Facility UV
Disinfection and Biosolids Handling Facilities lmprovements Project (Disinfection Project). Construction of the project began in FY12 and a majority of the construction has occurred during FY13. Completion is expected in FY14. The total project cost will be approximately 921.8 million.
This project will have a significant impact on the City's sewer fund. The City Council did approve a So/o increase on sewer rates each year for five years beginning in FY12. The council also decided not to finance the project in a traditional way of selling sewer bonds. lnstead the City has opted to self-finance the project. Cash reserves from the City's Capital lmprovements Fund and Hospital Fund havefinanced the project. Through June 30,2013, these funds have foaned the sewer fund $15.9 million. Self-financing has allowed these funds to earn interest at a rate greater than earnings on traditional investments and the sewer fund benefits by paying interest costs lower than bond rates.
Bluff Street Lift Station: ln 1962, the Bluff Street Lift Station was constructed below the 1Oo-year flood elevation. During the Flood of 2008, the entire basement (pump room) filled with water and the control room had five feet of standing water in it. Due to its location, the station was not accessible for several days and out of service for about two weeks because of the significant damage to the mechanical equipment in the station as well as to the backup generator. Because of the dry well/wet well configuration of the station, conventional flood protection was not practical, therefore the City applied for a Community Development Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery Grant to construct the new station at a higher elevation and that is not subject to flooding and is completely accessible in a high water event.
ln FY10, design on the new lift station started and the Public Works Department solicited bids for the New Bluff Street Lift Station project. Construction began in FY12 and continued in FY13. Completion will occur in FY14. The total project cost will be approximately $Z.g million. The CDBG grant will fund $3.g million of the cost. The remaining cost will be financed with sewer bonds and self-financing options. Sewer rates increases described above also were needed to help finance this project as well.
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