The future may hinge on the construction of an estimated $4 million dollar sewage treatment facility to replace Green Mountain’s existing network of septic tanks, several of which are in disrepair.

A key question is: Does the installation of a new sewage treatment system — which might begin construction this spring — bring about more growth for the community of 126?

Marshall County Supervisor Bill Patten said he was optimistic about Green Mountain’s future.

“Green Mountain has a ‘magnet school’ which a number of Marshall County residents and others send their children,” he said. “The village is close enough to Marshalltown and other communities to allows residents to commute while enjoying small-town life and related cost-of-living. I think the new sewage treatment facility will be a great opportunity.”

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
If funded by the state of Iowa, a sewage plant for Green Mountain will require nearly 12 acres west of the unincorporated village. In April last year, the Marshall County Board of Supervisors approved an agreement with the Central Iowa Water Association to construct and manage the plant.

Veteran realtor Jamie Bland of Marshalltown’s First Rate Real Estate echoed Patten.

“I think the new facility will be a plus,” she said. “I would estimate more sales of existing homes once individual households are hooked up and off septic tanks.”

Realtor Fauna Nord now in her 20th year in real estate sales, said there was some potential for more growth and development with a new system hinging on one important factor — a strong desire to reside there.

Nord said she has sold property in Green Mountain, and the key to sales was the buyer having a strong desire to live there.

Role of Marshall County Supervisors

Patten said the supervisors began working to resolve the growing septic tank problem a number of years ago. Iowa Department of Natural Resources rules blocked residents from installing a new septic system over an old one unless certain lot size requirements were met.

“The IDNR requires a Green Mountain property owner to have at least a one acre lot to repair an existing septic tank or install a new by moving it over,” he said. “Not all households in Green Mountain are on a one acre lot. And it came to our attention several households were prevented from selling their properties to move into a nursing home. They could not sell because they had deficient septic tanks. Plus, banks were not making loans to potential home buyers because of deficient septic tanks. We believed property owners would abandon some parcels. These problems would only increase significantly over the years to the point IDNR would mandate Marshall County to fix it at significant taxpayer expense.”

Patten said the county contributed $155,000 from a fund specifically designated for low-income housing to purchase land for the new treatment facility.

Project Financing

In October of last year the supervisors sponsored a Community Development Block Grant application of $126,000 as the final piece of the puzzle to finance the project.

Financing includes other grants and loans which may allow the project to break ground yet this year.

“Individual property owners — be it a household or others–will have to pay for using the sewage system once it is completed,” Patten said. “They will have a quarterly or monthly bill like residents of Marshalltown or other communities do.”

An announcement of approval or decline by IEDA is expected in March, said Region VI Resource director Marty Wymore.

His agency has partnered with the supervisors for years seeking a solution.

Wymore said all other financing is in place from the United States Department of Agriculture rural development grants and loans.

He said the Central Iowa Water Authority has taken the lead on the project and said they will own and manage the wastewater treatment facility.

CIWA also provides water to Green Mountain.

All land and easements have been secured, Wymore said.

“I am happy to see this project come up, supervisor and Marshalltown hardware store co-owner Dave Thompson said. “Because it means all the stakeholders have signed off on the dotted line. Otherwise, no application for federal funds could be submitted.”