The Storm Lake City Council has approved a resolution to establish a Water Treatment Plant Rates and Water Plant Design Advisory Ad Hoc Committee.
With steady community growth, a larger treatment facility will be needed to meet future water production needs. ISG, the City’s Water Quality Engineer, has completed the required DNR Preliminary Engineering Reports for a project.
The purpose of the new Advisory Committee is to assist with the planning and design for a new water treatment plant, as well as cost, project location and appropriate rates to fund the construction.
The members appointed by the City Council will include up to five residents of Storm Lake, plus the lead project engineer, two representatives of major industrial users, a member of Storm Lake United, a representative of the Storm Lake School District, and representatives of outside users Lakeside, Truesdale and Lake Creek along with two rural Storm Lake residents.
“We want to have a good, broad scope of everybody who is a user of the system on the committee,” City Manager Keri Navratil said.
The City will advertise to seek interested parties, and if needed, contact the outside user communities and others to request representatives to serve.
The City Manager, Building Code and Compliance Director, Water Treatment Supervisor, Finance Director and Mayor will serve as City Staff representatives and assist the committee with its process of gathering information and evaluating options.
The committee will not exceed 19 members. The committee’s role will be temporary, and limited to the water plant project.
The tentative timeline for the committee’s efforts includes:
* September 10-Tour Water Plant and discuss the Preliminary Engineer Report
* Week of October 13- Discussion of possible locations and estimated design and construction costs
* Week of November 10- Discussion of rates
* Week of December 8- Final location and rate recommendation
* January 5, 2026- Recommendations to be presented to the City Council.
Navratil cited the development of the new plant as “an incredible opportunity” for Storm Lake.
“This is a big deal. A water plant is a big, big project,” Mayor Mike Porsch added. “We need all the input we can get from folks.”
Applications are available at City Hall, or online at https://stormlake-services.app.transform.civicplus.com.
