He added that the city is currently working on putting in a disinfection system that uses chlorine.
The chlorine is then removed before the water goes in to the Wapsipinicon River, below the dam.

“While under construction, we aren’t meeting the permit limits,” Callahan confirmed. “The DNR is saying we shouldn’t have disconnected the old system, even though it wasn’t working, without their permission.”

Callahan said that based on research by the city and advice of the city engineer, they thought the Administrative Consent Order allowed them to disconnect the ultraviolet system.

Public Works Director, Larry Driscoll added, “We have met all of the standards that have been set in our permit, other than fecal chloroform. For the last three years we haven’t met any compliance.”

Driscoll said he was instructed by the city to disconnect the ultraviolet system and was told not to sample the wastewater going into the river because it wouldn’t meet fecal requirements. He and Callahan both said that the city thought they would not be in violation for fecal chloroform discharge because of the Administrative Consent Order.

“Only about 1/8 of the system was working and it would’ve only reduced the fecal bacteria by less than 1%,” Driscoll said.

Mike Wade of the Iowa DNR said that the Administrative Consent Order does not give the city the right to bypass the ultraviolet system without the department’s consent.

He contends that if the city had told the DNR they were bypassing the system they would’ve taken measures to help put in a temporary disinfecting system.

“We discovered, reviewing monthly records, that they (City of Anamosa) mentioned the disinfection system had been disconnected,” he added that no samples had been taken during the 2006 disinfection season, which runs from April 1-October 31 each year. Wastewater is not required to be treated in the winter months due to cold weather and less activity on the river.

“We never allow that. The city must tell us if they are bypassing a treatment system,” Wade said.

Driscoll said the city asked the DNR to approve the installation of a temporary system in 2003, but they would not approve it.

City officials and the DNR agree that raw sewage was never dumped into the river and that the sewage had gone through all steps except the final disinfection. When wastewater is treated it goes through three phases before reaching the final disinfection; primary, secondary and final. In the primary stage the sewage is separated, the secondary stage filters the water and the final stage removes any remaining sediment.

“The level of treatment didn’t meet DNR requirements, but at no time was there any raw sewage dumped into the river,” Callahan said.

The city expects to have the new chlorine disinfection system up and running by October 1. The cost of the project is $400,000. Callahan said the city would look at refurbishing or replacing the treatment facility in the next two to five years. The cost is expected to be seven to nine million dollars. The current system has been in place since 1989.

The DNR has sent a list of violations to the city and has yet to determine if legal action will be taken. The violations include: failure to operate the ultraviolet disinfection system; failure to operate the disinfection facility during the disinfection season; intentional diversion of waste streams from a portion of the treatment facility (bypassing a portion of the system); failure to receive written permission to bypass a system; failure to monitor fecal bacteria as specified in the city’s permit.

Wade said that the DNR’s concern is that the public has not been informed of the high fecal content in the river. He said that the portion of the Wapsipinicon River in question is supposed to be treated for primary contact, which includes swimming, tubing and wading.

He said that as a precaution people shouldn’t swim, tube or wade at least a mile downstream of the water treatment facility.

“My primary concern is not giving information to the public so they can make a decision concerning recreation,” Wade explained.

He said that wading with rubber waders and fishing are still okay. He encourages people to rinse off fish with clean water before they clean them. He added that skin that comes in contact with the contaminated water should be rinsed with clean water immediately.

The city has posted a sign in Wapsipinicon State Park warning people to avoid contact with the river water.

A water sample has been sent to the DNR for testing, and results are expected by the end of the week.

Jones County native, Darwin Carstensen is running for one of two open seats on the Anamosa Community School District Board. He moved to Anamosa eight years ago with his family after living in Cedar Rapids for five years. Married to Mindy for 11 years, they have three sons, all of whom will be at Strawberry Hill this year; John, Owen and Dane.

He shares that he has no agenda in running for school board, ”I am conservative and I’ve got a common sense approach when it comes to issues and problems and would like to be a part of the decision making process as we shape and build the future of our district.”

His main reason for running for the open seat is on the “upside” and he feels that there is certainly nothing wrong with the board as it stands right now.

District Activities Director Derek Roberts met with Community School Board Members at the August 21 regular district meeting to inform them of the new policy recommendations being put together. The district policy must coincide with the new State requirements on Scholarship Rule.

Roberts recommends the policy (below) citing that locally as a public school in Iowa the district must enforce the new rule and the district can be more stringent as per school board policy if so chosen. The new state ruling requires grade checks at the end of each grading period and that member schools report interventions.

Scholarship Rule 36.15 (2): Adopted 3/2/06 Effective 7/1/06 by the Iowa High School athletic Association, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, and the Iowa Department of Education.

• A student must receive credit in at least 4 subjects at all times
• Pass all and make adequate progress toward graduation to remain eligible.

• A student with an incomplete (I), unsatisfactory (U), or a failing grade (F) (a grade which goes on a transcript) shall be considered “ineligible” for the first period of 20 consecutive school days in the activity (event) in which the student is a *bona fide contestant. If this event occurs in the last grading period of the school year and the student is a contestant in baseball or softball, the student is ineligible for next four weeks of that sport but has eligibility in the fall. Midterm (progress grade) F’s, I’s, or U’s may be raised to maintain eligibility. Ability to use summer school or other means to make up failing grades for eligibility purposes is stricken.

* bona fide is a student who is presently or previously competed in inter-scholastic athletic activity (absent injury, illness, or similar circumstances out side of the student’s control). This does not apply to 9th graders. A student who participates in a sport for the first time as a 10th – 12th grader is not a bona fide contestant.

—-The recommendation is worded to adopt the new rule from the state with the addition of Anamosa District midterm grading policy.

Personnel/Coaching Agenda Items approved at Monday night’s meeting are as follows:

Hiring of Cecilia Farmer as a new replacement S.H. Paraeducator
Hiring of Daniel Adams as Assistant Football Coach
Hiring of Andrew Buck as Assistant 8th Girls’ Basketball Coach
Hiring of Brianna Wilcox as WMS Student Council Advisor
Hiring of Ryan LaFrenz as Volunteer Varsity Football Coach
Christopher O’Shea as Assistant Varsity Football Coach Personal
Resignation of Deb Hardersen as Interact Club Sponsor as Letitia Ceynar will be the Sponsor
Resignation of Robert Hause as 8th Girls’ Assistant Basketball Coach as he has accepted the JV Girls’ basketball position
Linda Von Behren presented to the board the working budget information for 2007-2008
Total budget dollars $11,843,480 (71.5% of the working budget allocated for salaries)
These figures include a 20% increase in transportation & maintenance departments due to the rising costs of natural gas and fuel. The dollar increase includes the newly acquired bus.

Superintendent Monroe reminded everyone of upcoming important dates:

September 5 School Board meeting at West Middle School
September 7 School Board Election Open Forum at West Middle School Auditorium at 7 p.m.
September 12 School Board Election
September 18 School Board Regular Meeting

The meeting was voted into closed session to discuss the purchase of real estate pertinent to the expansion of the district. Property and details were not disclosed to the public as it may have adverse effects on the price and or sale of such property.