Lee County is seeking state permission to replace the current sewer system at its jail.
Fort Madison plans to run a sewer line west, along Highway 61, to allow several industries to connect to the city’s system.
City Manager Byron Smith says the line is still in the design phase, but he expects it to extend to Siemens Wind Energy.
Lee County wants to eventually connect its jail to that line, thus eliminating the need for its current sewer system.
The Board of Supervisors has authorized the county’s application to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for a construction permit.
Supervisor Gary Folluo says the permit is needed in case nearby properties, including the neighboring juvenile detention center, want to connect to Fort Madison’s sewer system via Lee County’s connection.
Chairman Rick Larkin says it will be good to have the county out of the sewer business when it comes to the jail.
“We have had a lot of problems with (the system),” says Larkin, “so by hooking up to the city, hopefully that will alleviate a lot of the problems we have had.”
The condition of the sewer system at the jail came up multiple times during former Maintenance Director Rick Carter’s wrongful termination lawsuit against Lee County.
Fort Madison City Manager Byron Smith says construction of the sewer line could get underway this fall.
