Frankville water project eligible for maximum grant funds

Frankville is eligible for up to 75 percent in grant funds for a community water project, according to Chris Crawford.

That's based on results of an income survey recently completed by 90 percent of residents in the unincorporated village.

Based on 2000 census data, Frankville only would have been eligible for up to 45 percent in grant funds. However, the most recent information makes the community eligible for a higher percentage of grant funds, said Crawford, who has been coordinating the effort for more than a year. The more grant funds awarded for the project the lower the user fees will be.

Frankville residences are served by private wells and in the past some have tested positive for fecal coliform bacteria or nitrate contaminants.

It's the third time in the past two decades a community system has been pursued. If it goes forward, all residents would be required to be part of the community system and charged a monthly fee.

The Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors was updated recently on the status by Crawford, and Dennis Henke, community programs specialist for the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Department.

George Tekippe, of Tekippe Engineering in West Union, also attended the meeting. He did a community water survey for Frankville in 1999 and the Board asked him to submit a proposal for updating that information. Winneshiek County is sponsoring Festina's grant application.

“We'd like to move rapidly to take advantage of the funds available. The buy out money is about three times what it typically is, because of the (federal) stimulus money,” Henke said.

Tekippe is to provide a cost analysis on various options.

“The cheapest to build might not be the cheapest to maintain over time,” Henke said.

-By Sarah Strandberg