City of Ely increasing water rates to help fund downtown reconstruction project [Video]

ELY, Iowa (KCRG) – People living in Ely could see an increase in their water rates starting in July.

It’s part of the city’s almost $3 million “Old Town Ely” project. The project is being funded by three different loans. City Administrator Eldy Miller says about half of the project will be funded by the water rate increase.

Work on the first phase of the downtown project is already underway. The city plans to repair streets, walkways, sewers, and water mains, but some residents like Charles Struck questioned whether this was the project the city should be focusing on.

“We made changes to the downtown in the last ten years,” he said. “I’m just trying to figure out why we need to make more adjustments to downtown when we have other areas inside the community that need justification.”

The city council unanimously approved the flat $9 monthly increase in water …