Why is it taking so long to build the Frankville water system?

Winneshiek County supervisors gave their approval in September of 2012 to a proposal to set up a water district in Frankville, but ground has yet to be broken on the project.

On Monday project engineer George Tekippe from Fehr Graham Engineering met with supervisors.  County Board Chair John Logsdon told Tekippe, "The process has been a lot slower than we've anticipated."

Tekippe said the Iowa DNR is requiring an archeological survey of the water district area in Frankville--and the survey hasn't been completed yet.  Likewise the DNR has not issued a construction permit for the project.

Supervisor Dennis Karlsbroten said to Tekippe "This is running longer than we had figured" and told him "Any steps you can take (without DNR approval) you should be taking now."

County officials stil expect to be able to let the contract for construction of the well and water system next June, with work starting in July.  However, Tekippe did warn that some of the water service lines might not get connected to the water system until 2016.