IF YOU’RE A FAN OF “RUSS”…THE REGIONAL UTILITY SERVICE SYSTEM FOR SOUTHEAST IOWA…THIS IS GOOD NEWS:
TWO-OF-THE-10 COUNTIES IN THE REGION WANTED OUT, BUT A PANEL OF ARBITRATORS HAS DECIDED THAT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. “RUSS” ADMINISTRATOR BRUCE HUDSON SAYS IT ALL BOILED DOWN TO THE FACT THAT MAHASKA AND WAPELLO COUNTIES HAD SIGNED THE 28E AGREEMENT WITH THE OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND “RUSS” HAD SOLD BONDS ON BEHALF OF THE 10 COUNTIES, AND UNTIL THOSE ARE PAID OFF, ALL 10 ARE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE.
HUDSON SAYS “RUSS’s” MAIN MISSION IS TO PLAN, FINANCE, OWN, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN SANITARY SEWER SYSTEMS IN SMALLER COMMUNITIES, SOME INCORPORATED AND OTHERS NOT. THE ORGANIZATION HAS RUFFLED SOME FEATHERS ALONG THE WAY, BUT HUDSON SAYS THEY’RE DOING SOME THINGS NOW THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO SATISFY THOSE WHO WANT THE HELP AND TO CUT OFF THOSE WHO DON’T…AND REFUSE TO PAY.
