West Union becomes a Main Street Community

West Union explores downtown street renovation idea & Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) begins integration of sustainable practices into programs

IEDA proposes West Union's participation as pilot town in an integrated streetscape sustainable strategies project

Twenty local organizations endorse West Union’s participation in IEDA Green Streetscapes Proposal

West Union is designated an Iowa Great Place

Proposed streetscape project costs are estimated at $11.8 million

West Union hosts a Green Streets Planning and Design Workshop at the American Legion, attended by State and Federal representatives

The State of Iowa designates West Union a "Green Pilot Community." A contributing factor was downtown runoff affecting water quality in Otter Creek and ultimately the Turkey River.

The state was looking for a model to highlight solutions to urban storm water problems.

The City of West Union resolves to consider a loan agreement for the Downtown Improvement Project - authorizing bonding up to $4.25 million debt ceiling

Seventy energy audits are completed in West Union businesses leading to $46,000 in community energy efficiency investments; The project partners: IEDA, Main St West Union, Alliant Energy, Black Hills Energy distribute $11,500 in grants to cover some of the energy efficiency project costs

HVAC & insulation contractor training sessions are held

Learning session is held to explain the project to citizens

 IEDA awards $1 million to West Union to stimulate GreenStreets project 

West Union receives $100,000 HUD Challenge Grant

Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) staff concludes IUB does not have jurisdiction over West Union’s proposed geothermal system

Planned Green Streets proposal covered in the Des Moines Register, the article highlights the notion, this project could be a national model

West Union city council votes to not issue a special assessment on street improvement project to downtown businesses, largely because $5.7 million has already been received in grants

Green Streetscape groundbreaking ceremony kicks off the downtown, $10.2 million, "21st century," street rehabilitation, project. Mayor Dunt states “Today marks a special point in history for the City of West of Union. As our forefathers did many years ago, we are now turning the page for this community and making a new mark. This new effort toward sustainability and conservation hopefully will set a new positive tone for West Union and bring prosperity that is needed for survival of small towns such as ours.”

West Union adopts “Deeply Connected” as its official tagline

The Iowa Department of Transportation grants West Union a $2.3 million RISE grant for roadway portion of Streetscape Project

IEDA secures USDA/Rural Community Development Initiative grant to hire KCL Engineering to conduct a geothermal feasibility study

Iowa Department of Natural Resources includes West Union in their “Clean Water Starts With You,” publication highlighting the downtown’s Green Streetscape project “...shows how improving water quality impacts Iowa’s environment, recreation, economy and quality of life.” - Bill Ehm, IDNR Water Policy Coordinator

The City approves a budget for fiscal year 2012, which includes a tax increase of $2.977 per $1,000 of assessed value raising the levy from $11.33 to $15.45 per $1,000. City officials primarily attribute the needed tax increase to cover the rising cost of employee benefits particularly health insurance costs; city wide liability, property, and workman's compensation insurance. In addition, the purchase of a fire truck and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreement, Aquatic Center and general obligation bond note payments were noted as contributing factors, to the rise in property taxes.  City Administrator Bob Vagts, says "There are always risks involved with something beneficial. The can do nothing or it can do something."  

In addition, to a rise in tax asking, the city also announces the need for an increase to water and sewer rates beginning fiscal year 2012. Revenue loss due to lower water usage, sewer plant improvements, water tower painting, overtime wages due equipment repair following damaging weather events, and scheduled infrastructure maintenance lead to the demand for the rate hike   

Two geothermal test wells were drilled to remove “guess work” in estimates

North Fayette Valley Middle School on East Main St. is torn down

$280,000 IJOBs grant for Civic Plaza - Council takes bids and a $245,392 bid is awarded to Wick’s Construction, Decorah

The Union headlines, “Project is 28% complete”

City Manager Bob Vagts forecasts to the council, users of the geothermal system will pay for its operation, “I don’t think the City will run it. The City will own the infrastructure but we will contract the running of the system to an outside source.”

West Union awards $1.44 million contract to Lincoln Nebraska firm, K2 Real Estate and Development, for geothermal well field construction. 132 wells, 300 ft deep, are installed on the courthouse square

Well field installation on the courthouse square begins and will continue through July 2012; underground line placement for the geothermal line placement eventually begins and 24 downtown businesses undergo geothermal feasibility studies conducted by West Des Moines firm KCL Engineering

The courthouse geothermal well field drilling is complete; KCL engineers inform business owners about the results of their geothermal feasibility reports, revealing current building heat & cooling systems mostly vary between 80 and 94 percent efficiency. Potential geothermal users are reminded grant funding and tax deductions are available to defray the cost of converting to geothermal energy usage; 

Lions Park expansion site is scheduled for construction when one test well will be drilled, the pump installed, and the distribution line vault and pump house will be constructed; this future expansion site would have the  potential for 252 future well sites and have a 504 ton potential capacity

131 N. Vine St.- original site of Gus & Tony’s Townhouse Restaurant burns

Discussions are held to determine the operation of the downtown shared geothermal system. City council has concerns the cost to operate the system may become a burden to city tax payers. Newly formed West Union District Energy LLC offers to lease the system and bear any unknown operational costs

West Union’s Green Pilot Streetscape Project is featured in the Larry King hosted television series “In View.”

https://youtu.be/RwSrdRU8VhE

Remodeling Construction begins on 113 S. Vine, The Williamson Building (old bus barn) to include heat pumps and connection to the shared geothermal system. This will be the future of home of Gus & Tony’s Town House Cafe

The City of West Union issues a five year geothermal system lease agreement, to West Union District Energy LLC, allowing the organization to operate and use the system

Fire destroys Unionland Feed at 108 S. Walnut, and the adjacent Top Hat Lounge at 122 E. Elm - geothermal glycol is leaked at a compromised stubbed U-joint connection in Unionland Feed COOP.

West Union District Energy LLC enters contract with Tri-County Refrigeration for general operation of the leased geothermal system

Downtown business heat pumps are connected to the West Union District Geothermal System at:

The Woodard Buildings, 114 S. Vine & 100 S. Vine; Wedemeier Building, 100 E. Elm; Fehr Graham, 128 S. Vine; Kerndt Brothers Bank, 205 N. Vine; Chamber of Commerce, 101 N. Vine; and West Union Public Library, 210 N. Vine

West Union Chamber of Commerce Downtown Revitalization video released

https://youtu.be/1tle3jssm8M

County Courthouse connects to geothermal system

Bank 1st connects to the Geothermal System

City of West Union continues to lease, without a signed contract, operation of the system to the West Union District Energy LLC

Winneshiek Energy Districts implements an IEDA funded project for the city of West Union to study the success of the West Union Shared Geothermal System