Quiet Harbor residents ask about water service

Residents representing Quiet Harbor, a residential complex on Creston’s west side, asked Creston Waterworks Board Tuesday about the water service agreement. Quiet Harbor is under new ownership and those residents are concerned about the future reliability of having water.

Creston Water Works General Manager Steve Guthrie said the owner of Quiet Harbor purchases water then provides it to the properties. Guthrie said the previous owner had issues with the water bill and water was shut off for a few hours one day in December. Guthrie said the new owner, who lives in Texas, is not prompt paying the bill, according to a property manager who was not named.

“There is potential this could happen again,” Guthrie said. “We don’t have any customers who live in Quiet Harbor.” Guthrie said the owner could ask Creston Water to remove the water meter and Creston Water can not deny the request. That would force each Quiet Harbor lot to have its own water meter and service.

The residents asked what would be needed for each property to have water service if that should ever occur. Guthrie estimated up to $400 for each lot just for the meter. Guthrie said the bigger issue is the infrastructure would have to be significantly upgraded just for fire protection. “It would be several hundred thousand dollars,” Guthrie said.

Resident Cindy Kneedler said for the 20 years she has lived there, she has never known the amount of water used on her property she was billed.

“How do we know what we are being billed for,” she asked.

Guthire said attempts are being made with the owner to use an auto-pay option.

In other board news....

The board received no comments during a public hearing about plans and procedures to replace aging water infrastructure for a portion of town.

Creston Waterworks is looking to replace old waterlines throughout much of uptown Creston with streets acting as boundaries.

⋅Walnut Street from Fareway west to Sumner Avenue

⋅ Montgomery Street from Cherry Street to Division Street

⋅Division Street from Townline Road to Adams Street

⋅Cherry Street from Montgomery Street to Townline Road

Like what was replaced last year in the 100, 200 and 300 blocks of North Maple Street, General Manager Steve Guthrie said the water mains are antique. The project may be bid in March. The board approved spending no more than $339,000 on the design of the work from Garden and Associates. In summer 2023, the entire project was estimated at $5.75 million. The project is probably a year from beginning.

The board approved to continue officers. Chairman will be John Tapken. Vice chairperson is Mark Eblen, treasurer is Ann Levine and secretary is David Wynn. Tapken was not in attendance.