Ione Seeking Financing Water Treatment Options

Forecasting a long awaited update in fiscal reporting, Ione sees an end in sight for coming up to date on several backlogged years of audits. Approving their newest agreement with Larry Bain Tuesday night has the city on track to complete both their 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 audits by June of next year. The council approved submitting a financing application to the State Water Resources Control Board in order to fund design and construction on a Water Reclamation Facility. In researching options for as an answer to a cease and desist order from the state over certain operations, the city has actively sought how to address the situation given the condition of the current facilities following improvements in recent years and is looking at alternatives in dealing with their treated water. Two separate options on the table involve increasing recycled water production to irrigate Howard Park or increasing the treatment of their waste water prior to its disposal in ponds 6 and 7. The city has also moved into a higher median household income bracket which has removed their qualification as a small disadvantaged community and the grant funding associated with it. Zoning changes were also approved for an RV Storage facility on Collins Road and classification changes for 15 parcels of single family residences in and around West Jackson Street which had previously been zoned commercial and was creating headaches for insurance and real estate transactions alike. City Manager George Lee announced Train Depot park is nearing completion and a ribbon cutting ceremony will be announced shortly.