Washington approves water assistance program

The Washington City Council approved a plan with the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program at its meeting Tuesday night that will help relieve some residents’ water bills.

The arrangement opens the door for HACAP to pitch in and cover the water and sewer bills of residents falling below a given income level.

“HACAP will check everything and make sure that they meet the criteria and then they will call us to see how much money they owe, when their disconnect is, anything like that,” City Finances Director Kelsey Brown said. “They just verify everything with us and then the program, through HACAP, will cut a check to the city.”

City Attorney Kevin Olson said news of the agreement could be easily shared with residents in need.

“I’ve seen this agreement a bit in different cities I represent,” he said. “If somebody is having issues with their water bill, you just give them a sheet that says, ‘Here’s who you need to contact to get assistance with that.’”

Olson said the program otherwise required negligible work on the city’s end.

“HACAP does all the work to determine who is eligible, and we accept payment through the program,” he said. “The only thing we’d have to do is make sure we keep the records for four years so they can be audited later, since it’s federal money.”

The city also plans to spread news of the new program however it can.

“I think it would be good if we could put it in the newsletter and maybe share it with some of our partners at Main Street and the Chamber and WEDG,” council member Danielle Pettit-Majewski said.

The impact of the agreement will be substantial.

“Our shut-off list is quite large … we have about 20 people that are shut off every single month,” Brown said. “We’re just excited that it’s going to be a good program.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com