Renovation of a mixed-use development in Dubuque, Iowa. Conceptual plans call for the renovation of a municipal facility; and water / sewer project.

This project provides funding to repair and restore treatment system infrastructure at the Water & Resource Recovery Center (WRRC) that is currently out of service or operating unreliably due to age, wear, or deferred maintenance. The work focuses on restoring the mechanical and electrical assets that support the Citys treatment processes-including pumps, valves, motors, actuators, and other associated equipment-so that redundant and standby systems can be brought back into reliable service. Over the past several years, a tipping point occurred where the balance of maintenance work at the WRRC shifted from preventive maintenance to reactive repairs. As equipment issues increased, maintenance staff were required to focus primarily on emergency and urgent repairs, leaving less time available for preventive maintenance. This cycle has compounded over time, resulting in additional unplanned outages and diminished reliability. To help reverse this trend, the WRRC intends to hire qualified mechanical contractors to perform much of the repair and restoration work necessary to address the existing maintenance backlog. Engaging outside contractors will allow the City to complete high-priority repairs more efficiently while enabling in-house maintenance staff to concentrate on preventive maintenance and routine operational support. The goal of this project is to restore balance-returning maintenance operations to a primarily preventive focus. If this can be accomplished over the next 12 to 18 months, the City will be in a stronger position to re-evaluate long-term maintenance staffing levels or other structural changes needed to sustain a proactive maintenance program. By investing in treatment system infrastructure restoration, the WRRC will enhance operational reliability, reduce odor risk, and ensure that the facility can continue to meet permit obligations while maintaining safe, efficient, and sustainable operations. The project is expected to generate measurable operational savings by reducing the frequency of emergency repairs and unplanned equipment failures. As critical treatment infrastructure is restored and redundant systems are brought back online, maintenance activities will transition from reactive to preventive work. These improvements are projected to reduce annual maintenance costs by approximately 5-10%, or about $50,000 per year, once full reliability and preventive maintenance efficiencies are achieved The project is included in the City's 2027-2032 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). As of June 24, 2026, further details have not yet been identified. *Project information has been obtained through a public capital improvement plan (CIP). A CIP is a financial schedule for short- and long-range projects which is updated regularly. Information listed in the CIP often evolves based on funding availability and the project details, including timeline and value, are subject to change. The content management team will continue to pursue additional details as they become available.