Greene Council Approves Partial Sewer Forgiveness for Church

Council also discusses upcoming fiscal year 2027 budget items

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Greene City Council approved partial sewer forgiveness for Calvary Baptist Church following a water leak, and discussed upcoming budget items for fiscal year 2027 including seal coating, street lights, water tower maintenance, and a public hearing on the proposed tax rate.

Why it matters

The council's decisions on sewer forgiveness and budget priorities reflect their efforts to balance the needs of the community, maintain infrastructure, and set the stage for the next fiscal year's spending plan.

The details

The council voted to forgive half of the sewer portion of Calvary Baptist Church's bill after a resident, Ben Hartwig, explained that an outside spigot leak had caused excess water usage that did not enter the sewer system. The council also reviewed upcoming budget items for fiscal year 2027 such as seal coating, street lights, annual water tower maintenance, and main lining. Additionally, they set a public hearing date of April 13th at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the proposed 2026-2027 tax rate.

  • The Greene City Council met on Monday, February 9, 2026.
  • The public hearing on the proposed 2026-2027 tax rate is scheduled for April 13, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.

The players

Calvary Baptist Church

A local church that received partial sewer forgiveness from the Greene City Council.

Ben Hartwig

A resident who explained to the council that a water leak at Calvary Baptist Church caused excess water usage that did not enter the sewer system.

Greene City Council

The governing body of Greene, Iowa that approved the partial sewer forgiveness and discussed upcoming budget items.

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What’s next

The Greene City Council will hold a public hearing on April 13, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the proposed 2026-2027 tax rate.

The takeaway

The Greene City Council's decisions on sewer forgiveness and budget planning demonstrate their efforts to address community needs, maintain infrastructure, and prepare for the next fiscal year's spending while balancing the interests of residents and local organizations.