City of Cambridge
WELCOME TO CAMBRIDGE
The City of Cambridge works to provide services that enhance the quality of life, foster growth, enhance communications and ensure the safety of residents in a fiscally responsible manner.
CONTACT US
CITY NEWS
P.O. Box 216
225 Water St.
Cambridge, IA 50046
Tel: 515-220-4541
City Hall Hours:
Monday - Closed
Tuesday - 1-5 p.m.
Wednesday - 1-5 p.m.
Thursday - 1-5 p.m.
Friday - 1-6 p.m.
Saturday - Closed
Sunday - Closed
FOLLOW US
Cambridge City Council meetings are the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Cambridge City Center
Story County Residents Encouraged to Take Broadband Survey
Story County residents and businesses can participate in the Central Iowa Broadband Internet Survey. The survey will measure broadband internet availability and identify areas that do not currently meet consumer needs and expectations.
This survey is part of the Central Iowa Broadband Internet Study. The Survey is open now through May 14. The survey can be accessed on the website for the Greater Des Moines Partnership (https://www.dsmpartnership.com/growing-business-here-central-iowa-broadband-internet), which is coordinating the study.
There are two separate survey links:
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one for residential households [https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/b6e633ea998a45dfa769d1f76a61f458?portalUrl=https://gismaps.hrgreen.com/portal] and
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one for businesses [https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/fbfe00809fff4460acd9317750636ee3?portalUrl=https://gismaps.hrgreen.com/portal].
Increasing broadband internet connectivity is one of the priorities in Story County’s 2021 Strategic Plan
Iowa Department of Natural Resources Requiring Cambridge Lagoon Update
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is requiring the city of Cambridge to reduce ammonia discharges from its city lagoons. To meet the requirements the city is updating the lagoons located on the southeast end of town.
In 2014 the IDNR contacted the city stating that ammonia levels being discharged from the city’s lagoons into the South Skunk River were too high. The city hired Fox Engineering to investigate possible solutions. The engineering firm proposed three options ranging in cost from $630,000 to $1.2 million.
After several options were reviewed, the city council decided to pursue the lowest cost solution. That solution involves installing ultraviolet lights to reduce the amount ammonia being discharged.
C.L. Carroll Company out of Des Moines started construction on the $650,000 project in early March with completion planned for December. Engineering fees were around $200,000 bringing the total cost of the project to $850,000.
In order to cover the updates to the city will be raising water and sewer rates. On average residents will see rates increase from $10 to $20 depending on their water and sewer usage. Sewer rates are currently $13 and will be raised to $22. Water currently costs $4 per one thousand gallons and that will increase to $5 per one thousand gallons.
Even with these increases the city of Cambridge still offers some of the lowest rates for water and sewer in Story County.
Cambridge City Fire Restrictions
Cambridge City Code allows recreational fires in the city, but the city code and Iowa Department of Natural Resource rules do not allow burning of hazardous materials such as plastics, electric wire, tires, etc.
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Garbage pick up is included in residents utility and water bill, so there should be no need to burn garbage or residential waste.
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Burning leaves and brush is permitted, but try to burn when leaves are dry to eliminate smoky fires. Cambridge is located in a river valley so smoke filled with dangerous particulates can hang over the city for several hours and is a health hazard.