209 Main Street
World Wide Website
www.colo-iowa.org
City Council
meetings are held monthly on the first Monday at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall
I am moving to Colo, whom do I contact to set up my utilities?
The City of Colo provides water and sewer service to residents. A water/Sewer deposit is required. The deposit is $150.00 and is payable in the City Clerk’s office at City Hall, 209 Main Street before service may be connected. Deposits may be returned upon customer request after 2 years of acceptable payment history.
How are my water/sewer bills figured?
Residential water/sewer bills are figured by gallons of water used. The minimum water and sewer billing is currently $ 21.00. The average water and sewer bill in Colo is approximately $50.00.
Bills are mailed on the 20th of every month. Bills are due and payable at City Hall or at State Bank & Trust in Colo by the 10th of the month after the billing date. There is a 24-hour drop box for bill payment at City Hall.
You can sign up for automatic bank collect so that you can have your water, sewer and garbage bill automatically paid by your bank each month.
Late penalties of 10% are added to each bill not paid on or before the due date. Services are disconnected if not paid by the 10th of the month following the due date.
Whom do I contact for garbage service?
The City of Colo provides garbage service. There is a base fee of $9.25 added to your monthly water/sewer bill for this service.
There is also a per bag cost. You must have your garbage in a Colo garbage bag or it will not be picked up. There is a 40-pound weight limit per bag. The bags may be purchased at Casey’s General Store, or at City Hall. The cost is $1.00 per bag.
If you have any large items that will not fit into the bags you may call City Hall and arrange for the item(s) to be picked up. The minimum fee for extra pick – up is $10.00 plus a tonnage fee based on the current rate that the City pays to the Ames Resource Recovery Center.
Garbage is picked up once per week, every Wednesday starting as early as 7:00 a.m. If a holiday falls on Wednesday a notice will be published in the Colo Newsletter before the holiday informing residents of the day of the week when garbage will be picked up.
Are there any programs available for recycling?
Colo has a
voluntary drop-off recycling program.
The recycling bins are located next to City Hall and are open 24-7.
Please observe the signs posted on the front of the bins. These signs give the current information regarding which bins should be used for the various recyclable materials.
Items that are currently accepted at the bins are as follows: Newspapers, #1 and #2 plastic containers, clear glass bottles, steel or aluminum cans, and corrugated cardboard.
Glass: To prepare the item for recycling please rinse thoroughly, and remove lids. We cannot accept green or brown glass or flat (window) glass.
Newsprint: Remove any slick or shiny inserts, must be dry.
No. 1 and #2 plastic remove and throw away the caps, flatten, and rinse well.
Metal: Lids, hangers. Paint cans, tin and aluminum cans. For tin cans rinse and if possible flatten.
Corrugated cardboard boxes only. Please no cereal or beverage container boxes. Flatten all boxes.
Other utilities to contact in our area:
Telephone/Internet Service provider: Colo Telephone Company 641-377-2202
Electric/Gas: Alliant Utilities 800-822-4348
Cable TV-Colo Telephone Company 641-377-2202
I am building, remodeling, adding a fence, etc. Do I need a building permit?
Permits are needed for the construction of ANY structure or structural change on your property including fences.
Permit applications can be picked up at City Hall. There is a $10.00 fee for building permits and no fee for a fence permit.
If you have any questions please contact City Hall for details or pick up an application at City Hall, 209 Main Street. Permit applications can also be downloaded from the City’s web site a www.colo-iowa.org
How do I rent the Community Center or the City Parks?
Reservations may be made for up to one year in advance. All reservations can be made at City Hall or by calling City Hall at 641-377-2238. Keys to the buildings reserved must be picked up at City Hall the week of the rental. A $50.00 deposit and $25.00 rental fee is due at the time you pick up the key. Deposits are returned after the rental, subject to proper cleaning of the facility and a damage inspection.
Who is responsible for tree trimming next to streets and alleys?
The owner or agent of the abutting property shall keep the trees or shrubs on or overhanging the street trimmed so that all branches will be at least fifteen (15) feet above the surface of the street and eight (8) feet above the sidewalks. (City code 6-2.0104)
What rules are there for planting trees?
Planting Restrictions:
1. No trees shall be planted in any street or parking area (the area between street and sidewalk).
2. Trees or shrubs shall be planted no closer than six (6) feet from the property line on the street side. Trees shall not be planted closer than twenty (20) feet to street intersections (Property lines extended) nor than ten (10) feet from driveways.
3. It is the duty of the property owner to know where property lines lie.
What are the rules for open burning in the City of Colo?
Burning of lawn and
garden waste generated on your own property is permitted all Saturdays from
7:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Burning is also
permitted on Tuesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 8:00
p.m. from April 1 through May 15 and October 1 through November 15.
Whom do I contact regarding recreation programs available in Colo?
Andrew Short is the contact person for the Recreation Department. Call 515-291-4493.
What do I do if I notice a streetlight is out?
Call Alliant Energy at 800-822-4348, or report it via the Internet at http://www.alliantenergy.com/UtilityServices/CustomerService/015774, or call City Hall at 641-377-2238 and give them the location of the streetlight that is out.