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Ottumwa councilman Mitch Niner is collecting signatures for a petition to audit the city's sewer department.

Niner said he was inspired to start the petition after the city council voted Tuesday against his wishes to pass the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency's new consent decree to extend the sewer separation project for the next 25 years.

He said taxpayers will ultimately face a sewer tax increase and he wants to insure the department is handling the project properly.

"It's not to get anybody in trouble," said Niner. 

"Matter of fact, I told city hall that I'm going to pull a petition and make sure that everything is above board. If you're going to expect taxpayers to pay more than they can really afford, then I'm going to make sure that everything is being done properly. If the citizens of Ottumwa are going to get stuck paying the bill, I want to make sure they're getting treated fairly as far as how the money is being spent."

Niner needs to collect at least 100 signatures in order for the audit to happen. He said if the petition is successful, then the state auditor's office will review the city's audit of the sewer department. If they find any errors or inconsistencies, then they will investigate further.

Niner said citizens can expect about a 15 % increase in their sewer taxes, sometime between September and January.