WEST UNION - There's something to be said about the black Iowa soil in Dick Woodard's garden.

Not about the dirt's better-known abilities to help grow green, but the capacity to help Woodard go green. The soil - with help from compost, rocks and plants - filters pollutants in street runoff naturally without the help of chemicals.

"It works pretty slick," he says. "(Water) just puddles up and then it goes away."

The rain garden behind Woodard's insurance business is among the signs of West Union's mission to become one of Iowa's most eco-friendly towns.

"This is for the future. This is for the kids," said Ron Saboe, owner of Saboe Jewelry. "What can we do now that will help West Union?"

Their effort has the backing of the Iowa Department of Economic Development, which named the Fayette County seat one of two pilot Green Communities in the state. Both the city and the state hope this is a path to attract businesses in rural Iowa.

Some residents, though, worry the new focus will instead translate into increased taxes, higher energy costs and questionable benefits.

New models

A lot of ideas are being tossed around about ways to go green or what to think of it all. The focus has been the streetscaping project on Vine Street.

So far, the project has taken a radical turn from normal downtown street projects, which usually focus on appearance.

"It'll be an extreme makeover definitely for the streetscape," said Jeff Geerts, a project manager for the economic development department.

Sustainability is front and center. Special pervious concrete, which allows water to seep into the soil, will be used on the street bed. Permeable sidewalk pavers with similar qualities will also be used.

All of that is because of storm water management concerns. Vine Street doesn't cope well with heavy rains, according to merchants. Only two drains at the bottom of a hill collect water.

"It just tears down the street and into these outlet deals," Woodard said.

The town is working with a large variety of county, state and federal agencies to plan the project, Geerts said. Some people, like Woodard, took it upon themselves to go green with rain gardens. Others are considering installing green roofs, which have plant material instead of shingles - on buildings.

Some people, like the Iowa Environmental Council, applaud the pilot project for employing alternative methods to treat storm water.

"I think it's a good way to set an example," said Marian Gelb, the council's executive director.

Gelb said different ways to cope with storm water like in West Union could end up saving smaller communities money in the end. Many communities link storm water with sanitary lines, which makes the sewer system vulnerable to storms.

"It's in these heavy rain events that the system is overwhelmed," she said.

Usually, a city will bypass the system, leading to thousands of gallons of untreated water pouring into the rivers.

Green street

There are many other features in the project as well, like an in-street ice and snow melt system, energy efficient lighting and solar collectors on rooftops.

State development officials say they've spent more than $300,000 on just planning the green project so far. Among the things that paid for an AmeriCorps volunteer position, energy audits for most businesses downtown and a 119 page report by the Conservation Design Forum, a renowned Chicago environmental engineering firm, that outlines various options for the street.

But all that carries a hefty price tag, according to the report. Preliminary figures show it could cost up to $11.5 million, but the report cautions that those figures will change next month when city officials get updated figures. The city has already authorized up to $4.5 million in bonds be taken out for the project, if necessary.

Some items, like pervious concrete, can cost up to six times regular concrete, according to the National Ready Mix Concrete Association.

Robin Bostrom, director of the West Union Chamber of Commerce, said the list of wants isn't final.

"We don't know if everything that we have on the drawing board will become reality," Bostrom said.

Even if the project is scaled back, supporters say it'll still represent a major step for West Union and the state. No other town has attempted a similar project, Geerts said.

Things like pervious concrete, streetscapes and rain gardens aren't new to Iowa. Cities like Des Moines and Dubuque have at least one or more of those items in their communities.

"But no place has it all integrated together," Geerts said.

It's these unique features that supporters like Saboe say will help West Union in the long run. West Union businesses used to be protected by how far they were larger cities, but that's no longer the case.

"That distance means far less today," he said.

Big Changes

There's a certain adjustments that come with such a big plan. There are early adopters, but others aren't as quick to go along.

"It's very new for many of us," Bostrom said.

The city held a number of public forums and meetings to gather input. This has led to insights and controversies. One such tempest was a proposal to have back-in parking, Bostrom said.

"We did not realize that would be one thing that residents would have a great concern about," she said.

A batch of test stalls have be painted at the Fayette County Courthouse to let people try it out themselves. That approach is being extended to all facets of the planning, which means the project is proceeding slower than expected.

City Councilman Roy Guenther said some residents and business owners are getting frustrated with the seeming lack of action on the project. Some businesses have held off on sidewalk repairs because they are waiting on the street project.

"People need to know whatever direction to proceed in," said Guenther, who owns a business on Vine Street.

Bostrom said they'd like to do the extra planning to avoid future issues.

And while there are a large number of supporters in town, there is also a sizable group of skeptics and opponents.

One of those is resident Dale Halverson, who worries the project could lead to higher taxes. Halverson argues the city should hold a referendum before any work is done.

"It goes back to me thinking that I don't like the idea that they can issue that many bonds without a vote," he said.

Halverson is also skeptical of the benefit the city will see from putting so much into going green. He doesn't want to end up in the red instead.

Geerts and others say this is an opportune time for the plans. The state's support means the city is eligible for greater funding. At least 43 separate grants have been identified. The city recently hired a full-time grant writer to help capture some of those dollars.

There's also federal stimulus money for ecofriendly projects like the streetscape.

Guenther said he's remained open minded. If the street project happens, he said it'll be a big change.

But many have pointed to the need for a big change. One large employer - Atwood Mobile Products - announced it was closing its operations there and eliminating 120 jobs. There are rumors other firms could close.

"Time will tell," Guenther said. "You'd like to hope it'd attract some industry or business."