Ames, Iowa — Iowa State University officials have been investigating a public-private partnership for operation of its campus utility system.
It would be similar to the University of Iowa’s 50-year deal that yielded more than a billion dollars for the university. ISU president Wendy Wintersteen says after the first of the year, more information will be released about ISU’s investigation of a similar deal for the Ames campus, but Wintersteen notes ISU’s utility system is not as large of the one in Iowa City.
Rod Lehnertz, a senior vice president at the University of Iowa, says the 50-year lease for the utility system on the Iowa City campus yields about 15 million dollars a year for the University of Iowa. It’s being used for some utility improvements and to test programs that aim to keep students on track to graduate.
University of Iowa president Barbara Wilson says one of the pilot projects is called “Next Gen Hawks” program.
A member of the board that governs the University of Iowa says they’ve investigated a public-private partnership for operating a parking facility in Iowa City, but the risk appears to be greater than the reward.
