MINUTES OF THE INFORMAL MEETING OF THE JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:
MARCH 11, 2004
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chairperson Neuzil called the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to order in the Johnson County Administration Building at 5:47 p.m. Members present were: Pat Harney, Mike Lehman, Terrence Neuzil, and Carol Thompson; absent: Sally Stutsman.
Planning and Zoning Administrator Rick Dvorak said the Planning and Zoning staff needed to resolve 2 concerns before making a recommendation on the North Liberty application for annexation of Quarter Moon Farms. Dvorak said the first concern is that a wedding retail shop, which is part of the land to be annexed, is still part of Johnson County according to Johnson County records. Dvorak said North Liberty City Clerk Mary Kay Mitchell presented recorded documents that the property had been annexed to the City of North Liberty. Dvorak said the Johnson County Planning and Zoning Staff accepted the documentation. He said the second concern was the status of an additional 80 acres of land, and 1,320 feet of Penn Street is Johnson County road surrounded by City roads. Dvorak said North Liberty stated there is currently an offer for purchase of the 80 acres of land for development, which should occur within the next 3 months. Dvorak said with the 2 concerns being resolved, the Planning and Zoning Staff supports the request for annexation. He said a letter of recommendation has been drafted for the Board to review, and asked to place this on the agenda for the next Board meeting.
Lehman asked why the land would not be annexed all at once, but noted there was not a specific request from the City of North Liberty for this to occur. Dvorak said that the land to be annexed is not owned by the same person. Harney asked if the annexation is extending only to the center of the road. Dvorak said the annexation will include the entire road. He said that hopefully within the next 3 months North Liberty will present another proposal to annex the remainder of the Johnson County roads. Lehman said that if the second proposal does not happen, a maintenance agreement will have to be in place between Johnson County and North Liberty. Dvorak said a maintenance agreement is already in place. Dvorak said that North Liberty is acting formally on the annexation March 23, 2004. Dvorak asked if he can inform North Liberty that the Board and the Johnson County Planning and Zoning Staff informally supports the application. The Board agreed to the request. The Board agreed to review the letter of recommendation at the next formal Board meeting.
DISCUSSION: PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED FINANCING FOR 12TH AVENUE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
Thompson asked the Board to review the copy of the proposed 28E Agreement and additional documentation for financing of the 12th Avenue Construction Project. She said when she and Harney were appointed to work with Coralville, North Liberty and the schools on the of 12th Avenue Construction Project, they were aware that Coralville intended to annex 12th Avenue, and there would be a school in North Liberty on the corner of Forevergreen Road and Front Street. She said that while the annexation and the school were not discussed at that time, they did discuss arrangements to improve the road so it would be appropriate for students walking and being transported to school. Thompson said she and Harney wanted to protect the taxpayers’ interests who were still in Johnson County while obtaining the best deal for all County taxpayers at the same time. She said the approximate centerline of the new road would be 5,286 linear feet, and the frontage would be double that length. She said 1,600 feet of the frontage are in Coralville (15%), 487 feet are in North Liberty (5%) and 8,485 feet are in Johnson County (80%). She said that they did not feel that Johnson County taxpayers would be interested in paying for a road that Coralville was going to annex, and their goal was to have more than 15% of the road paid for by Coralville. Thompson said that the cost is $187.23 per foot. With Federal funding, Thompson said, the local cost of the road is $64.15 per frontage foot. Thompson said Coralville would charge 100% of the cost of the improvements once the land was annexed, North Liberty would charge 15%, and Johnson County typically does not charge an assessment. Thompson said that they felt it would be most acceptable to assess the residents affected 15% of the total cost, which is $25.68 per foot. She said properties along 12th Avenue averaged 180 frontage feet, and would cost each property between $3,000 and $4,000 payable over a period of several years in taxes. Thompson said the estimated cost of the 12th Avenue Construction Project is $1.8 million. She said the schools would pay for the turning lanes. Thompson said that the following amounts would be covered: JCCOG Federal grant to Coralville for $1 million, ECCOG Trails Grant to Johnson County for $132,000, Forest Edge for $121,000, Catholic Church for $49,145, and North Liberty for $33,910. The remaining property owners along the County right-of-way would be assessed at 15% of the final cost which is $217,928, contingent on voluntary agreement to annex to Coralville and agreement to donate the right-of-way. She said they may be asked to donate some easements as the construction occurs. Thompson said the remaining amount is $255,730, which Coralville agreed to split with the County. She said the estimated cost to Johnson County Secondary Roads is $127,865. Thompson explained that completed plans need to be submitted to the Iowa Department of Transportation by July, and final cost and plans need to be finalized as soon as possible. She said the 28E Agreement will be on the agenda for the next formal Board meeting in 2 weeks. She said according to the agreement, Coralville and Johnson County will each pay $100,000 and North Liberty will pay $30,000, and these amounts will be deducted from the final cost when the 28E agreement is finalized in September.
Neuzil asked about residents’ reaction to the construction project. Thompson said she had not heard anything recently. Harney said rural residents in the area were very concerned, but the residents he visited with are pleased about the 15% assessment. Neuzil asked if Johnson County has ever assessed. Thompson said not usually. She said the properties will be annexed into Coralville, and Coralville will assess the annexed properties at 15% of the final cost. Harney said taxes could be spread over several years. Thompson said some right-of-ways will have to be purchased from land owners. Neuzil asked if enough time is allowed between the construction project scheduled to begin in March and the opening of the school in August. Harney said they can get it completed, weather permitting. Neuzil asked when Coralville will annex the land. Thompson said it will be annexed when they receive the agreements from the land owners. Lehman asked if the road will be constructed to County standards or if it will be curb and gutter. Thompson said it will be City curb and gutter standards with an 8 ft sidewalk allowing for a bike trail on one side and a 4 ft sidewalk on the other side. Harney said there were concerns about City services for rural residents. He said State law requires residents to hook up to sewer within 200 ft of the property line, but there are no requirements to hook up to Coralville water. Neuzil said that Thompson did a nice job presenting the information.
Recessed at 6:05 p.m.; reconvened at 8:13 p.m.
REPORTS AND INQUIRIES FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Harney attended the following meetings and events: Homebuilders Show, North Liberty Optimists Fundraiser, Secondary Roads Liaison meeting, Batterer’s Education Program, Prairie Preview, Chamber of Commerce Business A.M., General Assistance Liaison Meeting, and Chamber Ag Directors Meeting. He spoke with Senators Harkin, Grassley, and Congressman Leach’s staff about funding for the Johnson County SEATS facility and countywide communications center. Harney was contacted by Senator Grassley’s office regarding possible land along Highway 965 for Secondary Roads to use as a garage. He recognized Assistant County Engineer Al Miller who received a grant for $500,000 from the DOT.
Thompson met with Neuzil, Chatham Oaks Director Mary Jean Donovan and Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities Director Elaine Sweet and members of the Alliance for the Mentally Ill about the Chatham Oaks facility.
Lehman attended the County-A-Day Program in Des Moines, a Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors meeting, and a liaison meeting with General Assistance Director Kay Hull.
Neuzil thanked everyone who worked on the FY 2005 Johnson County Budget. He attended the following meetings and events: Iowa City Chamber of Commerce Local Government Affairs Committee meeting, Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities Executive Committee meeting, County-A-Day Program in Des Moines, a meeting with Chatham Oaks, Iowa Environmental and Education Project, Prairie Preview, and a meeting with North Corridor Residents about the 5 Year Road Plan.
Adjourned at 8:36 p.m.
Attest: Tom Slockett, Auditor
By Casie Kadlec, Recording Secretary