MINUTES OF THE INFORMAL MEETING OF THE JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:
JANUARY 12, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Discussion: Appointments to the Johnson County Housing Task Force
Chairperson Lehman called the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to order in the Johnson County Administration Building at 7:26 p.m. Members present were: Pat Harney, Mike Lehman, Terrence Neuzil, Sally Stutsman, and Rod Sullivan.
County Engineer Greg Parker said that he wanted to discuss the north portion of the Sand Road project. This is the Iowa City portion which the County will be managing. The bid letting was on January 11, 2006, and Parker said he received the bids via email. The bids received were favorable, and the Engineer’s estimate for the Johnson County portion was just under $590,000. He said that the actual bid for the division for Johnson County was $518,358.35. The bids for the project came in under the estimate. He said that Iowa City feels the same way with their portion of the project. Parker said that it is the recommendation of Secondary Roads to proceed with this construction project, and to put it on the formal agenda for next week. He said that if it is approved, it would then go on the City Council’s agenda the following week so they can get the project rolling. Stutsman asked whether this would be to accept the bid from Metro Pavers Inc. Parker said that it would. Lehman clarified that four companies bid on this project.
Neuzil said that it is going to be a long summer with this construction. Parker said it will be really nice when the project is completed. He reminded the Board that the south section of Sand Road is also going to be let through the Iowa Department of Transportation which is the Johnson County portion that they will manage, and that will be taking place next month. He said that he should be coming back with favorable bids in mid-February so they can accomplish the south portion this summer. R. Sullivan asked whether Parker anticipates this portion influencing the ability to bid the south portion. Parker said that he hopes that because they have a designated contractor for the north portion that may instill good project costs for the south portion when it’s let in February. He said that maybe a contractor will want to come in under the current cost. He said they are letting the project at a good time of year, and they do find favorable bid prices in December through February, but the later they get into the year, the higher the bid. He said there wasn’t as much construction going on in Iowa City this summer as there was last summer, and that is in part why they received such a favorable bid on this project.
Stutsman clarified that Johnson County’s part of the bid is $600,000. Parker agreed. He said that Johnson County is Division One. He reiterated that Johnson County is only paying for a rural cross-section. Iowa City is then going to upgrade the road, and is also going to pay for the widening to an urban cross-section roadway. Harney noted that was done so they could complete that section. Lehman said everyone appreciates Iowa City’s cooperation on this. Lehman said that the bid will be on a future formal agenda for approval.
Fox Run Subdivision Resident Paul Osterholt said that he lives in the Fox Run subdivision in North Liberty. He said that resident Fox Run Subdivision Resident Teri Snell was going to read her statement. Snell that in 1996, Fox Run residential housing development was started on the east side of Scales Bend Road. A neighborhood park was added in 2001 on the east side near the south end of Scales Bend. Over the years since then, it has been improved with the addition of playground equipment and a basketball court. In 2003 the development on the east side of Scales Bend Road was completed, with about 150 houses. Development then began on the west side of Scales Bend Road, where there are now 103 occupied homes and about 30 more under construction. A new park has been created west of Scales Bend road near the north end of the development. It has no playground equipment, but is a large open area surrounding a pond that many people in the neighborhood enjoy. With 255 occupied houses in the development, they have 165 signatures on a petition that represents 127 housing units in the development, which represents 50% of the occupied housing units. With the addition of the western part of the development and the new park space in the last couple of years, there is now a lot of bicycle and pedestrian traffic crossing and going north and south along Scales Bend Road, which includes children. Snell said that the current 55 mile per hour speed limit is not safe for the current conditions, and have asked the city of North Liberty to enact a modest speed reduction to match a more substantial reduction in the speed limit that they are requesting of the County. Snell said that after consultations with the Johnson County Sheriff, County Engineer, and North Liberty City Administrator, they are asking the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to lower the speed limit on the County portion of Scales Bend Road from 55 mph to 40 mph. She said they believe that this change will significantly improve the safety of all users on this road.
Osterholt gave the Board an overview of the road through his presentation which he also handed out to the Board. He said that he and the other residents think they can make it safer by lowering the speed limit and making it consistent between both County and City roads. On January 10, 2005 they went to the North Liberty City Council meeting. North Liberty agreed to lower the speed limit to 40 mph. He said they also think a Reduced Speed Ahead sign would be a good idea about three-quarters of the way down the hill. He presented the petition to Lehman. Neuzil said that this has been done in Shueyville as well in order to create consistency. R. Sullivan said that the presentation was very well done. Osterholt said that the resolution passed by North Liberty included commissioning a speed study from JCCOG to be done this summer. Assistant County Attorney Andy Chappell said that he and County Engineer Greg Parker would work together to make sure that the resolution would be written correctly. Osterholt expressed his hope that this would be done before the end of February. The Board agreed to approve the change in the speed limit at a future formal meeting.
Stutsman explained the renewal and amendment to the contract for fiscal agent services for Community Partnership. Executive Assistant Mike Sullivan added that the language has changed, and the name of the Chairperson needs to be changed. The Board agreed to place the contract on a future formal agenda for approval.
Lehman said that there are three applicants to the Johnson County Housing Task Force whose applications were circulated. M. Sullivan said that he talked to the Chair of the Johnson County Housing Task Force who said that the Board may appoint all three applicants if they wish. The Board agreed to put the appointments on a future formal agenda.
Adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
______________________________________________________________________
Attest: Tom Slockett, Auditor
By:
On the _______ day of _____________________, 2006
By Casie Kadlec, Recording Secretary
Sent to the Board of Supervisors on January 14, 2006 at 5:30 p.m.