IOWA CITY

The northern section of busily traveled Sharon Center Road SW has been closed due to a problem discovered with a culvert.

The closure will likely be in place for a couple of months as Johnson County goes through a formal bidding process and then the actual work is done to replace the culvert.

The road begins at Highway 1 and cuts through the middle of Sharon Township and down to Kalona, and is a frequently used route for motorists, farmers and others. The closure is just north of the Welsh Congregational Church of Christ and about half a mile south of the road’s intersection with Highway 1 in southwest rural Johnson County.

Johnson County Board of Supervisors Chair Rod Sullivan said the county has received multiple calls regarding the unexpected closure.

“The annual inspection showed the Secondary Roads folks that this needed to be closed immediately,” Sullivan said during the Board’s May 2 formal session. “They didn’t really have a choice.”

Kansas Avenue is being used as a detour to Highway 1 as the county heads into a bidding process that includes a June 4 bid-letting date. Work on the project will begin in June or July.

“We’re going to try to get it done as soon as we could,” Sullivan said. “Meanwhile, there is a detour and that’s all we could do in this case. We apologize, but sometimes things are beyond our control.”

“There is a safety issue,” Supervisor Lisa Green-Douglass said. “We’re glad you’re all safe and asking questions.”

The Board has already approved two right-of-way agreements in connection with the culvert replacement project, a $4,580 agreement with Edward and Katherine Ruppenkamp, and a $1,760 agreement with Kerry Harger.

Budget Amendment

The county’s spring budget amendment will include $12.6 million in additional expenditures and an additional $18 million in projected revenue.

The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the amendment at 9 a.m. May 23.

Dana Aschenbrenner, Johnson County Finance Director, told the Board that a number of merit pay increases, state-required property tax mailings and nearly half a million dollars for an approved computer software upgrade are among the funds needed for increased spending. Revenue funding is being increased by government reimbursements and interest revenue, among other adjustments.

The spring amendment is a part of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget and does not affect property taxes.

Poor Farm Housing

Johnson County and Iowa City are considering a plan that would see a housing development built on the east side of the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm.

The housing subdivision would be located on the southeast or northeast corners of an area that is just west of Highway 218 and south of Melrose Avenue in western Iowa City.

“Looking forward to that conversation,” said Supervisor V Fixmer-Oraiz, a former project manager at the Poor Farm. “They seemed very excited about it.”

Johnson County is considering an amendment to a current design agreement with Confluence, a national design firm with offices in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, for the proposed project.

Fixmer-Oraiz led a tour at the Poor Farm last week for visitors from Beijing University.

Board Action

The Board approved a site plan for a proposed electrical business in Cosgrove.

The Board approved a software purchasing agreement with Citizenserve, a national software firm that specializes in serving local government computer systems.

The Board issued proclamations honoring Historic Preservation Month and Foster Care Month.

Next meeting: The Board’s next formal session is at 5:30 p.m. May 9. The monthly evening meeting will include a number of public hearings in conjunction with zoning and platting applications.