JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Lone Tree planning among priorities for ICAD program

By Paul D. Bowker
Posted 11/25/22

OWA CITY

Lone Tree has emerged as one of the planning priorities for Sarah Thompson, Director of Rural Development, Iowa City Area Development (ICAD).

Thompson, who provided an update on …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in
JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Lone Tree planning among priorities for ICAD program

Posted

IOWA CITY

Lone Tree has emerged as one of the planning priorities for Sarah Thompson, Director of Rural Development, Iowa City Area Development (ICAD).

Thompson, who provided an update on Johnson County’s rural towns to the Board of Supervisors at its work session Sept. 28, said she recently met with Lone Tree Mayor Josh Spilman, City Council member Ryan Ronan and schools superintendent Kurt DeVore.

“We talked about ways that Lone Tree could start getting some stuff done,” Thompson said. “They are interested in housing, they are interested in maybe redoing some buildings downtown, which is exciting.”

Thompson was planning on meeting other city officials in Lone Tree and attending city council meetings to further discuss potential improvements.

Thompson told the board she has also met with the new community coach (Jessica Johnson) for Hills, which is a part of Keep Iowa Beautiful’s Hometown Pride program.

In addition to Lone Tree and Hills, Thompson has met with officials from Swisher and Solon in northern Johnson County. The focus of the ICAD program is on business development, housing, food and recreational opportunities.

“I see some really great opportunities in our communities and that’s great,” Thompson said. “I’m hoping to do a lot of collaboration between communities and between business partners.”

“You hit the ground running,” Supervisor Pat Heiden said. “There’s just huge opportunities. You’re the person that’s going to lead the way. That is just really exciting.”

Board action

At its Sept. 29 formal session, the board approved a resolution assigning a certificate of purchase and tax to Melody Miller for a half acre of property located on the south side of 540th Street SW in southwest Johnson County.

The tax payment was for $1,442 and allows Miller to obtain a deed for the property.

The board tabled a vote on a proposed fragrance free workplace policy, pending further discussion at a work session.

The county’s employees safety committee proposed a policy prohibiting the use of “candles, potpourri, essential oils and similar items” following an incident in March in which an employee suffered an asthma attack from “another employee’s essential oils” and underwent treatment at a hospital emergency department.

The board issued proclamations on Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Community Planning Month.

Johnson County, Lone Tree, ICAD