SOLON — The Solon City Council met in regular session Wednesday, March 19, and received an update from Johnson County Supervisor Rod Sullivan.
In his report to the Council, Sullivan addressed concerns from the County’s perspective regarding Jordan Creek Church’s plans to build a church west of Solon along Hwy. 382 on land owned by Bob Upmeyer.
Currently, Jordan Creek Church meets in the Solon Community Center, which is slated for demolition within the next few years by the Solon Community School District, who leases the building to the City.
The Council discussed the proposal, including infrastructure needs (water, sewer, roads) to the site, which sits outside of the city limits; and discussed the possibility of annexing the site, located within the two-mile fringe area surrounding Solon, into the city.
During the Feb. 19 Council meeting Mayor Dan O’Neil noted it would be unfair for the taxpayers to fund the project with consensus from the Council.
Rasmussen said during a recent meeting with a church representative it was stated the church was going to “bypass the city’s process and work with the county to create a parcel.” “That’s obviously a concern,” said Rasmussen, “Because the fringe area agreement is intended to protect Solon’s borders and the agreement has language as far as parcel creation.”
Rasmussen consulted with City Attorney Kevin Olson and contacted Josh Busard, Johnson County Director of Planning, Development, and Sustainability.
“This is kind of an odd situation that unfortunately, our fringe agreement didn’t anticipate,” said Sullivan. “As one supervisor, I would much rather have this development happen in the city of Solon, I think you folks should be able to talk about water and sidewalks and whatever other things you think are important for that development. I find it a little frustrating that they want to develop in the country rather than the city. In almost any other circumstance we would just say no, that’s covered by the fringe area agreement and you have to talk to the city.”
Johnson County staff, Sullivan said, are not viewing the proposal as creating a parcel and therefore do not require the county’s permission.
“Churches are conditionally permitted in that zoning district, and so they can conditionally permit a church. The Board doesn’t even vote on this. So it’s kind-of out of our hands.”
Sullivan recommended the City write to the County Board of Adjustment and explain how this is an unforeseen issue with the fringe area agreement and to request certain conditions prior to any approval (by the Board of Adjustment).
Sullivan expressed his frustration and noted it was likely shared with the Council.
“Because they’re not creating any new parcels, they’re not subdividing, I don’t think there’s anything that we can do. This is a really weird situation and if it was anything other than a church, they couldn’t do this.”
In other news – Sullivan said the Board of Supervisors have moved to the third floor of the Health and Human Services Building located at 855 S. Dubuque St. (directly across from the Johnson County Administration Building).
“The Board (meeting) room is still in temporary quarters on the second floor, it’ll be moving up to the third floor probably in just a couple weeks,” said Sullivan.
Board members, the Sheriff, the County Attorney, “and a few other folks,” were scheduled to tour some of the newer jails in Iowa to gather ideas to be incorporated in a new Johnson County Jail. The Supervisors recently approved a $238,000 contract for immediate structural repairs to the facility, which has been deteriorating for several years as has been documented by Sheriff Brad Kunkel and his predecessor Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek. Johnson County voters have previously rejected bond referendums that would have replaced the facility.
In January the Supervisors approved a resolution greenlighting investigating if a joint facility housing the jail, Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa City Police Department would be feasible.
The Supervisors held their annual budget hearing Wednesday, March 26.
Also, Sullivan reported the Supervisors had engaged with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a water study.
“I think we’re going to have that data sometime in mid-to-late April. We’ll see if we can get those folks to give you a special presentation or if we can get it recorded, or whatever we can do, because I know it’s a big impact on Solon’s future as well as a lot of communities. So we’re looking forward to hearing the results of that,” Sullivan said.