Over the last six months, the city of Hills has been discussing a potential new fire station and city office building. Talks about the building began early this year. In late May, the city purchased the former elementary school site from the Iowa City school district for $450,000. The school was torn down in early 2025. A few months later, in July, the council approved placing a bond measure for the fire station and city office building on the November ballot. The measure is for $5.1 million, and Hills residents will have a chance to vote on it in November... more

Cleanliness is next to godliness, they say, and you’re all about clean. Your home is neat and tidy, and so are the garbage bags you bring out to the street at the appointed time. You’ve sorted … more

IOWA CITY Johnson County is rolling out a pilot program that could help expand housing in Lone Tree and Hills, among four other small cities in the county. Members of Johnson County’s … more

IOWA CITY Johnson County’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget of $165 million is adding another $13.5 million in expenditures in the Fall Amendment. Dana Aschenbrenner, Finance Director, said much … more

During a previous meeting, the Hills city council reviewed its Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) revenue and discussed how much should be committed annually toward bond payments for the proposed new fire station and city offices if the measure passes in November... more

IOWA CITY Rod Sullivan, a longtime Johnson County Supervisor who will end his time on the board at the end of this year, questioned the salaries and actual working time of supervisors in a board … more

The city's main focus recently has been the proposed new fire station and city offices. During its previous meeting in July, the council agreed on proposed language for a $5.1 million bond for the project... more

IOWA CITY Johnson County’s path toward a $94.5 million bond referendum vote for a new jail did not flow easily. Two Board of Supervisors meetings last week drew 20 speakers during public … more

Last Wednesday afternoon, a three-story home in Lone Tree caught fire. The structure fire occurred in the 400 block of E. Jayne St. at around 2:58 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5... more

IOWA CITY When a bond referendum for a projected new Johnson County jail and Sheriff’s office goes to voters in November, taxpayers could be looking at a $94 million project that will be on … more

Plans for a new fire station and city offices in Hills took another step forward Monday night. During its July 27 meeting, the Hills City Council approved Resolution 2026-25, setting bond language for a proposed $5.1 million project. The action allows the city to submit the language to Johnson County before the Aug. 19 deadline so the bond question can appear on the November ballot... more

IOWA CITY The Johnson County Board of Supervisors is likely to consider an extension of its current ban on data center applications in early October. The board, which met with the … more

Although Iowa's new law increasing the speed limit on many rural two-lane highways from 55 mph to 60 mph took effect July 1, the change does not apply to every road... more

Voluntary annexation was the main topic of discussion during the Hills City Council meeting on July 13, as the council unanimously approved a request from Larry and Mary Schott following a public hearing... more

IOWA CITY In a new chapter of boiling emotions surrounding a proposed new county jail and sheriff’s office, Johnson County Supervisor Mandi Remington criticized the way a sheriff’s deputy … more

The Lone Tree and Highland school districts recently received donations through the Hills Bank Classroom Cash program... more

IOWA CITY The words had fire in them. V Fixmer-Oraiz, one of five Johnson County supervisors, labeled plans for a new county jail as a plan for a “prison” at a Board of Supervisors work … more

The Hills Fire Department and its upcoming needs were a major topic of discussion during the Hills City Council meeting on June 24. Fire Chief Matt Pantel told the council the department is planning to replace its fire tanker, a purchase expected to cost about $500,000. Pantel said the city and the fire association have approximately $265,000 set aside for the project and estimated it would take about two years to secure the remaining funding... more

IOWA CITY When the possibility of a county manager system surfaced in a draft proposal of the Johnson County Strategic Plan, Jon Green, Board of Supervisors Chair, shot down the idea. … more