IOWA CITY

A 6.5 million road restoration in the Stringtown area is among the road projects coming up over the spring and summer in Johnson County.

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors will consider the Secondary Roads’ annual budget at its formal session Thursday.

A 6-mile stretch of 540th Street SW will undergo a pavement restoration. The targeted area goes west from Highway 1 to the county line, near Hillcrest Academy. It is the largest project in the department’s five-year plan.

The work on 540th Street west of Highway 1 follows up another project on 540th Street east of Highway 1.

“We got a lot of good comments back from the people that live out there,” said Ed Bartels, Assistant County Engineer. “I don’t think they originally wanted it, but I think they got used to the idea now.”

Other upcoming projects include a surface restoration on 500th Street SW, between Highway 1 and Angle Road.

Two years from now, a $2 million surface rehabilitation project is scheduled for 500th Street SW, west of Hills.

Budget Talk

Supervisors will take a third run Thursday morning on the Fiscal Year 2026 budget following its formal session.

A second round of cutdowns came in a vote last week.

The new fiscal year begins July 1.

Conservation Director

Brad Friedhof, who has been Program Manager of Johnson County Conservation, has been named the department’s new director.

“I think he’s going to do a great job,” said longtime Supervisor Rod Sullivan.

“Just a stand-up guy,” Supervisor V Fixmer-Oraiz said. “Very passionate about conservation education.”

Grants Manager Change

Allison Wells, Johnson County Grants Manager, announced her resignation, effective March 7.

“I have really loved my time here,” she said in an emotional comment to the Board at its work session Feb. 19.

Wells has played a large role in administering and guiding the county’s usage of $28 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Board Action

The Board set 5:30 p.m. March 13 as the monthly evening session for public hearings associated with zoning and platting applications.

The Board approved vacation accruals for non-bargaining staff involved in project work, by a 3-2 vote. Sullivan and Green voted no.

The Board approved a job description for Community Engagement and Policy Coordinator.

The Board approved a number of Reserve Deputy Sheriff appointments.

Next meeting:

The Board’s next formal session is at 9 a.m. February 27.