IOWA CITY

One of Johnson County’s most growing areas has produced a road intersection that would challenge even the most gifted NASCAR driver.

Said one Johnson County Sheriff deputy: “It’s been a nightmare.”

If you have ever gone to Pinseekers, a recreational entertainment center, or other businesses at Tiffin’s Park Place, you had to negotiate the off-center four-way intersection that falls in the boundaries of three cities plus the county.

It will soon be changed into a roundabout.

“I’d like to say this is a labor of love,” Johnson County Assistant Engineer Ed Bartels said during the Johnson County Board of Supervisors work session January 15, “but it’s a labor of litigation, I think, actually. It’s been a long time coming.”

The Board has agreed to sign a 28E Agreement with the cities of North Liberty, Coralville and Tiffin, clearing the way for the roundabout to be constructed. The work, Bartels said, will not cost the county any money because North Liberty is taking the lead on the project. The intersection is at a place where all three cities, plus Johnson County, own adjacent pieces of property.

Park Place, a growing residential and business area that includes Pinseekers, a bank and two large apartment buildings (with a third building currently under construction), is located just southwest of the intersection and west of Interstate 380. To get to Park Place, drivers have to make a left-hand turn from Forevergreen Road to Jasper Avenue, then turn immediately right back onto Forevergreen, then left to Park Road.

“You take a left, then a quick right,” Supervisor Lisa Green-Douglass said. “You can’t even signal. You don’t have enough time.”

The opening of a Kwik Star convenience store and fuel station last year added to the traffic.

Housing Project

The Board voted unanimously to accept a proposal by McComas-Lacina Construction of Iowa City to handle repairs and a renovation for a property on Hollywood Boulevard that will be used for affordable housing.

The project was approved for an amount up to $500,000, but Supervisor Rod Sullivan cautioned against approving projects without going through a bid process. In this case, a need to move quickly was deemed more important than a formal bid process, which was not required by law.

“Even though that’s the law, I’m not super comfortable with it,” Sullivan said during the January 15 work session. “It just seems to me like a really bad idea to have any exception to the bidding process. But I also know that we’re in an absolute crisis of housing right now. We can’t have this sit much longer.”

A day later, Sullivan voted to accept the proposal from McComas-Lacina, which was the only company to respond to the quickly-moving project, said Dave Curtis, Johnson County Facilities Manager.

Soil Program

Four property owners in Hills have been among those who have taken advantage of the Johnson County Soil Quality Restoration Program, it was reported in an update to the Board.

The program provides up to $2,000 per property in assistance.

The program began in 2022, and was supplemented in 2024 by the Pocket Prairie Program, which provides free native plants, and the Right-of-Way Soil Sampling Program, which involves soil sampling to assess the long-term impact of land management practices.

Board Action

The Board designated Ed Bartels as Interim County Engineer. Greg Parker, the current County Engineer, is planning to retire at the end of January.

The Board approved a change order of $47,901 from Peak Construction Group for the Johnson County Poor Farm commercial kitchen project.

The Board issued a proclamation in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 20, and also a Proclamation of Appreciation for the General Assistance team.

Next meeting:

The Board’s next formal session is at 9 a.m. January 23.