The Jefferson city council at its Oct. 27 meeting approved an intergovernmental agreement between the city and the Iowa Department of Transportation regarding an access management plan for US Hwy 30 and IA Hwy 4 in Jefferson.
Mayor Craig Berry thanked Rep. Carter Nordman, who was at the meeting, for helping bring the DOT to the table. According to councilman Luke Winkleman, Nordman was able to get answers from the DOT about why previous plans had been denied. Winkleman said the city seemed to “be hitting a brick wall, procedurally and potentially bureaucratically.”
He said that within two days of talking with Nordman, he was on a conference call with legislative liaison for the DOT “and never have I ever seen bureaucracy to truncated.”
City administrator Scott Peterson also thanked Nordman and Sen Jesse Green for their help.
The access management agreement guarantees future access points from Hwy 30 on Grimmell Rd to the north; access from Hwy 30 to the north of the access road to the Redwood Motel; and from Hwy 30 to the south from the frontage road at Power Lift. On Hwy 4, an access point would be to the east of the entrance to Wild Rose Casino. In every instance, the new access points would open up land now being farmed to other uses.
Peterson said he and Greg Piklapp of Greene County Development Corporation have talked with all the property owners who may be impacted. “It gave them input into this and they were very happy to be engaged in the discussion,” he said.
The council held a public hearing on amending the ordinance pertaining to headstones in the southwest portion of the municipal cemetery. No one spoke and the council amended the ordinance to allow at-grade headstones there.
The council approved a donation policy for the park and recreation department. The Jefferson Park and Recreation Department will accept donations of trees; benches; money; statues, shelters, fountains, plazas, gardens, playgrounds, etc. JPRD staff will manage and approve basic donations, and donated elements must be of high quality and be resistant to the elements and normal use in their locations. Maintenance must not negatively impact staff’s routine, budget, or other facilities. Donations must not imply any influence over city business, officials and personnel. Donations must not be considered from donors who have a pending but not yet finalized contract or business relationship with the city. The complete policy is available at city hall or at the Greene County Community Center.
