March 29, 2024

Final plat, streets named at Cardinal Ridge subdivision

Former land owner say he was ‘left out of the loop’ on project

The final plat for the Cardinal Ridge subdivision at the former Newton County Club is approved and street names have been selected.

The street on the north end of the subdivision will be called Cardinal Ridge Drive, while South Seventh Avenue West was approved on the first reading of the ordinance change.

More than $907,000 in city bond proceeds were used to pay Halbrook Excavating and Alliance Construction group to complete grading and utility installation and street paving for the subdivision on the 4.25 acres of land at the former country club.

Bill Talsma, who sold the land to the city and is the current owner of the property surrounding the development, said he had a few concerns on the contractors calling the work complete.

“There are several things that they haven’t finished up yet. I went over it with the Bolton & Menk project manager,” Talsma said.

Newton Community Services Manager Brian Laube said he spoke with the engineer at Bolton & Menk and was assured the requirement with the city’s contract have been completed. Since easements were made on Talsma’s property, they were not a part of the city’s contract, but Laube said he would contact the engineer to discuss any further work that needs to be completed.

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended naming the roadway Cardinal Ridge Drive while Talsma wanted it named Country Club Drive to give recognition to the former Newton County Club.

“I know some people want to wash their hands of the country club, but the country club wasn’t going to be, so now there will be a nice development,” Talsma said.

Talsma also said when he sold the property to the city, he was supposed to be involved in the subdivision but he was never really consulted on any matters.

“I was kind of left out of the loop,” Talsma said.

City administrator Matt Muckler cited a potential concern for emergency services should Country Club Drive be used at the development as there is already a nearby roadway with Country Club is the title.

“It is typical in any planning process, when we are looking at street names, we don’t want to cause confusion if we have to send one of our fire personnel or police personnel to the scene,” Muckler said. “It is common that you avoid similarly named roads because the last thing you want to do is send a crew to the wrong road where they are five minutes away from where they need to provide services.”

Councilman Craig Trotter did propose an amendment to the resolution to change the name to Country Club Drive but the motion did not garner a second. The council voted 4-1 to approve the plat with Cardinal Ridge Drive with Trotter dissenting and councilman Jeff Price not in attendance.

Three LED street lights and an easement for a sanitary sewer outfall main by Talsma’s land that runs from Cardinal Ridge to an existing sewer easement were also approved. A portion of the sewer was not within the boundaries of Cardinal Ridge and required a permanent municipal utility easement.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com