Supervisors hear Pella’s plan for new direct I-80 connection

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For years, the City of Pella has yearned for a more direct route to Interstate 80. Vermeer, Pella Corporation and other Pella businesses, not to mention the city itself, would benefit from a straight shot to I-80 eastbound. Now, the City of Pella is in the first phase of a plan to create that route which would make the town more accessible to interstate traffic. CH2M Hill, an engineering firm hired by Pella to study potential pathways to the interstate, gave a presentation to the Jasper County Board of Supervisors Tuesday. Sirpa Hall, representing CH2M Hill, said the project is currently in the first of three phases for the project, and a favored corridor will soon be chosen from three possible choices. Pella City Administrator Mike Nardini said Pella is thinking regionally. “We believe what’s good for Pella is good for Jasper County,” Nardini said. “Economic development knows no boundaries.” But Jasper County Treasurer Doug Bishop said he felt a direct route to I-80 from Pella would force Jasper County to give up taxable value on farm ground and get nothing in return, effectively rerouting truck traffic from the southwestern part of Jasper. Supervisor Max Worthington got right to the bottom line. He wondered what the impact would be on Jasper County residents. “How much is it going to cost Jasper County compared to Pella’s input?” Worthington asked. Hall said there was no answer to that question at this time, because the location of the new road is not yet known, but said the project would be a state route. Jasper County Engineer Jim Christensen said he felt the logical route would be to extend Highway 224, already a state route, from Kellogg south to Pella. “We wouldn’t want a new highway across farm land that would create a lot of dead ends,” Christensen said. “It would be better to build over existing highways.” Nardini said the project is now in the data collection phase, determining truck traffic flow, environmental impacts and which corridor would be chosen. The corridor for the potential route should be chosen by this fall, and a public input and informational meeting will be held sometime in October or November. Also undetermined is the type of roadway that might be constructed. Hall said the road might be just a two-lane highway, or a two-lane with added turning lanes, or a complete four-lane divided highway. The choice will be determined by funding and what the feasibility study determines is needed. Hall also said that the project is considering routes that tie into an existing I-80 interchange, because creating a new interchange would be considerably more expensive. In other action Tuesday, the supervisors: • Heard a report from Genealogical Society member Barbara Hug concerning the county’s archive building. Hug said the building is packed with county records, including deeds, tax rolls and other historical data, and needs organizing. “It’s difficult to find things in the archive because it’s in such disarray,” Hug said. The building has never been completely organized, but Hug said the Jasper County Genealogical Society and the Jasper County Historical Society would be willing to volunteer to straighten out the mess. Assistant Maintenance Director Adam Sparks said the building’s second floor has too much weight on it now, and some of the material could be expanded, but no more should be added to it. The supervisors tabled the issue while they investigate potential sites for the archive’s overflow. • After tabling the issue of real estate taxes on the county’s farm ground and whether the county should pay the taxes, the supervisors voted unanimously to pay the taxes, a total of $5,858. • Approved the bid of Van Maanen Electric of Sully for $17,500 to install the Christmas lights on the county courthouse. All labor, lift rental and crane expenses are included in that price. Repair of Christmas lights or repair of power supply to the lights will be extra. Sparks said the maintenance department has repaired the stars and the “Merry Christmas” signs, and everything is in good operating order. The supervisors approved the installation of the lights beginning Nov. 6. The courthouse lighting ceremony will be held on Nov. 28.

John Jennings can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 425 or via e-mail at jennings@newtondailynews.com.