Court rules against Coralville in annexation dispute

Rural residents who have spent three years opposing a Coralville annexation attempt have won another court battle.

The Iowa Court of Appeals on Wednesday affirmed a Johnson County District Court judge's decision annulling Coralville's attempt to annex about 390 acres in an unincorporated area between the city and North Liberty.

City Administrator Kelly Hayworth said Wednesday afternoon he had not yet seen the ruling and wasn't sure if the city might appeal.

“It think it's disappointing, and we'll obviously have to talk to the council,” he said.

District Court Judge Douglas Russell in January ruled the city had not properly notified landowners before attempting to annex the land in 2006. He said the city should have given the non-consenting landowners on North Liberty Road two weeks' notice, which it did not do.

The owners of that land, the Scanlon family, had asked Coralville to annex it for residential development.

A large number of surrounding property owners objected and filed a competing annexation request with North Liberty for 955 acres. They also sued Coralville and formed the group Citizens for Sensible Government.

Douglas Paul, president of the group, said he felt validated by the Appeals Court ruling. Residents believe North Liberty would be more responsive to their desires to keep the area's rural flavor, he said.

“Coralville has done a lot of good things, but they should do them within their borders,” he said.

The state's City Development Board would have to OK an annexation but has delayed taking action during the legal dispute.