County nixes possible public/private development

JOHNSON COUNTY - Plans to pursue a private/public development aimed at meeting county space needs while creating possible residential or commercial space have come to a halt.

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors continued discussion during Wednesday's strategic planning meeting on sending out requests for proposals for two county-owned properties in Iowa City's Riverfront Crossings District, but Board Chair Terrence Neuzil's change to an opposing vote has ended the matter with a 3-2 vote against the proposal.

Neuzil said his main concern was that opening up the request-for-proposals process potentially would add several months to addressing the immediate needs of several county offices that lack adequate space and facilities.

'This is going to take too long to address the immediate needs of the ambulance and medical examiner,” Neuzil said.

Supervisors Pat Harney and Janelle Rettig also were opposed, while Rod Sullivan and John Etheredge voted in favor of sending out requests for proposals.

The requests for proposal would have included two properties - land near Benton and Clinton streets where the county's facilities department operates, and property near Lafayette and Dubuque streets where the ambulance department is located.

According to the RFP draft, the Benton Street site would allow for a building up to six stories tall or up to 15 stories with bonus provisions, while the Dubuque Street project could be four stories tall or up to eight stories with bonus provisions.

The RFP would have requested developers to include space for the ambulance, medical examiner and facilities departments and storage space for the auditor's office.

Outside of that, the RFP would have remained flexible, with opportunities to incorporate housing, offices, retail or commercial space,

Sullivan said requesting proposals would not add more than a few months to the timetable and had the potential for impressive and creative development.

County officials already have been discussing and budgeting for a new ambulance and medical examiner facility.

'If we don't talk about what can be done, we're stuck with our own small view of the world. ... I think it's a real opportunity and we ought to go forward with it,” Sullivan said. 'I think that this just gives us options.”

However, Rettig said she was not interested in developing the Dubuque Street property and tired of putting off needed updates for the ambulance services and medical examiner departments.

'The board has been changing its mind for eight years. It's time to make a decision,” Rettig said.

Andy Johnson, executive assistant to the Board of Supervisors, said before Wednesday's meeting that such a proposed public/private partnership would have been unprecedented for the county board.

'It would be brand new,” Johnson said.