HWY 20 widening could be jeopardized
By Lynn Zerschling Journal staff writer | Posted: Saturday, December 08, 2007
SIOUX CITY -- If the governor and Iowa Legislature don't find $200 million for a new state transportation program, a number of projects won't get done.
"The DOT (Department of Transportation) was crystal clear if we couldn't do TIME-21, Highway 20 doesn't happen," Rep. Christopher Rants, R-Iowa, told city officials Friday. "I think the general public is completely unaware of this."
He was referring to proposals to widen the last 85 miles of U.S. Highway 20 from Moville to Moorlan, west of Fort Dodge. The proposal to four-lane that stretch has been a top priority of Northwest Iowa business and civic leaders for a number of years.
The Transportation Investment Moves the Economy in the 21st Century Committee recommended increasing pick-up truck registration fees, statewide sales tax and/or increasing the gas tax to fund street and road projects across the Hawkeye state. Some of that money goes to cities and counties.
"We need infrastructure money to repair our key roads," Councilman Jason Geary stressed. "Construction costs are rising. TIME-21 is a piece of the puzzle we as a city can support."
Public Works Director Dave Dorsett added, "It's a well known problem that we all face aging infrastructure."
Rants, the House minority leader, said Gov. Chet Culver has said he opposes hiking the gas tax.
"He's pushed it back to the Legislature. That's fine. I'd ask the City Council to be more specific on what happens or does not happen if you don't get those dollars."
City Manager Paul Eckert replied, "We will work hard to make that loud and clear."
Eckert said the city faces a $1 million shortfall next fiscal year in its road maintenance fund.
Rep. Roger Wendt, D-Iowa, said, "That's probably typical of other urban areas."
For every dollar in state money received through the TIME-21 fund, Dorsett said the city could reduce property taxes by a dollar.
Geary added, "Christopher, I can guarantee you that property taxes will go up to pay for infrastructure without this."
On another matter, Councilman Jim Rixner and Dorsett asked the five state representatives to support the city's efforts to get the state transportation department to share costs to relocate wells, water mains and sanitary sewer and stormwater sewer lines along Interstate 29 when the state rebuilds the freeway through downtown Sioux City. The projected cost has could be as high as $30 million.
Dorsett said preliminary negotiations indicates the city will have to relocate only one major sanitary line before construction on the interstate begins. That line is located near Wesley Parkway.
"They've expressed a willingness to delay (the others) and to establish a pay-back schedule," he said.
On several economic development efforts, city leaders asked for continued support of the targeted jobs program that helps five border cities. Economic Development Director Marty Dougherty said Sioux City has used the program for seven projects, with five more under consideration.
Dougherty, Eckert and Community Development Director Patty Heagel asked state legislators to consider amending the Enterprise Zone Program to allow designation of an economic development area for land assessed as agriculture property.
"It is making it difficult in some very large projects," Dougherty said of a potential project that is being considered near Sioux Gateway Airport.
Heagel added, "It doesn't allow us to assemble the tracts of land needed."
They declined to reveal the name of the company or the type of business involved.
"The DOT (Department of Transportation) was crystal clear if we couldn't do TIME-21, Highway 20 doesn't happen," Rep. Christopher Rants, R-Iowa, told city officials Friday. "I think the general public is completely unaware of this."
He was referring to proposals to widen the last 85 miles of U.S. Highway 20 from Moville to Moorlan, west of Fort Dodge. The proposal to four-lane that stretch has been a top priority of Northwest Iowa business and civic leaders for a number of years.
The Transportation Investment Moves the Economy in the 21st Century Committee recommended increasing pick-up truck registration fees, statewide sales tax and/or increasing the gas tax to fund street and road projects across the Hawkeye state. Some of that money goes to cities and counties.
"We need infrastructure money to repair our key roads," Councilman Jason Geary stressed. "Construction costs are rising. TIME-21 is a piece of the puzzle we as a city can support."
Public Works Director Dave Dorsett added, "It's a well known problem that we all face aging infrastructure."
Rants, the House minority leader, said Gov. Chet Culver has said he opposes hiking the gas tax.
"He's pushed it back to the Legislature. That's fine. I'd ask the City Council to be more specific on what happens or does not happen if you don't get those dollars."
City Manager Paul Eckert replied, "We will work hard to make that loud and clear."
Eckert said the city faces a $1 million shortfall next fiscal year in its road maintenance fund.
Rep. Roger Wendt, D-Iowa, said, "That's probably typical of other urban areas."
For every dollar in state money received through the TIME-21 fund, Dorsett said the city could reduce property taxes by a dollar.
Geary added, "Christopher, I can guarantee you that property taxes will go up to pay for infrastructure without this."
On another matter, Councilman Jim Rixner and Dorsett asked the five state representatives to support the city's efforts to get the state transportation department to share costs to relocate wells, water mains and sanitary sewer and stormwater sewer lines along Interstate 29 when the state rebuilds the freeway through downtown Sioux City. The projected cost has could be as high as $30 million.
Dorsett said preliminary negotiations indicates the city will have to relocate only one major sanitary line before construction on the interstate begins. That line is located near Wesley Parkway.
"They've expressed a willingness to delay (the others) and to establish a pay-back schedule," he said.
On several economic development efforts, city leaders asked for continued support of the targeted jobs program that helps five border cities. Economic Development Director Marty Dougherty said Sioux City has used the program for seven projects, with five more under consideration.
Dougherty, Eckert and Community Development Director Patty Heagel asked state legislators to consider amending the Enterprise Zone Program to allow designation of an economic development area for land assessed as agriculture property.
"It is making it difficult in some very large projects," Dougherty said of a potential project that is being considered near Sioux Gateway Airport.
Heagel added, "It doesn't allow us to assemble the tracts of land needed."
They declined to reveal the name of the company or the type of business involved.
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Yeah Right wrote on Dec 14, 2007 7:51 AM:
ward wrote on Dec 10, 2007 10:16 AM:
BA wrote on Dec 10, 2007 9:13 AM:
high taxes wrote on Dec 8, 2007 10:14 PM:
big joe wrote on Dec 8, 2007 4:52 PM: