CENTERVILLE —
The Appanoose County Board of Supervisors Friday morning held a 90 minute public hearing to consider a petition to create a Rural Improvement Zone at Sundown Lake in the northeast part of the county.
The board now has 10 days to establish the RIZ by resolution or to disallow the petition.
Based on state law it appears a request to create a RIZ at Sundown Lake hinges on the board of supervisor’s determination if the improvements are needed.
Chapter 357H.1 of Iowa Code reads: "The board of supervisors of a county with less than twenty thousand residents ... based upon the 2000 certified federal census, and with a private lake development shall designate an area surrounding the lake, if it is an unincorporated area of the county, a rural improvement zone upon receipt of a petition ... and upon the board's determination that the area is in need of improvements."
Iowa Code defines "improvements" as "dredging, installation of erosion control measures, land acquisition, and related improvements, including soil conservation practices, within or outside of the boundaries of the zone."
On Friday, 172 petitions to establish a RIZ were presented to the board of supervisors. Representing Sundown Lake Homeowners Association were Jason Kok, the lake's main sales agent and attorney Denny Chalupa,
The advantage of a RIZ for Sundown Lake residents is they would be able to retain property taxes to achieve their goal to protect and improve the lake. The revenue the association would receive would be based on an increase of value over and above that which it is assessed at this time.
An increase in value could include the construction of new homes and additions to current homes.
Chalupa said Sundown lake homeowners are taxed by the county but none of the tax revenue is returned to them to maintain the lake.
"This gives the homeowners an opportunity to annex the funds from taxes that result in increased valuations within the district to apply towards its expense of maintaining the lake," Chalupa said. "The goal would be that the lake would be improved to the point that there would be no further need for (RIZ). It it's not maintained the lake will deteriorate to the point that it will lose tax dollars."
Kok, with the help of Chalupa, systematically went through before and after aerial photos of the lake to illustrate what was once water is now land due to silting and erosion to demonstrate the need for a RIZ at Sundown Lake. The photos ranged in time from 1994-2011.
Kok said Sundown Lake is experiencing major silting and it is creating problems for landowners.
Because the lake is shrinking it is more volatile with heavy rainfalls, Kok said. Large fluctuations in water level could cause a dam breach.
Kok said the lake was dredged in 2007 but has now filled back in with siltation.
Dredging is one thing the private lake is doing to confront the problem. The placement of rip rap is another. Kok said they have done $500,000 in improvements at the lake.
Kok said one homeowner once had a waterfront lot. He said that same lot is now a land front lot.
Kok said three other lakes in Iowa have RIZ designation.
Walter Parrish, who farms below the dam, said the RIZ designation would benefit both the people downstream and people on the lake.
The advantage for Sundown Lake residents is a disadvantage for every taxing entity in the county because less tax money would be coming in.
Representatives from local school districts attended the public hearing.
Brad Breon, Moravia School District superintendent, said the RIZ would limit the district's ability to bring in money because it takes away bonding capacity.
Travis Harris, Moulton-Udell School District president, said it's not uncommon to see this type of erosion in the county. He called it a problem for all landowners.
Kok said Sundown Lake is 400 acres and the entire project is 2,800 acres. The watershed for the area covers 13,000 acres. Sundown Lake has 351 lots, 280 are sold, 70 of them have a house and 20 with some type of structure, like a garage.
Iowa Code states an elected board of trustees "may authorize construction, reconstruction, or repair of improvements within the zone ... purchase material, employ personnel, acquire real estate and interests in real estate, and perform all other acts necessary to properly maintain and operate the zone." Trustees must live in the zone, will receive expenses but are not paid.
Iowa Code states the board of trustees must publish a notice stating the purpose and amount of an improvement project or projects.
Iowa Code states the RIZ can be dissolved by the board of trustees once "all improvements have been made in the zone and all indebtedness has been paid."
Local News
November 6, 2012
RIZ request for Sundown Lake
- Local News
-
- 4 Counties For Kids meeting agenda for May 28 4 Counties For Kids Early Childhood Iowa Area Board The 4 Counties For Kids (A.D.L.M.) Early Childhood Iowa Area BOard will meet Tuesday, May 28 at 1 p.m. at the Monroe County Extension Office in Albia. Items on the agenda include call for public inp
- School board approves resignation The Centerville Community School District Board of Education Monday, May 13 approved Rob Busch's resignation as curriculum director, athletic director and business manager effective June 30. The board was also notified by Dr. Hindley through written
- Public input meetings for Historic Hills Scenic Byway plan Pathfinders RC&D is seeking public input to the Historic Hills Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan at meetings on Tuesday, June 11. The meetings will be held at 9 a.m. at the Farmington EMS Building, 2 p.m. at the Savannah Church in the Historical
- Jury returns guilty verdict against Udell man An Appanoose County jury on Monday, May 20 found Cliff Allen Lowe, 40, of Udell guilty of two counts of conspiracy to manufacture more than five grams of methamphetamine, class B felonies. Lowe was found not guilty of the charge of possession of a fi
-
B.V. Sodbusters meeting minutes and activities
The B.V. Sodbusters 4-H club met on April 21 at the Extension Office with 17 members and 13 visitors present. The club had a fundraiser and sold Finley Grace wickless candles and cookie dough. Money was given to the top seller of the candles, which w
-
'Tireless' 93-year-old volunteer honored
The fourth annual Cline Medal, presented March 28 at the Appanoose Economic Development Corporation banquet, honored Virginia Padovan. The Cline Medal recognizes a citizen who has invested a great deal in the betterment of Appanoose County, which can
- Show me the money Beginning next fiscal year Centerville will have approximately $115,000 in returned Appanoose County Railroad Local Option Sales and Service Tax funds to use. The Centerville City Council Monday night wasted no time and voted to award $20,000 of thos
-
Pursuit that began in Marion County ends in Wayne County
CORYDON — A pursuit that began in Marion County Tuesday evening ended in Wayne County Tuesday night. The two-hour, high speed chase that went through several counties, with an alleged short stint in Missouri as well, involved several agencies with a
-
Mayor swears in new officers
Centerville Mayor Jim Senior swears in Angela Widmer and Bryan Baum as the newest addition to the Centerville Police Department. Widmer has been a reserve officer with the department since 2011 and Baum has been a Wapello County Sheriff's reserve sin
- BOB fundraiser BOB fundraiser The Betterment or Bust group raised $1,700 Saturday soliciting at the intersection of Highway 2 and 5. The donations will be used for improvements to the VFW Hall, also known as the CB&Q Railroad Depot, on the Levee in Centerville. Thi
-
UPDATE, 10:43 a.m.: Pursuit that began in Marion county ends in Wayne county
A pursuit that began in Marion county Tuesday evening ended in Wayne county Tuesday night.
- Free concert Thursday Free concert Thursday On Thursday, May 23 Howar Junior High and Lakeview will be giving a free concert at 6:30 p.m. on the Centerville Square. IHCC compete at BPA National OTTUMWA -- Indian Hills Community College fared well at the recent Business P
- Memorial Day services The Memorial Day service in Numa will be held at 11a.m. Sunday, May 26 at the Numa Cemetery. A musical prelude will be performed. Taps will be played and the Gettysburg address will be recited. Pastor Kay Singley will be the main speaker. After the s
- Indian Hills students compete at BPA National OTTUMWA – Indian Hills Community College fared well at the recent Business Professionals of America National Contest in Orlando, Fla. Jeremy Carlsten, of Exline, was a top 10 finisher in Fundamentals of Web Design, Java Programming and Visual Basic
- Disaster assistance available to repair damaged farmland ALBIA -- Monroe-Appanoose County FSA was approved to implement the Emergency Conservation Program. The deadline for accepting applications is July 15. "Area farmers who experience extreme damage to their land from severe weather events should report
- More Local News Headlines
