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Johnson County OKs administration role in 28E roundabout agreement; construction led by North Liberty
Summary
County engineers recommended cooperating on a roundabout at Gaspar Avenue and Forevergreen Road. The county has minimal jurisdiction and no construction cost or maintenance obligation; board directed staff to prepare a 28E with the chair authorized to sign.
Johnson County supervisors reviewed a proposed intergovernmental 28E agreement on Jan. 15 to allow construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Gaspar Avenue and Forevergreen (Forever Green) Road.
The lede: County Engineer Ed Bartels told the board the intersection is a high-crash, congested location and that a roundabout is the preferred engineering fix. The proposed 28E would formalize cooperation among North Liberty, Tiffin and Coralville; North Liberty will lead project development and construction.
Why it matters: County staff said Johnson County owns only a small corner of the intersection and that the agreement asks for county cooperation without construction or maintenance funding from the county. Local law-enforcement and public-safety officials, including a shared-services patrol captain, said the intersection has produced repeated backups and crashes and welcomed the roundabout as a safety improvement.
Key details and board direction: County staff reported there are blanks to complete in the draft 28E, including naming the county signatory. Assistant County Attorney Nathan Peters recommended a simple administrator signatory; supervisors discussed options and agreed the chairperson would be the most straightforward signatory for the county. Staff said a complete draft will be returned for consideration next week.
Outcome: Board members instructed staff to fill blanks in the 28E and prepare a complete document for the next meeting, with the chair authorized to sign on the county's behalf.
Next steps: North Liberty will proceed with project development. County staff will return the completed 28E to the board and provide timing information for design and construction when available.
Ending: Engineers said the roundabout would reduce crashes and congestion; supervisors said constituents who regularly use the intersection should see traffic improvements once the project advances.
