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Supervisors debate approach after water outage at manufactured-home community; plan focused work sessions
Summary
Supervisor Remington introduced a draft resolution directing county action on manufactured-home community conditions after residents experienced a multi-day loss of running water. The board debated whether to adopt a resolution or use a work-plan approach; they agreed to hold the draft and schedule focused, public-facing work sessions.
The Johnson County Board of Supervisors discussed a draft resolution on Feb. 5 aimed at addressing living conditions and intermittent water service at manufactured-home communities in unincorporated parts of the county.
Supervisor Michael Remington (speaking remotely) said residents of a manufactured-home community lost running water from at least Sunday, Jan. 19, through Tuesday, Jan. 21, and asked the board to pursue a set of actions: request that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources send owners of manufactured-home parks reminders of their obligations under state law; work with public health and community partners to create an emergency-preparedness plan for residents; direct lobbyists to pursue state legislation supported by the Iowa Manufactured Home Resident Network; prioritize grant-seeking to buy parks or install community water refill stations; and ask the county attorney to explore legal options including registration requirements and annexation partnerships with municipalities.
Planning and Development Services Director Josh (PDS director) said his office could support a registration program intended to gather contact information, emergency action plans and evidence that code requirements are being met. Several supervisors supported the list of actions but disagreed about whether a formal board resolution was the right vehicle. Supervisor Green Douglas said she supported the goals but favored the TAC-like, workgroup approach used previously for other complex policy topics. Supervisor Sullivan and others said they were comfortable proceeding with a public-facing commitment if it also included a concrete work plan.
Public commenters told the board about hardships. Judy McKellar, who identified herself as a long-term resident, described water shutoffs, rent increases, and maintenance issues such as yard care being left to residents. Jessica Andino of the Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition described a small grant-funded testing and outreach effort: her team and university partners are sampling water at multiple parks and reporting results that include elevated manganese and, in one case when water appeared discolored, arsenic.
After extended discussion the board did not adopt the draft resolution at the Feb. 5 work session. Instead supervisors agreed to hold the draft as a working list of commitments and directed staff and supervisors to set up a public, TAC‑style work session that would include residents, service providers and county staff to develop a clear, time‑bound plan of actions.
Ending: Supervisors asked staff to schedule the first focused, public-facing session and to return to the board with a timetable and recommended next steps.
