Marion County approves special assessment to build Eastlake–Woodmar roads

The Marion County Commission on July 17 approved a special assessment and contract to construct new road surfaces and stormwater controls on Southeast 140th Third Street and a portion of Southeast 140th Fifth Avenue in the Eastlake and Woodmar subdivisions.

The vote was unanimous after a motion by Vice Chairman Zalick and a second by Commissioner Curry. The project is funded by a property-owner assessment of $948.39 per parcel per year for 15 years, based on a loaded project cost that includes engineering, testing, legal fees and financing. County staff said the contractor’s low bid for construction alone was $378,000 and that bids ranged up to $644,000.

Chad Wicker, municipal services director, told the commission the project would construct 0.36 miles of new road to county standards — including a 6-inch lime-rock base, an 8-inch stabilized subgrade and 1.25 inches of compacted, DOT-approved asphaltic concrete — and add engineered ditch blocks and roadside swales to manage runoff. "We do have 100% engineered plans and a qualified contractor ready to start," Wicker said, and he added that if the commission approved the contract, staff anticipated construction would begin within 60 days with substantial completion within 90 days.

The project was citizen-initiated. Wicker said 44 ballots were mailed for the petition; 35 were returned, with 18 in favor, 15 opposed and two invalid ballots, a 51.4% approval among returned ballots. Wicker also said about 32% of parcels in the improvement area are homesteaded, and he gave average property values for improved parcels (about $424,000) and unimproved lots (about $32,000).

Two residents who live in the affected subdivisions spoke in support at the public hearing. Tim Robertson said the existing lime-rock road washes out during storms, raises dust when dry and is "a little bit dangerous the way it is now," and noted there is no apron where 140th Third Terrace meets County Road 25, making turning onto the highway hazardous. Jack Harwood said the road is the only public access into and out of his subdivision and described washed-out ditches that can be 2 feet deep.

Wicker acknowledged and corrected an earlier slide error that omitted financing from the annual-assessment figure shown at a public meeting; he said the mailed letter contained the correct assessment amount and apologized for the slide discrepancy.

During discussion, a county official warned the commission about exposure under a recently changed law governing assessments: some parcels may be agricultural-exempt and therefore not assessable, which could require the county to offset the resulting shortfall. The commissioners asked staff to further analyze that risk before pursuing other assessments; staff said they could estimate current exposure but that conditions could change over the life of a long-term assessment.

Vice Chairman Zalick moved to approve "the grama and the contract and move this project forward," and Commissioner Curry seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The commission record included seven written public comments received before the hearing — six in favor and one opposed — and staff said seven bids had been received for construction. The lowest qualified bidder was listed as Eastlake Woodmar Integrity Site Development; staff said the $378,000 figure covers construction only and the loaded cost used to compute the annual assessment includes additional project expenses.

If the commission had not approved the contract, staff said the project would stop. With approval, staff said they will proceed with the contract award and begin the advertised construction schedule.