Commissioners table A&F Engineering road-and-bridge impact-fee contract after questions about cost and scope

Johnson County commissioners on Dec. 15 tabled a proposed professional services agreement with A and F Engineering to update the county’s road-and-bridge impact-fee study after commissioners raised questions about cost, scope and statutory requirements.

Highway Engineer Daniel Johnston (S6) explained the study would update the impact-fee methodology for the county’s five-year cycle and that the work covers the unincorporated areas of White River Township and the town of Barkersville. Johnston said the study is required by state statute and that the cost of the study is a component that may be included when calculating impact fees.

An unidentified commissioner (S2) pressed whether the county wanted to spend "over $200,000 for a study that's gonna take almost a year to complete," said he had opposed the original impact fee and warned that an updated study could "suggest a higher rate," and asked for clarity about how outside traffic versus local users are counted. Johnston said the study updates traffic forecasts and that existing traffic is counted and forecasted forward.

After debate, the chair moved to table the agreement until the board’s first meeting in January so commissioners could review additional information; the board requested Johnston provide a map of the impact-fee zone and any supplemental material. The motion to table carried by voice vote.

Why it matters: impact-fee studies set the methodology for assessing developers for future road and bridge needs; their recommendations can change fees charged to builders and new homeowners. Commissioners asked for more detail before committing county funds to the contract.

What’s next: the highway engineer will provide a map and additional documentation; the board will revisit the contract in January.