The Johnston City Council opened, heard public comment, and approved first consideration of ordinances establishing a sanitary sewer connection district for the Highway 141/Northwest Saylorville Drive area and a companion ordinance creating a separate sewer user-charge rate structure for properties in that district.

City staff explained the connection-district ordinance would set a per-acre connection fee of $5,500; the ordinance includes an escalator for connections after Jan. 1, 2027 (about 2.7% annually). Staff said the action is part of the city’s plan to recover approximately $19,000,000 invested to extend sanitary sewer to the northern growth area.

During public comment, Adam Bunge (property owner) said he learned late about the proposal and raised concerns that a 10-acre lot used for a single-family home could face a $55,000 assessment under a per-acre approach. City staff responded that the ordinance contains a provision for existing single-family dwellings to be charged based on one acre (not the entire parcel) and that exemptions exist for outlots or unbuildable areas; staff committed to follow up and work through specific parcel circumstances.

Council also considered a separate ordinance adjusting the sewer availability fee (an increase of $1 for district properties) and raising per-thousand-gallon charges by $0.54 for impacted properties. Staff said PFM financial consultants will periodically review the assumptions and that the city intends to monitor revenue and adjust as required. Council approved first consideration of both ordinances; staff and councilors encouraged follow-up with affected property owners to address unintended consequences before later readings.