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Story County signals interest in funding partnership for Ames roundabout project
Summary
Story County supervisors told City of Ames they prefer a roundabout at the George Washington Carver/Cameron School Road intersection and are willing to be a funding partner; staff reported design could cost about $100,000 (county share ~$50,000) and construction could be in the neighborhood of $2 million with a proposed county share of 25% if a safety grant is awarded.
County staff told supervisors Feb. 3 that the City of Ames has asked the county to indicate whether a roundabout is the county's preferred option at the George Washington Carver and Cameron School Road intersection and whether the county would partner on design and construction costs.
Darren Moon summarized the city's request and the background: the city previously planned a signal with the developer but delays and changing development plans reopened consideration of a roundabout. "They're estimating [the preliminary design] would cost about a $100,000, so $50,000 to come from Story County," Moon said, and staff told the board a joint application for safety funds (which can be up to $500,000) would follow. Moon added that construction costs are still unclear but could be in the neighborhood of $2,000,000 and that the city was asking the county to consider committing to roughly a 25% construction cost share if the grant is awarded.
Supervisors discussed phasing and budget timing; one supervisor moved to state that the county's preferred solution is a roundabout and that the county is interested in being a funding partner. The motion was seconded and adopted with aye votes recorded.
Staff said the next steps include drafting a brief letter to the city confirming the county's preference, reviewing a formal cost-share agreement when the city provides it, and using preliminary design work to support any joint grant application.
The board did not commit specific construction dollars at the meeting; staff emphasized that check-ins would occur after each project step, allowing the board to reconsider if costs rise.
