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Franklin County establishes urban renewal area for courthouse repairs, schedules $1.3 million loan hearing
Summary
The Franklin County Board of Supervisors voted to create the 2026 Building Restoration Urban Renewal Area to fund courthouse repairs and set a March 24 hearing on a proposed general‑obligation loan of up to $1.3 million; the Board said the project will include electrical work and tuckpointing and estimated a $6.04 annual tax increase on a $100,000 home if bonds are issued.
The Franklin County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution on March 3 establishing the 2026 Building Restoration Urban Renewal Area, a step the county says is necessary to carry out courthouse repairs including electrical upgrades and tuckpointing.
The Board approved Resolution No. 2026‑20 by roll call vote (Ayes: Lukensmeyer, McVicker, Vanness; Nays: none) after holding a public hearing in which no oral or written objections were received. The resolution declares the property an urban renewal area under Chapter 403 of the Code of Iowa and approves an urban renewal plan authorizing an initial blight‑alleviation project at the courthouse.
Katy Flint, County Auditor and Clerk to the Board, said the plan was prepared in consultation with the City of Hampton and the Hampton‑Dumont Community School District and that notices and a consultation meeting were handled in accordance with Chapter 403 requirements.
Separately, the Board approved Resolution No. 2026‑19 to fix March 24, 2026 at 9:45 a.m. as the date to consider entering into a general‑obligation urban renewal loan agreement and to publish notice of the proposed borrowing. The resolution sets a maximum principal amount for bonds not to exceed $1,300,000 and includes internal‑revenue service intent language regarding reimbursement of prior qualifying expenditures.
The resolutions state an estimated annual tax increase of $6.04 on a residential property with an actual valuation of $100,000 if the county enters into the loan agreement, while noting the Board could use other revenues in future years to offset debt service. The Board will publish notice and allow oral or written objections at the March 24 hearing; the resolution also describes the right to petition for an election on the question under Iowa law.
Next steps: the Board will publish notice as required and convene on March 24 to receive objections and consider action on the loan agreement. A separate property tax levy public hearing was set for March 24 at 1:00 p.m.
