Des Moines County supervisors direct survey of unused public-health parcel amid split with health board

Des Moines County supervisors on Tuesday directed staff to sketch proposed sale lines and commission a property survey for an unused portion of the lot adjacent to the county health department, while a Board of Health representative urged the board to preserve the parcel for future public-health needs.

The board opened the work session by framing whether the county should sell the strip of land the health department does not use and, if so, what exact portion. Staff said preliminary, “eyeball” measurements show nearly eight acres on the west side of the property and that the likely sale would be a north and west strip adjacent to the health building. The staff presentation noted the city took part in a prior work session and raised no drainage objections so long as any future site plan is reviewed by the city.

A speaker identified in the meeting as representing or speaking for the Board of Health told the supervisors the health board “is not in favor of letting this go,” saying the parcel had been acquired and preserved originally for future needs, citing lessons from the COVID pandemic and the need for additional parking and drive-through operations if mass vaccination or surge responses recur. The speaker said the board’s consensus was that the county should not sell forward portions of the property and should preserve it until needs or funding allow expansion.

A different supervisor responded: “With all due respect to the Board of Health, I'm on the opposite side of that argument,” arguing the county should not retain unused property indefinitely given constrained county resources and the uncertain likelihood of needing building expansion in the near term. That supervisor said he would be willing to sell the portion the county is not using and recommended performing exact measurements before any formal action.

Staff and supervisors discussed access options if the county sells a strip of land: entrances could be off Agency Street, Kern and Pearson Court, and one planner said there could be up to three access points. Staff also described nearby sewer and retention-basin infrastructure and recommended any sale include maintenance and drainage easements so the county can preserve long-term positive drainage from the retention basin.

On zoning and intended use, staff said the parcel is currently zoned R-2 (single-family) and the county would seek rezoning to R-4 (multifamily) if the buyer proposes multifamily housing. Board members discussed the possibility of including deed restrictions or sale stipulations to limit types of future development if the board decides to proceed with a sale.

Board members agreed the practical next steps are to sketch sale lines with staff and then order a formal survey. Staff said the county will likely pay for the survey and can address the cost as part of closing or other transaction arrangements. Staff also offered to coordinate the survey and to refine proposed boundary lines on an aerial image before bringing a formal sale process back to the board.

Supervisors and staff discussed how much room exists for parking expansion north of the health building and estimated roughly 75 to 100 feet of buildable space from the current parking edge to drainage features, with additional small areas on the west side that could be used for parking expansion. Supervisors noted that expanding parking or building would still require time and public process.

The board did not take a formal vote at the work session. Instead, supervisors directed staff to move forward with the boundary sketch and to begin the survey process so the board can return with a more precise plan for how much land to offer, any deed restrictions, and how to proceed with bids or a sealed-bid sale.

Next steps: staff will sketch and map the proposed lines, commission a survey, and return to the Board of Supervisors with survey results and recommended sale terms before any formal solicitation or deed action.