Audubon County supervisors expand urban renewal area, set hearing to repurpose up to $570,000 in bond proceeds

The Audubon County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 4 adopted two measures to expand the county’s urban renewal area and to begin proceedings to repurpose prior bond proceeds for infrastructure work.

By unanimous vote the board approved Resolution No. 2025-59, declaring an economic development area and adding the October 2025 Addition to the Audubon County Consolidated Urban Renewal Area. The adopted amendment updates previously authorized road, bridge and culvert projects and authorizes a new urban renewal project to use tax-increment financing for County Courthouse parking lot and alley improvements.

The board also approved Resolution No. 2025-60 to fix a Nov. 18, 2025 public hearing at 10:00 a.m. in the Supervisor Room at the courthouse to consider entering into a loan agreement and to repurpose remaining proceeds from the county’s General Obligation Urban Renewal County Purpose Bonds, Series 2023A, in an amount not to exceed $570,000. The published notice included a statement that repurposing these proceeds will not increase annual property taxes on a residential property with an actual valuation of $100,000.

Why it matters: The amendment expands the urban renewal area and creates a funding pathway for courthouse parking and related infrastructure through tax-increment financing, which can redirect tax revenues from the defined area to pay eligible project costs. The board’s action also begins the formal notice and hearing process required under Iowa law for the loan agreement.

The resolution text indicates the county completed required consultations and notices: the Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the amendment, and copies of the amendment and hearing notice were mailed to several local school districts. John Danos (Dorsey Whitney), who called into the meeting, confirmed the public notice wording is correct for repurposing previously borrowed money and said he expects the separate motor grader loan hearing can be scheduled for Nov. 25, 2025; Danos requested the total costs, bank fees and attorney fees to prepare motor-grader loan documents.

Next steps: The board set Nov. 18, 2025 for a hearing on the loan agreement and authorized the County Auditor to publish the required notice and instructions on petition rights. If a petition is filed to submit the question to voters prior to the hearing, the timeline could change; if no petition is filed, the board will accept oral or written objections at the Nov. 18 meeting and then decide whether to enter the loan agreement.