SICOG planner relays project updates

Jeremy Rounds, Senior Planner with Southern Iowa Council of Governments (SICOG), gave report through a required public hearing process to the Greenfield City Council, Tuesday, Jan. 14, on three different projects SICOG has been involved with.

SICOG has been a major facilitator of projects relating to recovery from the tornado that struck Greenfield May 21, 2024.

The projects are as follows:

• The comprehensive plan and zoning map update, with grant funding totaling $35,700 with no local match required. Rounds said about 20% of the overall project is complete, based on money invoiced to date. The City of Greenfield has held several informational sessions about this project and engaged the public as much as possible, in community engagement portions of the project. Rounds stated the project is moving along as expected, according to the grant application.

• Sewer collection main repairs in the tornado-damaged areas of town, with grant funding totaling $348,089 and no local match required. About 25% of the project work is complete, however no formal pay applications have been submitted yet. The project is progressing as proposed. Changes earlier on in the project included about $6,079 in added cost because of unplanned grant-related requirements. Municipal Pipe and Tool is doing the work on this project. The contract expires Aug. 28, 2026.

• Land surveying for lot pins, to facilitate redevelopment in tornado-damaged areas, with grant funding totaling $7,000 with no local match required. All of this project has been completed. The project was completed as proposed.

Cath Olesen asked about the lot pins project. City Clerk Laura Benton said these lot pins were located for residents who wanted help finding the pins as they work to rebuild after the tornado. Over time, lot pins can become hard to find, so this project ultimately was able to supply property owners with a map that gave them a clearer picture of their lot.

Jacqueline Eblen asked when survey results would be posted to the comprehensive plan website. Officials were not able to give a precise timeline, though that part of the project was only recently closed.