Annexation still on supervisors' minds

LEE COUNTY – Lee County officials pushed back just a little on an annexation request that had come from the City of Fort Madison.
The City has filed for annexation of property in the 6300 block of Avenue O where Casey’s intends to build a truck-stop size retail outlet near the access to the Hwy. 61 and Hwy. 2 exchange on Fort Madison’s west side.
The city has been working with Casey’s on a sign ordinance and some rezoning requests to allow property acquisition to take place, and construction to get started.
Lee’s County’s Board of Supervisors objected to the annexation request in May saying the city had not filed the annexation request appropriately with the county attorney's office. City manager Laura Liegois told the Fort Madison City Council that the issues had been resolved, and the annexation was underway. However, on Tuesday, supervisors were surprised by news articles reflecting Liegois’ comments that the issue was squared away.
“I think it was a presumptive comment on their part, but I think we’re getting there,” said Lee County Engineer Ben Hull.
“Those are being worked through, and the city is addressing things. We have communicated we would drop our opposition and, apparently, (Lee County Attorney Ross Braden)  has responded.
Hull said there is still an issue of the county needing a deed of the property to be presented and there were some partial parcel issues that were being sorted out.
“I think, as of today, it's safe to say that we've communicated everything to them, Hull said.
Liegois wrote in an email today that all issues with the county have been resolved.
The county and the city have been at odds over annexations, including the annexation that went with the PORT Trail on 302nd Avenue, where the county contends there are structural issues with the roadway adjacent to the trail near Rodeo Park.
The city contends those issues are minor and have been in play for years. The county referred the issue to the state who declined to take a stand on the issue and basically told the two entities to work it out.
The 302nd Avenue annexation  was actually met with a threat of court action. Supervisor Chuck Holmes asked where the county was at with the court date at Tuesday’s hearing. Hull said he was unaware if a court date had been set on that issue or not. That issue is also in the hands of Braden.
In other action at the special meeting, Supervisors approved the purchase of a $49,500 mower and an International Harvester STG V Tractor for $132,500 for the secondary roads department.