T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY — Monte Eaton of Marshalltown, pictured, addressed the city council about his request to sever his property at 2460-A and 2460-D Reed Ave., located south of the Marshalltown Community College campus, from the city limits during Monday night’s regular meeting.

An issue familiar to at least a few current city council members and Mayor Joel Greer returned to the agenda on Monday night as residents Monte and Leisha Eaton, who live on the south edge of town past Marshalltown Community College, resubmitted a petition for severance, citing a lack of city services.

The Eatons included 2460A and 2460D Reed Avenue in their request, and Public Works Director Heather Thomas provided a bit of backstory before Monte Eaton came forward to make his case. Eaton disputed an assertion from Alliant Energy that the company provides him services as their utility pole runs through the property, but they get utilities from Consumers Energy Cooperative and use rural water services along with their own septic system.

He also noted that the nearest fire hydrant is over half a mile away from their home.

“If there ever was a fire, they’d have to shut down a highway. Don’t know how that’s gonna work out,” Eaton said.

In response, Fire Chief David Rierson, in submitted comments, said that while response time would be longer because of the property’s location on the southern tip of city limits, he disputed the claim of unequal services being provided.

“We will provide the same services but need to use different techniques to establish a water supply. As stated in the request, the property is located 2,843 feet from the closest fire hydrant. Responding with three apparatus provides us with 3,000 feet of supply line. In response to the highway being closed, it would need to be closed regardless of who responds,” Rierson wrote. “(The) Haverhill Volunteer Fire Department would need to establish a tanker water shuttle or deploy hose in a similar fashion as Marshalltown Fire Department, which would close the highway. As far as responding to College View Lane, we would respond if requested by (the) Haverhill Fire Department. However, with the proximity to the city and given our response time, there is a good possibility we would be dispatched anyway.”

On behalf of Public Works, Thomas also shared in written documentation that the city had hired a contractor at a cost of $3,000 to haul debris from Eaton’s property to the compost facility back in 2020.

Most of the other public entities contacted for comments, which were attached to the council packet, did not have a strong position one way or the other, although Whitney Hunt and Nan Benson from the Marshall County Auditor/Recorder’s Office did contend that from their perspective, granting the severance would “clean up” any potential confusion about which properties in the area are inside and outside of city limits.

Council members did not have any further questions for Eaton, and At-Large Councilor Gary Thompson ultimately motioned to direct staff to come back with a resolution granting the severance as requested. It carried by a 5-1 vote, with Jeff Schneider opposed.

In December of 2016, the council voted 3-2 — with two members absent — to deny the severance request of the Eatons, James and Susan Gruening and Greg and Linda Jacobs (the Jacobs’ were later granted severance at a subsequent meeting). Greer, who was a councilor at the time, voted against granting the severance along with former councilors Mike Gowdy and Bethany Wirin, and current Councilor Al Hoop voted in favor of granting it, along with the late Bob Schubert.

A Jan. 9, 2017, vote to reconsider was a 3-3 tie, resulting in the measure failing. The property owners picked up an additional yes vote in Leon Lamer, but At-Large Councilor Bill Martin was absent. The matter went all the way to the Iowa City Development Board, which sided with the city by a 5-2 vote.

——

Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.