Pictured: The proposed site for the Golfview Subdivision on the Carroll Municipal Golf Course’s western boundary. Image courtesy of Google Maps.
The Carroll City Council removed $600,000 in debt issuance for a public hearing on proposed infrastructure work on N. West Street for the Golfview Subdivision. At Monday’s council meeting, city leaders were to schedule a public hearing date on a $1.23 million General Obligation Bond. City Finance Director Laura Schaefer says the debt on this note was initially planned to be split three ways: the Rec Center improvement project, a new fire rescue vehicle, and the housing project.
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The council acknowledged the need for debt issuance for the Rec Center and rescue vehicle, but Ward 2 Councilman Jason Atherton says he believes the city is moving too quickly on the Golfview project.
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The council has contracted with JEO Consulting to prepare designs for installing new roads, water and sewer lines, and other infrastructure, but the final plans are not yet available. Early estimates for the Golfview project were around $1.2 million, but those figures have already grown to $1.6 million. At-Large Councilman LaVern Dirkx says he would prefer the council wait until they have more information before taking on debt for the subdivision.
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City Manager Aaron Kooiker notes the city could hold the public hearing, but it would not lock them into the debt issuance. He says the $600,000 investment is about more than the nine lots in the Golfview subdivision, as that infrastructure will facilitate additional growth in the future.
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The council indicated they fully support the project, but they just aren’t ready to take on debt without firm construction numbers or a list of people prepared to build on the lots. The council voted unanimously to set a public hearing on the debt issuance without the Golfview subdivision portion for the March 11 council meeting. They also directed staff to put out a request for proposal (RFP) to developers and builders who may be interested in purchasing the lots.