Omaha World Herald wrote: Programs help bedroom communities upgrade
When Craig Zenor moved to Underwood, Iowa, nearly 15 years ago, open fields rolled out behind his house and across the street.
Now the field across the street is full of houses, and 77 more homes are planned in a new development behind his house.
Many of those new homes are being occupied by people who work in the metropolitan area but choose a small-town lifestyle.
That kind of growth is happening in many places across Pottawattamie County, with the largest gains in areas seen as prime locales for commuters - those close to the metropolitan area and those along the Interstates that run through Iowa's largest county in terms of land.
"We're like a sleeper town out here, but we're growing very quickly," said Zenor, who was elected Underwood's mayor after his home was annexed last year. The U.S. Census puts Underwood's population at 733; city staff say it's closer to 750.
"We like the atmosphere of a small town, and that's why people like coming here," he said.
But with growth - or the preparation for growth - comes the challenge of upgrading and extending roads, improving sewers and making other infrastructure changes. Even towns that aren't growing need to modernize.
Decreased tax revenues and state funding, however, have made it difficult for towns to fund improvements. In some cases, the higher income of new residents puts the towns at a disadvantage when seeking funding from certain sources.
The new CITIES program - Community Improvements to Increase Economic Stability - was formed to help Pottawattamie County's rural towns fill that need.
The casino-funded Iowa West Foundation created a $1 million fund to give the 12 rural towns another source to tap for improvements.
The foundation asked the towns to inventory existing infrastructure and prioritize needs. They were assisted by the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency and the Western Iowa Development Association.
"It has them talking," said Jake Hansen, MAPA community and economic development planner.
Hansen said the projects mostly involve long-term solutions such as repaving streets rather than continuing to patch potholes. Some towns have 100-year-old cast-iron water mains that need replacing. Others needs storm sewers and sidewalks.
Some towns also are in the market for new business. "They don't want to be dependent just on being bedroom communities," Hansen said.
It took Pottawattamie County until the year 2000 to return to its population level in 1970, according to U.S. Census figures. With the county's population at 88,477, the signs of growth have continued.
From 2000 to 2003, its 12 rural towns reported 90 building permits for single-family residences, although those numbers probably aren't complete.
During the same period, the areas outside any cities' boundaries reported 306 new housing starts and the area within a two-mile limit of Council Bluffs issued 147 permits.
The growth continued in 2004. Areas outside cities recorded 129 new housing starts, up from an average of 106 a year over the past decade. And Council Bluffs issued 217 permits for new single-family homes as of mid-December, the highest number since 2001.
Populationwise, eight of the 12 rural towns have seen growth since 1990. Some aren't growing but expect future increases. Carson, for instance, has annexed land for planned residential development.
Underwood has led the way, growing by 42 percent to 733 people, according to Census figures.
Zenor said the city hopes to tap the fund to rebuild streets and complete a bike trail. The city also has been adding storm sewers and working on sanitary sewer projects.
Generally, the cities will have to come up with at least 50 percent in matching funds for the program.
"We don't want this program to become a crutch for the communities," Hansen said. "We want it to be an additional resource to help get projects (done) sooner."
Crescent, which has grown to 604 residents, also is destined for more new residents. A development that would add more than 50 homes on the west side of town is on the drawing board, said Jim Campin, a City Council member.
Campin chose Crescent several years ago because he liked small towns. He and his wife moved from Plattsmouth, Neb. Now he jumps on the Interstate near Crescent to travel Nebraska and western Iowa as a salesman. His wife works at ConAgra Foods' Omaha campus.
"The day we moved in, we didn't know anybody in our neighborhood," he said. "But they were all up there helping us move in."
One of Crescent's priorities is to upgrade its water system, which has had significant leaks.
Replacing all the water mains and adding meter boxes would cost an estimated $600,000, which would increase rates if the city financed the project on its own. The city has applied for federal block grant dollars and will seek Iowa West funds.
Crescent installed a new sewer system in 2003, replacing individual septic tanks.
The improvements not only will update older parts of town but also will prepare the community for growth, Campin said.
"They want the town to move into the 2000 era," he said.
Pottawattamie communities tap programs to address growth
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Pottawattamie communities tap programs to address growth
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OmahaDevelopmentMan
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All in due time Brad. Rome wasn't built in one day. The city has a master plan for West Broadway beautification, but it does come with a price tag, and it will take some time, regardless of whether CB hits 100,000 in population. It's also not the only area the city is improving the "landscaping", as it were.Brad wrote:If CB grows over 100,000 do yo think they could clean up Brodway? They built a great enternce and then you have nothing.