County aims for grant to pave V Avenue

MARENGO — A federal grant issued through Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks could help Iowa County pave V Avenue from 320th Street (F67) to the Washington-Iowa County line.

“Iowa County has wanted to do this for years and didn’t have the money,” said County Engineer Nick Amelon.

With $75 million available to her, Miller-Meeks can give money to up to 15 projects in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District through the Community Project Funding Grant, said Amelon.

Among the projects funded for 2024 are improvements to 110th Avenue in Jefferson County, wastewater improvements in Oskaloosa and support for space technology innovation and education at the University of Iowa.

Last year Miller-Meeks received 60 applications, said Amelon, and he expects a greater number of submitted this year, except that applications are due the middle of March.

“I’m going to guess she picks 15 [projects],” Amelon said.

The trick is to pick the right project and the right amount of money to convince the Miller-Meeks team to choose Iowa County. Amelon is guessing that projects that receive the awards won’t cost more than $4-6 million.

The grant will require a match from the county of about 20%, said Amelon.

Iowa County could use money for bridge replacement, but one bridge is $20 million, and the county probably won’t get a grant that size, said Amelon.

Plus, the project isn’t shovel ready. The money has to be spent in a certain amount of time.

“We need something that we can do quick,” said Amelon.

He suggested paving W21, also known as V Avenue. The entire stretch is 5 ½ miles and would cost $8 million to pave, said Amelon. He doesn’t want his application thrown out for asking for too much money.

“I don’t know if they would fund the whole 5 ½ miles,” Amelon said, and the county’s match for that project would be about $2 million.

Paving the south three miles would cost only $3 million, according to Amelon. Iowa County might have a shot at getting $2 million for that project.

The county would have to come up with a half million dollar match out of the farm-to-market account.

“We can meet that,” said Amelon.

In August of 2023, the Board of Supervisors received a petition from residents on V Avenue asking that the county pave the road.

“It’s been a point of contention for a long time,” said Supervisor Alan Schumacher.

The petition, signed by 10 county residents, asks that the county pave the road from the Washington-Iowa County line north to Black Diamond Road SW (F52 trail) y.

The petition cited accidents and “close calls” on the road and the amount of traffic commuting to and from work on V Avenue.

The grant application requires community support for the project, said Amelon. He asked supervisors for a letter of support and planned to actively solicit letters from other agencies and community groups that would benefit from the paving of V Ave, including Washington County, and the cities of Williamsburg, Parnell, North English and Wellman.

Churches, township trustees and business leaders can submit letters of support to the county for the paving project, Amelon said. “They don’t really ask for businesses … but I figure, the more the merrier.”

Supervisor Abby Maas said she’d contact State Sen. Dawn Driscoll and State Rep. Brad Sherman for support.

Amelon needs the letters before March 15.

Grants are not sure bets, and Amelon continued to second-guess his recommendation. “I hope they won’t look at it and say ‘it’s too small,’” Amelon said.

“It’s a guessing game, said Supervisor Jon Degen.

“Nick, that’s a great idea,” said Schumacher. “I’m glad you’re pursing this.”