HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-12-13 Correspondence
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Phillip L.Thompson
428 1/2 E. Jefferson
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 339-7224
City Council Members
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Members of the City Council,
After watching the extended debate on raising water and sewer rates I am a bit befuddled.
How can the rates be determined if the costs are uncertain? Vince Neary and I tried to
tell you where money could be saved, but your discussions afterward indicated that you
did not understand or did not want to understand, If you watch a replay of the tape, you'll
notice that Dave Elias said that my plan in particular is "certainly an alternative",
I have included the plan and cost estimates with this letter. I think you are all intelligent
enough to understand my explanation, Sometimes people create stigmas for themselves
when it comes to science, and they dismiss needing to understand because "it's
technical". It seems that with the decisions you face, you need to try as hard as you can
to figure it out.
Also, I find it ludicrous that you choose to pay Stanley Consultants $56,000 to review the
drinking water plans, At $100 per hour, that comes to 560 man hours which translates
into 2 professional engineers working for 7 weeks at 40 hours per week. It shouldn't take
2 people more than 1 month to review a plan. That would save you thousands right there.
If you were really smart, you would put that $56,000 towards the salary of an objective
staff environmental engineer who is trained in these matters in addition to those of other
environmental concern such as your "in-house" landfill project.
I feel my efforts are in vein and that you believe what you want to believe. Please, read
my brief plan for saving $7-11 million. Ask your staff about it. I have outlined potential
disadvantages and given answers.
My civic duty is now complete. Feel free to contact me with questions. Again, remove
your stigmas and try to understand,
Sincerely,
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The Iowa City Wastewater Treatment Plans and Their Alternatives
1.0 Background
The city proposes to spend $10.8 million on ammonia removal from the period of 1998 to
2010. After which time, an additional $30 million for further expansion of the South
Plant will be needed, There are $2.7 million in contingency costs associated with the
proposed $10.8 million expansion which brings the total estimate to $13.5 million.
2.0 An Alternative !'roposal
The Plan
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Instead of expanding the South Plant now, a combination of river diffusers and
breakpoint chlorination could be used. This would involve using a diffuser at each plant
site, By doing so, the amount of necessary ammonia removal would immediately be
halved. The use of diffusers has a total capital cost of approximately $1.0 million.
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With this plan, the already planned transfer pipe would supply the South Plant with
between 2.3 million gallons per day. This not only brings the South Plant up to its
orignal designed loading but lessens the load on the North Plant as well.
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Even with diffusers, there would still be times when they alone cannot meet the stringent
requirements. Breakpoint chlorination can then be used to bring both facilities into
compliance. According to H.R. Green's report (Appendix D of Stanley's proposal page
19) the amount of ammonia removal without diffusers is expected to require 690 tons of
chlorine annually. This number would be halved to 345 tons per year with the additional
~elp from the diffusers. This amounts to less than I ton of chlorine per day. Under this
plan, $1.0 million would be spent on chlorine facility safety-upgrades bringing the total
capital cost with diffusers to $2.0 million dollars.
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Cost Comparisons (Excluding Interest Payments)
Costs The City's Plan The Alternative The Alternative
(Very Conservative (Less Conservative
Cost Estimates) Cost Estimates)
Capital Costs $10,800,000 $2,000,000 $2,000,000
Contingencv Costs $2,700,000 $500,000 $500,000
12 year OIM $2,160,000 $552,000 $552,000
(Includes power and
maintenance in 1996
dollars)
Addtional Solids Not in Stanley report but $0 $0
Handling could cost in the
millions over 12 vears
12 year Chemical Not in report but will be $4,719,600 $1,573,200
costs higher, (Tripling 1994 cost of 1 (current 1994 Cost of 1
ton of chlorine) ton of chlorine)
THE BOTIOM $15,660,000 +++ $7,771,600 $4,671,200
LINE TOTALS
YOU SAVE from $7.9 to $11.0 million or more II! This savings today can be put in
the bank and applied towards the additional expansion beyond 20 I O.
3.0 Advantages and Disadvantages of this Alternative Plan
Advantages
1. COST! You save citizens millions of dollars.
2. Diffusers permit better mixing of effluents in the river than shore discharge. This is
beneficial for contaminants other than ammonia as well. Diffusers permit from 2 to 2.5
times more ammonia discharge with the "flow-variable" permit which reduces the
amount of breakpoint chlorination required to meet discharge limits (See Appendix D
pages 20-22 of Stanley report).
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3. This plan could bring the city into compliance very quickly and would not require 30
months to construct.
4. For very low capital costs, it gives the City a pay-as-you-go alternative, The 1970's
was the slowest decade of growth in Iowa City's history. It could happen again, Ask the
citizens of Muscatine what it is like to pay for an oversized wastewater plant.
Disadvantages
I foresee at least two questions that will and should be asked about these alternatives:
Q) What about handling more chlorine, isn't there a risk with that?
A) The additional amount of chlorine will be less than 1 ton per day. Approximately 1/3
will be used at the South Plant and 2/3 will be used at the North Plant. The two water
plants in town use about 113 of a ton per day. Another perspective to keep in mind is that
city's like Des Moines use over 1 ton of chlorine on a daily basis for drinking water
purposes alone.
Also, the risks of transporting 10 tons of chlorine is the same as handling 1 ton of
chlorine. Say the chance of 1 chlorine cylinder rupturing is I in 1,000,000 (ever heard of
it happening?), compare that to flipping a coin. The chance of getting heads every time
you flip the coin is I in 2 regardless of the number of times you flip it, The same holds
for chlorine. It doesn't matter how many cylinders you handle the risk for each one is the
same.
Q) Will $7.8 to $11.0 million dollars be enough to add 5 million gallons of capacity to the
"Stage 2" expansion beyond 201O?
A) Look at the economies of size. We always hear that it won't sav~ to build a smaller
plant etc. The intuitive answer here is YES and that these savings will more than pay for
the necessary expansion.
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FAX -- 339-7342 Dec. 13, 1994
Letter to the Editor [GB-BG.173]
Iowa City Press Citizen, PO Box 2480 -- Iowa City, IA 52244
Good Guys vs Bad Guys. The Iowa City Press Citizens has fallen into the
pattern of portraying the 507 people who make up Iowa City-City Administration
as good guys and the people who q ues tion or challenge them as bad guys. The
readers are not provided complete, balanced, objective reporting of the issues.
The 507 Good Guys are composed of the City Council, the City Hanager and
the City Staff. They are described the "best possible civil servants and
administrators," (Migoya, Dec. 10, 1994). Yes, all 507 are good and honest but
goverOlaent workers and governments from Iowa City to U.S. can adopt weak or poor
policies, conduct poor or weak programs and'make mistakes -- which need
questioning and correcting.
Democracies are cumbersome but closed decision-making leads to failure.
In a given issue of the Press Citizen in a given "objective article"
positive coverage will be given the validity of the 507's ideas, schedule, and
performance. But. . .
... over the last two years Iowa City citizens who are homeowners,
tenants, neighborhood groups, preservation and environmental advocates, etc.,
have been depicted as biased, egocentric, short-sighted, Not-In-Hy-Back-Yard
self-pleaders and last-minute obstructionists. Generally, they are portrayed
as people who rouse rabble -- rabble-rousers.
Specifically, the Bad Guy-citizens are cited as "big-mouths and know-it-
alls .... as coherent as Chicken Little ...." (Migoya, Dec. 10, 1994, p. 9A)
And, "a handful of residents ... appear to be attempting to confuse or
sidetrack any solutions ... a small faction of people ..." are acting like
"The residents of ancient Greece [that] had a decisive way of handling bad
information -- they chopped off the heads of messengers of bad tidings ...."
(Wanninger/Hogan/Osborne, Dec. 12, 1994, p. llA)
Staying with the Greek metaphor, some may recall that Iowa City has been
called the "Athens of the Midwest" or, at least, of Iowa. Thus, 507 people in
City Administration and Iowa City Citizens might draw inspiration from the city
plans of acient Athens, or Delphi, or Olympia as well as Ephesus and Rhodes and
50 other ancient cities. Those ancient planning concepts may help in designing
a human-friendly, communication-enhancing, democracy-reinforcing, high quality
for life Iowa City in the years 2000 and 2020.
In America, unfortuneately, the urban planners of ci ties and towns have
been motivated by traffic count formulas -- and America's cities have sunk into
a decay that has spawned "An American Disaster."
Compare the ancient cities and the Iowa City of 20 years ago with
the de facto real plan that Iowa City-City Administration has ~ schedule:
*--a high-density, middle/low-cost-housing-flooding of the old city; *--a
traffic-scourged old central area; *--a suburban-sprawl-rim of low-density,
high-cost-elite-hqusing, on double-/triple-lotsj and, *--a maximum economic
enterprise ~ for a 100,000 population displacing the old university small
town.
Continuing with the Greek analogy, Socrates would be 100% with Iowa City's
citizen-rabble. Like Iowa City citizens, Socrates asked questions that everyone
might learn and know. The Athens City Administration didn't like the
questions, the learning or the knowing and look what they did to Socrates.
The press sided with the Athens City Administration in that one, too.
Maybe the Iowa City Press Citizen can adopt a more Socratic pose in its
questioning and a more equal space stance in its news reporting. Editorially,
the ICPC should speak its hesrt ....
John Nesbitt (319/337-7578), 362 Koser Avenue, Iowa City, IA 52246-3038
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[ICPC-94.173]
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Letter to the Editor, Iowa City Press Citizen -- 319/337-3181
PO Box 2480, Iowa Ci ty, IA 52244 '-
The IC-CA Growth Myth
In Vikki Migoya's Iowa City Press Citizen's Dec. 9, 1994, "Activists Make
Iowa City Habitable" she reiterated the Iowa City-City Administration Business
Growth Myth, "He can all agree that... a strong business community makes for a
greater tax base to support local services." (ICPC, 12-10-94, p. 9A)
False Myth. This Growth Myth is false. The Growth Myth drives the Iowa
City City Administration de facto real development plan schedule.
The $200,000,000 Hater Treatment-Sanitation Upgrade is part of that
schedule. The Hater Upgrade is a typical example of the falsity of the myth.
6--'
The current homeowners and the tenants are schedule~pay the major portion
of the liater Upgrade -- now. Taxes from new growth business and population
will not pay-back current homeowners, tenants or business.
"Basic water users" who use less than 2,800 cubic feet -- read homeown~rs .
-- have and will pay more for their water than "High water users" who use 2,900
cubic feet or more -- read business -- have and will pay less under their
reduced, "declining rate." Homeowners are paying the higher rate.
Tenants know that a $200 to $300 per unit increase will be passed to them
by landlords; and consumers know that increases in water-using services will be
passed on to them, as well. Thus far, there is no benefit to current'citizens
from the Iowa City growth schedule.
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Forty percent (40%) of the new water treatment service is intended for
future use by new business and population. The new business and population
provides a 40% larger tax base to support the local services.
But, the 40% larger business and populuation will need part or all or even
more of the additional tax to provide services to the 40% larger business and
population.
For example, the development of the low-density, elite, large-lot,
suburban sprawl, annexation-rim around Iowa City may cost Iowa City $1.05 for
every $1.00 in taxes. This part of the larger tax base is no help to support
local services.
And, the overall business and popultion growth will also bring 40 % more
traffic which creates the need for 40 % more street capacity, 40 % more street
workers, 40% more trucks, and 40% more city street management.
The same 40% needs will be effected for throughout the city -- city
administration and city workers, schools and teachers, crime and police, fires
and firefighters, parks and park workers, garbage and collectors, consultant
studies and other city services.
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There is no data or guarantee other than the Growth Myth that tax~will
be lower, stay the same or not go higher, There are no promises that~ amount
and quality of city services per person will increase, stay the same, or
decrease.
n the 18% population growth from 1982 to 1990 and the 35% increase in
retail sales in the period, the current homeowners and tenants have lost a
great deal. The quality of life in Iowa City has slipped. The growth myth is
well along in transforming a "university small town" into an "economic
enterprise zone with an attached university."
People dissatisfied with the negative impact on Iowa City will find the
solution to their problem on the same page as Migoya' s article in James ~
Gannon's article, "Leaving Metropolitan Mayhem for Rural Relaxation."
Gannon reports the escape of mobile, high-tech, professionals from "urban
traffic, crime, pollution, and rush." They are escaping to Colorado
an~irginia mountainsides where they are able to live and work using
electronics.
But, 95% of Iowa Citians did not chose mountainsides; they chose a first-
rate university which was located in a small town. They did not chose an
economic enterprise area with 40% growth potential because of an attached
university.
An Iowa City economic reality, not myth, that should be considered is Iowa
City subsidies. There are 20,500 students who buy products, housing, and
servcies in Iowa City's who are subsidized by their families. The State of
Iowa subsidizes an extraordinary range of cultural and entertainment
opportunities in terms of Ulowa academics, art, athletics, recreation, etc.,
which benefit Iow~ity. Finally, the Ulowa's 27,000 students provide a pool of
very competent low-wage, no-benefits, part-time workers for Iowa City's
businesses.
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The Iowa City business-population-tax reality, not myth, is that:
1. a larger population generate more profits for business;
2. a larger population and larger business profits provides more tax
income to the city;
3. an Iowa City of larger populations up to 100,000 and larger business
nee tax-supported city services so the tax advantage to homeowners and tenants
of past, current and future incremental increases and decreases in business and
population in relation to advantages and disadvantages must be proven using
professional and scientific qualitative and quantitative criteria and measures;
, 4. a larger population and business has a negative impact on the qualtiy
of life in 25 measures of quality of life including "urban traffic, crime,
pollution and rush" thus there is a quality of life cost to achieve larger
business and population in Iowa City;
5. there is no free lunch -- if 60,000 people in Iowa City want economic
enterprise they must sacrifice various of 25 areas of quality of life; or, if
they want to maintain quality of life, they must restrain and channel growth in
business and population; and,
6. all of Iowa City's of-age 60,000 Citizens must be quantitatively and
qualitatively involved in the decision-making process if community cohestfon is
to develop rather than the continuing round of community controversies and
escalation of concerns.
City, IA 52246-3038 -- 319/337-7578
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FAX -- 339-7342
Letters to the Editor, Iowa City Press Citizen, PO Box 2 0, IC, IA 52244
Citizens Need Options A, B, and C
The Iowa City City Administration continually ails to provide wi
City Citizens with a range of options in all pI ning and developmen. The
range of options should include at least the adv tages and disadvantag s of:
a. High Level Cost and Service. b. Midd Level Cost and Service
c. Low Cost and Service. d. Oth Options and Considerati ns.
All the decision-making of the Iowa City ity Administration is ulti ately
based on ethical ~ fiscal, , and individual goals of t 507 ~
, , every;one of age within the
60,000 population of Iowa City can make vali choices among ~ options based
on individual ethics, fiscal preferences and goals. T should be included.
The Iowa City-City Administration (IC-CA) Water Tr tment and Sanitati
Proposals approval should be delayed for l-to-3 years a he I - should
prepare options which the public may study and then select their choices re: cd'! )12N,
1. Treatment and Sanitation Options. A range of WATER SERVICE PROPOSALS ,
prepared by IC-GA including: -
a--IC-GA Super Deluxe $l86,600,000 ($50,000,000-for-16,000,OOO-gpd);
b--middle level cost and capacity ($35,000,000 for 20,000,000 gpd)j
~ c--basic level cost and capacity (compare with IC-CA original estimate of
l5,000,000 which was considered high by City Mayor John McDonald);
e--direct comparisons with the Cedar Rapids p an ($35,000,000-for-
20,000,000-gpd and $200,000 for land); and f--compared similar cities' plans.
2. Costs and Benefits Options. A range of WHO PA S, mIO BENEFITS PROJECT
AND DEBT payment options prepared by IC-GA including:
----a::current IC-GA public pays and developers benefit;
b--public and developers pay and benefit equally; and
c--developers pay cost of water treatment and sanitation GROWTH
infrastructure and the public benefits from reduced taxes and rates.
3. Rate Options. A range of RATE OPTIONS prepared by IC-GA including:
a--current IC-GA immediate-100%-rate-increase, doubling water rate;
b--long-term lO%-rate-increase for accrual of funds (similar to the
current Cedar Rapids long-term 10-%-rate-increase plan); and,
c--other options.
4. Treatment Site Options.
by IC-GA ranging' from:
a--current IC-GA $2,300,OOO-for-200-acre Glasgow Property proposal;
b--$200,000-for-70-acres possibility, similar to the Cedar Rapids plan;
and, c--other options.
5. Plan and Growth Options. A range of COMPREHENSIVE PLAN--GROWTH
OPTIONS prepared by IC-GA ranging from:
a--current IC-GA Comprehensive Plan for 70% growth (l00, 000 population))
Wagon-Wheel-Suburban-Sprawl-Donut-Rimj
b--25%-30% growth; c--10%-15% growth;
d--growth stabilization; and, e--downsizing.
6. Quality of Life and Demographic Profile, 1945-2020. Information should
be prepared by IC-GA and disseminated broadly which reports completely and
objectively on 50 years experience and .?2. year projections ~ 2020 re:
a--Quality of Life (Urban Environment, Assessment-Impact) in Iowa City.
b--Iowa City Gross Income (agriculture-related, finance, government,
industry, manufacturing, retail sales, real estate, technology, etc.).
c--Population (by age), Income (low, middle, high, fixed, poverty), Taxes
(city, sch., cty, state, U.S.), Working Conditions, C-O-L, etc., of IC-JC.
John esbitt, 362 Kower Av, Iowa City, IA 52246-3038 -- 319/337-7578
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A range of TREATMENT SITE PROPOSALS papa red
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Karen Kubby
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
Civic Center
410 E, Waehlngton St.
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 356-5010
(319) 356-5009 (FAX)
Reelaence
728 2nd Avenue
Iowa City, IA 52245
(319) 338-1321
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To: city council
Date: December 13, ,1994
Re: Towncrest relocation
I had mentioned at the last council meeting that I
have a few concerns about some Towncrest
households' ability to be relocated using current
strategies. Some households have very special
needs.
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Steve Nasby put together a brief overview of
progress to date on relocation efforts and the
needs of each remaining household. Steve's memo to
me is attached. I've taken his narrative and
created a chart of those remaining so I could more
easily see any trends. Below is my chart:
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OWntr- plM;cr\ deSi(t5 unta:,orn bl{ (\~~S ~Ide(" '"
or- elderly wH~ (\. fo.mlly s1~C -/-eft (1.(1'1 'Pets 2 lots l.UI.rT i
rtl\-kr tl.isClbllay elf hiS</ory .. "e,( J
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HOllsehcltls "2 re~u~st ih9.l( -he. r~IOCClkd Ll.c(~o.ce.n1 r/tJ
Ohe. {YIo11,u I ({ 5 C'(\~ o..\de.s ..fi,~ d/hQ..(' yJho IS cUsa.b/4d.
. ----.'.
I request that the City Council direct staff to
broaden the options to those households that cannot
be relocated under the guidelines we have been
, to relocate Towncrest residents. We have the
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utmost obligation to these people. I believe that
expenses to date have been less than expected, so
we do have some wiggle room financially. The clock
is ticking, as June of 1995 is not that far away.
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City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
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TO:
Karen Kubby, City Coucilperson '
Becka Yucuis, Planning Assista~^1
Steven Nasby, Associate Planne~
Towncrest Update: Residents Remaining at Towncrest
From
Re:
Since July 1994, 21 of the original 52 households have been
relocated out of To\qncrest Mobile Home Park. Those households
remaining can be placed in the following three categories: (1)
persons who have vacated their units and have not asked for City
assistance, (2) households who are actively looking for a
replacement home and, (3) those residents whose special needs must
be addressed as replacement housing is sought. This memo provides
brief documentation regarding specific resident circumstances.
Abandoned Units
Seven residents have vacated their units without contacting the
City in advance of their move asking for relocation assistance.
According to Mike Camp, Towncrest MHP manager, two of these
residents were given eviction notices, and abandonment papers were
served on another unit. Another unit may have been sold for back
taxes, and two others have been abandoned. One resident, who was.
a renter, was originally working with LIFE Skills, but he abandoned
the trailer. Abandonment papers have also been filed for this
mobile home.
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soecial Needs Residents
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Eight households are seen by the City as having special needs which
make finding replacement housing more difficult. The City is
providing outreach to these households as well as referring the
appropriate households to LIFE Skills in an effort to assist them
in their housing search. The following is a brief description of
the special needs of some residents.
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3C (owner) Elderly, disabled single man working with
LIFE Skills, and has a dog. Wishes to stay in his existing home in
a central location, and next to
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(renter) Elderly couple, unable to
look for housing on their own. The husband is deaf and his wife
has poor vision and is easily confused. Currently their daughter
lives in Towncrest, and she hopes to find two mobile homes close to
one another, The daughter would consider renting one uni t for her
parents and then buying one for herself, or could purchase two
units with another relative's help.
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(owner) Works at Goodwill and is on a small,
fixed income. His sister is involved in helping him find a
replacement mobile home. Unfortunately, he owes back child support
and was denied tenancy in a local MHP because of this unpaid
financial commitment.
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wants to be in
(owner) Elderly, working with LIFE Skills,
for another elderly, disabled Towncrest resident and
the same MHP or location as
(owner)
disabled, needs limited steps in a
replacement unit.
lbs, Rottweiler
during seizures.
(owner) Epileptic, income from SSI. Has a 120
dog who she believes is trained to protect her
She is unwilling to part with her dog.
(owner) Home appraised well and the unit can be
moved. He is unwilling to move to most MHPs and is limited because
many MHPs will not accept his pre-19BO home. (Has prison,
probation, house arrest history)
(owner) Have four children and a poor
credit history, are unable to qualify for a loan. Are actively
looking for replacement housing.
Residents Active in Lookina for Reolacement Housina
All of the sixteen remaining households have been in contact wi th
the City and are in the process of finding a replacement home,
Many have stated that they plan to take this opportunity to upgrade
their living situation by buying a house or moving to a new
location, The following is a breakdown of their situations.
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(owner) Has pre-qualified for a mortgage and is
looking for a small house in Iowa City.
(renter) working with LIFE Skills, may look into
purchasing a mobile home.
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(owner) Has two small children, is looking for a
replacement unit.
(owner) Wants to move his mobile home to
another park in Iowa City. Worklng with LFFE Skills,
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(owner) Is looking for a replacement home.
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May be moving to Des Moines to be wi th
(renter)
relatives.
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small house in the area.
Checking out his options.
May buy a
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(owner) Elderly, looking for home that will
be affordable within his retirement income. He would also like a
place with a garden plot.
(owner)' Looking for replacement house.
(owner) Has purchased a condo but has yet to
move out of Towncrest.
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(owner)
plans to close 12/1/94.
Has found a home in Cedar Rapids and
(owner)
Is ,beginning to look for a replacement
home.
(owner) Not much movement yet.
They do not plan on moving until spring.
(owner) Has salvage business run out of his
unit. He is looking for a small acreage in rural Johnson County.
(owner) Looking for both self and her elderly
parents. _provides care for her blind and deaf parents.
(owner)
it up before he moves.
months.
Has bought another trailer and is fixing
He plans on moving within the next few
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