KwikStar may be the catalyst for the discussion on expanding infrastructure at Rachel Street, but according to city administrator Chris Nosbisch, it was a discussion the council would have sometime in the future anyways.
As part of the proposed infrastructure improvements, the City of Mount Vernon would look to widen Rachel Street on the east, which is the road next to Mercy and Mount Vernon Family Dentistry, to allow for turn lanes at a future lighted intersection.
Rachel Street would also be extended westward at the same intersection with Highway 1, cutting into land currently owned by Plaza Auto Auction and heading west. The road would end in a culdesac, as there is a creek to the west that would require more development to cross and would also come close to Highway 30. Further expansion of the road to the west, especially along Business 30 could happen years in the future.
The estimated cost for expanding city services to the west, extending Rachel Street to the west and a new lighted intersection and road widening would be roughly $1.83 million. Even with KwikStar contributing to the project, the city would be looking at a $1.2 million cost for that intersection and its improvements.
Nosbisch said assistant city administrator Lori Boren will work on applying for a Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy grant from the Iowa Department of Transportation to help cover 50 percent of the improvement’s cost.
Council member Stephanie West said the development of Rachel Street is not inconsistent with the bypass overlay project, and is something that is on the city’s capital improvement plan.
“The interest of a business is just pushing some of these discussions up sooner,” West said.
Nosbisch said the city’s valuation between fiscal year 2024 and this current fiscal year 2025 had grown by roughly $80 million, which would increase the city’s bonding capacity in the future.
Council member Paul Tuerler said it was a lot like the quote from “Field of Dreams” — “If you build it, they will come.”
“It helps get our infrastructure out to the west of Highway 1 and opens up that area for development,” Tuerler said.
“We have work that is going on a new lighted intersection to the east with Minish [the new road that will connect to Busi- ness 30 near the Cottonwood Trail apartment complex], which helps get development to the south of Business 30 in the future. By adding improvements to Rachel today, that also increases development.”
Tuerler also noted that there are very few truck stops located between Mount Ver- non and Meskwaki, which could drastically open up the traffic to the community.
Mayor Tom Wieseler said KwikStar had come to the city a few years ago to start pursuing this possible development, and the city has been working with them to see if it could become a reality.
“It’s a no-brainer decision for me,” Councilor Mark Andre-sen said. “It hits our economic development goal and could be the catalyst to bring in more development in the future.”
West also asked if KwikStar is familiar with the design guidelines in the Highway 30 bypass area, and Nosbisch said they were looking for some wiggle room, especially on signage.
Nosbisch will work with the city attorney to come up with a development agreement between KwikStar and Mount Vernon, which will cost roughly $6,000 to $8,000.