State Board Approves Council Bluffs Annexation Of Property In Mills County
Westbound view of the intersection of 192nd Street and Bunge Ave. The area from the center of Bunge Ave. to the north (right side of photo) will become part of the city of Council Bluffs.
Northbound Interstate 29, just south of the Mills County / Pottawattamie County line. Land on both the east and west sides of the interstate will be annexed by the city of Council Bluffs.
The Iowa Economic Development Authorities’ City Development Board has approved the city of Council Bluffs’ plan to annex property in southern Pottawattmie County and northwest Mills County. The board approved the plan by a 4-0 vote last Tuesday, June 3.
The nearly 475 acres of property being annexed runs along Interstate 29 - including land on both the east and west sides of the interstate in Mills County.
The annexation won’t take place immediately. The last hurdle to be cleared is a 30-day appeals period, which began once the The Iowa Economic Development Authorities’ City Development Board issued notice of its approval of the plan.
The City of Council Bluffs’ desire to annex land in Mills County surfaced more than a year ago during discussions concerning economic development along Interstate 29. In January 2025, Mark Norman, director of the Mills County Economic Development Foundation (MCEDF), told county supervisors the annexation would be required for the City of Council Bluffs to provide utility services for two projects being proposed along Interstate 29 in northwest Mills County. One of those projects is the $325 million Cattlemen’s Heritage beef processing facility proposed on a 132-acre site northwest of the I-29 – Highway 370 interchange. The other project is east of I-29 and south of the Mills – Pottawattamie County line. Bringing utilities from Mills County was not feasible.
After months of discussion and consideration, the Mills County Board Of Supervisors gave its blessing to the annexation plan in April.
The supervisors’ vote in favor of the annexation didn’t happen until Council Bluffs amended an initial plan that called for the annexation to end at Bunge Ave. Under the revised plan, the annexation will go to the center of Bunge Ave., resulting in Mills County and Council Bluffs sharing in the maintenance and policing of Bunge Ave. and possibly other roads in the area.
County supervisor Jack Sayers noted that the property being annexed in Mills County will not become part of Pottawattamie County. It will be Council Bluffs land that happens to be in Mills County. Both government entities will collect tax dollars from the area.
Lonnie Mayberry, chair of the Mills County Board Of Supervisors, said the businesses being proposed along I-29 would generate tax revenue and create jobs for Mills County.