1976: Iowa City Development Board takes up Cat issue

July 1, 1976: The Iowa City Development Board accepted Eldridge’s petition for the annexation of the land containing the Caterpillar plant in Mount Joy as an “exercise in procedure.” City attorney John Stonebraker met with representatives of the board to discuss the circumstances of the 10-year annexation moratorium between Eldridge and Davenport. Stonebraker said it was the first time in the board’s history that two cities have filed competing petitions, and the board was looking to the state Attorney General’s office for an opinion.