Linn County will undergo a self-evaluation of 15 Linn County facilities to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and to identify potential physical and programmatic barriers that may limit access in county-owned facilities. Linn County received proposals from four consultants, and the Board of Supervisors awarded a contract to Recreation Accessibility Consultants of Hoffman Estates, IL to conduct the evaluation and to prepare a report with the findings. Any identified barriers will be prioritized based on impact and will be addressed through a transition plan.
The self-evaluation of these 15 facilities is Phase I of a planned three-phase (three-year) project to complete a self-evaluation and transition plan for Linn County. The contract for the Phase I self-evaluation and report is not to exceed $50,455. Phase I is scheduled to begin Sept. 12, 2014 and should be complete by Feb. 23, 2015.
The county plans to complete Phases II and III in future years. Phase II will include a self-evaluation of county park and recreation areas and public rights-of-way in unincorporated areas. Phase III will include remaining physical and programmatic reviews (if needed) and completion of a transition plan.
The 15 Linn County facilities to be evaluated in Phase I are:
• Community Services Building
• Correctional Center
• County Courthouse
• Elections Depot
• Engineering building
• Filmore Building
• Jean Oxley Public Service Center
• Juvenile Justice Center
• Juvenile Detention Center
• LIFTS
• O’Brien Building
• Public Health
• Secondary Roads Main Shop
• Sheriff’s Office
• Wickiup Hill Learning Center
Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities by public entities. Linn County is required to develop an ADA self-evaluation and transition plan that assesses all of the policies and procedures that govern the administration of the County’s programs, activities and services to identify programmatic or physical barriers that prevent access to persons with disabilities.