News & Updates
from Linn County Government

December 2015

Linn County issues FY15 Popular Annual Financial Report

Linn County’s fiscal year 2015 Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) is now available on Linn County’s website. The report provides citizens with an overview of how their county tax dollars are managed and spent in a format that is easy to read.

It also highlights accomplishments and major initiatives of the past year and demonstrates the vital role county government plays as a resource to all county residents and businesses.

Linn County has earned the award for “Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting” from the Government Finance Officers Association for 17 consecutive years.

Linn County announces new five-year strategic plan

Linn County has completed a new strategic plan that will guide policy and budgetary decisions over the next five fiscal years (2017-2021). The plan identifies three strategic goals focusing on a customer-centered culture, public service systems and infrastructure, and communication.

The plan was developed with elected officials and department leaders to ensure a comprehensive review of county functions, services, and customer-centered priorities. The planning process highlighted many areas of strength within Linn County government, including our financial stability and provision of core services and infrastructure. We will continue to fine-tune the plan to ensure the objectives remain aligned with our customer-centered goals.

Options consumers cleaning books for Cops and Kids program

Options of Linn County expands programming to include volunteer work

Options of Linn County recently expanded its day habilitation program for adults with developmental disabilities. The expanded program offers more choices in daily activities, including community-based volunteer opportunities at approximately 20 local organizations as well as group activities in the community.

Approximately 40-50 Options consumers participate in the volunteer work. Many of them lost their jobs in sheltered work centers due to the closing of all work centers throughout Iowa and the rest of the nation as a result changing federal regulations. The volunteer opportunities provide a great transition from these jobs. One Options consumer states, “I feel a new sense of purpose when I can volunteer.” Another stated, “We get to pay it forward and help others."

KCRG and CBS 2 visited one of the volunteer sites in December where Options consumers were cleaning and preparing books for the Cops ’n Kids Program.

Linn County snow & ice ordinance for secondary roads

The complete Linn County snow and ice ordinance is available on Linn County’s website or at the Engineer’s Office, 1888 County Home Road, Marion.

Important points of the ordinance include:

Regular hours of operation for the Secondary Road Department are Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. These hours may be extended during a snow event to 4 a.m. - 6 p.m. If it snows more than one inch on a Saturday or Sunday, the maximum hours of operation are 4 a.m. – 6 p.m. Linn County does not operate outside of these maximum hours of operation except in the case of assisting emergency personnel or a declared emergency by the Board of Supervisors or Governor.
Linn County does not have a bare or dry pavement policy. Salt and sand are applied to hard surfaced roads to provide grit and help clear the surface when practicable, particularly on hills, curves and intersections.
Hard surface roads are given priority during and following snow events.
Rock roads are opened to one-lane travel as soon as practicable during regular county operating hours. We attempt to open rock roads to travel within two or three days following the snow event; this is not always possible during heavy snow with wind.

Linn County provides updates to its response to snow events through the Notify Me service on the county’s website. To receive the updates via email or text message, visit www.linncounty.org/notifyme to subscribe.

Linn County holiday schedule

Most Linn County government offices will be closed Thursday, Dec. 31 and Friday, Jan. 1 for the New Year’s holiday.

Vehicle registrations can be renewed online at www.iowataxandtags.gov.

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Find us online:

Website: linncounty.org
Twitter: @LinnCounty
@lc_elections
@LCPublicHealth
@LinnIASheriff

News & Updates from Linn County GovernmentDecember 2015