February 5-12, 2021

The Week in Review is a weekly digital newsletter from Linn County, Iowa.

Linn County Public Health Holds COVID-19 Media Briefing

Linn County Public Health held a virtual media briefing on Feb. 8 to provide updates on Linn County COVID-19 response and Phase 1B vaccination efforts. Watch the video.

COVID-19 Vaccine Phase 1B Update

As Phase 1B of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues, Linn County Public Health has updated information for Phase 1B populations, which include persons 65 and older, prioritized frontline workers, and specific populations vulnerable to high risk of exposure or severity of illness. Linn County Public Health is working closely with Linn County providers to simplify communication of vaccine scheduling. Linn County Public Health works with providers to allocate vaccine, but does not oversee their appointment processes. Vaccine continues to be in short supply. Not everyone who is eligible for a vaccine will be able to schedule an appointment at this time. Additional appointments will open as supply increases. LCPH is working with all Linn County providers to ensure vaccine will eventually be available to everyone who wants it. More…

Linn County LIFTS Providing Transportation to COVID-19 Vaccination Appointments

Linn County LIFTS is providing free next-day rides for Linn County residents in need of transportation to scheduled and confirmed COVID-19 vaccination appointments in Linn County. The Linn County Board of Supervisors wants to ensure no barriers, including lack of transportation, prevent someone from getting vaccinated. Anyone traveling to or from a Linn County vaccine provider is eligible for transportation for the purpose of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine or assisting someone who is receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Rides are only available to scheduled and confirmed vaccination appointments. Requests for transportation must be made at least 24 hours in advance. More…

Mask Mandate Still in Effect in Linn County

Linn County residents, businesses, and visitors are reminded that the mask mandates previously put in place by the City of Cedar Rapids, the Linn County Board of Health, and the Linn County Board of Supervisors are still in effect in Linn County. The regulations make face masks mandatory in public places throughout Linn County, whenever six (6) feet of physical distance cannot be maintained. Linn County’s mask mandate applies to unincorporated areas and areas where municipalities have not taken action. Local health experts from Mercy Medical Center and UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids, in consultation with Linn County Public Health, recommend keeping the face mask mandates in place at this time. This action aligns with the recommendations of the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control on the use of face coverings in public to help slow the spread of COVID-19. More…

2021 Secondary Road & Bridge Construction Projects

Details on Linn County secondary roads and bridges slated for improvements in the 2021 construction season are available on an interactive map through the Secondary Road Department website. Learn more about each project and sign up for notifications. More…

Linn County Re-launches the Linn County Connection Blog

2020 was a challenge. The year started with big plans to expand upon Linn County’s customer experience through the development of new communication products and services, but the start and continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic and August 10 derecho halted many of those plans and forced Linn County to pivot. While new products and services, many focused on online accessibility, were created, they were not those originally planned. With 2020 in hindsight, it’s a new year and Linn County would like to re-introduce our blog, The Linn County Connection. This blog will be a source for timely and accessible information about County programs and services and the work we do in the community. Get notified when new blog posts are available or read blog posts here.

Board of Supervisors Meeting Recap

The following is a recap from the Linn County Board of Supervisors meetings the week of Feb. 5-12, 2021. The Board of Supervisors:

• Discussed Linn County’s proposed FY22 budget
• Froze FY22 salaries for Linn County elected officials (this includes the Board of Supervisors, Auditor, County Attorney, Recorder, Sheriff, Treasurer and their deputies)
• Received a COVID-19 update from Linn County Public Health
• Met with and received updates from the following department leaders: Finance & Budget, Human Resources, LIFTS, and the Secondary Road Department
• Approved and authorized the Board Chair to sign the 2020 Weed Commissioner’s Report
• Approved and authorized the Board Chair to sign documentation between the Iowa Department of Transportation and Linn County relating to the Linn County Conservation Grant Wood Trail project
• Authorized the conveyance/transfer of real property owned by Linn County for right-of-way use in the construction of a bridge replacement and road upgrades on Wilder Drive SE and Bertram Road SE
• Awarded project rock bids and signed contracts for 2021 projects for the Secondary Road Department
• Discussed fiscal year 2022 Senate File 634 resolution on total maximum property tax dollars, authorized publication of Max Levy Notice, and set the public hearing to be on March 3, 2021 at 11 a.m. at the Linn County Public Service Center
• Provided Board member reports of their activities, meetings, and project updates

NOTE: Board of Supervisors Meeting Recaps briefly summarize and highlight topics from the Board’s meeting agendas. This recap is provided by County staff as a public service and is not an official record of Board action. The official record of approved minutes from Board of Supervisors meetings are approved at future meetings and are available for viewing after approval.
 
Board agendas, minutes, and meeting videos are available on the Agendas and Minutes webpage.
 
Subscribe to receive agenda notifications.