June 11-18, 2021

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

Limited Use of Consumer Fireworks Allowed in Unincorporated Linn County

As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, Linn County reminds the public that use of consumer fireworks in unincorporated Linn County is allowed only during the following timeframes:

July 4 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 p.m.
December 31 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. on the immediately following day (January 1)

Consumer fireworks may only be used on property owned by the person or persons using the fireworks or with property owner permission. Please see Linn County’s fireworks resolution for a definition of consumer fireworks. The Linn County Board of Supervisors passed this resolution in 2019 in response to requests from rural residents. Each city in Linn County has its own rules governing the use of consumer fireworks within its city limits.

Please celebrate the Fourth of July safely and responsibly and respect your neighbors.

Linn County Supports Local Preservation Efforts by Awarding Grants to 10 Non-Profits

The Linn County Board of Supervisors has awarded $28,800 from the Linn County Historic Preservation Grant Program to 10 non-profit organizations in Linn County. The Linn County Historic Preservation Commission reviews the grant applications and makes funding recommendations to the Board of Supervisors through an annual competitive grant process. View the list of this year's recipients and their projects.

Linn County Public Health Honored at Tribute to Heroes Virtual Event

Linn County Public Health was honored by the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival with the Tribute to Heroes recognition along with Mercy Medical Center and Unity-Point Health — Cedar Rapids, all accepting the awards on behalf of frontline workers and medical professionals and staff. This group of individuals were honored for their heroic efforts in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 during a Tribute to Heroes Virtual Event on June 17.

Receive Emergency Notifications Through Alert Iowa

Upgrades to Iowa’s emergency notification system, Alert Iowa, are making it easier for Linn County residents to sign up and receive alerts about severe weather and other emergencies. Alert Iowa is a statewide emergency notification system the Linn County Emergency Management Agency uses to send alerts to residents. Improvements to the system will enable officials to better communicate emergency information directly to residents via voice call, text message, email, and social media. The system also now has the capability to translate messages into multiple languages. Residents who are currently signed up to receive alerts will need to sign up again to be part of the new system.

Learn more about Alert Iowa, including how to sign up for alerts, by visiting the Linn County Emergency Management Agency website.

Board of Supervisors Meeting Recap

The following is a recap from the Linn County Board of Supervisors meetings the week of June 11-18, 2021. The Board of Supervisors:

Met with and received updates from the following departments: Communications, Facilities, Planning & Development, Risk Management
Approved resolution transferring $25,000 from the County Attorney’s appropriations to the Medical Examiner’s appropriations
Held a public hearing to vacate excess right-of-way along Boy Scouts Road located in the NE¼ SW¼ of Sec. 17-T85N-R5W
Approved resolution for Temporary Use Permit, Case JTU21-0007, requesting permission to operate the Lost 40 Music Festival, located at 838 Bolton Manor Rd, Springville, Iowa, retroactive from June 10, 2021 through June 13, 2021
Approved the First Amendment to a Contract for Temporary Security Officer Services in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic to allow for Per Mar Security Services to provide security services at the Linn County Mental Health Access Center
Received a report and heard a presentation from Grant Consulting LLC and L&L Murphy, Associates on the 2021 state legislative session
Approved LIFTS contract with Cedar Rapids Transit for Fiscal Year 2022 ADA complementary paratransit
Approved resolution for Temporary Use Permit, Case JTU21-0004, requesting permission to operate the Big Town Showdown Truck and Tractor Pull, located at 812 Iowa Ave, Palo, Iowa
Received and place on file Treasurer’s (Auto Dept.) Report to the County Auditor receipts and disbursements for the month of May 2021
Approved resolution for Temporary Use Permit, case JTU21-0006, Wendling Quarries Inc., owner; Horsfield Construction, petitioner; request to operate a portable concrete plant at 6101 Blairs Ferry Road from June 16 until September 1, 2021
Authorized the transfer of $8,391,820 from the General Supplemental fund to the General Basic fund
Authorized the transfer of $1,009,684 from the General Basic fund to the Secondary Roads fund
Authorized the transfer of $2,483,796 from the Rural Services fund to the Secondary Roads fund
Authorized the transfer of $6,425,196 from the General Basic fund to the Capital Projects fund
Approved resolution for a three-lot Final Plat for Noah Acres First Addition, Case JF21-0002
Approved resolution for Residential Parcel Split for Rocky Ridge View, case JPS21-0010
Approved resolution to vacate excess right-of-way along Boy Scouts Road located in the NE¼ SW¼ of Sec. 17-T85NR5W
Approved a Linn County Children’s Mental Health Assistance Program Fiscal Year 2021 Provider Agreement between Linn County and Maria Isabel Ramos LMFT, LLC at various hourly rates
Approved an Agreement for Services between Linn County and Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) for purchase and distribution of locally grown food to Linn County residents as part of the Employee CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Program
Approved Linn County Historic Preservation Fiscal Year 2022 Grant Agreements with the grantees of the Historic Preservation Grant program as follows: Central City Historical Society $4,000; Coggon Community Historical Society $4,300; Genealogical Society of Linn County $600; Linn County Historical Society, d.b.a. The History Center $1,500; Lisbon History Center Foundation $2,400; Marion Independent School Foundation $2,500; Mount Vernon/Lisbon Community Charitable Development Group $4,000; Save CR Heritage $4,000; Seminole Valley Farm Museum $1,500; The Friends of the Lisbon Library $4,000; all grants totaling $28,800
Approved a contract between the Linn County Early Childhood Iowa (ECI) Board and Linn County Board of Supervisors on behalf of Linn County Community Services Child Development Center for Early Care and Education Supportive Services to increase access to extended day and year high-quality Wraparound Care, for 3-5 year olds from eligible Linn County families, through financial support of provider expenses not to exceed $62,103
Approved a contract between the Linn County Early Childhood Iowa (ECI) Board and Linn County Board of Supervisors on behalf of the Family Transformation Services for the Nurturing Parent Program to provide long-term home visitation Family Support services to Linn County families with children under the age of 6 that meet the eligibility criteria of the State Early Childhood Iowa Tool FF not to exceed $83,147
Approved a contract between the Linn County Early Childhood Iowa (ECI) Board and Linn County Board of Supervisors on behalf of the Family Transformation Services for the Nurturing Parent Program to provide high quality short-term home visitation Family Support services to Linn County families with children under the age of 6 that meet the eligibility criteria of the State Early Childhood Iowa Tool FF not to exceed $109,148
Approved a Fiscal Agent Agreement between Linn County Early Childhood Iowa Board (ECI) and Linn County Board of Supervisors on behalf of Linn County Community Services effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022
Approved Health Solutions Fiscal Year 2022 Master Agreement Schedule A
Approved a Memorandum of Agreement with the Assessor’s Office and Human Resources/Risk Management
Approved a revised Linn County Board of Supervisor Group Insurance Policy, PM-028 effective July 1, 2021
Approved a revised Linn County Board of Supervisor Performance Evaluation Policy, PM-27 effective July 1, 2021
Approved a revised Linn County Board of Supervisor Telework Policy, PM-029 effective July 1, 2021
Approved a revised change order number 2 from Unzeitig Construction Company for $2,752 for the Public Service Center Front Entrance Door Replacement and Subsurface Drainage Renovation Project
Approved purchase orders for the following purchases: $37,983 to Junge Automotive Group for a Ford F-150 for Linn County Conservation; $37,153 to Junge Automotive Group for a Ford F-250 for Linn County Conservation; $37,153 to Junge Automotive Group for a Ford F-250 for Linn County Conservation; $37,983 to Junge Automotive Group for a Ford F-150 for Planning & Development; $18,335 to McGrath Chevyland for a Chevrolet Malibu for Child & Youth Development Services; $18,335 to McGrath Chevyland for a Chevrolet Malibu for Child & Youth Development Services
Approved application for Display Fireworks Permit for Ron Hoover for a display at 3225 Lafayette Rd., Alburnett, on July 3, 2021 (rain date July 4, 2021)
Approved Cigarette Permit for the Whittier Market, 1002 County Home Rd., noting all conditions have been met
Received public comment regarding utility-scale solar projects in Linn County
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.

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Communications Department
Email Communications
319-892-5000