June 18-25, 2021

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

Linn County Deputies Assist in Mental Health Crisis

Linn County Sheriff Deputy Oltmann and Special Deputy Mims were recently awarded Medals of Merit for their successful intervention efforts with a man wanting to harm himself while having a severe mental health crisis. All Linn County Sheriff's Deputies, Communications Operators, Female Correctional Officers, and Correctional Nurses have received Crisis Intervention Training (CIT). CIT has been shown to improve law enforcement's ability to recognize symptoms of a mental health crisis, enhance their confidence in addressing such an emergency, and reduce inaccurate beliefs about mental illness. 

Innovative Linn County Resiliency Hub Planned at Fillmore Building

Linn County is creating the first-ever Linn County Resiliency Hub (LCRH) focused on providing access to three initial critical resources: electricity, actionable information, and local and nutritious food. The derecho storm event of August 2020 revealed the vital need to provide critical resources, especially in extreme times of crises. Linn County seeks to provide a model for other municipalities to create hubs of their own. Through local partnerships with non-profit organizations, an urban farm and community garden structure will be developed to improve access to nutritious, locally-grown, culturally-relevant, and organic produce. Future plans for the LCRH site include solar-charging stations and free public WiFi.

Linn County Public Health Offering COVID-19 Vaccines at Linn County Fair

Linn County Public Health will offer free COVID-19 vaccines at the 2021 Linn County Fair on Friday, June 25 and Saturday, June 26. Vaccine will be available from noon-6 p.m. each day in the Lynn Dunn Memorial Building to individuals 12 years of age and older. The Linn County Fair is located at 201 Central City Road in Central City. Johnson and Johnson or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will be available. All Iowans may find events where COVID-19 vaccine is offered or a vaccine provider at VaccinateIowa.gov.

Linn County LIFTS to Resume Fare Collection July 1

Linn County LIFTS will resume collecting bus fares on Thursday, July 1, 2021. LIFTS suspended fares on March 18, 2020, as one of many safety measures put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Passengers are still required to wear face masks per federal TSA rules. Additional enhanced safety measures include disinfecting buses nightly, extra cleaning during the day, and installing bus operator cabin partitions throughout the entire fleet. One way fares on Linn County LIFTS are $3. Rides can be purchased with cash (exact amount only) or check when boarding the bus. Ride tokens can be purchased from any LIFTS driver or at the LIFTS office at 5815 4th St. SW, Cedar Rapids. Each token is good for a one-way ride. 

Grow Solar Group Buy Reaches First Milestone; Several Educational Sessions Remain

Nine households in Linn and Johnson counties are on their way to getting clean solar energy for their homes. With these “sunny day” investments, Grow Solar Linn + Johnson Counties has met its first goal of 50 collective kilowatts (kW), bringing a discount to all participants. The solar group buy and education program launched with below market rate pricing. By reaching this first milestone, participants save another 3 cents per watt. Additional cost savings are in store if the group buy collectively reaches 150 kW, 300 kW and 500 kW milestones, potentially bringing the cost down to $1.99/watt. Property owners throughout Linn County and Johnson County, including the City of West Branch, can still sign up at linnjohnson.growsolar.org to attend an educational Solar Power Hour to learn about the program or to get a free estimate for their homes or businesses.

Linn County Offices Closed July 5 for Independene Day

Linn County governmental offices will be closed Monday, July 5, for the Independence Day holiday. Regular business hours resume on Tuesday, July 6.

The following services will continue to operate:

• Juvenile Detention and Diversion Services
• Mental Health Access Center
• The Sheriff’s Office will be closed; however, continuous operations will be available for routine and emergency responses, including the Patrol Division, Communications Division and the Correctional Center. In an emergency, always dial 911. 

Vehicle registrations can be renewed online at any time at iowataxandtags.org.

Board of Supervisors Meeting Recap

The following is a recap from the Linn County Board of Supervisors meetings the week of June 18-25, 2021. The Board of Supervisors:

• Met with and received updates from the following departments: Conservation, Public Health, Information Technology, and Sustainability
• Held a monthly Elected Officials and Department Head meeting
• Discussed making Juneteenth an annually recognized holiday
• Held a public hearing to establish a Secondary Road Assessment District to improve Wayside Circle
• Approved a Vacancy Form requesting two male trackers for Juvenile Detention & Diversion Services
• Approved changing a Clerk Typist position to a secretary position for Juvenile Detention & Diversion Services 
• Approve a Residential Parcel Split for Reierson Addition, case JPS21-0008
• Approved resolution setting July 14, 2021 as the date for a consultation meeting, and July 28, 2021 as the date for a public hearing on an Urban Renewal Plan Amendment 
• Approved resolution to establish permit fees issued at the Secondary Road Department
• Approved a consulting and advisory services agreement between Linn County and collectively L&L Murphy, Associates and Grant Consulting LLC related to consulting and lobbying services for the term of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 for $60,000
• Approved a Memorandum of Agreement between Linn County, Black Hawk County, Dubuque County, Johnson County, and Scott County, collectively known as the Urban County Coalition, related to consulting and lobbying services for one year with automatic one year renewals subject to cancellation
• Approved $11,906 to carry funds over to the Fiscal Year 2022 Historic Preservation budget for replacement of two kiosks on Lincoln Highway that were damaged by the derecho 
• Approved a Closing Certificate for Linn County’s issuance of $4,990,000 General Obligation Land and Water Legacy Bonds, Series 2021A, retroactive to June 22, 2021
• Approved a Statement of Work with CivicPlus for a website Department Header Package for Conservation in the amount of $3,658.38
• Approved a Statement of Agreement between Linn County and the Abbe Center to provide skilled mental health services for the inmates of the Linn County Jail effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 3022 with a cost of $30,360
• Approved an “Adopt-A-Roadside” for Farmers State Bank to adopt N Alburnett Road (county portions) from County Home Road to Alburnett city limits
• Approved an “Adopt-A-Roadside” for Wapsi Hustlers 4-H Club/North Linn FFA to adopt Troy Mills Road from Walker Road to Rundell Road
• Approved a Public Performance Licensing Agreement for Correctional Institutions Agreement between Linn County and SWANK Motion Pictures Inc. in the amount of $519
• Approved contracts between Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP) Phase 37 Amendment and the following agencies effective January 1, 2020 through October 31, 2021:
  • ASAC Heart of Iowa Food Pantry for $1,000
  • First Lutheran Saturday Evening Meal Program for $2,000
  • First Presbyterian Sunday Evening Meal Program for $4,678.80
  • Green Square Meals, Inc. for $7,500
  • The Salvation Army Community Meal Program for $15,000
  • First United Methodist Church “FLY” for $4,000
  • Mission of Hope Shelter for $7,000
  • Horizons Meals on Wheels for $20,000
  • Catherine McAuley Center for $3,739.40
  • Willis Dady Emergency Shelter for $3,739.40
  • Waypoint Services Madge Phillips Center for $3,739.40
• Approved contracts between Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP) Phase 38 Amendment and the following agencies effective January 1, 2020 through October 31, 2021:
  • ASAC Heart of Iowa Food Pantry for $2,001
  • First Lutheran Saturday Evening Meal Program for $10,000
  • First Presbyterian Sunday Evening Meal Program for $10,000
  • Green Square Meals, Inc. for $8,000
  • Salvation Army Community Meal Program for $24,935
  • First United Methodist Church “FLY” for $6,000
  • Mission of Hope Shelter for $16,000
  • Horizons Meals on Wheels for $15,000
  • Catherine McAuley Center for $3,315
  • Foundation 2 Youth Shelter for $2,250
  • Willis Dady Emergency Shelter for $7,750
  • Waypoint Services Madge Phillips Center for $7,750
• Approved an Application for Consumer Fireworks Permit for Fran Guillaume/Antioch Christian Church for a display at 433 Cross Rd, Marion, on July 3, 2021
• Approved an Application for Fireworks Permit for Gary Peiffer, Dam Daze,  to conduct a fireworks display at 3033 Lynx Dr., Troy Mills (North Linn School Complex) on July 11, 2021
• Approved a Vacancy Form requesting two Universal Clerks for the Treasurer’s Office
• Approved updating Linn County’s official seal
• Provided Board member reports of their activities, meetings, and project updates, including an update on homeless individuals gathered outside the Fillmore Building

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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