Oct. 15-22, 2021

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

Deadline Passes for Requesting Absentee Mail Ballot for November 2 Election – Other Voting Options Available

The deadline for requesting a mail-in absentee ballot has passed. All absentee ballot request forms received after 5 p.m. October 18 will receive a reply from the Elections office indicating the request cannot be processed due to changes enacted in Iowa law this year. Voters who submitted a valid absentee ballot request by the 5 p.m. October 18 deadline will receive an absentee ballot by mail. Voted absentee ballots must be received in the Elections office no later than 8 p.m. November 2. Absentee ballots received after 8 p.m. November 2 will NOT be counted per the changes in Iowa law this year—this is not a postmark date. All absentee ballots voted by mail must be received by the Elections office by the 8 p.m. November 2 deadline. In 2020, absentee ballots postmarked no later than one day before the election could be counted if received prior to the official canvass of votes one week later; this is no longer the case.

Remaining ways to cast your vote:

In-Person at the Elections Office
Satellite Voting
Election Day Voting

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is October 23

On Saturday, October 23, bring your expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs to the Linn County Sheriff's Office as part of a nationwide prescription drug “Take-Back” initiative with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The Linn County Sheriff’s Office is collaborating with the DEA in this free, anonymous initiative to help prevent increased pill abuse and theft. All prescription drugs dropped off at this event will be destroyed. Learn more.

Linn County Awards $150,000 in Legacy and Community Attraction Grants

The Linn County Board of Supervisors has awarded $150,000 in grants from the Linn County Legacy and Community Attraction Fund to five local non-profit organizations that work to foster and support long-standing, new, and diverse community events in Linn County. The recipients were selected through a newly created, annual competitive grant process that began in late August. Grant funds may be used only for events or entities that substantially promote Linn County history or culture or work to draw in residents and outside visitors alike.

Board of Supervisors Meeting Recap

The following is a recap from the Linn County Board of Supervisors meetings the week of Oct. 15-22, 2021. The Board of Supervisors:

Met with and received an update from the following departments: Planning & Development, Purchasing, Risk Management, Facilities, Communications
Received a COVID-19 update from Linn County Public Health
Discussed farmland conservation/protection mechanisms for Dows Farm
Awarded $150,000 in Legacy & Community Attraction grants to five local organizations: the African American Museum, Linn County Fair Association, Mirrorbox Theater, the History Center, and Trees Forever
Discussed and approved the funding distribution process and guidelines on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) as recommended by staff
Received and placed on file the Recorder’s Quarterly Report for July 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021
Approved resolution for a final plat for Holmans Road First Addition
Approved resolution for a residential parcel split for McCormick Corner Subdivision
Approved a resolution to establish a speed limit of 25 mph on the following roads:
- Tarpy Drive from Beverly Road SW north to end in section 2-82-8
- Julie Lane from Beverly Road SW north to end in section 2-82-8
- West Post Road SW from Beverly Road SW north to end in section 2-82-8
Approved a resolution to establish a speed limit of 25 mph in Waubeek on the following roads:
- North Way from Waubeek Road north to end in section 18-85-5
- Grow Street from Waubeek Road north to end in section 18-85-5
- Waubeek River Road from Waubeek Road north to end in section 18-85-5
- Prairie Lane from North Way to Grow Street in section 18-85-5
Awarded bids and authorized Chair to sign the contracts for winter sand for the following Secondary Road shop locations:
- Alice Shop to Wendling Quarries, Inc. in the amount of $18,000
- Drexler Shop to Weber Stone Company in the amount of $14,250
- Main Shop to Wendling Quarries, Inc. in the amount of $22,875
- Morgan Creek Shop to Wendling Quarries, Inc. in the amount of $7,625
- Mount Vernon Shop to Martin Marietta Aggregates in the amount of $11,025
- Toddville Shop to Wendling Quarries, Inc. in the amount of $12,225
- Walford Shop to Martin Marietta Aggregates in the amount of $4,012.50
- Whittier Shop to Weber Stone Company in the amount of $4,750
Approved an agreement for services with Terracon Consultants for $2,300 to conduct a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment on 1017 12th Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids
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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