November 2021

Linn County Seeks Members for New Sustainability & Resiliency Advisory Committee

Linn County has a new opportunity for residents to get involved with their local County government. The Linn County Board of Supervisors is seeking voluntary applicants for the newly established Linn County Sustainability & Resiliency Advisory Committee. The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to complete an annual greenhouse gas inventory for Linn County, with support from the Linn County Office of Sustainability (LCOS), and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), to help review and monitor progress toward the goals and objectives of Linn County’s climate resolutions.

The Advisory Committee will be comprised of 15 diverse, sustainability-interested individuals with one-third membership from business and industry, one-third from vulnerable communities, and one-third from rural communities. Members will be appointed by the Board of Supervisors to serve one-year terms with the opportunity to serve an additional two terms for a total of three.

Learn more about the committee and apply. Deadline for application is December 31,2021.

Linn County Awards $1 Million to PATCH Program Using ARPA Funds

The Linn County Board of Supervisors approved $1 million to the Housing Fund for Linn County for the PATCH program (Providing Assistance to Community Homeowners). The funding comes from Linn County’s portion of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and will be released in up to four installments of $250,000 each.

Learn more about the funding award and PATCH program on our website.

Linn County Now Accepting Witwer Trust Grant Applications

The Linn County Board of Supervisors is now accepting applications for the fiscal year 2022 Witwer Trust Grant Program. Eligible non-profit organizations in Linn County may apply for grant funding for projects that benefit Linn County residents.

The online application, eligibility requirements, and a list of frequently asked questions are available on the Linn County website at www.LinnCountyIowa.gov/Witwer. The application deadline is December 17, 2021. This is a competitive grant process and $80,000 in funding is available through the program.

Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Planning Underway

Planning Underway for Linn County’s FY23 Budget

Planning is underway for Linn County’s fiscal year 2023 budget. The budget will be developed over the next two and a half months during a series of more than 20 public meetings between the Linn County Board of Supervisors, other Linn County elected officials, and department heads. Residents have the opportunity to provide input and public comment on the budget during these upcoming public meetings.

Learn more and see the full meeting schedule.

Bradley Named Linn County Public Health Deputy Director

Linn County Public Health (LCPH) has named Eric Bradley as LCPH’s new Deputy Director. Bradley started this role on November 22, 2021.

Bradley is a graduate of University of Georgia where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Health. He later earned a Master of Public Health from American Public University in Virginia. Bradley was previously the Environmental Health Manager at Scott County Health Department, a position he held for the last six years. Bradley comes to LCPH with nearly 25 years of experience in public health.

Linn County Adds Juneteenth to County Employees' Holiday Calendar

The Linn County Board of Supervisors officially added Juneteenth to County employees' holiday calendar, effective in 2022.

Juneteenth – June 19 – is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. The U.S. Senate passed a bill on June 15, 2021, that would make Juneteenth a federal holiday in the United States. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law on June 17, 2021.

Linn County Receives Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for 26^th Consecutive Year

Linn County has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for the 26^th consecutive year. The award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting and reflects the commitment of the Linn County governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.

Linn County Welcomes New Early Childhood Iowa and Decat Director

The Linn County Early Childhood Iowa (ECI) and Linn County Decategorization (Decat) boards are pleased to welcome Amy Grunewaldt as the new ECI / Decat Director for Linn County. As an experienced leader in the human service sector, Amy is excited to work with the boards and partners to continue ensuring children and families thrive in this community. Amy succeeds previous Director Chris Kivett-Berry, who has embodied this work from its inception.

Linn County supports ECI and Decat by providing staff resources and office space. ECI and Decat are housed within Linn County Community Services.

Linn County Public Health Releases Annual Report

Linn County Board of Health Chair Leslie Wright, along with fellow board members, recently released the Linn County Public Health (LCPH) Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report.

Some highlights from the Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report include:

Convened with cross-sector partners to develop a post-derecho needs assessment survey, which was distributed to Linn County residents through a variety of methods.
Worked with partners to allocate the initially limited supply of vaccine to providers within the framework of the state’s vaccine distribution plan based on tier levels.
Held that state’s only 24-hour mass vaccination clinic, delivering nearly 2,000 doses of COVID-19 in collaboration with a local pharmacy.
Completed 962 food-service inspections and 55 routine aquatic safety inspections.
Partnered with Johnson County to increase solar installation commitments made through Grow Solar 2021, surpassing 557 kW from 64 property owners.

Learn about these accomplishments and more in the Linn County Public Health Annual Report

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