Oct. 29-Nov. 5, 2021
The Week in Review is a weekly digital newsletter from Linn County, Iowa.
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Public Meetings Scheduled for Review of Coggon Solar LLC Utility-Scale Solar Application
Dates are now scheduled for the public meeting process for the Coggon Solar LLC utility-scale solar application project. Residents will be able to attend in person or virtually. If attending in person, masks are required in County-owned buildings. These meetings are for Coggon Solar LLC’s application only. No other utility company has submitted a solar application to Linn County. All utility-scale solar applicants in Linn County must undergo a review by the Technical Review Committee, the Planning & Zoning Commission, and three readings by the Board of Supervisors. The review process is designed to review all applications thoroughly against the development standards outlined in Linn County’s utility-scale solar ordinance. Additional standards may be imposed as part of the review process.
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Linn County Now Accepting Witwer Trust Grant Applications
Linn County is now accepting applications for the fiscal year 2022 Witwer Trust Grant Program. Eligible non-profit organizations in Linn County can 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 LinnCountyIowa.gov/Witwer. The application deadline is December 17, 2021.
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Voters Extend Local Option Sales Tax
On Nov. 2, Linn County voters chose to extend the 1% Local Option Sales Tax through June 30, 2034 in both the metro area and unincorporated Linn County. Each jurisdiction will use its portion of the revenue according to the uses that were listed on the ballot. Linn County will use its approximate $6 million dollars per year to improve the secondary road system (50%), fund Linn County Conservation projects (25%), and provide property tax relief on property located in the rural unincorporated areas of Linn County (25%). Only voters who live in unincorporated Linn County voted on the uses proposed for Linn County’s share of the LOST revenue.
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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. This decision commemorates the significance of this historical date, and says that it is worth observing and remembering why this holiday exists. Juneteenth – June 19 – is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. The federal government made Juneteenth a federal holiday in June 2021.
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Domestic Violence Warrant Sweep Results in Arrests
As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, joined by the 6th Judicial District High Risk Unit and The United States Marshal’s Office, teamed up to search for persons in Linn County with outstanding warrants related to family violence or domestic violence. These crimes include not only domestic assaults, but also harassment, stalking, violation of no contact orders, non-payment of child support, child abuse crimes, elder abuse crimes, fraud, and theft. The Domestic Violence Warrant Sweep, organized by the Clackamas County (OR) Sheriff’s Office resulted in 80 warrant attempts and 14 arrests by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office and our partner law enforcement agencies in Linn County.
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Wickiup Hill Learning Center Changes to Winter Hours
Linn County Conservation's education center, the Wickiup Hill Learning Center, shifted to a winter hours schedule on Nov. 1. The Learning Center will be closed on Sundays from November through April. All outdoor areas at the Wickiup Hill Learning Center are open sunrise to sunset.
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Most Campgrounds Closed for Season
Linn County Conservation's modern campgrounds are now closed for the season. This includes the campgrounds at Morgan Creek Park, Pinicon Ridge Park, Wanatee Park, and Buffalo Creek Park. Matsell Bridge Equestrian Campground will close November 15. Matsell Bridge Natural Area primitive campgrounds, Wakpicada Natural Area, and the Wickiup Hill Pack-in Campsite are available for year-round camping.
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Board of Supervisors Meeting Recap
The following is a recap from the Linn County Board of Supervisors meetings the week of Oct. 29-Nov. 5, 2021. The Board of Supervisors:
- Met with and received updates from the following elected officials: Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner and Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden
- Discussed weather-related delays or closings policy PM-016
- Approved and authorized Chair to sign a real estate purchase agreement (offer) to acquire 9 acres for the Linn County Secondary Road District 1 maintenance shop
- Approved adding Juneteenth as an additional County Holiday effective in 2022
- Approved Fiscal Year 2023 budget initiatives and guidelines
- Approved vacancy forms requesting a cook for the Child Development Center, two Deputies for the Sheriff’s Office, and a new Ryan White Options Counselor position for the Linn County Ryan White Program
- Approved resolution and contract for the appointment of Special Prosecutor Linn County Attorney, Adam Vander Stoep
- Approved resolution for revision 0.2 of the 2022 Secondary Road Five Year Construction Program with the Iowa Department of Transportation
- Authorized Chair to sign Pre-Employment Training Agreements for five new employees in the Sheriff’s Office
- Authorized Chair to sign a Quit Claim Deed to Jeremy J. and Erin L. Brown, whatever interest Linn County may have in vacated right-of-way as follows: The north 128 feet of the west 30 feet of vacated Vermont Way as recorded in Resolution 2006-4-42, Bk 6303, pg 342, Linn County Recorder’s Office, lying south of Waubeek Road ROW. Located in original town of Waubeek, Section 19, T.85N, R.05W, Linn County, Iowa. Said area is subject to easements and restrictions of record or use.
- Approve and authorize Chair to sign an IDOT Final Contract Construction Voucher for project BRS-SWAP-C057(143)--FF-57, bridge replacement on Central City Road over West Otter Creek
- Approved a Strategic Project Agreement between Options of Linn County and the MH/DS of the East Central Region for the period of Oct. 28 through June 30, 2022 for a total contract total equaling $100,000 for programming support purchases
- Approved a Strategic Project Agreement between the Mental Health Access Center and the MH/DS of the East Central Region for the period of October 28, 2021 through June 30, 2022 to provide support for fund balance projects at the Mental Health Access Center
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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