Nov. 12-19, 2021

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

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. The PATCH Program is a donation-based program that was established after the 2020 derecho to help low-to-moderate income Linn County homeowners with gap funding for storm repairs and navigating the home repair process with contractors. With winter approaching and many Linn County homeowners still in need of assistance with derecho repairs, the Linn County Board of Supervisors approved funding the ARPA application submitted by the Housing Fund for Linn County.

First Public Meeting Held for Coggon Solar LLC Utility-Scale Solar Application

The Linn County Technical Review Committee held the first of a series of public meetings for review of the Coggon Solar LLC utility-scale solar application. The next public meeting for this project is Nov. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Linn County Fairgrounds. 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. Learn more about the Coggon Solar LLC solar application.

Nov. 2 City / School Election Recounts

Multiple close races in the recent City/School elections have resulted in three requests for recounts:

Fairfax Mayor (recount convenes at 1 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Jean Oxley Linn County Public Service Center, 935 2^nd St. SW, Cedar Rapids)
Marion City Council at Large (recount began Nov. 16, 2021)
Prairieburg City Council at Large (recount began Nov. 17, 2021)

Linn County Holds FY23 Budget Public Forum

Linn County kicked off the planning for the Fiscal Year 2023 budget with a public forum on Nov. 17 at the Linn County Public Service Center. The forum was an opportunity for residents to provide input and public comment on the budget. The budget will be developed over the next two and a half months during a series of more than 20 public meetings. The Board of Supervisors strives to maintain a consistent levy rate to minimize any impact to taxpayers while addressing budget priorities and maintaining essential public services. Fiscal year 2023 begins July 1, 2022 and ends June 30, 2023.

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. To receive the award, Linn County had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. Documents submitted to the budget awards program are reviewed by members of the GFOA professional staff and by outside reviewers with experience in public sector budgeting. According to the GFOA, award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.

Linn County Offices Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, most Linn County governmental offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 25 and 26. Regular business hours resume on Monday, Nov. 29. The Linn County Public Health lab will be accepting water samples Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 22 and 23 only of the holiday week. Regular drop-off hours will resume on Monday, Nov. 29.

Board of Supervisors Meeting Recap

The following is a recap from the Linn County Board of Supervisors meetings the week of Nov. 12-19, 2021. The Board of Supervisors:

Met with and received updates from the following departments: Planning & Development, Purchasing, Risk Management, Facilities, and Communications
Held a public forum for the Fiscal Year 2023 budget
Received a presentation by ECICOG on Middle Cedar Watershed Management Authority Fiscal Year 2023 funding request
Discussed Linn County Sustainability + Resiliency Advisory Committee rules and operating procedures
Canvassed second tier of votes from the Nov. 2, 2021 City/School Election
Approved a funding proposal from the Housing Fund for Linn County on behalf of the Providing Assistance to Community Homeowners (PATCH) Program
Discussed a professional services agreement with Collective Clarity for $10,000 using Linn County Mental Health/Disabilities Fund balance dollars for strategic consulting services for a proposed Children’s Assessment Center
Approved Weather Related Delays or Closings Policy PM-016
Approved minor revisions to Time Reporting Policy PM-024
Received and placed on file Treasurer’s (Auto Dept.) Report to the County Auditor Receipts and Disbursements for the month of October 2021
Received and placed on file the Linn County Annual Urban Renewal Report for Fiscal Year 2021
Approved resolution for a 28E Agreement with the City of Central City for Building Services
Authorized the transfer of $8,195,910 from the General Supplemental fund to the General Basic fund
Authorized the transfer of $2,553,343 from the Rural Services fund to the Secondary Roads fund
Authorized the transfer of $750,000 from the General Basic fund to the Conservation Reserve fund
Authorized the transfer of $1,240,000 from the General Basic fund to the Capital Projects fund
Approved a resolution for a residential parcel split for Goodlove Addition
Authorize Chair to sign a 28E Agreement with the City of Cedar Rapids and the City of Marion for the Tower Terrace Road construction project from C Avenue to Alburnett Road
Authorized Chair to sign an Adopt-A-Roadside for Troop 214 to adopt Wright Brothers Blvd from Club Road to Spanish Road
Awarded bid and approved a purchase order for signs to be purchased from Newman Signs in the amount of $19,220.62 for the Secondary Road Department
Approved the County’s 2021 Family Farm Tax Credit Allowances and Disallowances
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.

Subscribe to receive agenda notifications.

Communications Department
Email Communications
319-892-5000