February 4-11, 2022

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

Linn County Supervisors and Temporary Redistricting Commission Approve New Redistricting Map

The Linn County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a new Linn County supervisor districts map as part of the required redistricting process. Redistricting is the process of redrawing boundaries for political districts in the United States and is required by law to account for population changes every 10 years following the federal decennial census to ensure equal representation. The map was drawn by the Legislative Services Agency, per Iowa law.

The Supervisors’ approval comes after the Linn County Temporary Redistricting Commission held a public hearing on Feb. 8 and unanimously approved the map drawn by the Legislative Services Agency. The redistricting map will now be submitted to the Iowa Secretary of State for approval as required by law. Learn more.

Proposed Ordinance Amendment to Establish Six-Month Moratorium on Rezoning for Utility-Scale Solar Fails in 2-1 Vote

The Linn County Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 against a proposed ordinance amending Section 107-149 Renewable Energy Overlay District of Chapter 107 Unified Development Code to establish a six-month moratorium on rezoning to the Renewable Energy Overlay (“RE”) zoning district for utility-scale solar projects. The proposed ordinance amendment would have placed a six-month moratorium on all utility-scale solar applications to allow for code amendments to be made to the current code to address the conditions discussed during the Coggon Solar LLC utility-scale solar application process.

Linn County to Hold Public Hearing on Maximum Property Tax Levy for Fiscal Year 2023

The Linn County Board of Supervisors set a public hearing for March 2, 2022 at 11 a.m.,
to set the total maximum property tax levy for the fiscal year 2023 budget. The public hearing will be held at the Linn County Public Service Center, 935 Second St. SW in Cedar Rapids. More information about the County’s proposed maximum property tax levy is available on Linn County’s website. Additional public meetings will be held in March prior to certifying the FY23 budget.

19 Local Non-profits Awarded $80,000 in Witwer Trust Grants

The Linn County Board of Supervisors awarded $80,000 in grants from the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust Fund to 19 non-profit organizations whose work benefits Linn County residents. The recipients were selected through an annual competitive grant process that began in November. The Board of Supervisors received more than $286,000 in grant requests with $80,000 available

Deputy Halverson Earns Deputy of the Year Award

Linn County Deputy William Halverson was presented with the 2021 Deputy of the Year award. He was nominated for this recognition by his peers due to his continued faithfulness, humility, courage, positive attitude, and resiliency.

Linn County Office of Sustainability Releases 2021 Year in Review

According to the National Climate Assessment, at-risk communities in the Midwest are becoming more vulnerable to climate change impacts such as flooding, drought, and increases in urban heat islands. East Central Iowa, including Linn County, is at particular risk for a greater number of catastrophic and intense storms, which will be further exacerbated by GHG emissions causing rising temperatures. Linn County’s Office of Sustainability has released its 2021 Year in Review that highlights Linn County’s work on climate action, conducting a greenhouse gas inventory, replanting trees following the derecho, and how community partnerships are key to making Linn County more resilient. View the Sustainability 2021 Year in Review.

Board of Supervisors Meeting Recap

The following is a recap from the Linn County Board of Supervisors meetings the week of Feb. 4-11, 2022. The Board of Supervisors:

Met with and received updates from the following departments: Secondary Roads, LIFTS, Human Resources, and Policy & Administration
Authorized Chair to sign, retroactive to February 4, 2022, a letter to Governor Reynolds supporting the Eastern Iowa Airport’s request for federal coronavirus state assistance funding
Set a public hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimated total cost for the priority #1 Linn County Facilities Derecho Repairs Project and for taking bids on this project for March 7, 2022 at 11 a.m.
Received a presentation from the Linn County Historic Preservation Commission on its 2022 Annual Update and approved the Iowa Certified Local Government 2021 Annual Report for the Linn County Historic Preservation Commission
Held a public hearing and first consideration on an ordinance amending Section 107-149 Renewable Energy Overlay District of Chapter 107 Unified Development Code to establish a six-month moratorium on rezoning to the Renewable Energy Overlay (“RE”) zoning district for utility-scale solar projects. The Board voted 2-1 against a moratorium.
Approved a resolution suspending taxes for one (1) Linn County resident as they are unable to contribute to the public revenue by reason of age, infirmity or both, pursuant to Code of Iowa, Section 427.9
Approved a revision of the 2022 Secondary Road Five Year Construction Program with the Iowa Department of Transportation
Approved a temporary construction easement request from the City of Cedar Rapids on property located NW of 1018 5th SE, Cedar Rapids as part of the City’s 11th Avenue SE and 5th Street SE Roadway and Utility Improvements project
Approved Title VI Non-Discrimination Agreement between the Iowa Department of Transportation and Linn County, Iowa
Approved the US Department of Transportation Standard Title VI/Non-Discrimination assurances form
Approved purchase order to Illowa Culverts & Supply Co. for corrugated metal culverts in the amount of $54,777 for the Secondary Road Department
Approved purchase order to Metal Culverts for plastic culverts in the amount of $11,420 for the Secondary Road Department
Approved liquor license for Airport National Public Golf Course
Approved a contract between Linn County Mental Health Access Center and Anaheim Security effective March 1, 2022 for 24 months with a total of $189,440.78 for the first year of security
Discussed fiscal year 2023 SF 634 resolution on total maximum property tax dollars, authorized publication of Max Levy Notice, and set the public hearing for March 2, 2022 at 11 a.m.
Approved a resolution disposing of an interest in real estate via a long term 20-year real estate lease between Linn County Conservation, Linn County and Feed Iowa First for the exclusive use of approximately 17 acres legally described as Outlot A, Squaw Creek Ridge Second Addition to Linn County, Iowa
Approved allocation of fiscal year 2022 Witwer Trust grants
Reviewed and approved the Linn County Temporary Redistricting Commission’s Supervisor District Plan #1 as prepared by the Legislative Services Agency
Provided Board member reports of their activities, meetings, and project updates

NOTE: Board of Supervisors Meeting Recap briefly summarizes 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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