March 18-25, 2022

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

Linn County Unveils Redesigned Website

Linn County is pleased to announce that we have officially launched a redesigned website! The new LinnCountyIowa.gov is easier to use and features a variety of enhancements to improve your experience and make doing business online with the County faster and easier. We used data and analytics from our website, responses from user surveys, and County department and leader input to create a better customer experience. Explore our updated website today and let us know what you think!

Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Approved with No Increase in Levy Rate

The Linn County Board of Supervisors approved a balanced budget for fiscal year 2023 following two public hearings. The budget lowers the countywide levy (property tax) rate to $5.85 per $1,000 of taxable value. This lower rate is due to the passage of Senate File 619 that moved Mental Health & Disability Services (MHDS) funding from property tax to State appropriation. Coupled with a change in the residential rollback by the state of Iowa, homeowners could see up to a 10 percent decrease in their county property taxes in fiscal year 2023. Linn County taxes account for approximately 16 percent of the overall tax bill paid by Linn County property owners in incorporated areas. The remaining 84 percent of property taxes goes to the property taxpayer’s city of residence, school district and other taxing bodies in the county.

COVID-19 After-Action Report

Linn County Public Health, in partnership with Coll Consulting, has produced a COVID-19 After Action Report to summarize local pandemic response and to document key takeaways. The report covers a 16-month period from January 2020 through June 2021 when the first COVID-19 cases began to spread in the United States to when vaccines were becoming more readily available throughout the country. While the pandemic is not over, it is important to review actions taken at the beginning of the event before they are forgotten or the people involved change and to identify what worked well and to note areas of potential improvement so adjustments can be made for the next public health response.

Severe Weather Awareness Week

Are you ready for severe weather? March 21-25 is Severe Weather Awareness Week and is an ideal time to review your family’s emergency plan, check the contents of your emergency kit (including your pets), and sign up to receive alerts to stay weather aware. Visit BeReadyIowa.gov for more information on severe weather preparedness.

Board of Supervisors Meeting Recap

The following is a recap from the Linn County Board of Supervisors meetings the week of March 18-25, 2022. The Board of Supervisors:

Met with and received updates from the following departments: Community Services, Conservation, Public Health, Soil Conservation, Information Technology, Sustainability, and Planning & Development
Met with Elected Officials and department heads to discuss County-related issues, including Wellness Rewards Program Screening Results and Data Findings and County vehicle maintenance and upkeep
Received a presentation of the Compensation Board recommendation for Fiscal Year 2023 elected officials salaries
Held a public hearing on proposed Fiscal Year 2023 budget
Discussed and approved a resolution setting the Fiscal Year 2023 elected officials salaries
Discussed and certified the Fiscal Year 2023 budget
Adopted the proposed Fiscal Year 2023 budget by resolution
Approved a proposal from Presentations, Inc. to design, produce, and install wayfinding signs in the Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris Building
Held a public hearing to vacate all of the Class B portion of Betenbender Lane right-of-way in Section 3, Township 86 North, Range 06 West and approved a resolution authorizing the vacation
Discussed and approved a vacancy form requesting a Clerical Specialist for the Secondary Road Department
Discussed and approved Grant Administration Policy FM-011
Approved a resolution authorizing road closures for various road construction projects to be completed in 2022
Approved a resolution for a final plat for CR WPC First Addition
Discussed and approved an agreement between Linn County and Unzeitig Construction for the Priority #1 Linn County Facilities Derecho Repairs project in the amount of $396,500
Awarded bid and approved a purchase order for herbicide to Nutrien Ag Solutions in the amount of $25,980 for the Secondary Road Department
Approved a 28E Agreement with the City of Walford for an HMA overlay project on shared portions of Walford Road
Approved a donation of seven used picnic tables from Linn County Conservation to Center Point-Urbana School District

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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