November 18-23, 2022

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

Budget Forum Kicks off Planning Fiscal Year 2024 Budget

Linn County held its annual Public Budget Forum Nov. 21 at the Linn County Public Service Center where residents and stakeholders were invited to share their input on Linn County’s FY24 budget planning. Linn County’s FY24 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 will have the opportunity to provide public comment on the budget during these upcoming public meetings. 

Board of Supervisors Extend Temporary Solar Moratorium

The Linn County Board of Supervisors extended the temporary moratorium on accepting rezoning applications for the Renewable Energy Overlay District (utility-scale solar applications) until March 31, 2023. The moratorium, which was first passed in October 2022 and expires automatically after three months unless extended by resolution by the Board of Supervisors, was set to expire Dec. 31, 2022. During the moratorium period, staff from the Planning & Development Department is examining Linn County’s renewable energy standards taking lessons learned from the two recent utility-scale solar rezoning applications and creating Renewable Energy Review Committees to help look at specific areas of the renewable energy code and bring recommendations to the Planning & Zoning Commission and ultimately to the Board of Supervisors for consideration. The moratorium may be extended no more than three times for a maximum period of 12 months.

Deputies Receive Life Saving Commendation Awards

Congratulations to Linn County Sheriff deputies Sam Olson and Ben Helms who received Life Saving Commendation Awards for saving the life of an inmate found unresponsive in a jail cell at the Linn County Correctional Center.

Linn County Offices Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

Most Linn County governmental offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 24 and 25 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Regular business hours resume on Monday, Nov. 28.
 
The following services will continue to operate:

• Juvenile Detention and Diversion Services
• Mental Health Access Center
• Linn County LIFTS will be closed on Thanksgiving Day Nov. 24 but will operate reduced routes in Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha and Marion on Friday, Nov. 25 (no rural service).
• The Sheriff’s Office will be closed; however, continuous operations will be available for routine and emergency responses. This includes the Patrol Division, Communications Division and the Correctional Center. In an emergency, always dial 911.

 Vehicle registrations can be renewed online at any time at www.iowataxandtags.org. 

Board of Supervisors Meeting Recap

• Held a public hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimated total cost for the Linn County Secondary Road District #1 Shop – Phase 2 Project
• Approved a resolution granting final approval and confirming the plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimated total cost for the Linn County Secondary Road District #1 Shop – Phase 2 Project
• Opened and announced bids for the Linn County Secondary Road District #1 Shop – Phase 2 Project and referred bids to Linn County staff and the project architect for review and tabulation
• Held a public forum for fiscal year 2024 budget
• Held a public hearing to discuss applications for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) housing funds and to collect input for a Community Development and Housing Needs Assessment
• Approved a resolution extending the Renewable Energy Overlay Rezoning Moratorium from Dec. 31, 2022, until March 31, 2023
• Approved a resolution to provide for a notice of public hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimated total cost for the Linn County Secondary Road District 1 Shop Building – Phase 2 Project
• Authorized Chair to sign an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) subaward agreement between Linn County and City of Cedar Rapids for the Cedar Rapids Westside Library Construction in the amount of $4,000,000
• Authorized Chair to sign contract with The Gazette for design, printing, and distribution services for the FY2022 Linn County Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) in the amount of $6,500.
• Authorized Chair to sign an amended contract between Iowa Department of Public Health and Linn County Community Services for HIV Client Services Program for the contract period April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023. This contract amendment adds $87,244 dollars to the original contract for a contract total of $998,223.
• Approved purchase order to Lynch Ford for a Ford F550 truck for Facilities in the amount of $91,310

UPCOMING EVENTS & DATES

• November 24-25 Most County offices closed for Thanksgiving holiday
• Public Meetings Calendar
• Conservation Department Events

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