Jan. 6-13, 2023

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

Board of Supervisors Vote to Amend ARPA Funding

The Linn County Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 to amend a Round 2 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding award by removing funds allocated for a Linn County Director of Resiliency Operations—a new County position that was requested through the ARPA process last fall. The amendment removes the ARPA funding for the new position while keeping the more than $360,000 ARPA funding in the Linn County Sustainability Department budget to use for sustainability and resiliency programming that meets ARPA requirements. The $360,000 had been allocated to fund a new resiliency position for a three-year period. The position had not yet been advertised or filled. ARPA funds are one-time federal dollars meant to speed up the United States' recovery from the economic and health effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. ARPA funds must be obligated by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026. The Board discussed incorporating the resiliency position through the standard budgeting process.

Board of Supervisors Submits Letter to IUB Regarding Proposed Wolf Carbon Pipeline

The Linn County Board of Supervisors submitted a letter to the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) regarding the proposal by Wolf Carbon Solutions US LLC (Wolf) to build and operate a carbon capture pipeline system in Iowa. Wolf’s proposed pipeline route includes a roughly 16-mile-long corridor through Linn County starting at the ADM dry corn milling plant in southwest Cedar Rapids and extending east to the county line. In the letter, the Board of Supervisors urges the IUB to deny the use of eminent domain if Wolf files a request to use eminent domain for the pipeline. The Board’s letter also noted concerns about the long-term loss to the economic value of agricultural property used by a hazardous liquid pipeline and severe impacts on the value of residential and commercial property. The Board of Supervisors also expressed deep concerns about the significant risk to the health and safety of the public, including landowners and neighboring residents, schools, and other places of public assembly near the proposed pipeline.

Linn County Attorney's Office Issues Statements on Death Investigation

Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks and Cedar Rapids Police Chief Wayne Jerman issued a joint statement Jan. 11, 2023, on the investigation into the death of Devonna Walker of Cedar Rapids. The County Attorney's Office issued a second statement Jan. 13 on the status of the investigation. 

Read the Jan. 11 joint statement.

Read the Jan. 13 statement.

Commission and Liaison Assignments for the Board of Supervisors

To better serve the residents of Linn County, individual members of the Board of Supervisors serve as liaison to specific organizations, Linn County departments, and city councils within their districts. View the 2023 Board of Supervisors commission and liaison assignments.

Most Linn County Offices Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Board of Supervisors Meeting Recap

The following is a recap from the Linn County Board of Supervisors meetings the week of Jan. 6-13, 2023. The Board of Supervisors: 

• Met with and received updates from the following departments: LIFTS and Secondary Roads
• Reviewed proposed fiscal year 2024 budgets for Soil Conservation, the Sheriff Office, and Capital Improvement Projects, the Treasurer’s Office, and State Welfare
• Discussed and amended the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Round 2 funding awards by removing funds for the Linn County Director of Resiliency Operations  
• Discussed and decided on Linn County Board of Supervisors 2023 committee appointments and liaisons assignments
• Approved a contract between Living Undeterred and Linn County for marketing during the Mental Health Radio Show each Thursday from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2023, on WMT radio
• Discussed a resolution (1) approving an amendment to the terms of a bond and loan agreement changing from a LIBOR index to a Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) index for setting the variable interest rate on and (2) identifying on the books and records of Linn County, Iowa, a hedge contract with Bankers Trust Company, all with respect to Linn County, Iowa Midwestern Disaster Area Revenue Bond, Series 2010 (TEG Property I, Inc. Project)
• Approved a vacancy form requesting four part-time communication operators for the Sheriff’s Office
• Approved Class E Liquor License for Troy Mills, Inc., 5913 Troy Mills Rd., Troy Mills, noting all conditions have been met
• Authorized Chair to sign an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) subaward agreement between Linn County and the City of Alburnett for the Repurpose Former Fire Station into Alburnett City Hall Project in the amount of $141,450
• Authorized Chair to sign an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) subaward sgreement between Linn County and the City of Marion for the City of Marion Trunk Sanitary Sewer - Project 7 in the amount of $150,000
• Authorized the submission of written comments to the Iowa Utilities Board about the proposal by Wolf Carbon Solutions US LLC to build and operate a carbon capture pipeline system
• Approved a purchase order in the amount of $53,544.16 to Truck Country for surcharges and change in model year on single axle trucks purchased on PO115 for the Secondary Road Department
• Approved a purchase order in the amount of $18,214.08 to Thompson Truck & Trailer, Inc for surcharges on a tandem axle truck purchased on PO117 for the Secondary Road Department
• Awarded bid and approved a purchase order for sign posts to Xcessories Squared in the amount of $15,627 for the Secondary Road Department
• Awarded bid and approved a purchase order for crossroad culverts to Illowa Culvert and Supply Company in the amount of $88,927 for the Secondary Road Department

NOTE: The 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 Agenda and Minutes webpage.

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UPCOMING EVENTS & DATES

• Most County offices closed Monday, Jan. 16 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Public Meetings Calendar
• Conservation Department Events

Subscribe now and get notified of future events posted in our Calendar section!

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