Jan. 27-Feb. 3, 2023

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

Linn County Now Accepting Historic Preservation Grant Applications

The Linn County Historic Preservation Commission is now accepting grant applications from nonprofit organizations for its annual Historic Preservation Grant Program. The Commission will host an in-person grant clinic on Feb. 15 to answer questions about the grant process. A virtual grant clinic will also be held via GoToMeeting on March 4. Learn more about the grant application, eligibility requirements, application deadline, and how to participate in the grant clinics on Linn County’s website.

Linn County Funds Library Access for Rural Residents

The Linn County Board of Supervisors approved Linn County’s annual funding allocation to the libraries in Cedar Rapids, Center Point, Central City, Coggon, Ely, Fairfax, Hiawatha, Lisbon, Marion, Mount Vernon, and Springville. The Board of Supervisors provides this annual funding to the 11 city libraries from the County’s Rural Services Fund, which allows residents in unincorporated Linn County to use the services at these city libraries without paying a user fee. The total FY23 library appropriation is $485,000. This funding reflects Linn County's strategic goal of enhancing quality of life for residents through improving accessibility for public programs by helping to ensure all residents have access to library materials and resources.

Most Property Assessment Values to Rise in 2023 as Part of National Trend

Property assessments for 2023 will be mailed in the next couple of months in Linn County. Iowa code requires residential property to be valued at market value in odd numbered years. This will be happening throughout the state for 2023. Almost all residential properties will see increases in value. These increases are part of a nationwide trend and represent the market change since Jan. 1, 2021. The market change is calculated using transactions made by buyers and sellers and will vary by market. The market could be your county, city, township, or even neighborhood. Learn more.

2022 Deputy of the Year

Deputy Jeff Norton was named the 2022 Deputy of the Year by his peers at the Linn County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Norton has been with the LCSO for over 37 years and is currently assigned to the Transportation Unit.

Linn County Resiliency Hub Earns Award

Congratulations to the Linn County Sustainability Department for receiving a Best Development Award in the Placemaking Category from 1000 Friends of Iowa for its Resiliency Hub. 1000 Friends of Iowa’s award program is designed to bring attention to local governments, companies, nonprofit organizations, and individuals who demonstrate how responsible development and planning practices provide benefits to the community, the environment, and quality of life for future generations.

Board of Supervisors Meeting Recap

The following is a recap from the Linn County Board of Supervisors meetings the week of Jan. 27-Feb. 3, 2023. The Board of Supervisors: 

• Discussed proposed fiscal year 2024 budget 
• Approved an agreement between Clinton County Board of Supervisors and Linn County Board of Supervisors to provide a guaranteed detention bed at Linn County Juvenile Detention Center for the sole use of Clinton County, effective Jan. 23, 2023, through July 23, 2023, at the price of $282 per day. Any additional units needed are at a rate of $200 per day and are not guaranteed to be available.
• Held a public hearing and first and second consideration for rezoning case JR23-0001, request to rezone property located at 622 Dows Rd, from the PUD-USR (Planned Unit Development Overlay – Urban Services Residential) zoning district to the USR (Urban Services Residential) zoning district, approximately 7.58 acres, Linn County Board of Supervisors, owner, and Linn County Planning & Development, petitioner. 
• Approved an extension to the original agreement dated Dec. 18, 2014, between JP Morgan (p-card vendor) and Linn County effective Jan. 1, 2023
• Approved fiscal year 2023 rural library appropriations and authorized payment to individual libraries upon receipt of their respective contracts
• Received and placed on file Auditor’s Quarterly Report for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2022, in the amount of $1,393. Total Auditor transfer fees deposited by Recorder with the County Treasurer in the amount of $10,650.
• Received and placed on file Treasurer’s Semi-Annual Report and Semi-Annual Settlement from July 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2022 and December 2022 monthly bank statement breakdown for Motor Vehicle and Tax
• Authorized Chair to sign the Linn County Children’s Mental Health Assistance FY23 Program Provider Agreement between Linn County and Stephanie Halvorson, Mental Health Counselor effective through June 30, 2023
• Authorized Chair to sign contracts between Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP) Phase 39 and the following agencies effective Nov. 1, 2021, through April 30, 2023: 
  • First Lutheran Saturday Evening Meal Program for $10,000.00 
  • First Presbyterian Sunday Evening Meal Program for $10,000
  • Neighborhood Meal and Enrichment Program for $8,000
  • Green Square Meals, Inc. for $8,000
  • The Salvation Army Community Meal Program for $7,732
  • First United Methodist Church “FLY” for $6,000
  • Mission of Hope Meals for $16,000
  • Horizons Meals on Wheels for $7,732
  • Catherine McAuley Center for $4,925
  • Foundation 2 Youth Shelter for $5,500
• Approve and authorize Chair to sign contracts between Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP) Phase 38 Amendment and the following agencies effective November 1, 2021 through April 30, 2023:
  • ASAC Heart of Iowa Meal Program for $5,000
  • First Lutheran Saturday Evening Meal Program for $39,500
  • First Presbyterian Sunday Evening Meal Program for $12,000
  • Green Square Meals, Inc. for $20,000
  • Salvation Army Community Meal Program for $39,500
  • First United Methodist Church “FLY” for $10,000
  • Horizons Meals on Wheels for $25,000
  • Catherine McAuley Center for $9,850 
  • Willis Dady Emergency Shelter for $50,000
  • Waypoint Services Madge Phillips Center for $50,000
• Awarded bid and approved purchase order for erosion control materials to Coleman Moore Company in the amount of $39,744 for the Secondary Road Department
• Set a public hearing for Feb. 27, 2023, at 10 a.m. 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, and for the Taking of Bids on Said Project
• Received a legislative update

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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