Linn County FY14 annual report now available

Linn County’s fiscal year 2014 annual report is now available on Linn County’s website. The report highlights accomplishments Linn County government has achieved in the past year and makes Linn County’s financial information readily accessible and easily understandable. This year’s report also takes a broader look at the mental health and social services provided by Linn County.

Linn County has earned the award for "Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting" from the Government Finance Officers Association for 16 consecutive years.

Linn County named 2015 Great Place designee

Linn County is one of five communities to be named a 2015 Iowa Great Places designee. The grant award of $400,000 will support a major expansion of the Indian Creek Nature Center into a new environmental education and recreation center called Amazing Space. When completed, the project will seek to become Iowa’s first facility (and one of only a handful internationally) to achieve Living Building status, the highest designation for environmental sustainability. The project, sited on 300 acres in the City of Cedar Rapids and Linn County, is integral to the Cedar Wapsi Recreational Byway Vision, a strategy developed by Linn County to invest in its outdoor recreational resources in a way that will maximize benefit to residents and visitors to the region.

When implemented, the Byway, which features 23 identified sites, will help protect the natural resources in the area, provide a range of recreational experiences, and foster economic development by promoting regional tourism and improving the value of nearby properties. 

Linn County officials sworn into office

One newly elected Linn County official and four incumbents were sworn into office for 2015. Linn County Supervisor Jim Houser, District 1, was sworn into office January 2. Houser previously served on the Linn County Board of Supervisors for 19 years until 2010. Incumbent Supervisor John Harris, District 5, was sworn into office Dec. 18. Other incumbent Linn County elected officials sworn into office were Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden, Linn County Recorder Joan McCalmant, and Linn County Treasurer Sharon Gonzalez.

The Board of Supervisors also selected Supervisor Linda Langston, District 2, to serve as Board chairperson and Supervisor Ben Rogers, District 3, to serve as vice chairperson for 2015. Photos...

Linn County signs Cedar Lake MOU

The Linn County Board of Supervisors has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Friends of Cedar Lake, Alliant Energy, and the City of Cedar Rapids to create a Cedar Lake study committee that will identify the current plans and priorities of each party as well as look at potential future uses of Cedar Lake and develop a related work plan. Each party will initially have two representatives on the committee. The MOU does not create legally binding obligations or financial commitments for any of the four parties.

Cedar Lake is a 115-acre lake near downtown Cedar Rapids that, prior to 2008, was used as a source of cooling liquid for Alliant’s coal-fired Sixth Street Generating Station. The plant was damaged in the 2008 Flood and Alliant is working to decommission the plant. Friends of Cedar Lake, a coalition of stakeholders committed to creating community support to improve and protect the lake, has made presentations to the Board of Supervisors outlining their vision for Cedar Lake to become a destination by improving the lake’s water quality, enhancing the fishery, and providing additional recreational opportunities.

Feb. 3 school special elections for Alburnett and North-Linn

Voters from the Alburnett Community School District and North-Linn Community School District will vote February 3, 2015 on separate public measures. Alburnett voters will decide on a new Revenue Purpose Statement and North-Linn Voters will decide on a voter approved physical plant and equipment levy.

For more information about this election, visit www.LinnCountyElections.org or call Linn County Election Services at (319) 892-5300, ext. 1.

Two Linn County Juvenile Detention employees awarded national recognition

Two employees at the Linn County Juvenile Detention Center were recognized as Bob Rader Juvenile Detention Services Worker of the Year and Bob Rader Juvenile Detention Line Staff Worker of the Year for 2014 at the National Symposium on Juvenile Services. Dan Williams was recognized as Worker of the Year and Cody Edman was recognized as Line Staff Worker of the Year.

The Bob Rader Awards are presented each year by the National Partnership for Juvenile Services’ Council for Juvenile Detention to recognize outstanding staff members in the juvenile detention field for their professional achievement and performance. Read more…

Online applications now available for sub permits and inspections

Contractors can now apply for sub permits and request inspections online through the Linn County Planning and Development Department’s website. Active permits can be viewed and requests for inspections for any active permit can be made online. Read more...