LINN COUNTY eNEWS

October 2015

Linn County receives Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

Linn County has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for the 20th consecutive year. The award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting and reflects the commitment of the Linn County governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. Long-range planning and fund balance analysis received the highest ratings, with all of the reviewers designating these areas as outstanding.

Linn County Public Health Director Pramod Dwivedi and Linn County Board of Health Chair and Board of Supervisors Chair Linda Langston with the FY15 annual report for Linn County Public Health

Linn County Public Health releases annual report

Linn County Public Health released its annual report for fiscal year 2015 during a joint meeting of the Linn County Board of Supervisors and the Board of Health on October 22.

The report highlights the many successful activities and programs implemented by the Public Health department; significant partnerships between Public Health and community organizations and stakeholders, including an effective response to the Shigella outbreak when the health department worked with its partners to contain and stop the spread of shigellosis; and the achievement of becoming the first health department in Iowa to receive national accreditation.

Cedar Valley Nature Trail at Schultz Road

Linn County Conservation receives $600,000 in State Recreation Trails Grant funds

The Iowa Department of Transportation Commission approved a $600,000 Linn County Conservation grant request for continuing hard-surface and improvements along the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. The construction and paving of this key 3.5 mile stretch will complete a continuous paving trail connection from Ely in southern Linn County through Center Point.

The $1.3 million project includes: paving the trail segment from Schultz Road to Apple Creek Bridge, drainage improvements, and seal coating the crossing at intersecting county roads. Construction is expected to begin in summer of 2016 with completion in the fall.

Absentee voting underway for regular city elections

Early, absentee voting is now underway in Linn County for the regular city elections. Linn County administers elections for 17 cities.

Voting in-person: Individuals may vote in-person at the Election Services Department of the Auditor’s Office, located in the Linn County Public Service Center, 935 2^nd St. SW in Cedar Rapids. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Voting by mail: Voters may request to have an absentee ballot mailed to them. Ballots may be returned by mail or hand-delivered to the Election Services Department. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Nov. 2, 2015.

Election portal: All election-related information for Linn County is available at www.LinnCountyElections.org, including absentee ballot request forms, voter registration forms, sample ballots and polling locations.

Election Day is November 3.

Glove, hat & socks drive for Veterans Day service project

To honor Veterans Day, a 15-year-old Xavier high school student is collecting gloves, winter hats and socks as a service project to help Linn County veterans in need this winter. Items that are gender neutral and of larger sizes are the most needed. Collection bins are located at the Linn County Community Services Building, 1240 26th Ave. Ct. SW, Cedar Rapids and at the Linn County Public Service Center, 935 2^nd St. SW, Cedar Rapids.

Free worksite wellness assessments for the Corridor Worksite Wellness Awards

The Corridor Worksite Wellness Awards is offering free workplace wellness assessment services to all employers in Linn and Johnson Counties. This is a great opportunity for worksites to learn more about their current efforts and how they can help employees be healthier and more productive. In order to receive a free assessment, workplaces need to be nominated to participate. Nominations may be submitted by an outside individual or agency or by the workplace themselves. There are no required criteria to participate.

Nominations are being accepted now through November 14, 2015.

The top workplaces in Linn and Johnson counties will be presented an award at the Corridor Business Journal’s Health Care Summit in February 2016. The awards recognize workplaces that foster a supportive environment for employee health.

Find us online:

Website: linncounty.org
Twitter: @LinnCounty

LINN COUNTY eNEWSOctober 2015