City Council members played important role in recovery

I was fortunate that neither my house or business was flooded in 2008, but those of some of my co-workers and clients were. It was a horrific time - an unprecedented time when so many stood up to help and to move us all forward in our recovery. There are many heroes, but those serving on our City Council since the flood are among them.

Our recovery is far ahead of the schedule other communities set after their disasters. In many ways, we are back and better than ever. The can-do spirit I was greeted with when I returned to Iowa, to Cedar Rapids, in 1990, is back.

Our City Council members were forced to make monumental decisions after the flood and they rose up to make them. Improvements since then are many and profound. People are hopeful again, excited about now and our bright future. Public and private investment is strong, neighborhoods are being revitalized, downtown and near downtown housing is a reality. We finally have a convention center that can and will draw more visitors/convention goers than ever before.

The decisions our City Council made, the work of City Manager Jeff Pomeranz and his staff, all without raising a tax levy rate during the last five years, have been remarkable.

Thank you to all who played an important role in our recovery. Thank you to public servants who accepted far more responsibility and work than their part-time salary suggested or supported. We are all better off for your leadership.

Bradley G. Hart

Attorney

Cedar Rapids