Solid waste agency board picks Linn supervisor Oleson as chairman over Linn supervisor Houser

Linn County Supervisor Brent Oleson has been elected the new chairman of the Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency Board.

The Tuesday afternoon board vote was 6-3 for Oleson over longtime Linn County Supervisor Jim Houser.

Cedar Rapids City Council member Tom Podzimek held the board chairman post the last two years and did not seek to be renamed to the post.

Members of the solid waste agency board who voted for Oleson were Podzimek, Cedar Rapids council member Pat Shey, Mark Jones, the city's solid waste administrator, Mark English, the city's assistant fire chief, Charlie Kress, the city of Marion's representative, and Oleson.

Those voting for Houser were Cedar Rapids council member Justin Shields, Pat Ball, the city's utilities director, and Houser.