Government Notes: Johnson County allocates additional funds toward first phase of admin campus renovation

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors last week allocated additional funds to the first phase of the county’s administrative campus renovation, bringing the budget up to $8.4 million.

The project includes renovating the Health and Human Services building and the county administration building, which are located along S. Dubuque Street in Iowa City.

The board said in January the project will move forward in phases after costs ballooned, with the first phase estimated at $6.5 million. During the work session last week, the board unanimously supported allocating an extra $1.9 million toward the project.

County officials and staff have said the renovation project is necessary to improve safety, experience, customer service and accessibility for county employees and the public.

The $1.9 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars became available during budget discussions the board has had in recent weeks.

The board has heard updates from county staff about a handful of ARPA projects needing to be scaled down or removed from the funding schedule due to timeline constraints, making funds available for reallocation.

The cost of additional phases and overall cost of the project still is to be determined. The board is expected to hear an update from OPN Architects about the project in the coming weeks.

If plans stay on course, the project would go out to bid in late April with construction scheduled to start in June. Construction would be complete in late 2024.

C.R. signs off on agreement for design of Cedar Lake amenities

The Cedar Rapids City Council signed off last week on a professional services agreement with Snyder & Associates for no more than $962,000 for design services on amenities as part of the project to revitalize Cedar Lake under the grassroots ConnectCR initiative.

According to council documents, the agreement will be for the final design of amenities around the lake. Projects that may include shoreline restoration, accessible kayak and canoe launches and landings, an accessible fishing pier, construction of an overlook and park shelter, development of a playground or challenge course and other general park amenities such as benches.

Work is underway on Cedar Lake’s transformation. Construction is planned on the other component of ConnectCR, the Alliant Energy LightLine pedestrian-bike bridge, starting this year.

C.R. Council advances Hawkeye Downs rezoning

After the Cedar Rapids City Council was initially split on advancing a rezoning to make way for a salvage yard on the Hawkeye Downs property, the council last week unanimously supported rezoning.

Roger Cassill, the owner of Sunline — an auto salvage company — and Hawkeye Downs, requested rezoning the approximately 94-acre property at 4400 Sixth St. SW from light industrial to general industrial district.

Some council members had raised questions over Hawkeye Downs’ long-term plans, as the nonprofit has received city funds to support its operations as a tourist attraction and community amenity.

Council members Ann Poe and Ashley Vanorny initially opposed the project, but said last week they’d spoken with Cassill and felt assured about the long-term site plans.

The site is currently used as a car racing center, convention hall and storage on 88 acres. The proposal would keep those uses and add a salvage yard to the northeast nine acres. Sunline would be relocated from off-site to this property.

The salvage yard proposal would be subject to approval as a conditional use by the Board of Adjustment.

Cedar River Academy wins environmental award

Cedar River Academy was awarded the Sylvan Runkel Environmental Education Award from the Iowa Conservation Education Coalition.

The elementary school in Cedar Rapids was recognized for developing a schoolwide environmental program that provides an education grounded in the principles of sustainability of environment, community, and self.

Cedar River Academy is one of the Cedar Rapids Community School District’s magnet schools, where K-5th grade students learn the traditional curriculum and standards with an instructional theme. Cedar River Academy’s theme is sustainability.

The award is named in honor of Sylvan Runkel, a conservationist and naturalist who dedicated his life to the preservation and maintenance of wetlands, wildlife and other natural resources and co-authored five books about Midwestern wildflowers. The Iowa Conservation Education Coalition is a nonprofit with a long-standing tradition of providing professional development to formal and non-formal educators in conservation and environmental education.

Prairie holds facilities open house March 2

The College Community School District is hosting open houses March 2, from 5-7 p.m. for its renovated Prairie Crest Elementary School and the new Prairie Ag building for the school’s National FFA Organization program.

Prairie Crest underwent renovations including:

The Prairie Ag building has a classroom, kitchen, greenhouse, restrooms and a storm shelter. It sits on 176 acres of land directly north of Prairie High School. The district launched an agriculture program and first National FFA Organization chapter during the 2020-21 school year.

Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area government bodies. Marissa Payne, Izabela Zaluska and Grace King of The Gazette contribute.