Government Notes: Cedar Rapids community garden plot rentals open Tuesday

Residents may begin leasing garden plots at Cedar Rapids parks starting Tuesday.

Garden space can be leased at the Northwest Recreation Center, 1340 11th St. NW. Rentals open at 8 a.m. Tuesday and continue weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Garden plots have been added to Lincolnway Park on J Street SW as part of the city’s plan to expand community gardens and achieve the goals laid out in its Community Climate Action Plan to ensure residents have affordable and accessible options for growing food.

Of the eight new garden sites selected from city parks in the 2023 plan, two are now open — Sinclair and Lincolnway. Future garden spaces are planned at Cherry Hill and Tokheim parks in the northwest quadrant; Noelridge and Twin Pines in the northeast quadrant; Huston Park in the southeast quadrant; and Reed and the new westside library park in the southwest quadrant.

Twenty standard plots — 10-by-20 feet — are available to rent for the first time this year. Also, four ADA-raised plots — 3-by-10 feet — with water tanks are available to rent for the first time.

Another 418 plots are available at Ellis Park (Robbins Lake), Tuma Park, Sinclair Park and near Gardner Golf Course. Sinclair Park includes four raised garden beds.

Plots at Sinclair and Lincolnway rent for $21 per plot. Plots at Tuma, Gardner and Ellis Park are 20-by-50 feet and rent for $42 per plot.

“We are excited to offer more gardening opportunities in our parks this year,” Parks and Recreation Director Hashim Taylor said in a statement. “Garden plots have become increasingly popular and sell out quickly. We look forward to providing even more in future years.”

Plots may be used between the spring and fall growing seasons by renters only. Products may be grown for personal use, and the sale of produce is allowed in line with “public markets,” as allowed under the city’s zoning ordinance.

Want to serve on a Cedar Rapids board?

The city of Cedar Rapids is looking for people to apply for appointment to a number of city boards, commissions and advisory committees.

The city is committed to gender balance on its boards and committees. The city also encourages individuals who reflect the community’s diverse backgrounds to apply.

To learn how to apply, visit the city’s website at cedar-rapids.org. Applications will be made available to the mayor and council for review. Applications are kept on file for one year.

Any person who may need modifications for any part of the process or who has general questions may contact the City Clerk’s Office at (319) 286-5060 or email city-clerk@cedar-rapids.org. Applications are due April 30.

Linn County unveils public meeting portal

Residents may now watch Linn County Board of Supervisors meetings live on the county’s website through a new online meeting portal.

Previously, videos were available on the county website after the meetings ended and livestreamed on Facebook. Recordings of the supervisors’ meetings are archived on the county’s website so people may view the meetings later on demand.

To watch meeting video, visit the Agenda & Minutes page of the Linn County website at LinnCountyIowa.gov/Agendas-Minutes, scroll to the meeting you want to watch and click the video camera icon.

All county boards and commissions use this portal for their meeting agenda packets. Public meeting documents are available online 24 hours before each meeting.

To be notified of upcoming public meetings and agendas, sign up for notifications by clicking the “subscriptions” button on the Agendas & Minutes website.

Cedar Rapids to debut garbage truck art

The Cedar Rapids Solid Waste and Recycling division will debut its first art-wrapped garbage trucks — three recycling and two garbage trucks — with work from artists native to Iowa in the coming weeks.

In December, the city issued a request for proposals seeking artwork focused on sustainable neighborhoods to be placed on the trucks — a theme inspired by the city’s Community Climate Action Plan.

The wrapped trucks also are part of Cedar Rapids’ Public Art Plan to promote public art around the city.

The city received 37 submissions from local, national and international artists, according to a news release.

The city’s selection committee worked with the Public Art Commission to select five artists whose work was eye-catching and appealing. The finalists whose artwork will be displayed are Erykah Danner, Drew Etienne, Harper Folsom, Chris Sullivan and Paxton Williams. All are from the Cedar Rapids area, except for Sullivan, who lives in Des Moines.

Company to map Iowa City storm sewers

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The city of Iowa City has hired Surveying And Mapping (SAM) to survey and map the city’s storm sewer collection system, beginning this month through December.

The work generally consists of locating and inspecting utility features with Global Positioning System equipment.

Residents may notice employees working in their neighborhood who may occasionally need access into and through private property. The city has easements to perform this type of work.

At times, storm sewer structures may need to be uncovered in order to be fully inspected.

Anyone with questions or concerns may contact the company at (660) 562-0050 or contact Ben Clark with Iowa City at (319) 356-5436.

Solon High seeking new principal

The Solon Community School District is accepting applicants through March 30 for a new principal of the high school following Principal Zach Wigle’s resignation.

The district began the search process this month with the assistance of Grundmeyer Leadership Search Firm.

Finalists will be invited to on-site interviews April 15. The interview process will include parent, teacher and student committees to provide feedback on the candidate’s qualifications and fit for the high school.

The district sent a survey to staff and 8th through 11th grade students’ families to gather feedback regarding the qualities they want to see in the new principal.

Following interviews, a recommendation will be made to the Solon school board.

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Current Principal Wigle is resigning effective June 30, to become superintendent of the Fairfield Community School District in south-central Iowa. He has been with the Solon school district since 2016 and has been the high school principal since the fall of 2019.

"Mr. Wigle has had a significant impact on our high school, district and community over the last several years," Solon Superintendent Davis Eidahl said in a news release. "His commitment to students' success and the overall contribution to a positive culture supporting teaching and learning at the high school is something we want to see continue.

“The new principal will have big shoes to fill and will need to build strong relationships immediately with students, families and staff as well as identify areas where we can continue to improve," Eidahl said.

Ribbon cutting for Linn-Mar tennis courts

The Linn-Mar Community School District is inviting families and community members for the ribbon cutting of its new tennis complex on Tuesday, April 2, at 3:30 p.m.

Following the ribbon cutting, the first official tennis match to be played on the courts will begin at 4 p.m. The complex is on the campus of Oak Ridge Middle School, 4901 Alburnett Rd, Marion.

The completion of the tennis courts is part of a five-year facility plan. The courts include spectator seating and lights on four of the eight courts, making it possible for the district to host state tournaments.

The new courts replaced six courts at the high school, which are crumbling and didn’t have room for bleachers. The ground beneath the older tennis courts also is not stable since it used to be a landfill, according to district officials.

Funding to build the new tennis courts came from the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) fund that can be used for the purchase and improvement of grounds, purchase, construction and remodeling of buildings, major equipment purchases and community education programs.

The expenditures from SAVE are approved by voters and funded by statewide sales taxes allocated by the state of Iowa to school districts based on certified enrollment.

Construction of the new tennis courts also was funded by the Public Education and Recreation Levy (PERL), also called the “playground levy,” used to establish and maintain public recreation places and playgrounds in public school buildings and grounds of the districts.

Other parts of the district’s five-year facility plan include construction of a new administration building, a larger performance venue and an indoor athletic center added to the high school.

Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. Gazette reporters Marissa Payne and Grace King contribute.