Government Notes: Coralville adopts recreation center master plan

The Coralville City Council has adopted a master plan outlining two potential options for renovating or replacing the city’s 50-year-old recreation center. The plan was presented to the public in late June after a series of surveys seeking public input.

The current Coralville Rec Center, at 1506 Eighth St., Coralville, is located at ST Morrison Park, across from Northwest Junior High. Under the master plan, which was adopted last week, the building would remain at its current location.

The new build concept would create an entirely new recreation center, to the east of the existing facility. The center would stay open throughout construction of the new building. It would then be demolished once construction is complete.

The new build plan is estimated to cost $50 million to $55.4 million.

The renovation and addition concept would involve repurposing most of the center’s existing space, as well as building an addition to the east, at an estimated cost of $52 million to $56.2 million.

Both plans include three pools: a competition pool with spectator seating, a leisure pool and a recreation and community lap pool, as well as a spa. Both plans also include an indoor track, one of the most requested amenities.

In February, the city announced plans to partner with the Iowa City Community School District to create the new center with an indoor competition pool that could be used by students.

Hiawatha State of the City speakers announced

The Hiawatha Economic Development Corp. has shared speakers and panelists for Hiawatha’s State of the City event on Thursday, Aug. 22.

This year’s theme is expansion and growth. Hiawatha will share successes in housing, commercial builds and individual city department work.

Speakers will include Hiawatha Mayor Steve Dodson; HEDCO Chair Emily Kaiser from Alliant Energy; Crystal Group President Aaron Maue; HEDCO Coordinator Liz Mathis; and three panelists who will focus their discussion on workforce issues.

The three panelists include Heather Fleming, director of People and Culture for World Class Industries; Tom Casey, owner of Hometown Restyling; and Dan Lough, leader of the Student-Built House Program for the Cedar Rapids Community School District.

Social time begins at 4 p.m. with the program starting at 4:20 p.m. The event will be held at Crystal Group, 855 Metzger Dr., Hiawatha and will end with tours of Hiawatha’s new Fire Station No. 2, 1550 Stamy Rd. Hiawatha.

Tickets can be purchased up to Wednesday on Eventbrite.com by searching “Hiawatha State of the City sponsored by HEDCO.”

Hiawatha will open new fire station Tuesday

The city of Hiawatha will welcome the public to ribbon-cutting and open house for its new fire station on Tuesday.

Fire Station #2 is located at 1550 Stamy Rd., Hiawatha. The open house will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. It will include remarks — beginning at 5:40 p.m. — from Mayor Steve Dodson, Fire Chief Matt Powers, the building’s architect and the project contractor. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will follow.

Additional and overflow parking for the event can be found at the businesses located at 1530 and 1540 Stamy Rd.

Federal program will help Cedar Rapids buy electric vehicles

The City of Cedar Rapids will receive $185,610 in equipment rebates through the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program to buy four electric vehicles.

The program assists states, local governments and tribes in implementing strategies to reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and to improve energy efficiency.

The electric vehicle purchases are intended to support the City Council-adopted Zero-Emission Fleet Transition Plan.

The equipment purchase will give Cedar Rapids long-term cost savings through reduced fuel and maintenance costs for each vehicle compared to an internal combustion engine, according to council documents. The vehicles will curb air and noise pollution and use renewable energy available from Alliant Energy’s electric grid.

The equipment purchase will include two Ford F-150 Lightning pickup trucks and two Chevrolet Bolt EVs.

Diversifying the city’s fleet with electric vehicles supports the Community Climate Action Plan, which calls for the city to reduce carbon emissions 45 percent by 2030 and net-zero by 2050. To achieve this goal, the city looks to increase the transportation sector’s share of low-emission energy to 35-65 percent.

Cedar Rapids pursues litter pickup partnership

Individuals detained by Iowa Prison Industries will collect litter along Interstate 380 and Highway 100 starting this week.

City staff contacted IPI to gauge interest in fulfilling these needs in fiscal 2025 — the budget year that ends June 30, 2025 — after an unresponsive request for bids for litter collection in those areas, according to a news release.

In the coming year, IPI will conduct multiple cleanup events in partnership with the Iowa Department of Transportation. Ten individuals will be assigned to each cleanup, accompanied by guards. They will dedicate three consecutive days each month to their efforts. IDOT will provide traffic-control vehicles.

The number of litter bags collected will be tallied in support of the City Manager’s 1-Bag Challenge litter-removal program that provides residents with green bags they can use to pick up litter and keep Cedar Rapids clean.

  Buy Photo

Ellis Road project starts Monday

An improvement project is slated to start Monday morning on Ellis Road between Edgewood Road and Covington Road, closing this section of Ellis Road to all traffic. A detour will be posted. The project is expected to last until November.

Linn County and the City of Cedar Rapids are working together on the project, which includes new asphalt paving, culvert replacements and improved drainage. It also includes paved shoulders and new guardrails for enhanced safety. The guardrail portion of the project is funded by a Traffic Safety Improvement Program Grant.

Motorists are asked to comply with all traffic signs around construction projects and to not drive around the barricades.

Johnson County SEATS program adds electric bus

The Johnson County SEATS program has added a fully electric bus to its fleet.

The SEATS program help people with disabilities, senior citizens and anyone else who has difficulty navigating typical public transportation.

The bus was purchased with county ARPA funds and is one of the first electric paratransit buses in Iowa. It seats eight passengers, with room for two passengers that use wheelchairs.

The bus can travel up to 150 miles and takes about two hours to charge.

Donation pushes Centennial Park fundraising to $2.5M

  Buy Photo

A $100,000 donation has pushed fundraising for North Liberty’s Centennial Park to $2.4 million toward a goal of $3.5 million

Dave and Rita Roberts recent made a donation to the North Liberty Next Stage campaign to transform Centennail Park. The center’s kitchen and concessions window will bear the Roberts’ name.

Construction of the Centennial Center, an indoor event space and connected outdoor amphitheater, and plaza broke ground in July with expected completion in late summer 2025. The project will include an amphitheater, park restrooms, expansive plaza and utilities in the first phase. The second phase will include a splash pad, wheelchair-accessible playground and additional restrooms in 2026. Phases three and four will bring an open-air pavilion and honor garden.

An estimated $11.6 million is expected to be generated by the entertainment park each year.

Gifts to the project are being accepted by the Community Foundation of Johnson County, a 501(c)(3), who can accept gifts as cash, checks, credit card as well as other assets including stocks, required retirement disbursements and more. Gifts are eligible for tax deduction and can be made online at northlibertyiowa.org/give or by check to the Community Foundation of Johnson County at 501 12th Ave, Suite 102, Coralville, IA 52241, noting Centennial Park Fund in the memo.

Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. Gazette reporters Marissa Payne and Megan Woolard contributed.