Linn County seeks feedback on potential nuclear energy zoning code

While conversations continue at the federal level around the potential resurrection of a Linn County nuclear plant, county officials are seeking community feedback on local regulations.

The Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 6 p.m. today at the Jean Oxley Linn County Public Service Center, 935 Second St. SW in Cedar Rapids.

The commission will discuss proposed zoning regulations for nuclear energy generation and nuclear waste storage facilities in Linn County. Area residents are invited to attend and speak during public comment.

Planning and Development Director Charlie Nichols said the exact regulations are still in the planning phase, and today’s meeting will help kick-start the conversation and allow for public engagement.

Those regulations eventually will outline application requirements, review procedures and community protections such as economic development impacts and emergency response planning.

“While the safety of nuclear materials is regulated at the federal level, Linn County has a responsibility to ensure any proposed land use aligns with our comprehensive plan and addresses community impacts,” Nichols said. “We encourage residents to come learn more, ask questions and share their perspectives.”

The meeting comes on the heels of NextEra Energy’s announcement of its intent to restart the Duane Arnold Energy Center near Palo, which closed in 2020 after more than 45 years of operation as Iowa’s only nuclear plant.

NextEra now is seeking regulatory approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which has created a Duane Arnold Energy Center Restart Panel to consider the proposal.

Nichols said NextEra reached out to Linn County as part of that process in an effort to seek feedback and collaboration from local stakeholders — prompting the discussion around a zoning code update.

“It’s helpful for them if they can show that they’ve engaged with the local jurisdictions,” he said. “Right now, we don’t have any (nuclear) zoning code on our books … so we’re looking to put something forward” that can address that.

Residents can attend today’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting in person, and a recording will be made available on the Linn County website. Final zoning regulations will require approval from the Linn County Board of Supervisors.

Comments, questions or concerns around the nuclear energy zoning regulations can be directed to Charlie.Nichols@LinnCountyIowa.gov, and that feedback will be shared with the commission at its June meeting.

Linn-Mar High gets $90k science grant

Linn-Mar High School received a $90,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Education to train its teachers in a new curriculum called OpenSciEd.

Teachers will receive professional development this spring and summer to prepare for potentially piloting the curriculum for the 2025-26 school year. If the pilot is successful, full implementation will happen fall 2026.

OpenSciEd is a free science curriculum designed to help students learn through real-world questions and hands-on activities. It focuses on phenomena-based learning, where students actively investigate and problem solve instead of memorizing facts.

Teachers guide students as they ask questions, design experiments and develop their understanding of scientific concepts.

New Firefly Campground taking reservations

Reservations are now open for the new Firefly Campground at Pinicon Ridge Park near Central City.

The campground includes 32 campsites on concrete pads with full access to water, electric and sewer hookups. The site is equipped with a new restroom and showerhouse building, and a playground is under construction.

The grounds should open by June 12, and sites can be reserved online for $40 a night with a two-night minimum at linncountyiowa.gov/975/Facility-Rentals

The existing Flying Squirrel and Plain campgrounds — also located at Pinicon Ridge — will continued to be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Campers now also can reserve one of two new all-seasons cabins located just west of the Firefly Campground. The cabins — dubbed Coneflower and Ridgewood — each include four bedrooms, a kitchen, bathroom space and an outdoor patio and grilling area. Cabin capacity is estimated at 10 to 12 people, and reservations can be made for $250 a night or $1,500 for a week.

Both the Firefly Campground and cabin additions originally were outlined in the 2015 Pinicon Ridge Park Master Plan. The $4 million project was funded in part by the Linn County Water and Land Legacy Bond.

Empowering Excellence marks first graduating class

Empowering Excellence Charter School in Cedar Rapids is holding its first graduation ceremony at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1340 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids.

The school is in its first year. It is expanding this fall to serve 14- to 21-year-olds and any high school student who is a resident of Iowa and demonstrates a need for the program.

The initial charter approved in 2024 allowed Empowering Excellence to serve students between the ages of 16 and 21 who are residents of Cedar Rapids or neighboring communities.

The amendment to the charter will allow any student in Iowa, age 14 to 21, to enroll in Empowering Excellence. The move opens the school to freshmen and sophomores in high school who have already shown to be behind in credits or academic progress in their previous or current high school.

The school was created by local educator Sarah Swayze, who until this academic year operated a nonprofit called Empowering Youths of Iowa that provided one-on-one mentoring to students in the Cedar Rapids Community School District.

The school offers classes through the online learning platform Edmentum. Laptops are provided to students through Empowering Excellence.

Charter schools are tuition-free schools that are publicly funded, but independently run under an approved charter with the state. In Iowa, charter schools receive per-pupil aid from the state, just like public schools.

Iowa City Transit summer service reductions

As of today, some routes in the Iowa City Transit system will have service reductions throughout the summer.

The 4-Downtown Shuttle has ceased service, as it operates only during the school year. The city recommends riders who live north of Burlington Street and east of Gilbert Street to use the 9-Towncrest. Riders who live south of Burlington and east of Gilbert should use the 5- Lower Muscatine.

The 8-Oakcrest route will now move to 30 minute service during peak hours, as opposed to 15 minute service. Both the 6-Peninsula and 13-South Gilbert Street will transition to hourly service.

Iowa City splash pads open Memorial Day weekend

Iowa City’s three splash pads are set to open Saturday and stay open until Labor Day weekend. However, the splash pads may be temporarily closed at times for regular maintenance. The splash pads are at:

While the splash pads will be open, City Park Pool will be closed for the duration of the 2025 season to allow for the pool’s replacement.

The City Council voted in 2023 to replace the 76-year-old pool, which was losing 5 million gallons of water each year through cracks and separated joints.

The project features a free-form activity pool attached to a lap pool with six 50-meter lap lanes. The lap lanes have a depth of 3-and-a-half feet to 5 feet to allow for swimming, water walking and fitness activities. Additionally, it has a separate deeper pool with low and high diving boards.

The new pool is estimated to cost about $18 million. The city plans to have the newly completed pool open by summer 2026.

Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. The Gazette’s Grace King, Grace Nieland and Megan Woolard contributed.