116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Government Notes: Linn panel proposes rules for gas-powered electric plants
Ordinance to specify where facilities could be built in rural areas
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The Linn County Planning & Zoning Commission has advanced a new zoning ordinance governing how and where gas-fired electric generating facilities could be built in rural areas.
The commission last week unanimously approved the draft ordinance, which will now head to the Linn County Board of Supervisors for review and possible approval.
The ordinance as drafted would update the county’s unified development code to set clear zoning rules for gas-fired power plants with standards for noise, roadway impacts and airport safety areas.
The code also proposes a mandatory 2.25-mile setback between the generating facility and residential areas within incorporated cities — although the Planning & Zoning Commission advanced the ordinance with a recommendation to decrease that to 1 mile.
That recommendation was based upon setbacks found in other comparable areas, which in some instances were as slim as 1,200 feet to the nearest residential structure.
The Board of Supervisors will first consider the ordinance following public feedback at a March 9 hearing. The code would require three rounds of approval before it could take effect.
Linn-Mar schools begins plans for 2026-27 budget
Jon Galbraith, the chief financial and operating officer for the Linn-Mar Community School District, will present a preliminary fiscal year 2027 budget at today’s 5 p.m. school board meeting at the Educational Leadership Center, 3556 Winslow Road, Marion.
The meeting is open to the public. Fiscal year 2027 begins July 1, and ends June 30, 2027.
Throughout the certified budget process, the district will establish a maximum tax rate and proposed budget.
The district’s proposed property tax levy rate is $17.99 per $1,000 of assessed taxable valuation, which has been the rate for the last two fiscal years.
The district’s property tax levy and budget are expected to be finalized by April 5.
The district’s first public hearing for the budget is scheduled for March 30. A second budget hearing and board action on the budget will take place April 27.
Cedar Rapids seeks designers for garbage truck art
The city of Cedar Rapids is looking for artists interested in beautifying some of the city’s trashiest holdings: garbage trucks.
Now through March 22, the city is accepting design applications for the 2026 Garbage Truck Art Project — an imitative meant to transform four garbage collection trucks into art on the go.
Themes for the project should revolve around the identity of Cedar Rapids, highlight sustainability and environmental stewardship and/or showcase general community connection.
Multiple artists will be selected for the project, with each given a $1,250 stipend per decorated truck. The final designs will be displayed as art wraps on the side of the vehicles.
Submission criteria and additional information about the program are available online at CityofCR.com/Art.
Supervisors OK rezoning for memory care project near Hiawatha
Despite concerns from neighbors, a divided Linn County Board of Supervisors has approved a rezoning request to open a memory care unit near Hiawatha.
The board last week voted 2-1 in favor of the rezoning on its third and final reading. Supervisors Sami Scheetz and Kirsten Running-Marquardt voted in favor while Supervisor Brandy Meisheid voted in opposition.
The rezoning affects a roughly 12-acre parcel in the 3500 block of Todd Hills Road. The land is in unincorporated Linn County, although it is near the Hiawatha city limits.
Developers with Legato Living hope to open a residential memory care facility at the site with up to 14 beds — necessitating the rezoning for multifamily use. The facility would primarily serve those with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Area residents have spoken at several meetings to raise concerns that the rezoning could open the primarily rural area up to more intense, multifamily development in the future.
Meisheid cited those same concerns in voting against the rezoning, which would apply to future land use at the site beyond the current memory care proposal.
In approving the zoning, Scheetz and Running-Marquardt each stated the project had cleared the county’s typical rezoning requirements and could bring a much-needed medical service to the area.
Iowa City hires contractor for landfill/recycling center project
Iowa City has selected Peterson Contractors of Reinbeck, Iowa, to complete its landfill and recycling center project for $2.75 million.
The project will resurface the existing 5-acre compost facility, improve the stormwater treatment and add two more acres. In addition, the city has added a compost turner to improve efficiency. The work is expected to be completed by the end of August.
The infrastructure and equipment upgrades should eventually allow the facility to process 5,000 more tons of food waste per year.
The city received a $4 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling program to assist with the project. The city applied for the grant in early 2023 and had already set aside $300,000 for the project at that point.
The city also received a $100,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for the work.
The Iowa City Landfill, at 3900 Hebl Ave. SW, serves all of Johnson County plus Kalona and Riverside in Washington County.
Donations sought for Prom ReRun in Iowa City
Johnson County residents are being asked to donate gently used prom and formal wear for Prom ReRun.
“By keeping quality clothing in circulation and out of landfills, the program helps reduce textile waste while ensuring Johnson County high school students can attend prom and other formal events,” Iowa City recycling coordinator Jane Wilch said.
Donations are sought of dresses; dress pants, suits, vests; shoes; head warps, scarves, ties; clothes hangers and garment bags. Items must be clean and in good condition (no rips, stains, pet hair, food residue, or damage).
Jewelry, accessories, purses and cosmetics are not accepted.
The donation drop-off locations in Iowa City and times are:
- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 2 to 5 and March 9 to 12: United Action for Youth, 1700 S. First Ave. (Eastdale Plaza).
- 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 2 to 6 and March 9 to 12: Iowa City Community School District Foundation, 2255 N. Dubuque Road.
- 1 to 4 p.m. March 3, 5, 10 and 12: First Presbyterian Church, 2701 Rochester Ave.
- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 7: Kindred Coffee, 287 N. Linn St.
- 9 to 11 a.m. March 11: East Side Recycling Center Environmental Education Center. 2401 Scott Blvd. SE.
- 1 to 3 p.m. March 12: Iowa City City Hall, 410 E. Washington St.
On March 14, Johnson County high school students and community members can select donated items at no cost at the Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center Social Hall, 220 S. Gilbert St.
The social hall will be open for clothing selection from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Items will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each guest is limited to picking up one full outfit. No private dressing rooms will be available, though guests can try on items over their clothes.
For event information, go to icgov.org/reduce.
Cedar Rapids road work
The city of Cedar Rapids is planning on three road closures or detours beginning today:
- Second Avenue SE will be closed in the downtown for about two weeks for crane operations and site work. The closure will be between the alley east of First Street and Second Street.
- Northbound Eighth Street SE will be closed between 10th and 11th avenues for water service repairs. The work is expected to take four days. Northbound traffic can follow a posted detour.
- F Avenue NW, between Wiley Boulevard and Koudsi Boulevard, will have intermittent single-lane closures, with flaggers directing traffic. Work is expected to take up to five days.
In addition, the Wenig Road and Brookland Drive NE intersection is closed for water main repairs, with work expected to be completed this week, weather permitting. Detours are posted.
Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. The Gazette’s Grace King, Grace Nieland and Megan Woolard contributed.
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