Customer service improvements coming to Linn County Treasurer's Office

When the newly renovated Jean Oxley Linn County Public Service Center opens at 8 a.m. Monday morning June 18 at 935 2nd St. SW in Cedar Rapids, residents will notice three distinct changes that will improve customer service in the Linn County Treasurer's Office.

The most significant change is that the Treasurer's Office, which receives nearly 75 percent of the building's traffic, has been relocated from the top floor to the first floor for quicker, more convenient access for the public.

Secondly, the Treasurer's Office will use a new customer service numbering system, called Qmatic, similar to what is used at the Department of Transportation's driver's license station. The Qmatic system will allow customers in the Treasurer's Office the convenience of taking a number and then sitting down in the waiting room until their number is called instead of standing in line during busy times.

“Now that we've moved our office to the first floor and it's more convenient for the public to get to, our next goal is to reduce the wait time in the Treasurer's Office,” said Sharon Gonzalez, Linn County Treasurer. “The new customer service program will allow us to track if customers are here for the motor vehicle or property tax department so that we can staff the customer service windows accordingly and better manage the flow of customers.”

Gonzalez expects the end of each month to still be a busy time at the Treasurer's Office as people come in to renew expiring vehicle license tags.

Lastly, the Treasurer's Office will be able to accept debit card payments at the service counter beginning June 20. Use of debit cards with PINs will require a $3.95 processing charge. Payments can also be made with Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

The opening of the Jean Oxley Public Service Center marks another significant step in Linn County's rebuilding efforts following the 2008 flood. In 2010, the Linn County Sheriff's Office reopened. Last fall, Linn County held ribbon-cutting ceremonies at the new Community Services Building and the new Juvenile Justice Center. Renovations at the Linn County Courthouse and Correctional Center are scheduled to be complete this year. These last two projects will complete Linn County's repair and rebuilding of County infrastructure that was damaged in the 2008 flood.

For more information about Linn County's rebuilding projects visit

www.linncounty.org and click on the “Flood Recovery” tab.