Linn County officials talk about “power of one, many” at luncheon

CEDAR RAPIDS - Linn County Supervisor Brent Oleson talked about the power of each of the county's nearly 220,000 residents during the annual State of Linn County luncheon, while citing projects in the works as well as some unfavorable state legislation.

'I challenge each one of us as citizens to harness the power of one ...

. When we each do this, we become the power of many. We become a powerful and progressive community making changes big and small,” said Oleson, chairman of the county board.

During Wednesday's luncheon, hosted by the League of Women Voters Linn County at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center at Kirkwood Community College, Oleson looked to the county's future.

Oleson unveiled a plans to build a covered walking bridge over the Cedar River at the site of the former Milwaukee Road bridge, east of Highway 100. A rendering details a two-level walking bridge built atop the former bridge's stone piers.

Oleson said the bridge - to be named Biechler Bridge, after Linn County Conservation Director Dan Biechler - will be a 'statement” project, to pair with the city of Cedar Rapids's plans to build the Sleeping Giant bridge connecting the NewBo District and Czech Village.

'This will be a statement that we respect our history and we are reclaiming it,” Oleson said.

In addition, Oleson expressed a desire to study the feasibility of a regional transit system to serve residents throughout the county. He also said the county board will call on Linn County artists to submit ideas for a new county logo and companion seal. More details will be available in the future, he added.

Oleson and other county officials also took time to look back on 2016 and some of the county's recent successes, including plans moving forward for a more than $20 million Public Health building on county-owned land at 1019 Seventh St. SE and a multi-community push for a $20 million interchange project at Tower Terrace Road and Interstate 380. He also noted last year's approval by voters of a $40 million conservation bond.

Les Beck, director of planning and development and chairman of Linn County's customer-centered culture steering committee, discussed the county's ongoing initiative to enhance customer satisfaction.

Some recent examples of enhanced customer service include cross-training county employees to better aid customers and streamlining the application process for new home building permits.

Linn County Risk Manager Steve Estenson reflected on last year's flood - the second highest in community history - and the county's quick and decisive reaction to rising water.

'Thank you to all Linn County employees who put the customer first and helped us demonstrate our resiliency,” Estenson said.

But some of Wednesday's discussion was less optimistic - as Oleson talked about what he called 'anti-local” legislation passed by Iowa lawmakers this current session, including changes to collective bargaining rules, pre-emption of minimum wage ordinances and new requirements for voter identification.

Linn County Auditor Joel Miller, who also spoke at the luncheon, said the voter ID bill not only will cost taxpayers money, but he described it as unnecessary.

'The reality is it's going to affect you and me because it says we cannot trust each other anymore, and there's something un-Iowan about that,” Miller said.

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