Linn County supervisors OK Culver dedication, art for new building

Linn County supervisors formally adopted a dedication and art this morning for the county's abuilding Community Services Building in southwest Cedar Rapids.

After discussions at Monday's work session, supervisors voted unanimously on official adoption of the building's dedication to former Gov. Chet Culver and approval of the art for the building's atrium and courtyard.

Culver, defeated last November by Republican Terry Branstad, proposed and shepherded through the Legislature the $715 million I-JOBS bonding package, signing it into law in Cedar Rapids in May 2009. I-JOBS provided $5 million toward the Community Service Building's $16.3 million pricetag, and $115 million total for city and county flood recovery projects.

Supervisors also approved contracts for art for the new building. The county will spend $38,000 for Davenport artist Sonata Kazimieratiene's ceramic relief map that will hang in the building's lobby, and $60,750 for four limestone pillars to be installed in the courtyard. The pillars are by Susan Falkman of Milwaukee.

The building at Sixth Avenue Court and 12th Street SW is scheduled to open this fall. It will house several county agencies including veterans affairs and Options of Linn County, the workplace program for the developmentally disabled.