Linn County to decide next week whether to participate in downtown amphitheater

Linn County's supervisors will decide next week just how much they want the county to participate in a planned riverside amphitheater near downtown Cedar Rapids.

After approving a letter of support this morning for the city's Vision Iowa grant application, the supervisors heard the city's first official pitch to the county. City parks and recreation director Julie Sina said Cedar Rapids wants the county to contribute $10,000 and part of its nearby property.

Supervisors have ordered an appraisal of the county-owned site, popularly known as the Mott property. The city wants one of the county's six parcels at the site for parking and as a site for vendors' booths.

The amphitheater would seat 5,000 or less and would be part of a flood-protection levee between police headquarters and Third Avenue SW. Levee construction is scheduled for next spring.

“The levee will show the people of Cedar Rapids that this community is committed to flood protection on both sides of the river,” said Sina. “The amphitheater will be an enhancement.”

Responding to a question from Supervisor Ben Rogers, Sina said a potential swap for city-owned property elsewhere in Cedar Rapids “is something that could be looked at.”

The City Council decided Nov. 9 to spend about $2 million to match $3.75 million in expected state funds, as well as hoped-for private donations, to build the levee and amphitheater . The city plans to apply for a $1.8 million state tourism grant to supplement $1.75 million from I-JOBS for the project.

The city's request for a county commitment will on the supervisors' Nov. 29 agenda.

Supervisors also decided to investigate hiring private security guards to staff the new juvenile justice center and the county courthouse. Sheriff Brian Gardner has recommended hiring three new deputies, but supervisors hope a contractor could man the public entrances to each building for less than the $180,000 the new county workers would cost.

Supervisors instructed staff to seek estimates from security contractors and will place the issue on an upcoming agenda. Any private guards would be supplemented by a deputy assigned to each building.