Government Notes: C.R. schools to purchase land next to Van Buren Elementary

The Cedar Rapids school board on Monday will consider a purchase agreement for land adjacent to Van Buren Elementary School that would allow the district to relocate an access road that will be built to service the new school building planned for the site.

The district would pay $260,000 for the property at 2612 27th Street in Cedar Rapids, according to a real estate purchase agreement.

The school board will vote on the purchase agreement at 5:30 p.m. Monday, at the Educational Leadership and Support Center, 2500 Edgewood Rd. NW, Cedar Rapids.

The purchase of the parcel was unanimously approved by the board after it exited closed session in a meeting last month, according to board minutes.

The district is using funds from the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy to purchase the property. This is a property tax levy approved by voters that can be used for the purchase and improvement of grounds, among other things.

The service road initially was planned to run through Van Buren Park, owned by the City of Cedar Rapids.

Neighbors of the school voiced their concerns last month about the proposed road’s proximity to residential properties and the park during a public hearing for the project.

A bid issuance for the construction of new elementary schools on the Van Buren and Hoover sites also are on the school board agenda Monday.

The schools will be constructed adjacent to the current structures — Hoover at 4141 Johnson Ave. NW and Van Buren at 2525 29th St. SW. The existing schools will remain open during construction. The buildings will be demolished after the new schools are completed.

The schools have seen large increases in the size of their student bodies in recent years and have exceeded suggested enrollment capacity, even building temporary walls in classrooms and common areas to create more learning spaces.

The projects are being funded by SAVE — Secure an Advanced Vision for Education — an existing statewide sales tax allocated to districts based on certified enrollment.

Cedar Rapids recognized for McLoud Run flood control project

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The city of Cedar Rapids has garnered national recognition for its flood control efforts at McLoud Run.

The city recently won the 2025 Innovation Water Project award from the National Association of Flood & Stormwater Management Agencies. The annual award recognizes innovative projects that accomplish multiple community benefits.

The award recognized flood control efforts completed in collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers near the McLoud Run trout fishing stream, which runs just east of Interstate 380 in Cedar Rapids.

There, the city reconfigured Shaver Road as a raised bridge to keep the road open even in times of flooding. Adjacent flood walls pass under the bridge, where McLoud Run was widened and transformed from concrete to a meandering, low-flow channel.

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Trail improvements also were made as part of that project to better increase pedestrian access.

“I think what they saw as more innovative is that we didn’t just build the walls and raise a bridge,” said Public Works Director Brenna Fall. “We enhanced our trail connectivity, and we also enhanced the natural habitat of that trout stream.”

Marion officials OK spending for Collaborative Growth Initiative

The city of Marion has approved an $87,000 ask to support an area initiative to bolster population growth.

City council members last week unanimously approved the allocation, which will be paid to the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance for the ongoing Collaborative Growth Initiative.

The initiative is a broader public-private partnership meant to increase resident recruitment and retention. It began in 2023 as a collaboration between the cities of Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha and Marion and the Economic Alliance.

The $87,000 will go toward year one initiatives, including the launch of a remote worker campaign and the development of a talent acquisition website and agency marketing campaign.

The initiative is funded through a mix of city funds and those from the Economic Alliance with the long-term goal being to decrease municipal contributions over time through private fundraising.

The city of Cedar Rapids previously approved its $327,500 share, and Hiawatha contributed $21,600 for the first year. Contribution estimates were divided up according to cities’ per capita and tax increment financing revenues.

Iowa City donation drive-thru event collects 15,000 pounds of goods

During Iowa City’s donation drive-thru last month the city collected 15,000 pounds of goods that will either be recycled or donated to nonprofits.

All donated items in good condition will be distributed among Antelope Lending Library, Crowded Closet, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Houses into Homes and Table to Table to provide the items to community members in need.

Over the course of the four-hour collection period, various items were collected including:

Marion City Council approves appointment of new police chief

The Marion City Council has approved the appointment of Jeremy Sprague as the city’s next police chief.

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Council members unanimously approved the appointment last week in a procedural step required for Sprague to assume the position. His first day is slated for Aug. 21.

Sprague comes to the role with 25 years of law enforcement experience, including 19 years at the Des Moines Police Department where he served most recently as lieutenant.

He was selected for the position from four finalists after a multimonth search to replace former Police Chief Mike Kitsmiller, who retired this spring. As chief, Sprague will be responsible for the administration, coordination and direction of all Marion Police Department activities.

Other finalists for the position included Chad Nott, deputy chief at the Marion Police Department; Douglas Riniker, colonel and chief deputy at the Linn County Sheriff’s Office; and Schonella Stewart, commander at the Oak Park Police Department in Illinois.

Iowa City Transit returns to fall service schedule

Iowa City Transit is changing its fall transit schedule, beginning Monday Aug. 18, ahead of the University of Iowa’s fall semester and to improve operational efficiency.

The 8-Oakcrest will move to 15-minute service during peak hours and an extra bus has been assigned to the 10-West Iowa City during the morning service.

Additionally, both the 6-Peninsula and the 13-Gilbert Street will move to hourly service during peak hours.

The 4-Downtown Shuttle will be discontinued, though most bus stops downtown will continue to be serviced by the 2-Court Street, 5-Lower Muscatine, or 9-Towncrest. All of which operate on a 20 minute service schedule.

Five bus stops throughout the city will no longer receive service and the city is recommending passengers go to other nearby stops. The discontinued stops are: #7306, Washington Street and Dodge Street; #7459, Dodge Street, north of Court Street; #7116, northwest corner of Dodge and Bowery Street; #7458, northwest corner of Dodge and Burlington Street; and #7046, Washington Street at Chauncey Swan Park or City Hall.

Construction underway at Linn County’s Wickiup Hill Learning Center

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Linn County Conservation is completing an outdoor improvement project at the Wickiup Hill Learning Center.

The project is meant to transform the center’s front gathering area into “a more welcoming and functional space for visitors.” As part of that upgrade, crews will replace the aging sitting stones and worn concrete to improve drainage and reduce maintenance needs at the site.

Construction should be complete by the end of August, and visitors are asked to bypass the work area in the meantime.

To access the learning center, use the grass paths to be guided around the construction area or go around the east side of the building to travel toward the nature playscape and other outdoor areas.

Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. The Gazette’s Grace King, Grace Nieland and Megan Woolard contributed.