Government Notes: Cedar Rapids City Council advances Higley Mansion rezoning

The Cedar Rapids City Council last week advanced a request to rezone Higley Mansion, which used to operate as a senior-living facility, to allow it to be turned into a residential rehab house offering voluntary treatment to those struggling with substance use issues.

The property at 860 17th St. SE, which has been vacant for a couple of years, would be used as a residential inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment facility with 35 to 45 beds. It would be operated by Covenant Family Solutions with affiliated mental health services.

The property will be rezoned from Traditional Residential Flex District to Traditional Residential High District.

It still needs conditional use approval from the Board of Adjustment, which will be considered at the board’s 4 p.m. May 16 meeting. The council also has to twice more approve the rezoning, probably at its noon May 14 meeting. Both meetings are in the council chambers at City Hall, 101 First St. SE.

“I’m just so happy to see this and to see what at least seems like the community support for this,” council member Ashley Vanorny said. “ … To have a resource like this at home means that more Cedar Rapidians are going to get the help they need and be successful because it’s right here at home.”

If approved, the facility is slated to open in the spring or summer of 2025.

“This is an important service for our community, and I think that there’s partners that have put this together that will strengthen our services that we have available in the community, but also, at the same time, bring what was a very unique complex back to life,” council member Scott Olson said.

Marion Farmers Market to start Saturday

The Marion Farmers Market reopens for the season Saturday at Taube Park, 2200 31st St. in Marion. It will be open every Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m. through Sept. 28.

The first market is to have more than 30 vendors, including ones enrolled in the Farmers Market Nutrition Program and the Linn County Master Gardeners.

Shoppers will find fresh produce, baked goods, meats, flowers, honey, jewelry, woodworking and crafts at the market, along with chocolate and wine vendors added this year.

Marion City Council members will hold their weekly office hours at the market. Every Saturday, one or more council members will be available to answer questions and make conversation during market hours.

The first Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market will be Saturday, May 25, from 7:30 a.m. to noon.

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Noelridge Greenhouse to hold annual Mother’s Day showcase

The annual Mother’s Day Showcase will be held at the Noelridge Greenhouse, 4900 Council St. NE, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 12. Admission is free.

This year, 60,000 plants await visitors. There also will be exhibits and information on orchids, Master Gardeners and the Harshbarger Hosta Society.

Visitors may purchase hanging baskets, coleus plants, New Guinea Impatiens, native plants, perennials, house plants and orchids. Birdfeeders, garden labels, whimsical gourds and handcrafted pressed flower cards also will be for sale.

Those who are interested in volunteering at the greenhouse can talk to members from The Friends of Noelridge. The group also will be selling fairy gardens, cactus cocktails and succulent sundaes to raise funds to benefit the greenhouse.

Cedar Rapids recognized as Tree City USA

The city of Cedar Rapids was honored as a 2023 Tree City USA at the 33rd Annual Community Forestry Awards Luncheon in Ankeny. It’s the city’s 46th consecutive award — a longer stretch than any other city in Iowa

The Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources presented the award April 4 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny.

The award recognizes a city’s commitment to a vibrant community tree canopy. To qualify, communities must have either a city tree department or an active city tree board; a tree ordinance; spend at least $2 per capita each year on its community forestry program; and have a tree planting and maintenance plan.

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Iowa City sets open house at wastewater plant

Iowa City's annual public works open house will take place at the city’s Wastewater Treatment Facility, 4366 Napoleon St. SE, from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 18.

The event will include tours of the facility, refreshments, educational opportunities and games.

Iowa City's wastewater staff manage the 330 miles of sanitary sewer piping that processes approximately 7.17 million gallons of wastewater every day. The open house will provide a glimpse into how this often ignored service is done without interruption throughout the year.

Those wishing to attend should enter the facility off Sand Road SE and Napoleon Street and follow signs directing visitors down Soccer Park Road. The facility is adjacent to Kickers Soccer Park, which will be hosting soccer matches during the event, but there will be ample parking at the facility.

Iowa City seeking sculptures for public display

Iowa City’s Public Art Advisory Committee is offering Iowa sculptors a chance to showcase their work in the city for two years.

The temporary exhibits, in place from Aug. 7 this year through July 2026, will be placed on pads at the Terry Trueblood Recreation area, along the Iowa River Trail, in Riverfront Crossings Park, at Mercer Park, and at Scott Park.

The arts advisory committee will review and select submissions and determine the location for each.

Proposed sculptures will be evaluated on artistic merit, creativity, public safety, appropriateness to their location and durability in the outdoors and before an unsupervised general audience. Works must be able to be securely installed on a 4-by-4-foot cement pad.

Unstable, fragile, dangerous, inappropriate, or small, lightweight works will not be accepted.

Artists will receive an honorarium of $2,250 for the two-year display. The deadline for submissions is May 17, 2024. Detailed information and the online submission form are at www.icgov.org/publicart. Questions can be directed to Rachel Kilburg Varley at (319) 356-5248.

Cedar Rapids schools receives Iowa Department of Education grant

The Cedar Rapids Community School District is one of 20 Iowa school districts to receive a Credentials to Career Grant from the Iowa Department of Education.

The grant was developed to help school districts create or enhance their career and technical education programs so that high school students can earn industry-recognized credentials or certifications before graduating.

The grant aligns with the Cedar Rapids school district’s new strategic plan of preparing students for life after graduation.

The district will receive $281,776 through the grant for the 2024-25 school year. The funds will be used to buy equipment for high school industrial technology programs.

The equipment will allow students to earn industry certifications — which increase their employability — in precision measurement instruments, hand tool identification and safety and electricity introduction.

Arthur, Garfield Elementary School open houses

The public is invited to open houses at Arthur and Garfield Elementary Schools on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon, to commemorate each of the building’s last years as schools in the Cedar Rapids school district.

The student bodies at each school will merge and relocate to the new Trailside Elementary School, 2630 B Ave. NE, slated to open its doors in August.

Arthur Elementary, 2630 B Ave. NE, and Garfield Elementary, 1201 Maplewood Dr. NE, will be repurposed with community input.

The closure of the schools and opening of Trailside Elementary is part of a 2018 facilities master plan. Under the plan, the school district also built and opened West Willow Elementary School in August 2021, which replaced Coolidge Elementary. Maple Grove Elementary opened in August 2022 to replace Jackson Elementary.

Each new elementary school serves between 500 to 600 students. Right now, elementary schools vary in student population, ranging from 200 to 500 students.

Improvements to the elementary schools is funded by Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE), a statewide school infrastructure sales and services tax.

Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. Gazette reporters Marissa Payne and Grace King contribute.