Government Notes: Cedar Rapids completes more than 50 ‘Paving for Progress’ projects in 2025

The city of Cedar Rapids completed more than 50 street improvement projects in 2025 through its tax-supported “Paving for Progress” program.

The projects were supported by a one-percent sales tax first approved by voters in 2013 and reapproved in 2021. Tax funds collected as a result are earmarked specifically for roadway improvements.

Since the program went into effect in 2014, it has led to more than $250 million being invested into more than 500 roadway projects across the city. The city in 2025 completed 51 such projects.

Some of the larger Paving for Progress projects in 2025 included those at:

For a full list of completed and future Paving for Progress projects, visit the city website at CityofCR.com/PavingForProgress.

Cedar Rapids school board to consider proposed budget reductions Monday

The Cedar Rapids school board will consider the first phase of proposed budget reductions during a work session today at 4:30 p.m. at the Educational Leadership and Support Center, 2500 Edgewood Rd. SW, Cedar Rapids.

The proposed reductions include cuts to consulting contracts, professional development travel and staffing at the Educational Leadership and Support Center.

The board also will consider a proposal to reconfigure grade levels and consolidate schools to adopt an intermediate school model. Under the changes, elementary school would be preschool through fourth grade; intermediate school would be fifth and sixth grades; middle school would be seventh and eighth grade; and high school would be grades nine through 12.

The proposal does not include specific schools identified for consolidation.

Together, the reductions and consolidations are projected to save the district between $5.2 million and $5.7 million.

Cedar Rapids City Council schedule returns to normal

After a brief interruption for the holidays, the Cedar Rapids City Council has resumed its normal meeting schedule.

Beginning Jan. 13, the City Council will once again meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at Cedar Rapids City Hall, 101 First St. SE. The first meeting of the month will start at noon. The second will begin at 4 p.m.

The council typically meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays, although that schedule was altered in November and December to accommodate the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

During that time, council meetings took place during the first and third weeks of each month.

New Marion City Council member to be sworn in this week

  Buy Photo

The Marion City Council will gain one new member this week in at-large City Council representative Kelvin Unemin.

Unemin was elected for the role in the Nov. 4 election, where he secured 50.86 percent of the vote to best challenger Destiny Hastings. He will replace former officeholder Randy Strnad, who did not run for re-election.

He will officially join the council this week for its first formal session of 2026, which is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the council’s temporary meeting location at the Linn-Mar Educational Leadership Center, 3556 Winslow Rd.

In his at-large capacity, Unemin — a municipal procurement coordinator — will represent the entire city rather than a specific ward or district. This will be his first time holding elected office, although he does serve as president of the Pheasant Trail 7th Homeowners Association.

Johnson County Sheriff’s office first in state to receive ILEAP accreditation

The Johnson County Sheriff’s office was recently accredited through the Iowa Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ILEAP). The accreditation, which went into effect in late December, is valid for four years.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s office is the first in the state to receive the accreditation, which was developed by the Iowa Police Chiefs Association and Iowa Sheriffs and Deputies association.

To receive the accreditation, the office had to add or update certain policies and procedures to reflect best practices in areas such as “use of force; professional standards; recruitment and selection; training and career development; and property and evidence control.”

  Buy Photo

Johnson County Chief Deputy, Major Randy Lamm, led the nine-month accreditation process that required the office to submit proof of compliance to the ILEAP.

“The Iowa Law Enforcement Accreditation Program has taken our policy to a new level and reinforces our commitment to providing quality public safety,” Sheriff Brad Kunkel said in a news release. “When this opportunity became available, Major Lamm took this project on without hesitation and never took his foot off the gas. He worked with key staff to move this project across the finish line in just a few months. I'm very proud of all the hard work by everyone involved.”

Iowa City CDBG and non-legacy aid to agencies grant applications open

Two different grant applications for Fiscal Year 27 through the City of Iowa City are now open. Both the federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and the city’s non-legacy aid to agencies funding are meant to provide money for services to low- and moderate-income residents.

The city anticipates around $440,000 to be available through the CDBG program. The program is administered by the federal Housing and Urban Development department that works to provide affordable housing and expand economic opportunities.

Around $290,000 will be available for direct acquisition of housing to be used for affordable rentals. The other $150,000 will be for public facility improvements. An eligible facility must be open to the public during business hours and serve low-income residents.

The city anticipates around $30,000 to be available through Non Legacy Aid to agencies funding. The funding goes to area nonprofits that help low- to moderate-income residents in one or more of the following service areas:

Each applicant can apply for up to $15,000, with minimum awards set at $5,000.

The deadline to submit an application is Jan. 30. Funding recommendations will be made in late March and awarded funds should be available after July 1.

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