116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Government Notes: Cedar Rapids Education Association endorses C.R. school bond
Also, Linn County Supervisors award $28K in historic preservation grants
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The Cedar Rapids Education Association last week announced its support for the upcoming Cedar Rapids Community School District’s bond referendum.
The district received “meaningful input and regularly engaged staff and the community to determine what should be included in the bond. The CREA recognizes the critical importance of this community-drive initiative for the future of students, educators and the entire Cedar Rapids community,” according to a news release from the Iowa State Education Association.
"After careful consideration and engagement with our members, the Cedar Rapids Education Association is proud to endorse the CRCSD bond initiative," said Eriece Colbert, CREA president. "This bond is an investment in our students' future, providing them with the modern, safe, and equitable learning spaces they deserve. It will directly impact the daily lives of our students and the educators who serve them, allowing us to prepare them for success."
CREA believes that the bond will not only improve physical learning environments but also contribute to a more positive and productive educational experience for all students. The association emphasizes that the bond represents a fiscally responsible plan to address long-standing needs within the district without placing undue burden on taxpayers.
The $117 million bond referendum would fund renovations to modernize three school buildings and address crowding in the cafeteria and common areas and adopt space for new freshman programming at Kennedy High School. The three other buildings under the plan are Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy, McKinley STEAM Academy and Wilson Middle School.
To get the bond placed on the ballot, at least 25 percent of the number of registered voters in the school district voting in the last election of school officials must sign the petition, according to Iowa Code. That’s 5,496 signatures to place the referendum on the ballot this November.
A yes committee named BELIEVE in CR Schools is collecting signatures.
"Our educators understand firsthand the challenges posed by outdated facilities and the need for improved resources," Colbert said. “Supporting this bond is a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing the best possible educational opportunities for every child in Cedar Rapids. We urge all community members to learn more about the bond and join us in voting 'yes' on Nov. 4."
Linn County Supervisors award $28K in historic preservation grants
Six area nonprofits have been selected to receive a combined $28,800 in funding for historic preservation projects promoting Linn County history.
The Linn County Board of Supervisors last week unanimously approved the Historic Preservation Grant program fund allocations in line with recommendations from the county’s Historic Preservation Commission, which oversees the annual program.
Those grant funds are available to Linn County nonprofits pursuing projects related to disseminating knowledge of local history to the general public. This year, the Historic Preservation Commission received roughly $38,000 in funding requests for the $28,800 in available funds.
The selected recipients and their projects include:
- Linn County Fair Association will receive $8,000 to refurbish windows in the Garden Building.
- Pleasant Grove Heritage Park will receive $7,000 for phase one of its Meyers Farmstead Historic District Hog House & Corn Crib Restoration Projects.
- Brucemore will receive $5,000 for its Leading the Culture of Linn County: Historic Tours of Brucemore program.
- Iowa Masonic Library Association will receive $5,000 for a Civil War flag plexiglass restoration project.
- The History Center will receive $3,000 to further public digital access to home and business records.
- Central City Historical Society will receive $800 for its 1839-1989 History Book collection.
Cedar Rapids City Council delays rezoning vote for new McDonald’s
Cedar Rapids City Council members want more information about a new McDonald’s location before voting on the rezoning necessary for it to open.
City Council members last week opted to table the first reading of the ordinance granting a change of zone for property in northeast Cedar Rapids over concerns related to parking, stormwater runoff and overall neighborhood impact.
The relevant parcels are located at 3201 and 3215 Carlisle St. NE. and 1712 32nd St. NE off Center Point Road NE near Interstate 380.
The rezoning request came from Mirami LLC for a proposed fast-food restaurant and drive-thru, although city staff confirmed that the restaurant in question was McDonald’s.
The current site layout calls for 60 parking stalls, which council member Ashley Vanorny said seemed like “an exorbitant amount of spaces” for a fast-food operation.
Multiple council members joined Vanorny in questioning the need for so many spaces, as well as the stormwater runoff effects of having so much asphalt to accommodate them.
Other council concerns related to potential impact to the project’s residential neighbors from the lighting and increased traffic, particularly given the site’s proximity to I-380.
Zoning Administrator Seth Gunnerson told council members that city staff will request additional information from the applicant on those concerns and present findings at a future meeting.
Marion Public Library expands bookmobile routes, hours
The Marion Public Library is turning a new page on its bookmobile operations by expanding the mobile library’s routes and hours to better serve the surrounding community.
The bookmobile vehicle, which can hold about 3,000 books, will now operate four days a week at various locations across the community — doubling the frequency from the previous Tuesday, Thursday schedule.
The bookmobile offers a rotating selection across genres for adults and children, and it can now be found at the following locations:
- Mondays from 9 a.m. to noon at Lowe Park, 4500 N. 10th St., and from 1 to 4 p.m. at Taube Park, 2200 31st St.
- Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon at the Marion YMCA, 3740 Irish Drive, and 1 to 4 p.m. at Thomas Park, 343 Marion Blvd.
- Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon at K9 Acres Off-Leash Dog Park, 5200 Golf Course Road, and from 1 to 4 p.m. at Dupaco Community Credit Union, 5970 Carlson Way.
- Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon at the Marion Pool/Willowood Park, 1855 35th St., and from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Azure Apartments, 600 Bentley Drive.
It is possible that further updates to the vehicle’s hours and routes will be made in the future to adjust to fluctuating community needs and the library’s growing list of community partners.
For future updates and/or additional information on the bookmobile, keep an eye on the Marion Public Library website.
Linn County, Center Point to host ‘fringe area action plan’ open house
The city of Center Point — in partnership with Linn County — will host an open house today to seek feedback on the development plan for the surrounding area.
The community open house will take place today from 5 to 6 p.m. today at Center Point City Hall, 200 Franklin St. in a drop-in format.
Attendees will be provided with information on a proposed fringe area agreement, which will guide development in unincorporated Linn County within two miles of Center Point. They then will be able to ask questions and/or provide feedback.
All feedback will be used to develop the Center Point Fringe Area Plan with a recommendation of the final daft of the fringe area plan and agreement to take place at a later date.
For those who can’t attend the meeting, additional feedback or questions can be directed via email to Tom.Gruis@ecicog.org.
Fringe area plans aim to coordinate land use planning between Linn County and certain incorporated cities within its boundaries, specifically for the areas within two miles of city boundaries.
Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. The Gazette’s Grace King and Grace Nieland contributed.
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