116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Government Notes: Cedar Rapids schools’ bond survey deadline is Wednesday
Also, special elections in Linn, Johnson counties will be Tuesday
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The Cedar Rapids Community School District is encouraging residents to complete a survey about a November bond proposal before the deadline this week.
The survey went out to the community in early February. It asks voters to rank their support for the proposal, which would bond for nearly $211 million to complete renovation and building projects in the district.
The proposed plan, which was developed with input from a community-led task force, includes:
- About $104 million for the new middle school, to be built on a 51-acre site near Iowa Highway 100 and Ushers Ferry Road NE that the district bought last month. It would replace Harding Middle School, which would be demolished.
- About $59 million to renovate and expand McKinley STEAM Academy to accommodate students from Franklin Middle School as well. Franklin would be used by Metro High School students.
- About $36 million to renovate and transform Wilson Middle School into an elementary school, which would serve students from Grant Elementary and Cedar River Academy. Wilson students would move to Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy.
- About $12 million for an addition at Kennedy High School for freshman students and an expanded cafeteria.
As of Feb. 25, the district had received more than 4,500 responses to the survey. However, district officials said they want to hear from even more residents to ensure the bond proposal reflects the needs and priorities of Cedar Rapids.
The proposal will go to the Cedar Rapids school board in April.
Surveys can be submitted online or mailed back by Wednesday, March 5. For more information, visit build.crschools.us.
Johnson County special elections tomorrow
Iowa City
Iowa City voters will cast their ballots Tuesday to fill a vacancy on the city council. The District C seat opened up after member Andrew Dunn resigned Jan. 1, with three years left on the term.
Ross Nusser, who works as a real estate agent, and Oliver Weilein, who works for Systems Unlimited serving adults with intellectual disabilities, advanced to the general election after emerging as the top two vote-getters in a Feb. 4 primary.
Polling places in Iowa City will open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Voters in Iowa City can confirm their polling place on the Johnson County website at gis.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/pollingplaces.
Election Day voter registration will be available at polling locations.
Swisher
A special election will be held in Swisher on Tuesday to decide whether to approve a 1 percent local-option sales tax.
If approved, the sales tax would be effective July 1.
Fifty percent of the tax proceeds would go toward property tax relief. The other 50 percent would go to public infrastructure, such as parks and recreation, public safety and economic development.
Election Day voting will take place at a temporary polling location, the Shueyville Community Center, 2863 120th St. NE. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
2 special elections planned in Linn County
Some Linn County voters will vote in special elections this week affecting property tax levies.
Lisbon Community School District and the City of Robins each will hold special elections on Tuesday, asking voters to approve public measures. Public measures require a simple majority to pass, meaning anything over 50 percent.
The City of Robins is asking residents to weigh in on which tax levy to adopt by casting their ballots at Community Savings Bank, 101 Robins Square Ct.
The options are to either keep the current city general fund levy rate of $4.36 per $1,000 in taxable property value or to increase the levy rate to $6.57 per $1,000 to provide additional tax revenue to support city operations.
Lisbon Community School District is asking voters to renew its Physical Plant and Equipment Levy through 2036 at the current rate of $0.67 per $1,000 of taxable property value. Voters in Linn, Jones and Johnson counties can vote at Lisbon City Hall, 115 N. Washington St.
PPELs are voter-approved levies that generate district funds for infrastructure and equipment repairs, purchases and improvements. The levy must be renewed every 10 years, per Iowa law. If renewed, the measure would not raise property taxes since the rate would remain unchanged.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For sample ballots and additional information, visit the Linn County elections website.
Cedar Rapids stormwater project will cost less than projected
In an action that may aid Cedar Rapids' anti-flood plan, the city council last Tuesday awarded a contract for a retention basin at E Avenue NW, west of 28th Street NW. The basin is in the Vinton Drainage Way area.
The estimated cost for the project was $2.44 million. However, the winning bid was well under that amount.
Boomerang Corp. of Anamosa was the lowest of eight bidders at $1,643,163.75 and was awarded the contract.
The city has stated the project will help reduce downstream flooding. It will expand an existing stormwater detention basin to increase storage volumes during rainstorms.
Cedar Rapids City Council approves warehouse incentives
More warehousing will be going up soon in southwest Cedar Rapids.
A development agreement involving construction of nine new warehouses was approved last week by the Cedar Rapids City Council with 1145 Industrial Ave LLC.
The buildings will be located along 64th Avenue SW and 26th Street SW. The agreement terms include:
- A capital investment of $21.5 million;
- Construction of seven 11,900-square-foot warehouses, one 70,000-square-foot warehouse, and one 60,000-square-foot warehouse;
- Creation of 80 new jobs.
The project involves phased construction, beginning this month and completed in March 2031. The standard incentive provides a 10-year, 50 percent rebate of increased taxes generated by the project. Based on the investment and estimated post-development value, the project is expected to generate $7 million in total taxes over a 10-year period, of which $2.4 million would be rebated.
The council last week also approved a development agreement with 380 Commerce Park LLC for construction of three commercial buildings at 8205 Sixth St. SW. Two of the buildings will be 61,000 square feet each, and one will be 74,000 square feet. The investment is to be a minimum $15 million, including construction cost and related improvements.
The city will pay 10 consecutive TIF Reimbursements to the developer totaling an estimated $2.1 million.
Linn County awards $80K in grants
The Linn County Board of Supervisors has awarded $80,000 in grants from the board’s Witwer Trust Fund to 16 area nonprofits whose work benefits Linn County residents.
Recipients were selected through a competitive grant process that began in November. This year, the board received more than $350,000 in grant requests for the $80,000 in annually available funds.
Weaver Witwer, a prominent Cedar Rapids grocer who died in 1979, established the Witwer Trust. He owned and operated a food processing plant, several local farms and what became known as the Me Too grocery stores.
Organizations awarded funding for fiscal year 2025 include:
- Catherine McAuley Center, $50,000 for housing and services for women in crisis and refugees in Linn County.
- Linn County 3rd Fire District Foundation, Inc., $10,000 for equipment replacement.
- City of Prairieburg — Good Ole Boys, $5,000 for new playground equipment.
- Safe Place Foundation, $2,867 for welcome packages for new residents.
- Tanager Place, $2,790 for Tanager’s “Freedom Schools” program.
- Center Point-Urbana FFA Alumni & Supporters, $2,100 for its “Growing Forward” program.
- Community Free Health Clinic, $1,667 for prescription services.
- Waypoint, $1,667 for assistance for women and children fleeing domestic violence.
- Young Parents Network, $1,500 for the “Building Bright Futures” program.
- Hawkeye Downs Speedway & Expo Center, $667 for 100th Year of Racing programming.
- Ely Public Library, $555 for a library marine science project.
- Hiawatha Public Library, $354 for self-care kits for tweens.
- The Wheelchair Ramp Accessibility Program, $332 for the “Building Freedom” program.
- CRV Food Pantry, Inc., $167 toward the food pantry’s mission.
- Matthew 25, $167 for the Cultivate Hope Free Produce Program.
- Together We Achieve, $167 for the “Empowering Linn County — Combating Food Insecurity” program.
Witwer Trust funds are awarded annually to area organizations benefiting Linn County residents. The grant cycle begins Nov. 1, and additional information can be found online at LinnCountyIowa.gov/Witwer.
City of Marion seeks feedback on stormwater management
The city of Marion is seeking citizen feedback on its stormwater management plan.
The city currently is working to evaluate its existing infrastructure and develop a stormwater master plan. Once completed, the plan will guide future investment and maintenance of the stormwater system.
Stormwater infrastructure assists in the transport of excess runoff from rain or snow melt that is not absorbed by soil. Effective management using culverts, drainage ways and other tools can help reduce flooding, prevent stream bank erosion and improve water quality.
As part of its planning process, the city is asking residents to report any existing stormwater concerns in their neighborhoods or surrounding communities. Those reports will then be paired with prior studies, GIS data and maintenance efforts to inform the final master plan.
To submit related comments, concerns or other feedback, visit marionsmp.com.
Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. The Gazette’s Megan Woolard, Grace Nieland, Sara Konrad Baranowski, and correspondent Dick Hogan, contributed.
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