116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Government Notes: Cedar Rapids to seek bids for westside library
Also, Iowa City accepting applications for deer bow hunt
Cedar Rapids will be soliciting bids soon for a contractor to build the new, permanent westside library at 3700 20th Ave. SW.
The Cedar Rapids City Council is holding a public hearing at noon Tuesday to open bidding for the project. If approved, bidding will open at 11 a.m. Wednesday for the library building, which has an estimated cost of $17.85 million, according to council documents.
The new library, anticipated to open in late 2026, will be within walking distance of the current Ladd Library, 3750 Williams Blvd. SW, a space the library has leased since 2013.
Nadine Sandberg donated $2 million from her estate in 2020 to make the dream of a dedicated library on the west side of Cedar Rapids a reality.
More than 100,000 people visit the Ladd Library each year. With more space and resources, the library expects to see 300,000 visitors annually.
The new library will include:
- A square footage increase from 28,405 square feet at the Ladd Library to nearly 40,000 square feet.
- Increased space for children’s learning, with zones for creative play, technology use and motor skill development.
- Ten study rooms, a large conference room and a conference center, all available for public use.
- Outdoor reading courtyards and library lawn for gatherings and programs.
- Additional and improved space for job seekers and library partners to provide services to the community.
- Increased accessibility for ease of use and connection to walking trails and sidewalks.
More information about the project, and how to support the Inspiring Big Dreams fundraising campaign, can be found at CRLibrary.org/bigdreams.
3 school districts have Sept. 10 special elections
Voters in the Cedar Rapids and North Linn school districts can submit absentee ballot requests for the Sept. 10 special election that is seeking renewal of the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) in those districts.
The PPEL supports capital projects, including the purchase and improvement of grounds, building repairs, the purchase, construction and remodeling of buildings, rental of land and equipment, and major equipment purchases, including technology.
The PPEL is funded by property taxes levied and collected by the school district.
The Cedar Rapids district is seeking renewal of a PPEL levy up to $1.35 per $1,000 assessed valuation. If approved by a simple majority of voters, the levy would not increase the district’s property tax levy.
The Central City Community School District also will ask its voters to approve a Revenue Purpose Statement on Sept. 10. The statement describes how a school district will use sales tax funds, known as SAVE funds, for Secure an Advanced Vision for Education fund.
The proposed Central City statement states the school district can use sales tax revenue for property tax relief, technology, construction, purchase or lease of buildings, equipment or technology and playgrounds.
The Linn County Auditor’s Office is accepting absentee ballot requests for the three elections until 5 p.m. Aug. 26. Absentee ballots will be mailed to those requesting them beginning Aug. 21.
The form to request an absentee ballot is on the Linn County Auditor’s Office website, linncountyiowa.gov/1780/Vote-by-Mail.
Beginning Aug. 21, voters can vote in-person at the Auditor’s Office in the Linn County Public Service Center, 935 Second St. SW, Cedar Rapids. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Polls will be open Election Day, Sept. 10, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. To find a polling location, visit linncountyelections.org/lookup.
Registration open for C.R. fall parks & rec programs
The Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation Department’s fall program registration is underway.
Registrations are being taken online; by phone at (319) 286-5566; or in person during regular business hours at the Northwest Recreation Center, 1340 11th St. NW, or the City Services Center, 500 15th Ave. SW.
Play CR, the recreation program guide for all ages and abilities, is available online at CRREC.org. All Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha and Robins residents received the guide in the mail last week. The guide starts on page 25 of Our CR, the city of Cedar Rapids’ quarterly magazine.
The programs at the Northwest Recreation Center include adult and youth basketball, blastball, drop-in cards and pickleball, karate, therapeutic recreation and sports, volleyball and open gyms.
Some programs are for those age 55 and up. Also, trips and sports are offered for individuals with disabilities.
Popular fall events and programs are returning, including the Harvest Hayrack Nights at Ushers Ferry Historic Village and County Fair at Old MacDonald’s Farm. There is golf at the city’s three courses and mini golf at Mini Pines, as well as flag football, lacrosse, soccer and adult kickball.
Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation offers a low-income assistance program, RecAssist, for individuals and families with financial need. The program offers a discount on swim passes and recreation programs to qualifying individuals. Learn more and apply at CityofCR.com/RecAssist.
Corridor MPO asks for input on trail, bikeway network
The regional trail and bikeway network within the Corridor Metropolitan Organization's planning area is being refreshed with new wayfinding signage and trail branding.
The public is being asked to provide input in a survey available at survey.alchemer.com/s3/7932456/Corridor-MPO-Trails-Branding-and-Wayfinding-Survey. The survey, which closes Aug. 26, takes five to seven minutes to complete.
The will gauge how trail users feel about the existing trail names and which features or traits best represent the region from a branding perspective.
Marion pool to close Aug. 20
The Marion swimming pool will close for the season Aug. 20.
Beginning Aug. 19, hours will be reduced as staff go to college or high school. On Aug. 19-20, lap swim will be offered daily from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and open swim will occur from 1 to 5 p.m.
Robert A. Lee pool maintenance delayed
Scheduled maintenance on the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center pool has been delayed until Dec. 13 through Jan. 26, 2025.
Regular maintenance had been planned at the pool from Aug. 19 through Sept. 3. However, crews found issues with the pool’s plumbing tied to the drainage system. The maintenance is being pushed back in an effort to obtain parts needed for the repair.
“We had hoped to close and complete preventive maintenance this month while City Park Pool still is open. However, delaying until December will provide additional time for staff to assess and plan the best approach for the plumbing issues discovered,” Iowa City Director of Parks and Recreation Juli Seydell Johnson said.
The closure in December will allow for the locker rooms and pool deck to be resurfaced at the same as the pool closure.
Iowa City bow hunt applications open
Iowa City’s annual urban bow hunt for deer will run Sept. 21 through Jan. 10.
Applications from prospective bow hunters will be taken from now until Nov. 1. Hunt rules and application forms are on the city’s website at www.icgov.org/Deer or at the Iowa City Police Department, 410 E. Washington St.
Private property owners interested in providing their land for hunters can submit a Private Property Hunting Permission form to the city.
City-owned properties open to this year’s hunt are at 1150 Covered Wagon Dr., 2510 N. Dodge St., 2099 Bristol Dr., 101 McCollister Blvd. and the Sycamore Greenway south of Lehman Avenue.
The urban bow hunt is a part of the city’s deer management program, which includes annual bow hunts through 2029, with the possibility of a sharpshoot in 2026, pending approval by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. Gazette reporters Marissa Payne, Grace King and Megan Woolard contributed.
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