Government Notes: Linn County Mental Health Access Center strengthens ties with Linn County Jail

The Linn County Mental Health Access Center is working to partner with area law enforcement to strengthen the social safety net for individuals recently released from the Linn County Jail.

Director Erin Foster recently told Linn County Supervisors that the center has worked with the jail to more directly support recently released inmates who are at risk of suicide.

Previously, inmates at risk of suicide at the time of their release were taken to area emergency rooms for evaluation and treatment.

Foster said the new Linn County Jail Release Connection program allows people to instead visit the mental health access center for a smoother, less institutional appointment and evaluation process.

The 24/7, walk-in Mental Health Access Center offers a slew of mental health and substance abuse crisis services for all at 501 13th St. NW in Cedar Rapids.

Foster said the new collaboration was a result of ongoing conversations with area law enforcement and other emergency response professionals on how to best use and advertise those resources.

“We’re always constantly thinking ‘Who else? What can we do?’” she said. “The options for what we can do to help people here are really big and broad.”

Cedar Rapids reminds ‘Low Mow May’ participants to follow city limits

The city of Cedar Rapids is cautioning area participants in “Low Mow May” to mind the upcoming enforcement of the city’s noxious weeds and tall grass ordinance.

The ordinance requires grass to be kept under 12 inches in height and disallows grass clippings from being dispersed onto sidewalks and streets.

As long as yards meet those restrictions, the ordinance does not ban residents from participating in “Low Mow” or “No Mow” May — a national movement that encourages people to refrain or reduce mowing during May to provide ample food and habitat for pollinators.

Enforcement of the ordinance began May 1 and will continue through Oct. 15 in accordance with city code.

Cedar Rapids school board OK’s land donation for Linn County project

A proposed wetlands restoration project near Morgan Creek Park can move forward thanks to a land donation from the Cedar Rapids Community School District.

The School Board last week approved the donation of the roughly 7-acre parcel of district-owned land adjacent to the park.

The land is part of a larger district-owned plot purchased in 2011 for potential development that has been used for farming, and the 7-acre parcel has issues related to runoff and erosion.

The district approved the land donation on the basis that Linn County Conservation would cover the cost of the roughly $500,000 project — which recently received a $177,000 boost in state grant funding.

The wetlands restoration effort will reduce erosion, provide flood protection, and improve water quality near Morgan Creek Park by filtering and slowing the flow of water and sediment that otherwise would rush into the waterway.

The site also will act as a habitat for fish, birds and other wildlife, and a walking trail will loop a portion of the new wetland.

Linn County Conservation intends to finalize design plants this summer and begin construction in late 2025 or early 2026.

Cedar Rapids mayor to host ‘State of the City’ address this month

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Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell is set to host the annual State of the City address next week.

The annual address will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 14 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cedar Rapids Convention Center.

Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. after a brief networking session, and O’Donnell’s address will begin at noon. Her address will cover notable city projects and programs from the past year.

The in-person event is ticketed, and registration is required. Tickets cost $55 each and can be bought online at CityofCR.com/SOTC, although a limited number of free, reserved seats are available upon request by emailing communications@cedar-rapids.org.

The address also will be livestreamed on the city’s Facebook page, and a recording will be made available at the conclusion of the event.

Improvements slated for Marion playground

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Marion’s oldest playground is getting a new look.

Crews are set to begin work next month on playground improvements at Ascension Park, 875 S. 22nd St. The project will replace the existing play structure — the oldest in the Marion parks catalog.

The new playground will feature a structure for children ages 2-5 and another structure for those ages 5-12. It also will shift the play area closer to the parking lot, and additional walkways will be added to improve access.

The project cost is estimated at $296,000, and the new playground is expected to open in July.

Cedar Rapids district teachers to get 3 percent wage increase

Teachers in the Cedar Rapids Community School District will see a 3 percent base wage increase for the 2025-26 school year, a figure the Cedar Rapids school board approved last month.

The 3 percent increase comes in an agreement between the Cedar Rapids Education Association — which represents teachers in the district — and school officials. This is year two of the two-year agreement.

The total estimated cost of all salaries for 2025-2026 will be $87.9 million.

The total cost of all salaries and benefits for teachers in the Cedar Rapids Community School District will be $103 million. This includes the cost to the district for the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System and the Federal Insurance Contributions Act — or FICA, a federal payroll tax.

College Community district sets budget for 2025-26 fiscal year

Because of a slight increase in enrollment, the College Community School District will see about $1.13 million in new money next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

The district saw an increase in certified enrollment of about 38 student this year. There are about 5,500 students in K-12 in the district.

The district’s overall expenditures are increasing to $148.5 million, largely because of construction of a YMCA and salary increases. This is about a $17.5 million increase in expenditures from the current fiscal year.

The district’s overall expenditures include the district’s general fund, 80 percent of which goes to pay staff salaries and benefits.

The district broke ground on the YMCA in October 2024. The completed facility will bring a pool and wellness facility in the district, available for community use.

A $43 million bond referendum was approved by voters to construct the facility.

The district’s property tax rate for the 2025-26 fiscal year will be $16.60 per $1,000 of taxable valuation, remaining the same from the current fiscal year.

The owner of a $200,000 home would pay about $1,575 a year in school property taxes, an increase of about $36 for the year because of changes to the state’s rollback percentage.

Iowa City Public Library director steps down

Iowa City Public Library Director Elsworth Carman is stepping down from the role effective May 19. Carman has accepted a job as executive director at the Oak Park Public Library in Illinois. Carman has served in the role at ICPL since January 2019.

“It has been a privilege to serve as the director of the Iowa City Public Library,” Carman said in a news release. “This is a truly great organization, with an exceptional staff whose dedication and creativity make it a vital part of our community. I’ve also been continually inspired by our engaged community and the curious, passionate patrons who make this work so rewarding and joyful. I am proud of the ways we have reduced barriers to service and worked to make the Library a welcoming, accessible place for all.”

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The library’s board of trustees has named Anne Mangano, collection services coordinator, the interim library director, effective May 20.

The library is hosting a public celebration for Carman May 7 at 11 a.m. in the gallery on the library’s first floor.

Johnson County Board of Supervisors moves meeting location

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors is now holding its meetings in room 301 in the county’s Health and Human Services Building, 855 S. Dubuque St. in Iowa City.

Members of the public can enter the building on the north side, near the flagpole. Meetings of the Board of Supervisors also are livestreamed.

Iowa City’s Arts Share, FilmScene honored with Governor’s Arts awards

Iowa City’s Arts Share, an educational arts program, and FilmScene, an independent movie theater, were honored with 2025 Governor’s Arts awards.

The awards are selected by the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Arts council that recognizes organizations and individuals who have made contributions to art throughout Iowa.

“These awardees exemplify the passion, creativity and leadership that drive Iowa’s arts community forward,” said David Schmitz, director of the Iowa Arts Council, in a news release. “Their work enriches our state, inspires our communities and ensures that the arts continue to thrive for future generations.”

Arts Share was awarded the Arts Learning Award. The program has provided arts education to 10,000 K-12 students and 4,000 community members in the past two years.

FilmScene was honored with the Film and Media award in recognition of the theater’s annual film festival and educational programming.

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