Government Notes: Marion seeks proposals from artists nationwide for Central Plaza sculpture

The City of Marion has issued a national call for artists interested in creating a signature sculpture piece for the Central Plaza.

Work is underway on Marion’s approximately $7.3 million Central Plaza project to transform City Square with a new Central Plaza. The art will be located near Seventh Avenue and the crosswalk in City Square Park.

The request for qualifications and application to apply can be found online at bit.ly/3wMsXJj. According to the city, Marion received strong interest when issuing the initial call for artists in April, but some proposals fell outside of the established boundaries.

“By reopening the call, we hope to cast a wider net and encourage any qualified sculpture artists from across the nation to share their qualifications,” City Manager Ryan Waller wrote in his weekly memo to the community.

Applications will be accepted online through Friday.

Marion receives $3.54 million derecho reimbursement from FEMA

The city of Marion last week received a $3.54 million reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the remaining federal and state portions of the first of two waterway debris removal projects stemming from the 2020 derecho. This will restore the city’s capital projects fund reserve.

To date, Marion has “receipted” $30.97 million, meaning the money has been committed but has to be cleared for processing with the state. Another approximately $3 million has yet to be received but is in the process with FEMA. Once reimbursed, the remaining $3 million will be set aside for a June 1, 2026 payoff of $3.06 million outstanding in general obligation bonds related to this project.

According to Waller’s weekly memo, city staff continue to work with FEMA and Iowa Homeland Security Emergency Management on Marion’s public assistance grant for derecho recovery. He said the congressional delegation has helped work with FEMA to ensure reimbursement.

Johnson County residents encouraged to report storm damage

Johnson County Emergency Management, local community partners and municipalities are collecting data on the damages from the storms on May 24 and are asking Johnson County residents to self-report any property damage.

Property damage can be self-reported at bit.ly/3yJYbBd and selecting the event titled “Johnson Co IA 5/24 Severe Storms” if not already highlighted.

Information provided through the survey helps emergency management officials understand the extent of damages that have occurred and helps identify any immediate resource needs.

Reporting damage through the Crisis Track Self-Reporting tool is voluntary and is not a substitute for reporting damage to an insurance agency. It does not guarantee disaster relief assistance.

The self-reporting is open and will end at noon on Friday, May 31.

Roads closing for flood protection underneath Interstate 380 overpass

Several roads will be closed underneath the Interstate 380 overpass by the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids starting Tuesday.

E and F avenues will be closed from First Street NW to First Street NE for the construction of two roadway flood gates on the east side of the river. A detour route will be placed on the First Avenue Bridge.

Also, the I-380 southbound exit 20A is reduced to one lane with a left turn only onto First Street NE. Drivers should use alternate exits to access downtown.

Cedar Rapids’ approximately $1 billion permanent flood control system is designed to convey the same water volume as the flood of 2008, reducing flood risk through the center of Cedar Rapids on both the west and east sides of the river. The system is made up of floodwalls, levees and gates, and incorporates aesthetic elements reflecting the city’s history and culture.

Flood protection construction for E and F avenues NE includes a pump station, new floodwall with an elevated park to allow views of the river and floodgates. The project is being done in conjunction with the Army Corps of Engineers.

Work is expected to last nine months, with traffic delays expected. For more information, visit bit.ly/4bCXbNZ.

Cedar Rapids recognized for snow, ice removal

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The American Public Works Association recognized the Cedar Rapids Public Works Department with the Excellence in Snow and Ice Control Award.

The award honors excellence in the management and administration of public works snow and ice operations. It also looks to promote the best practices in snow and ice removal while minimizing environmental impacts.

Cedar Rapids was among just two Public Works departments in the U.S. to receive the honor.

“The award speaks to the dedication and commitment to service shared throughout Public Works,” Assistant Public Works Director Mike Duffy said in a news release. “This achievement recognizes Cedar Rapids as a leader throughout the country in our preparation and management of snow and ice events, an honor we are very proud of.”

In winning the award, Public Works was evaluated on six criteria:

The city’s Public Works Department maintains more than 1,400 lane miles of roadway. Duffy said the city’s investment in training and equipment has been key to improving its response to snow and ice events.

“Training our snow fighters in the safe use of equipment while having a full understanding of the effectiveness, limitations and impacts of materials being applied contribute to this success,” Duffy said.

Metro High celebrating 50 years

Metro High School will commemorate its 50th anniversary with a special celebration open to the public Thursday, May 30, from 4-8 p.m.

Metro High School’s motto, “Mastering educational tasks regardless of obstacles,” has made the school a leader in the state for alternative high school learning, according to a news release from the Cedar Rapids Community School District Friday. This milestone event not only honors the school's past achievements but also looks forward to future successes.

In honor of this milestone, Metro High School was selected by NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement as one of 50 recipients nationwide to receive a NASA Artemis I Moon Tree seedling.

This tree, whose seed journeyed around the moon on the Artemis I mission and returned to Earth in 2022, will be planted on Metro's grounds, symbolizing growth and inspiration for decades to come.

Food, toiletries, batteries collected during dorm move-out

The city of Iowa City worked with the nonprofit Table to Table during the University of Iowa residence hall move-out to accept donations of food, toiletry products and batteries from students moving out of the dorms May 6-10.

Eight drop-off locations were staged in Currier, Burge, Catlett, Mayflower, Hillcrest, Petersen, Rienow, and Slater halls. In total, the following was collected:

The food and toiletry products were handled by Table to Table to redistribute to community members in need.

The batteries were handled by the Iowa City Landfill’s Hazardous Material Collection Facility. Batteries should not be placed in the trash or regular recycling, as they are a direct cause of landfill and recycling facility fires. In past years, battery fires have increased during student move-out and lease changeover times, according to a news release from the city. This program was established in an effort to increase proper battery disposal and education.

Johnson County residents can properly dispose of all types of batteries at no cost at several drop-off locations. For a full list of locations, visit www.icgov.org/hhm.

Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. Gazette reporters Marissa Payne and Grace King contribute.